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CAPPA faults Lagos PPP water plans, maintains stand against privatisation

Michael Simire
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CAPPA faults Lagos PPP water plans, maintains stand against privatisation

The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has condemned the Lagos State Government’s decision to privatise water supply through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme, calling the process anti-people and a betrayal of residents’ right to safe, affordable, and publicly managed water.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, CAPPA dismissed a two-day advocacy workshop convened last week by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) to promote the agenda as a “sham public relations exercise.”

water
Anti-water privatisation rally in Lagos. Photo credit: watergrabbing.net/

The event, themed “Attracting Investment for Improved Water Supply in Lagos State through Public-Private Partnership,” featured pledges by members of the State House of Assembly to fast-track legal amendments that would give investors broad protections. The state’s Office of Public-Private Partnerships described the plan as the “first concession” of water infrastructure, beginning with a pilot covering roughly 10 percent of assets.

CAPPA warned that such pronouncements reveal with chilling clarity what Lagosians can expect under privatisation. “Water will no longer be recognised as a human right but will instead be reduced to a financial asset securitised for the comfort of investors,” it said.

The organisation noted that Lagos’ fixation on water privatisation was not a fresh experiment but part of a long-running pattern. “For more than a decade, successive administrations have sought to hand over essential services to corporate profiteers, shifting the burden of cost and access onto already overburdened residents,” the statement added.

Responding to LWC Managing Director Mukhtaar Tijani’s statement that CAPPA declined to attend the workshop by “deliberate choice” over procedural concerns and differences in principle, the organisation described the remark as disingenuous and only a partial account of the truth.

“Yes, we refused to rubber-stamp a fait accompli and for good reasons which we clearly articulated in our response to the LWC,” CAPPA stated. “What was presented as a stakeholder meeting in fact took place only after the State had already issued Request for Proposals (RFP No. LSWC/BFOT/001/2025), inviting private investors to bid for the rehabilitation, upgrade, operation, and maintenance of mini and micro waterworks under a Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (BFOT) PPP model.

“Genuine stakeholder engagement must precede, not follow, major policy and investment commitments. By inviting bids first before democratic consultation, the Lagos State Government has shown contempt for accountability and treated residents as afterthoughts.

“We therefore reject both the process and its underlying premise. The privatisation of Lagos water is a step in the wrong direction, and we refuse to legitimise a predetermined outcome that undermines public interest,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA.

The statement contended that this style of governance was hardly the first instance of Lagos conducting such processes behind closed doors. On April 28, 2025, the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Belstar Capital, a US-based investment firm, and ENKA, a Turkish engineering company, to expand, rehabilitate, and construct water supply works across the state.

Yet, as with the current RFP, Lagosians were provided with no meaningful details on the scope of work, financing model, or contractual terms. No feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, or social safeguards have been shared to show how these projects will serve the public interest.

Similarly, in June 2024, the Lagos State Government announced the launch of the so-called Lagos Water Partnership (LWP), which CAPPA described as “another hollow platform presented as ‘consultative engagement.” The statement noted that by the time this LWP was unveiled, however, the government had already signed contracts with the Resilient Water Accelerator (RWA).

“Far from being a space for dialogue, the LWP was a tokenistic box-ticking exercise designed to launder decisions made elsewhere,” the statement read. CAPPA pointed out that following the Lagos International Water Conference (LIWAC) in June 2024, it had sounded the alarm about the state’s misplaced singular policy shift toward PPPs with no room for alternatives.

“Then, as now, we questioned why Lagos insists on pursuing a model that has failed everywhere it has been tried and the State’s blatant unwillingness to try other models that have proven successful,” CAPPA added.

The group also countered Tijani’s claim that PPP “is not privatisation,” an action he defined as full transfer of ownership and control. Privatisation, CAPPA explained, is not limited to outright sale but includes concessions, leases, management contracts, and BFOT-type arrangements—precisely what Lagos is pursuing.

Even when legal ownership remains with the state, operational control, tariffs, and workforce decisions are surrendered to private operators whose first obligation is to profit. The unfortunate mass sackings of over 800 LWC workers last year, the group argued, were a perfect example of the outcomes of this cut-throat water governance model.

Further speaking, CAPPA debunked Tijani’s frequent claims of PPP “success” in Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, Morocco, Egypt, and Malawi as misleading, insisting that evidence points instead to widespread failure and public backlash. The group recounted how in Rwanda, the flagship Kigali Bulk Water Supply Project has been dogged by staggering losses, corruption, and service disruptions, with the Rwanda Water and Sanitation Corporation reportedly losing nearly half of its annual production while large sections of Kigali continue to endure rationing despite private involvement.

In South Africa, CAPPA noted, the Mbombela concession managed by Biwater has been dogged with tariff hikes and contractual disputes, while Morocco’s concessions in Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier, and Tétouan have become infamous for billing controversies and governance crises. Uganda’s modest improvements in water access, the group stressed, stemmed not from privatisation but from robust public reforms, while in Malawi and Egypt, large-scale privatisation either collapsed outright or failed to materialise at all.

The failures, CAPPA argued, extend well beyond Africa. In the United Kingdom, where some partners backing Lagos’ PPP scheme are headquartered, water privatisation has been an outright disaster. Since 1989, privatised water companies in England have increased bills by more than 40 percent in real terms while siphoning off over £85 billion to shareholders, leaving behind underinvestment, sewage spills, and poor accountability.

“For us, the global lesson is clear as daylight. Cities such as Paris in France, Berlin in Germany, Buenos Aires in Argentina, and Jakarta in Indonesia that once experimented with private concessions have all reversed course, reclaiming their water systems after years of higher costs, job losses, and degraded services. Lagos, instead of learning, is wilfully choosing to repeat the very mistakes others are working hard to undo,” CAPPA said.

As an alternative, the group urged Lagos to follow the worldwide trend of remunicipalisation. It charged the government to rebuild in-house capacity and foster participatory water sector reform processes that place workers, communities, and households at the centre.

CAPPA further demanded increased budgetary allocations to water infrastructure and the exploration of public-public partnerships that treat water as a shared good rather than a private commodity.

It asked the Lagos State Government to immediately halt the ongoing PPP scheme for mini and micro waterworks, withdraw the current RFP, fully disclose all agreements already signed with private investors, and initiate a truly open dialogue on sustainable, publicly controlled solutions to the state’s water crisis.

Media or climate: Who needs justice more?

Michael Simire
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Media or climate: Who needs justice more?

Until justice is first served to the media, affected communities and vulnerable people who suffer from a variety of environmental hazards – the majority of which are brought on by climate change – will keep demanding it

Every day, campaigners advocate for climate justice, making their voices heard in a bid to protect Mother Earth from the detrimental effects of human activity. Many view this struggle as the only sustainable path to ecological salvation and have dedicated their lives to the cause. Even if this seems encouraging, it is regrettable that many of these campaigners have acted ignorantly, failing to recognise that climate justice is simply media justice.

Media for Climate Justice
Participants at the Media for Climate Justice Workshop hosted by the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI) in Abuja.

Breaking down the Concepts

Although in the public domain, it is commonly referred to as “media”, which merely signifies the means of carrying information in the form of opinion, advocacy, propaganda, advertising, artwork, entertainment, and other methods of expression to a very large audience. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that there are just “carriers” of information rather than the “message” itself.

Climate justice, on the other hand, is a type of environmental justice that focuses on the unequal effects of climate change on disadvantaged or otherwise vulnerable groups. So, whenever the word ‘climate justice’ is used, it is critical to recall this fundamental truth in order to bridge the gap between advocacy and practical climate action.

In light of this, the terms “communication” and “unequal” are pivotal in guiding this discussion. Now with this understanding, the following question arises: if communication is viewed as an art of shaping meanings, how then can it be deployed in a more intentional manner as an advocate to tackle the ongoing inequalities that hinder climate justice? Stakeholders need to ask themselves why it is that the climate is rapidly depleting and justice is very far from its reach in the face of available innovative communication and information technologies globally. These are some of the most pressing issues that demand attention.

Media for Climate Justice Workshop

In response to the above questions, the International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI), a non-profit organisation that promotes social and environmental rights, on Thursday, August 14, 2025, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, convened a diverse group of youth leaders, media professionals, and environmental advocates as part of the African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) project in the country to brainstorm on the answers to this worrisome but very critical matter.

Environmental journalists, science communicators, members of civil society networks, and young leaders were invited to share their experiences on a selection of topics, including how to create engaging climate stories, how to use digital tools to promote climate activism, the role of the media in climate advocacy, and the relationship between social justice, media, and climate change.

Lauritta Boniface, one of the panelists and co-founder of the Ecocykle Development Foundation (EDF), who spoke about young people’s perspectives on climate issues, described the engagement as a timely conversation that highlighted the importance of youth in media in shaping climate policy and action in Nigeria.

According to her, the event gave her the opportunity to respond to three pressing questions as a climate leader in Nigeria: what do young Nigerians see as the most pressing climate concerns confronting their communities today? The second question is: how do young people see the government’s commitment and capacity to address climate change? Finally, how do climate change consequences such as flooding, drought, and heatwaves affect Nigerian youth livelihoods, education, and health?

“I am grateful to ICCDI for creating this platform because of its thoughtful discussion on the climate realities facing young Nigerians,” she commented.

Zainab Bala, founder and executive director of The Scoop Storytelling Initiative, stressed the importance of communication in promoting environmental equity.

In her keynote speech, the climate diplomacy and policy expert used the success of her organisation’s campaign against the environmental destruction caused by the poorly explored Ororo Oil Well in the offshore Niger Delta to demonstrate how strategic or developmental communication can promote climate justice and strengthen local communities.

Perfect Johndick, another panelists at the event, believes that there can never be climate justice without first ensuring media justice.

The ecofeminist who works in the Niger Delta region, using graphics and multimedia to spotlight the ecological injustice that is ravaging the oil-rich region, went on to explain that at the heart of every climate struggle is a story of loss, resilience, and resistance. Unfortunately, she added, these experiences are sometimes buried in silence, misinformation, or narratives driven by people who are far distant from the front lines.

“I am deeply grateful to the organisers for creating this bold space, to my fellow speakers for the brilliance they shared, and to the participants whose energy proves that the future of climate advocacy is already here,” she addressed the people who had assembled to mark the event. “Let us not just tell stories. Let us tell stories that disrupt, stories that heal, and stories that move humanity a step closer to justice.”

Conclusion

From the notions of climate justice and the media to the opinions and voices of the stakeholders at the workshop, it is evident that communication plays an essential role in the struggle for climate justice. To further buttress its significance, the Bible teaches that God Almighty used the art of communication to create the universe.

In recognition of this harsh reality, the 13th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) was established by the UN with the express purpose of encouraging immediate action to address climate change and its effects on livelihoods and human existence in general. Section 26 of Part V of Nigeria’s Climate Change Act (CCA, 2021), which focuses on the Carbon Budget and National Climate Change Action Plan, also underscores the importance of climate education.

Olumide Idowu, co-founder and CEO of ICCDI, reflected on the outcome of the meeting and asserted that the message is clear: “Media is not just a messenger – it is a catalyst for climate justice in Nigeria and beyond.”

Truth be told, it is pathetic that with all the existing knowledge of media’s role in addressing this life-threatening crisis at hand, promoters and so many climate activists still deploy it as a damage control tool they use only when climate disasters strike. This is truly sad. The media must be understood from the perspective of communication, which is human-induced to the machines that carry such messages.

For the media to be used effectively, it must be viewed as a business and livelihood source, and its practitioners as people with goals and aspirations who have the desire to improve their societies.

Environmental communicators must be invited as key stakeholder and strategic partner in the climate discourse, given the required material support, as well as the freedom to do their jobs, not only as a tool for raising awareness, but also as a lifeline for accountability, a bridge for empathy, and a catalyst for systemic change.

By Etta Michael Bisong, Abuja

Plogging Nigeria marks International Youth Day with nationwide clean-up drive

Michael Simire
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Plogging Nigeria marks International Youth Day with nationwide clean-up drive

Nigerian youths have joined their counterparts around the world to mark th e 2025 International Youth Day with clean-up exercises that combined fitness with environmental action.

Organised by Plogging Nigeria, a youth-driven environmental group, the two-week initiative drew 165 participants across 13 clean-up events between August 9 and 16, 2025.

International Youth Day
A cross section of youths during the cleanup at Plogging Nigeria, University of Nigeria, Nsukka

The events took place at universities including Usman Danfodiyo University, University of Uyo (UNIUYO), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and Enugu, Kaduna State University, Federal University of Technology Akure, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Jos and in Port Harcourt.

In total, participants covered 18.07 kilometres over 24 hours of plogging – an activity that involves jogging while picking up litter. They collected 25 bags of plastic waste weighing 35.6kg and 119 bags of mixed waste weighing 560.66kg.

Mayokun Iyaomolere, Executive Director of Plogging Nigeria, praised the collective effort. He said, “Every step, every piece of litter collected is a powerful stride towards a cleaner Nigeria. By combining fitness with environmental action, we’re actively contributing to achieving the SDGs locally.”

At UNIUYO, Abdulfatai Olalekan, Head Plogga for the campus, said the event was a reminder of the role young people play in advancing environmental sustainability.

In Kaduna State University, Head Plogga, Habiba Suleiman, linked the day to a larger vision of leadership: “The future belongs to the youth who not only dream of change but also bend down to pick up the trash that stands in its way.”

Chinelo Ani of UNN described the collaboration across campuses as a highlight. He said, “Despite the bad weather, we cleared our campuses of waste and plastics, shared memories and made an impact together. We attain the SDGs by working together as a community.”

The initiative aligned with several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, from promoting health and well-being (SDG 3) to advancing climate action (SDG 13) and fostering partnerships (SDG 17).

Organisers said the success of this year’s events underscores the growing influence of local youth action in driving global change, “one plog at a time.”

International Youth Day is observed annually on August 12. This year’s theme, “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond”, emphasises the role of young people in turning global goals into community-led action.

By Abiodun Salako

Media sustainability: Soneye advocates tax reliefs, independent fund for journalism

Michael Simire
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Media sustainability: Soneye advocates tax reliefs, independent fund for journalism

Former Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Mr. Femi Soneye, has called on the Federal Government to support the Nigerian media with targeted incentives, including tax reliefs and import duty waivers on essential media tools.

Soneye made the appeal in Abuja on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, after receiving the NUJ FCT Excellence in Corporate Communications Award, conferred on him by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council.

Femi Soneye
Femi Soneye

The NUJ leadership, led by Chairperson Grace Ike, alongside the Deputy Chair, Secretary-General, and other executives, described Soneye as a consummate professional who has distinguished himself with tact and excellence in the communications field.

In his remarks, Soneye noted that while the Nigerian media remains one of the most vibrant in Africa, it continues to grapple with systemic challenges that weaken its effectiveness.

“The Nigerian media remains one of the most vibrant in Africa, but it also faces systemic challenges, financial, political, legal, and technological that weaken its effectiveness. The government can play a supportive role by granting tax incentives or relief on import duties for newsprint, broadcast equipment, and digital infrastructure,” he said.

He also urged the Federal Government to establish an independent media development fund to support investigative journalism, community radio, and newsroom innovation, drawing parallels with models in South Africa, the United States, and Canada.

The award underscores Soneye’s long-standing contributions to journalism and corporate communications, as well as his advocacy for a stronger, independent, and sustainable Nigerian media.

South African Police busts international rhino horn syndicate, arrests six

Michael Simire
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South African Police busts international rhino horn syndicate, arrests six

The South African Police Service’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) has struck a major blow against international wildlife trafficking with the arrest of six suspects allegedly linked to a fraudulent rhino horn scheme involving 964 horns destined for illegal markets in Southeast Asia.

The suspects, aged between 49 and 84, face charges of fraud, theft, and contravention of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA) of 2004.

rhino horn seizure
An airport official with seized rhino horns

Additional charges of racketeering and money laundering are also under consideration.

The arrests mark the culmination of a seven-year investigation by the Wildlife Trafficking Section of the Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit, in collaboration with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s (DFFE) Green Scorpions and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Fraudulent Permits & International Smuggling

Investigators allege the suspects obtained DFFE permits under false pretences to buy and sell rhino horns domestically.

Instead of remaining in South Africa, the horns were secretly channelled into the illegal global trade, despite a strict ban on international commercial trade under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Domestic trade is permitted only with valid permits under NEMBA, but authorities say the accused exploited loopholes to mask their operations.

Minister Applauds Breakthrough

Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, hailed the arrests as a landmark victory.

“This complex investigation is a powerful demonstration of South Africa’s resolve to protect its natural heritage. The Hawks’ work shows that our enforcement agencies will not hesitate to pursue those who plunder our wildlife for criminal profit. The illegal trade in rhino horn not only destroys biodiversity but also undermines the rule of law and environmental governance,” he said.

The six suspects – five men and one woman – surrendered at Sunnyside Police Station before appearing in the Pretoria Magistrates’ Court on August 19, 2025.

Global Wildlife Crime in Focus

Rhino horn remains one of the most lucrative commodities in illegal wildlife trafficking, fetching high prices in Asian black markets where it is wrongly believed to have medicinal and status-symbol value.

Conservationists warn that the illicit trade threatens to undo decades of progress in rhino protection.

Minister George stressed that this operation sends a clear warning to wildlife crime syndicates:

“Let there be no doubt: South Africa will bring the full force of its laws against those who plunder our wildlife. This arrest proves that syndicates cannot escape justice, no matter how complex their schemes.”

By Winston Mwale, AfricaBrief

World Humanitarian Day: Nigeria, UN seek protection of humanitarian workers, women, girls

Michael Simire
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0
World Humanitarian Day: Nigeria, UN seek protection of humanitarian workers, women, girls

Commemorating the World Humanitarian Day 2025, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the UN system and humanitarian partners have called for the protection of humanitarian workers and civilians across the globe, as well as women and girls.

In a joint communique issued by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, the duo wants international humanitarian law upheld, and protection provided to all those affected by conflict and disaster, while describing women and girls as being among the most vulnerable and most profoundly affected.

Sanitary pads
Women and girls

“This year’s World Humanitarian Day comes at a time when global solidarity with people in humanitarian need is at its lowest ebb. International humanitarian financing is collapsing. Many of the most vulnerable people have little or no support. In Nigeria, humanitarian needs are increasing, with food insecurity and malnutrition an unfolding disaster. Pipelines for food and nutrition that are lifelines for millions of people, especially children under the age of five, are severely disrupted, if not completely depleted,” stated the communique, which was endorsed by Yusuf Sununu, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, and Mohamed Fall, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.

While lamenting that millions of children are at risk of life threatening severe acute malnutrition (SAM), they estimated that some 31 million people are food security insecure, over 10 million children under five are acutely malnourished, while 3.5 million are severely malnourished – 2.5 million of these in six states.

“Urgent action is needed for about 400,000 SAM children, whose lives are in the balance if there is no immediate action to reverse the situation and save their lives,” the communique stated.

It added: “Globally, the humanitarian community is faced with unprecedented challenges. International humanitarian law is treated with disdain. Multilateralism has been replaced with short-term self-interest. And humanitarianism is under attack. The reform of the humanitarian system is urgently needed, building on the lessons learned over the last six decades, and the incredible know-how and experience of humanitarian partners, local and international.

“In Nigeria, humanitarian operations must become more efficient, accountable and transparent. They must be led by the Government and implemented by local partners, to the extent possible, and funded through local resources supported by the international community.”

Towards this end, the humanitarian community in Nigeria disclosed that it commits to:

  • Fully supporting humanitarian response and action under the leadership of the Government of Nigeria; coordinated with guidance by the Government of Nigeria.
  • Work with the Government to ensure a transition from an internationally supported humanitarian operation to locally led action by the end of the transition period.
  • Ensure a transition from the direct delivery of humanitarian aid to an enabling role for local actors, preserving core functions, such as humanitarian diplomacy, coordination, protection, and upholding humanitarian principles

World Humanitarian Day: Attacks on aid workers hit fresh record – OCHA

Michael Simire
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0
World Humanitarian Day: Attacks on aid workers hit fresh record – OCHA

A shocking new record of 383 aid workers killed in 2024 must be a wake-up call to protect all civilians in conflict and crisis and call time on impunity, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, on World Humanitarian Day.

Most of the aid workers killed were national staff serving their communities, and they were attacked in the line of duty or in their homes. An additional 308 aid workers were wounded, 125 kidnapped and 45 detained in the same year.

OCHA
A UN staff member examines the remains of a UN vehicle in the aftermath of an attack in which 15 responders were killed in their uniforms in Gaza in March 2025. These included eight from the Palestine Red Crescent Society, six from the Palestinian Civil Defense and one from the UN. This was possibly the deadliest attack on aid workers in 2025. Photo credit: OCHA

“Even one attack against a humanitarian colleague is an attack on all of us and on the people we serve,” said Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. “Attacks on this scale, with zero accountability, are a shameful indictment of international inaction and apathy. As the humanitarian community, we demand – again – that those with power and influence act for humanity, protect civilians and aid workers and hold perpetrators to account.”

The 31 per cent surge in aid worker deaths compared to 2023 was driven by the relentless conflicts in Gaza, where 181 humanitarian workers were killed, and in Sudan, where 60 lost their lives. Violence against aid workers increased in 21 countries in 2024 compared to the previous year, with State actors the most common perpetrators.

The first eight months of 2025 show no sign of a reversal of the disturbing trend: 265 aid workers have been killed as of 14 August, according to provisional data from the Aid Worker Security Database¹.

Attacks on humanitarian workers, assets and operations violate international humanitarian law and undermine the lifelines that sustain millions of people trapped in war and disaster zones.

The United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2730 in May 2024, which reaffirmed the obligation on parties to conflict and Member States to protect humanitarian personnel and called for independent investigations into violations. But the lack of accountability remains pervasive.

On this World Humanitarian Day, aid workers and their supporters commemorate those killed and stand in solidarity with those serving people in need, demanding urgent protection for civilians and aid operations.

The global #ActForHumanity campaign is relaunched with added urgency, calling on the public to stand with humanitarians, demand protection and support the lifelines they provide.

Fletcher added: “Violence against aid workers is not inevitable. It must end.”

Top German officials’ vehicles fall short on emissions – Study

Michael Simire
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Top German officials’ vehicles fall short on emissions – Study

The official cars used by Germany’s top political echelon release significantly more climate-damaging carbon dioxide emissions than the average vehicle driven by citizens, a new analysis suggests.

Only 87 of the country’s top 238 politicians drive an electric vehicle, according to a ranking by the Environmental Action Germany (DUH) group released on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

Winfried Kretschmann
Winfried Kretschmann, Governor of Baden-Württemberg State, stands by his fully electric car

“In spite of the advancing climate crisis, there are no signs of a consistent switch to fuel-efficient official cars in Cabinet even after the change of government,” the organisation said.

However, the analysis found that the use of fully electric cars at the federal level has risen slightly from 50 per cent to 57 per cent compared to the previous year.

The DUH figures came with some caveats however.

For example, the ranking was based on the assumption that plug-in hybrids were only used in combustion mode.

While studies suggested that this was often the case, the authors did not examine the specific driving behaviour of top politicians and their drivers.

In addition, only one vehicle was listed for each politician, but many have several cars at their disposal.

Four out of Germany’s 11 federal ministers drove a fully electric car while seven others use a plug-in hybrid.

The official car used by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and some other top Cabinet members has been excluded from the analysis as they are armoured, making them significantly heavier.

Among the premiers of Germany’s 16 states, only Winfried Kretschmann, a Green politician who governs the south-western state of Baden-Württemberg, drives a fully electric car.

MEMAN urges Nigeria to act fast to drive electric vehicle adoption

Michael Simire
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0
MEMAN urges Nigeria to act fast to drive electric vehicle adoption

Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) has warned that Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in the global shift to clean mobility, calling for urgent collaboration to fast-track Electric Vehicle (EV) adoption.

Its Executive Secretary, Mr. Clement Isong, gave the warning during an online webinar titled “Accelerating Electric Mobility Adoption in Nigeria by Unlocking Downstream Potential” on Monday, August 18, 2025.

Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Electric Vehicle charging station

Isong said that the association had already taken practical steps by installing 12 EV charging and battery-swapping stations alongside five aftersales facilities across the country.

“Collaboration among regulators, investors, and private sector stakeholders is critical to building a viable EV ecosystem in Nigeria.

“MEMAN remains committed to fostering dialogue and innovation in the downstream sector,” Isong said.

He said that with transportation accounting for 28 per cent of Nigeria’s greenhouse gas emissions and rising fuel prices burdening households and businesses.

Dr Mukaila Oseni, Director of Operations, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), cited the International Energy Agency’s forecast that the number of EVs worldwide will rise to 145 million by 2030.

“Nigeria must diversify its energy mix, lower transportation costs in the long run, and reduce carbon emissions.

“EV adoption is no longer optional. It is essential,” Oseni said.

He, however, admitted challenges remain: high upfront vehicle costs, weak charging infrastructure, unreliable grid power, and low consumer awareness.

Oseni added that NMDPRA had been reviewing regulatory policies to encourage private investment, technology adoption, and innovative business models.

He further urged stakeholders to leverage the nation’s vast fuel retail network as future charging hubs, while also considering interim options such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as cleaner alternatives.

The webinar, hosted by MEMAN’s Competency Centre, highlighted financing models, local vehicle assembly, and consumer education as critical tools to make EVs accessible and affordable.

With the world moving rapidly towards electrified transport, participants agreed on one point: Nigeria must act decisively to embed EVs in its energy transition strategy or risk being left behind. 

Heirs Energies CEO wants Africa to shape energy future

Michael Simire
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0
Heirs Energies CEO wants Africa to shape energy future

Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Energies, Mr. Osa Igiehon, has urged Africa to define its energy future by leveraging its hydrocarbons and renewable resources.

In a statement on Monday, August 18, 2025, Igiehon affirmed Heirs Energies’ commitment to Africa’s energy sufficiency through active participation in global energy forums and strategic industry collaborations.

Osa Igiehon
Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Energies, Mr. Osa Igiehon

He cited the company’s impactful presence at two landmark events: the U.S.–Africa Energy Forum (USAEF) in Houston, Texas, and the Namibia International Oil & Gas Conference 2025.

At both events, Heirs Energies showcased its responsible strategy to harness Africa’s natural resources, ensuring energy security, driving industrialisation, and fostering shared prosperity across the continent.

At the USAEF, Igiehon joined energy leaders and policymakers in discussions on the future of U.S.–Africa energy cooperation and sustainable development partnerships.

“At Heirs Energies, we are committed to energy sufficiency for millions, while prioritising sustainability, innovation, and local capacity building as pillars of our growth,” he said.

He noted that the forum enabled deeper engagement with U.S. investors, technology providers, and agencies on financing and innovation to accelerate Africa’s path towards energy independence.

Following the USAEF, Heirs Energies advanced its engagement to Namibia, one of Africa’s most promising frontier markets for oil and gas development.

Igiehon joined a high-profile panel with international and regional operators, sharing perspectives on building responsible, inclusive, and sustainable energy industries across Africa.

Reflecting on Namibia’s opportunities, he stated: “This visit marks the start of a long-term partnership, with more collaborations ahead to boost Namibia’s energy development.”

He added that Heirs Energies’ participation underscores its evolution from a Nigerian operator to a pan-African leader balancing commercial success with societal impact.

According to him, these engagements embody Africapitalism, championed by the company’s founder, Mr Tony Elumelu, which advocates private-sector leadership in driving Africa’s development.

Igiehon reaffirmed Heirs Energies as Africa’s leading indigenous-owned integrated energy company, dedicated to meeting the continent’s needs while aligning with global sustainability goals.

“With innovation, environmental responsibility, and community development at our core, Heirs Energies is positioned to lead Africa’s energy transformation towards a prosperous future,” he added.

By Yunus Yusuf

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