Troops of Operation Delta Safe have continued to sustain the fight against activities of crude oil thieves in the Niger Delta, destroying 56 illegal refining sites in one week.
Illegal refining activities in the Niger Delta
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, disclosed this in the weekly report of the ongoing military operations across the area, in Abuja on Friday, March 14, 2025.
Kangye said the troops also recovered 675,266 litres of stolen crude oil, 312,593 litres of illegally refined AGO and 4,500 litres of DPK within one week.
He added that the troops also discovered and destroyed 51 crude oil cooking ovens, 49 dugout pits, 43 boats, 28 storage tanks and 131 drums.
According to him, other items recovered include four pumping machines, four tricycles, three motorcycles, seven mobile phones and eight vehicles.
“Additionally, 31 oil thieves and other criminals were arrested, 103 assorted arms and ammunition as well as three extra magazines were also recovered among others,” he said.
Kangye said the troops had between March 5 and March 10, apprehended 11 suspected criminals and rescued four kidnapped victims in Bakassi and Onelga Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Cross River and Rivers States, as well as Warri South, Sapele Uvwie and Ughelli areas of Delta.
He added that the Air Component conducted patrols and air reconnaissance missions over Imo River, Owaza, Ohaji/Egbema and Abacheke general areas, as well as Nembe, Okpokiri, Tomkiri, Brass and Belema axis.
These missions, according to Kangye, aided successes in destruction of illegal refining sites, boats, vehicles and tricycles among other equipment.
An Irish charity organisation, Self Help Africa (SHA) Nigeria, has called for urgent action to increase women’s participation in leadership and decision-making roles within the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector.
Self Help Africa wants women’s voices to be heard in WASH
Joy Aderele, Country Director of the organisation, made this call in a statement to mark the International Women’s Month in Abuja on Friday, March 14, 2025.
According to her, in spite of being primarily responsible for household water collection, sanitation, and hygiene management, women remain underrepresented in leadership and technical roles.
Citing a 2021 UN Water report, Aderele noted that women account for less than 20 per cent of employees in the global water sector, with even lower representation in WASH-related engineering and management positions.
“In Nigeria, where women constitute nearly half of the population, only a small fraction are involved in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and leadership roles.
“This disparity is even more pronounced in WASH-related decision-making, where men largely dominate, despite women being the primary users and managers of WASH services at the household level.”
Aderele pointed to several barriers that limit women’s participation in the sector, including weak gender mainstreaming in national and state WASH policies, economic constraints, and deeply rooted cultural perceptions.
“There are gaps in the mainstreaming of gender in national and state WASH policies, with weak implementation and insufficient enforcement mechanisms.
“Economic constraints, wage gaps, and limited funding opportunities also make it difficult for women to pursue STEM education or the technical training required for leadership roles in WASH.”
The country director noted that beyond policy and financial limitations, societal norms continue to shape perceptions of leadership and technical expertise.
Aderele stated that WASH-related engineering and policymaking are still widely regarded as male-dominated fields, discouraging women from pursuing careers in the sector.
According to her, safety concerns and mobility restrictions further hinder women’s participation in field-based roles.
Aderele, however, stressed that increasing gender diversity in WASH is not just a matter of fairness but an important factor in improving the effectiveness and sustainability of WASH programmes.
“Research shows that when women are involved in decision-making, development initiatives are more inclusive, better maintained, and more responsive to community needs,” she said.
She cited a World Bank report which found that water projects with women in leadership positions were six to seven times more effective than those without.
To close the gender gap in WASH, she called for deliberate and institutionalised action, saying the government must go beyond simply encouraging women’s inclusion in WASH to making it a formal requirement.
“Setting clear targets for women’s representation in decision-making and allocating dedicated funding to support female leadership in the sector are critical steps.”
She also advocated for increased investment in gender-responsive funding mechanisms, including scholarships and grants for women-led WASH initiatives.
She emphasised the need for safe workplaces, mentorship, and advocacy to challenge stereotypes and boost women’s leadership in WASH.
Aderele said SHA Nigeria is actively working to address these challenges through the £5 million WASH Systems for Health (WS4H) programme, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
“We are actively strengthening women’s leadership in community WASH governance, ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making processes.
“We are strengthening partnerships with organisations like the Network of Female Professionals in WASH (FeminWASH) to amplify women’s voices in the sector.
“In Cross River State, gender inclusion is being prioritised in the review of the Water Supply Policy, and in both Cross River and Kano, we are institutionalising gender-inclusive WASH governance through State and Local Task Groups.”
She emphasised that achieving gender equality in WASH requires collective action from both men and women.
“This Women’s Month serves as a powerful reminder that we must take decisive steps to dismantle systemic barriers and biases. Only then can we create a more equitable world for all.”
Electricity consumers in Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states have decried the hike in tariff amidst epileptic power supply in the country.
Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu
In a survey conducted in the states, some electricity consumers described the hike as exploitative.
They said that improving power supply should be the government’s priority and not tariff hike.
Mr. Sadiq Adewale, a former Vice-President of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) for South-West, said that the epileptic power situation in the country could be attributed to obsolete power generation and distribution equipment of gencos and discos respectively.
Adewale said that most of the equipment being used by discos needed to be replaced with modern ones to meet the increasing electricity demands by Nigerians
According to him, except those equipment were replaced with modern ones, it would be difficult to guarantee regular power supply across the country.
Adewale also said that the current electricity generating capacity was very low when compared with what was required.
Also, Mr. Abiodun Ogunyomi, a resident of Ile-Ife, said that the poor electricity supply currently being experienced across the country had crippled many businesses.
Ogunyomi said that the hike in electricity tariff amidst poor power was a proof of government’s insensitivity to the plights of the masses.
According to him, the power supply situation in Nigeria is frustrating.
Mr. Dara Olagoke, who resides in Osogbo, said electricity supply in his area, Agunbelewo, was not regular.
Olagoke said that with the current power supply situation in the country, increase in electricity tariff was unjust and uncalled for.
“How do they want the masses to cope?
There isn’t regular electricity supply and yet you increase the tariff. This is unacceptable,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Kikelomo Owoeye, the Senior Communication Officer, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Osun Region, said that many factors were responsible for poor power generation and distribution in the country.
Owoeye said that one of the major factors was the low energy allocation from energy generation companies (gencos).
“We cannot distribute what we do not generate. If there is insufficient power generation, supply to customers will also be limited.
Other challenges, according to her, include grid disturbances, energy theft, illegal connections, meter tampering, vandalism, non-payment of bills (for post-paid customers), and lack of regular vending (for pre-paid customers).
“Maintaining and upgrading electricity infrastructure require adequate funding, which depends on timely payments from customers,” she said.
Owoeye, however, said that IBEDC had been supplying energy to customers on power distribution based on customer band.
“We ensure that power distribution aligns with the assigned customer bands, like Band A: 20 hours, Band B: 16 hours, Band C: 12 hours, Band D: 8 hours, Band E: 4 hours.
“Additionally, we engage in vegetation management and proactive maintenance to enhance reliability of electrical infrastructure,” she said.
A landlord in Ado-Ekiti, Mr. Sunday Ajibade, condemned what he called outrageous monthly bills of N25,000 or more issued to many residents in his area.
Ajibade said that while monthly bills were on the high side, electricity supply had not been of commensurate level.
He said that the Federal Government should no longer condone discos’ requests for increase in tariff without improvement in electricity supply.
Another resident, Mrs. Iyabo Ogundele, a frozen foods seller, said poor power supply had continued to threaten the survival of her business.
Similarly, Mr. Joel Ilesanmi, a barbing salon operator, said the fuel he buys to keep his generator working has posed a serious threat to his business.
According to him, a large percentage of the money made on a daily basis goes into fuel purchase.
He urged government to compel distribution companies to give prepaid meters to all those who applied for them so as to end issues relating to what he called systemic cheating.
Also commenting, a hospitality entrepreneur, Mr. Kehinde Owolabi, said that the current transmission and distribution networks in Nigeria appeared outdated and inefficient, often leading to frequent power outages and voltage fluctuations.
He said that investment in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, which had become affordable and efficient in foreign countries, should be explored in Nigeria.
“If government can invest in these sources of energy, it will help to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and improve its energy security,” Owolabi said.
He said that the government could also encourage private investments by creating a more favourable regulatory environment and providing financial incentives.
The hospitality expert also blamed consumers for the problem, saying many of them had habits of not conserving energy and failing to turn off lights and appliances, when they were not in use.
Also, Mrs. Abiodun Ibiwoye, who is a trader, said that crazy bills from BEDC had forced her to adopt an alternative energy source, that is, solar, for her soft drink business.
Ibiwoye said that a long-term solution capable of addressing the root problem of affordability and reliable energy access must be applied by government.
A business centre operator, Mr. Solomon Ogunlola, said he had explored energy-efficient appliances to reduce electricity consumption in the face of price hike without regular power supply.
He said that the intention behind the tariff hike might be to ensure the financial viability of the electricity sector, saying its impact on ordinary Nigerians had been overwhelmingly negative.
Ogunlola stressed the urgent need for a more balanced and sustainable approach to energy pricing in the country.
In his contributions, Mr. James Anifowose, a welder, called for revocation of licences of non-performing power distribution companies.
Anifowose said that many times, he often relied on generator to power his machines because the electricity supplied to his street had been consistently poor.
In Akure, Mrs. Kehinde Aruleba, an electricity consumer, said that the proposed strike by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) would receive great support because Nigerians could no longer cope with persistent increase in electricity tariff, especially when the supply was not guaranteed.
Aruleba, who teaches in Hapa College, Oba-Ile, said that the most affected Nigerians were those living in houses that were not metered.
She said that most residential apartments received electricity bills of between N35,000 and N40,000 in a month for post-paid meters without any evidence of such consumption.
“How will an apartment of two to three bedrooms with five occupants consume power that will amount to N35,000 to N40,000 when sometimes, there will be no power supply for several days?
“Even those with meters are grumbling because of the high speed at which the units are consumed. And they still have gut to increase the tariff. It’s so unfair to Nigerians.
“I think the proposed strike by NLC will receive great support,” she said.
Mr Daniel Akeju, a resident of Akure, described the service provided by BEDC as average, with power supply of 10 hours per day or lower.
Akeju said that the increase in electricity tariff in the face of epileptic power supply should be questioned by the country’s authorities.
Also, Dr Foluso Taiwo, Secretary of NLC in Ekiti, said that obsolete equipment contributed immensely to electricity load shedding and poor power supply.
“Most of these transformers are old. Also at installation, the capacity could be 200 KV to 500KV and serve the people in the area then, but now the demographic capacity of the area has increased.
“More buildings are now available and funny enough, the same transformer is still there to serve such a densely populated area.
“So, the load that a transformer can carry becomes a challenge at different intervals when everybody is around and they try to use electricity.
“Some of them will burn the feeder pillar unit of the transformer. We are not talking about stealing where people will come to vandalise it in order to steal its parts.
“So, what the disco staff do is to ensure that they supply the power to people in different areas at different times in a community because of the capacity of the transformer now, unlike what it was at installation stage,” he stated.
Taiwo, who gave kudos to military governments in the country for building different dams for power generation, said that no successive civilian government had been able to complete a power generation dam in the country.
He said power generation in the country was very low, adding that despite the excess of liquified gas, the country had not been able to channel it to power generation.
“The other problem is corruption in the power sector.
“We just must address these problems totally to tackle the issue of adequate and uninterrupted power supply in the country,” Taiwo said.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on Friday, March 14, 2025, hosted critical stakeholders in the petroleum and gas sector to address incessant incidences of tanker explosion in Taraba State.
Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State
Alhaji Abdullahi Bature, Coordinator of the NMDPRA in the state, while addressing stakeholders at its first quarter stakeholders meeting in Jalingo, the state capital, said that Taraba has recorded three tanker explosion incidences so far in 2025.
Bature said that the collaboration became necessary for the identification of workable solutions to the challenge.
He stated that such incidences had caused a lot of downturn on the economy and loss of lives.
He said that the safety of drivers was a matter of concern to the agency, encouraging stakeholders to suggest measures that could stem the tide of tanker explosion.
The coordinator also said that the agency was considering the use of various media platforms for the sensitisation of drivers on safety measures.
Malam Muazu Muhammed, Head of Gas, while making presentation on Tanker explosion incidents and truck-in-transit accidents, emphasised that the safety of operators was paramount to the organisation.
He said that the collaboration with all stakeholders in the state was intended to identify measures that could address the ugly trend.
Muhammed urged participants to identify workable resolutions that would be enforced to achieve the goal.
Alhaji Ahmed Isa of the National Association of Transport Owners (NATO) commended NMDPRA for bringing partners together with a view to charting a common cause.
He said that NATO members had lost several vehicles and products through accidents, adding that the menace had a direct economic effect on their businesses.
In his remarks, Mr. Adi Mikyin, a Superintendent of Fire Service, advised stakeholders to prioritise training and re-training of drivers.
Mikyin observed that lack of professionalism was a major cause of accidents by the trucks and tanker drivers.
Critical stakeholders, such as Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, representatives of the federal and state fire services, among others, attended the meeting.
Reactions have traled the incoming German government’s decision to allocate €100 billion for climate action and economic transformation as part of its extraordinary budget.
German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz
While welcoming the development, environment watchdog, 350.org, stated that it marks a significant step towards decarbonising Germany’s economy.
However, added the group, the glaring omission of international climate finance raises serious concerns about Germany’s commitment to global climate justice.
Andreas Sieber, Associate Director of Policy and Campaigns at 350.org, said: “The scale of this investment signals progress and will ensure green job growth, but climate change knows no borders.
“Germany cannot afford to look only inward while it needs to build bridges – even more so as Donald Trump is busy burning bridges. Cooperation with emerging and developing economies will demand more than rhetoric. A transformative budget must also include robust international support for developing countries.
The incoming government coalition had initially envisioned a €500 billion infrastructure budget, of which €100 billion is now designated specifically for climate transformation
The funds will not finance existing projects but new and additional climate protection measures within Germany’s domestic transition framework.
The funds will be allocated via Germany’s transformation fund, which operates domestically; by limiting the scope to domestic initiatives, the budget neglects international climate finance—a critical pillar of global climate action.
350.org urges the German government to uphold its responsibility as a leading economy and ensure that international climate finance is not sidelined.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged government agencies to collaborate and optimise resources effectively and prevent duplication in WASH projects across Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states.
UNICEF WASH Officer at the Kano Field Office, Mrs. Stella Terver
UNICEF WASH Officer at the Kano Field Office, Mrs. Stella Terver, made this appeal on Friday, March 14, 2025, in Zaria, Kaduna State.
She spoke during a three-day Institutional WASH System Strengthening Review Meeting for the three states.
Terver emphasised the need to enhance coordination, collaboration, and synergy between agencies to strengthen the WASH system in these states.
“System strengthening is about improving coordination and ensuring that agencies work together rather than in isolation,” she said.
She noted that UNICEF had been supporting the governments of Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa for years to improve institutional WASH services.
According to her, the current focus is on reviewing progress and ensuring that states adhere to agreed action plans.
“We are assessing how far we’ve come and how well the states have implemented the agreed actions,” Terver said.
She added that the review was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of WASH system strengthening efforts, particularly in fostering collaboration among different agencies.
“The purpose of this meeting is to critically examine how well system strengthening has worked in each state.
“We also want to determine whether these efforts have improved collaboration and reduced duplication of resources,” Terver said.
According to her, UNICEF is assessing the roles of key agencies – including the Ministry of Education, SUBEB (State Universal Basic Education Board), and Primary Health Care (PHC).
“This is to ensure their activities align with those of RUWASA (Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency).”
According to her, lack of coordination among these agencies often leads to project duplication and unnecessary resource wastage.
“System strengthening is about teamwork. In some schools, you might find an existing WASH facility, yet another one is being built, while other schools have none at all,” Terver noted.
Terver noted that closing these gaps through improved collaboration was essential to ensuring more children benefitted from WASH services.
A WASH expert, Dr Ishaku Ziyok, specialising in system strengthening, shared his observations from visiting the three states.
He noted that institutional strengthening efforts were beginning to yield results, with key agencies such as RUWASA, SUBEB, and PHCDA (Primary Health Care Development Agency) working more closely together.
According to him, this synergy is already helping to prevent project duplication, as schools in genuine need of support are being identified, especially for solar-powered boreholes.
Some participants, who spoke expressed satisfaction with the executed projects in the states.
They, however, pointed out that overlapping projects could lead to wasteful spending and hinder progress in crucial sectors like health, education, and water sanitation.
The Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, and WaterAid Nigeria have assured Lagos residents of increased access to potable water supply by the end of 2025.
A team of Lagos State Government officials during their interactive session with officials of WaterAid Nigeria on Friday
Mr. Adegbite Mahmood, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Service and Water Resources, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, gave the assurance during an interactive session with officials of WaterAid Nigeria on Friday, March 14, 2025, in Lagos.
The session had “Provision of Clean and Drinkable Water in Lagos State” as its theme.
Mahamood said the state was doing all it could to ensure a remarkable increase in access to potable water by the end of 2025.
“We all know that water is life, and just as someone asked what the access rates are, I will tell you that right now, it is very low.
“However, there are programmes in the pipeline and those currently ongoing, like the Adiyan 2 project, which is to supply 17 million gallons of water daily to Lagsians.
“So, once that is done, we have another 15 million gallons, and coupled with all other interventions that we have, I am very certain that by the end of 2025, there will be a remarkable increase in access,” he said.
He said the state was putting everything in place to ensure wider access to water to all and sundry.
“There are massive rehabilitation going on on all our mini-micro and water works, as well as the major ones.
“So, by the end of the day, before the end of this administration, at least Lagos will have gotten to a minimum of 200 million gallons per day,” he said.
Earlier, the Head, Lagos Programme, WaterAid Nigeria, Dr Adebayo Alao, said the organisation’s ambition was to reach 10 million Nigerians by 2028.
“By 2028, our ambition is to reach 10 million people directly and 17 million people indirectly through our interventions with Basic Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) access.
“To achieve this, we will align our work over the next five years with two strategic aims, which are, achieve universal, sustainable, and safe services in focused geographic areas to influence wider change,” Alao said.
He added that WaterAid would strengthen the resilience of WASH to climate change.
Alao described Lagos as a mega city with huge investment potential for WASH.
This, he said, was why WaterAid was maximising opportunities of growing population to boost the WASH supply chain.
“Hence, we are collaborating with Lagos State by supporting the WASH Policy Process,” he said.
Alao said WaterAid had supported capacity building of the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission for effective regulation of the WASH sector.
“We have supported the technical assessment of several dysfunctional waterworks to support an increase in urban water supply.
“This has led to the ongoing rehabilitation of the Akilo Waterworks that is costing over N800 million.
“We have also supported the construction and rehabilitation of community water schemes in 17 communities in Ikorodu North and Ojodu LCDAs to the tune of over N400 million.
“We have supported the rehabilitation and construction of water and sanitation facilities in some Lagos schools between 2022 and 2024,” he said.
The Special Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, said the state was not in support of drilling of boreholes.
“Ordinarily, the state did not support the drilling of boreholes, but due to the absence of overall supply of water, or usable water, it is allowed it, just for the meantime.
“This is why the state is doing so much to see that potable water is available and supplied to every nook and cranny of the state,” he said.
The US Export-Import Bank has sanctioned a $5 billion (€4.61 billion) loan to support the Mozambique LNG project spearheaded by TotalEnergies, marking a step towards resuming the $20 billion venture.
Patrick Pouyanné, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TotalEnergies
This decision comes after a commitment of $4.7 billion during President Donald Trump’s previous tenure, which was re-evaluated after construction was suspended in 2021 amidst security concerns and violent disruptions near the project site in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique.
TotalEnergies CEO, Patrick Pouyanne, anticipated this positive outcome from the US, expressing last month that further endorsements from other credit agencies were expected to follow.
The project, which has been on hold since 2021 due to a force majeure, is also awaiting reapproval of loans from the UK and Dutch export credit agencies.
In a statement to the Financial Times, Mozambique’s Minister for Energy, Estevao Pale, expressed his confidence in the UK and Netherlands reaffirming their support.
He said: “We are deeply grateful for President Trump and the American people’s support for this important LNG project.”
The Mozambique LNG project started in 2010 with the discovery of a large natural gas reserve off Mozambique’s northern coast.
The project is estimated to hold approximately 65 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of recoverable natural gas and involves the construction of two liquefaction units with a capacity of 13 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), with prospects for expansion to 43mtpa.
However, the project’s progress was halted by an insurgency linked to the Islamic State, which caused security concerns and halted construction.
Improved security conditions have been reported, with Mitsui, a partner company, indicating that final preparations to recommence construction are in progress after renegotiations with contractors.
Despite these developments, civil society groups have argued that the security risks and environmental impact associated with the project should have warranted a denial of support.
Friends of the Earth Mozambique technical coordinator, Daniel Ribiero, said: “The human rights violations, armed conflict, environmental impacts and risky economic projections of the Mozambique LNG project should have kept most sensible investors away.”
Kate DeAngelis, economic policy deputy director at Friends of the Earth US, described the decision as “the pinnacle of government waste and an egregious abuse of taxpayer dollars”.
Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has cancelled more than 80% of US international aid programmes – including dozens of projects in Mozambique – claiming they did not serve the country’s national interests.
“Clearly, the only aid Trump supports is foreign aid for billionaires and foreign gas companies,” DeAngelis added.
Oil Change International described the development as “a climate and human rights nightmare”.
Oil Change International U.S. Campaign Manager, Collin Rees, said: “Mozambique LNG is a climate and human rights nightmare. Its total emissions could exceed those released by the entire European Union each year, and a Mozambican army unit operating out of the project site allegedly committed systematic atrocities, including sexual violence, torture, and the murder or disappearance of at least 97 people.
“By approving this loan for TotalEnergies’ deadly project, the Trump administration is committing billions in taxpayer funds to a fossil fuel project linked to severe human rights violations, while simultaneously cutting federal jobs and essential public services for working families. Public money should support a healthy society and a sustainable future – not handouts for corporate polluters and human rights abusers.
“But the UK still has the option to take a different path. Keir Starmer faces a clear choice: join with Trump and other far-right governments in providing taxpayer backing for this disastrous project – already linked to hundreds of tragic deaths, including a British citizen – or show courage and break with the previous UK Government’s foolish decision to support this nightmare.”
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, toured the TotalEnergies’ offshore fields of Ofon and Egina as part of a one-day familiarisation visit.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (centre), in the company of TotalEnergies officials during the familiarisation visit
The visit was intended to intimate the Minister with TotalEnergies’ investment plans, ongoing projects and challenges faced by the company in the areas of capex and community relations.
On hand to receive the Minister were the Managing Director, Matthieu Bouyer; the Deputy Managing Director JVA, Olivier Cassassoles; Deputy Managing Director, DWA, Victor Bandele; and the Executive General Manager, HSEQ, Eragbae Aikhoje.
In his remarks at the end of the tour, Lokpobiri commended the company for being a shining example of what the Federal Government expects from International Oil Companies.
“The Federal Government is very desirous to increase investment in the oil and gas sector to boost its production level. So, I must commend TotalEnegies for being a shining example of what the Federal Government expects from IOCs. So let us work together and see how we can improve the sector and continue to do what we can to support your company for our mutual benefit,” he said.
The Minister, however, noted that the government is not unmindful of the problems of the International Oil Companies (IOCs).
“Let’s have a meeting, see where the problems are and arrive at a win-win situation. We are not trying to give problems to anybody, it’s going to be a win-win approach because government is not unreasonable to people’s problems,” he added.
Thanking the Minister for the visit, Bouyer said TotalEnergies is ready to partner with the Federal Government in achieving its objectives of boosting production levels through the implementation of the various new projects lined up by the company.
He stated that these projects which are tied-back to existing fields would not only increase production but also bring more revenue to the Federal Government.
In the wake of climate change-driven impacts, including the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles (host city of the 2028 Olympic Games), more than 400 Olympians from over 50 different sports have come together to urge the incoming President to make the care of the planet their number one priority.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) officies
With International Olympic Committee (IOC) Members gathering in Costa Navarino, Greece, to vote on the seven candidates from March 18 to 21, 2025, the letter underscores the pressing reality of climate change, stating that its impacts are “no longer a distant threat, but a current and growing harm to the sports we love and to the countries that make up our Olympic family”.
In the historic appeal, over 125 Olympic flag bearers have lent their voices to the letter, including many from some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations: Argentina, Aruba, the Bahamas, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Cook Islands, Eswatini, Fiji, Ghana, India, Kenya, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Sierra Leone and Zambia.
Recognising that extreme weather events are already disrupting the Summer and Winter Olympics, and impacting athlete performance and safety, the letter requests decisive action to ensure the Games remain accessible and safe for future generations.
The letter calls for a strengthening of the IOC’s existing commitments to cut carbon emissions, championing sustainability in Host Cities, setting an agreed standard around polluting sponsors, and using the IOC’s platform to advocate for environmental action. Paris 2024 successfully halved the carbon footprint of previous Games, but it is understood that the LA 2028 host committee is yet to confirm its climate related targets.
The letter was spearheaded by British Olympians, including Double Olympic Champion sailor and IOC Sustainability Ambassador Hannah Mills OBE, who emphasised the significance of this moment.
Mills said: “I’m not sure we’ve ever seen so many athletes from around the world speak with one voice. The terrible LA wildfires couldn’t have been clearer: the time is now to set a course for a safe, bright future. As a sailor and a mum, this hits close to home. The Olympics has held and fulfilled the dreams of so many over its history. But I can’t have any bigger dream than a future in which my children can thrive.”
Collectively, the signatories – who hold over 245 medals between them, 90 of them Gold – have requested an early meeting with the incoming President to discuss how the Olympic movement can further strengthen their leadership in tackling the climate crisis.
As the world’s most iconic sporting event, the Olympic Games have long been a symbol of unity and perseverance. Now, Olympians are using their platform to ensure that future generations can continue to chase their dreams – on a planet that can sustain them.
Thorsten Margis, Quadruple Olympic Champion (Bobsleigh, Germany), says: “In bobsleigh, every fraction of a second counts – you have to push with full power from the start, work as a team, and give every effort into reaching the finish line. Climate action and strong leadership from the IOC are no different: we need bold teamwork and a clear path forward to protect our planet – and with it, the future of the Olympic Games. If we wait too long or lose focus, we risk crashing into consequences we can’t undo.”
Saina Nehwal, Former World Champion and Olympic Medallist (Badminton, India), says:“As athletes, we push ourselves to be the best, but we also need to push for a better, healthier planet. The solidarity amongst athletes this letter shows is amazing, and makes clear that the next IOC President must prioritize sustainability to protect the environments where we train, compete, and live.”
Matt Wearn, Double Olympic Champion and flag bearer at the Paris 2024 Games(Sailing, Australia), says: “Sailors know that you can’t control the wind, but you can adjust your course. Climate change is already reshaping our oceans, weather patterns, and the sports we love – but just talking about the problem isn’t going to sort it. We need real action. The next IOC President has a responsibility to lead from the front, steering the Olympic Movement toward meaningful solutions that protect our planet for future generations.”
Ferdinand Omanyala, African 100m record holder and Kenya’s flag bearer at the Paris 2024 Games, says: “A healthy environment is essential—not just for athletes, but for everyone. Here in Kenya and around the world, we’re already experiencing the harsh realities of climate change, from extreme weather to rising temperatures. We can’t afford to wait. Protecting our planet must be a top priority so that both athletes and communities can thrive in a cleaner, more sustainable world.”
Adam van Koeverden MP, Olympic Champion, quadruple Olympic Medallist and flag bearer for Canada at the Beijing 2008 Games:“This letter from over 340 Olympians across the world couldn’t be clearer: the next IOC President must make climate action their top priority. Athletes see firsthand how environmental changes affect our sports, and increasingly our countries too. We need bold leadership that safeguards both the future of the Games and the well-being of communities worldwide.”
Elana Meyers Taylor, USA, Five-Time Olympic Medallist in Bobsleigh and flag bearer at Beijing 2022 Games: “As a winter Olympian and a mother of two, I feel so strongly that the next IOC President must prioritize care for the planet, ensuring that the sports we love – and the winter landscapes that make them possible – are preserved. We need leadership that champions real solutions, not just for the Games, but for the world our children will inherit.”
Miguel Tudela, Pro Surfer and Peru’s flag bearer at the Tokyo 2020 Games, says: “The best surfer looks for the biggest wave. That’s what protecting the planet is: it’s the biggest challenge this President will face, but it’s the one we have to face if we want the joy of sport to continue, and the wellbeing of communities more generally.”
Brooke Raboutou, two-time Olympian and Silver Medallist at Paris 2024 Games (Sport Climbing, USA),says: “The Olympics are powerful because they bring athletes and fans from around the world together. This is another moment to stand side by side, and a vital one.
“As athletes we see firsthand how our environment impacts performance and well-being. Future generations deserve the chance to compete, train and thrive in a healthy world so it’s essential that the next IOC President prioritizes actions that protect that future for us all.”
Tilali Scanlan, flag bearer at the Tokyo 2020 Games (Swimming, American Samoa),says: “I’ve learned that achieving our dreams requires dedication and a deep respect for the world around us. We need to cherish this planet that we have.
“The Olympic Movement has an opportunity to lead by example, and no-one has more responsibility for that than the incoming President. There is no greater sporting dream than a safe, healthy future for all – no race that is more important for us to win.”
