Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has unveiled the 32-foot Eyo Monument at John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History, in Lagos, describing it as a symbol of culture and identity.
Sanwo-Olu said that the unveiling, though simple, represents a significant and wholesome cultural experience in celebration of the Eyo Adimu Orisa Festival.
He said that the monument reflects the depth of Lagos’ cultural heritage, and reaffirmed the state’s position as a cradle of culture and tradition.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu unveils the 32-foot Eyo Monument
“This unveiling is simple, yet very significant; It is a wholesome experience that celebrates the Eyo Adimu Orisa Festival and what it represents to Lagos and our people,” he said
Sanwo-Olu commended the creator of the monument, Mr. Dotun Popoola, for using his artistic skills to project Lagos as a symbol of culture, creativity and history
He said that the state government would continue to support initiatives that preserve, promote and showcase Lagos’ rich cultural heritage to residents and visitors alike.
In his welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre, Mr. Qudus Onikeku, said that the 32-foot monument mounted on a six-foot base, was designed to tell the story and history of Eyo in Lagos State.
Onikeku said that the centre also planned to produce a documentary film on the Eyo festival to further document and preserve its cultural significance.
According to him, the documentary will feature a respected custodian of Yoruba culture in the state, Erelu Abiola Dosumu.
He said that the monument and the planned documentary aligned with the centre’s mandate to serve as a hub for cultural education, preservation and creative expression
Reacting, the Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos, Erelu Abiola Dosumu, commended Sanwo-Olu for his contributions to the preservation and celebration of Lagos’ cultural heritage and traditions.
Dosumu also praised the governor, for his proactive approach to infrastructural development across the state, adding that cultural development thrived best in an environment supported by strong infrastructure.
Earlier, the creator of the Eyo Monument, Mr. Dotun Popoola, said that the almost 40-foot statue was conceived as a commitment to the promotion of culture and tradition.
Popoola thanked the Lagos State Government for the opportunity and support to execute the project, describing the monument as a tribute to the enduring legacy of the Eyo tradition.
According to him, the artwork is intended to inspire pride, cultural consciousness and continuity among present and future generations.
President Bola Tinubu has praised the Federal Ministry of Finance for successfully closing a $1.126 billion financing package for Phase 1, Section 2 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
This is contained in a statement issued by Presidential spokesperson, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, December 26, 2025, in Lagos.
Tinubu also commended the Ministries of Finance and Works, alongside the Debt Management Office, for their collaboration in concluding the landmark transaction.
Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway
“This is a major achievement, and closing this transaction means the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway will continue unimpeded.
“Our administration will continue to explore available funding opportunities to execute critical economic and priority infrastructural projects across the country,” the President said.
Phase 1, Section 2 of the highway covers about 55.7 kilometres, linking Eleko in Lekki to Ode-Omi, key economic corridors expected to enhance national trade efficiency and logistics connectivity.
The successful close follows the earlier $747 million financing secured for Phase 1, Section 1, underscoring the scalability and bankability of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project.
The financing was fully underwritten by First Abu Dhabi Bank and Afreximbank, with partial risk mitigation support from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC).
It marks ICIEC’s largest transaction since Nigeria’s institutional and regulatory reforms, reflecting growing investor confidence in the country’s reformed investment climate.
SkyKapital served as Lead Financial Adviser, coordinating transaction structuring, lender engagement and execution, while Earth Active (UK) provided Environmental and Social advisory services.
The advisory ensured compliance with the IFC Performance Standards, the Equator Principles and international Environmental, Social and Governance best practices.
Hogan Lovells acted as International Legal Counsel, with Templars serving as Nigerian Legal Counsel on the transaction.
Describing the development as a defining moment, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, said the funds would be deployed responsibly and within agreed timelines.
“The signing on Dec. 19, 2025, of the $1.126 billion financing for Phase 1, Section 2 of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road marks a defining moment in Nigeria’s infrastructure journey.
“Collectively, these transactions firmly establish the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway as one of the flagship projects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda,” Edun said.
He stated that the facility represents the first fully underwritten transaction of such magnitude for a Nigerian road infrastructure project.
Construction of the highway is being executed by Hitech Construction Company Limited, whose early delivery of key road sections has attracted commendation from lenders.
In line with the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, a comprehensive Value-for-Money assessment was conducted by the Ministry of Works and independently reviewed by GIBB.
The successful close of Phase 1, Section 2 signals increased market confidence and Nigeria’s capacity to translate reform-driven infrastructure vision into delivery.
Africa is awakening to the power of its natural gas reserves, recognising that among its many resources, natural gas offers a reliable and expedient track to economic growth and energy independence.
In our “State of African Energy: 2026 Outlook Report,” the African Energy Chamber (AEC) details how the energy matrices of several gas-producing nations are pivoting from holding gas back as mainly an export product to building gas-centric domestic markets.
We regard this crossover not as some hopeful economic gamble, but as an essential step that all gas-producing nations on the continent must take if Africa is to benefit fully from its fossil fuel reserves and build up true self-reliance – without apology – just as the developed nations of the world did when it was their time.
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
As our report makes clear, domestic gas demand in Africa is ready to surge in the coming years, driven primarily by rising power needs. At this pivotal juncture, several African nations serve as prime case studies on how forward-looking investments in gas production can power whole industries, create new jobs, and stabilise grids in places where such improvements are desperately needed. Additionally, their stories exemplify how, amid a global energy transition, natural gas will serve as a bridge fuel that will power Africa into its own sustainable future.
Angola’s Gas Renaissance: From Exports to Domestic Growth
In Angola, the oil and gas sector has seen its economic footprint shrink over the last decade amid declining output. Regardless, Angolan policymakers are well aware of the vast untapped value in the country’s gas reserves, and recent industry moves reflect a commitment to realizing their potential.
Angola’s journey into the global gas arena began with the construction of the Angola LNG liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in 2008. This transformed associated gas (gas found in wells alongside crude oil), which was previously flared or reinjected, into exportable LNG – slashing upstream emissions in the process.
The raw natural gas (or feedstock) that is processed and liquefied to produce LNG initially came from key offshore blocks operated by ExxonMobil, Total, and Eni/BP, and was augmented later with gas from other blocks operated by Eni/BP and Chevron. Though half of the associated gas produced in Angola today is still reinjected into wells to maintain pressure and enhance oil recovery, recent progress – like the December 2024 achievement of first gas from the Sanha Lean Gas project – aims to boost supply volumes to the Angola LNG plant.
Angola has also begun to pivot toward non-associated gas fields in areas like the Lower Congo basin. The New Gas Consortium, a joint venture headed up by Azule Energy, is targeting numerous developments on multiple blocks that are expected to ramp up LNG capacity by 2026.
Post 2010 exploration in the southern Kwanza Basin offshore led to giant non-associated gas discoveries. While exciting, we at AEC are frustrated that those finds remain stranded due to a lack of gas export infrastructure in the area and the high cost and difficulty of deepwater drilling where they’re located.
The Kaminho project, which targets condensate-rich pre-salt discoveries in the Cameia and Golfinho fields, is the first operation under development in block 20 of the Kwanza basin. Condensate/light oil recovery is the current priority at the site, and the extent of development will depend on the completion of the Kaminho floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) unit expected in 2028.
As our report speculates, the possibility of a network between Kaminho and the appraisal programs at the Lontra, Zalophus, and Bicuar fields in the same region could encourage development of gas transport infrastructure leading to Angola LNG at Soyo or central Angola.
The Angolan government seeks to expand its pipeline network, which may involve gas evacuation from Cameia-Golfinho to the coastal point of Caboledo and an onshore pipeline to Luanda and Soyo to satisfy local demand, but project costs and the necessary transportation tariffs are holding up investment. Funding for such developments could potentially come from upstream firms or international banks with added tax breaks to make them viable.
In the long term, gas blowdown operations at maturing oil fields in the Congo Fan could also supply Angola LNG, leveraging existing midstream infrastructure for extended production into the 2030s.
Domestically, Angola is allocating more gas to power generation, with supplies feeding the 750-megawatt (MW) Soyo combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant that has been balancing hydropower fluctuations since its start in 2018. But ambitions extend further: the Angola Gas Master Plan calls for fertilizer (ammonia) and methanol facilities by 2030, which would spur a massive increase in gas demand.
The proposed ammonia plant, set for construction in 2025 and operations by 2027, could demand up to 80 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) by 2035. Power expansions and conversions from oil will also drive demand, while opportunities in petrochemicals, direct gas exports, or mining electrification could diversify use.
By integrating LNG exports with local needs, Angola exemplifies how Africa can benefit from its resources while encouraging economic diversification and reducing dependence on imports.
Emerging LNG Exporters: Mauritania and Senegal’s Shared Success
Shifting north, Mauritania and Senegal have stepped into the LNG scene. They became exporters in 2025 with the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) project, a shared deepwater startup. This cross-border venture, featuring subsea infrastructure, an FPSO, and a floating LNG (FLNG) unit, has already generated approximately 3,000 local jobs and engaged roughly 300 domestic companies.
In 2015, developers overcame unitization hurdles through discussion, arriving at equitable terms, including domestic gas obligations. The project reached a final investment decision (FID) and agreed to a FLNG model, inspired by proven tanker conversions that have kept costs competitive on previous projects despite deepwater challenges.
Future expansions could double output through low-cost vessel upgrades; however, our report cautions that market oversupply risks and pledges from Senegal’s new nationalist government to audit contracts may introduce additional risks.
Domestically, each country claims about 35 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) from the project – with delivery of Senegal’s portion going to the Saint-Louis CCGT for power generation expected in 2026. Infrastructure initiatives, like gas networks and a proposed 366 MW power plant in Cap de Biches, aim to electrify close to 500,000 homes. Beyond power, other uses in petrochemicals and fertilizers could broaden the economic impacts, demonstrating how LNG can facilitate other industries.
Country-level initiatives like these align with the broader continental trends also outlined in our 2026 Outlook report.
Harnessing Regional Power Pools for Continental Integration
As of 2025, Africa’s gross natural gas production is set to hit 331 billion cubic meters (bcm), led by the major producers: Algeria, Nigeria, and Egypt. Natural gas already powers 40% of the continent’s electricity, with North Africa’s 32% share doing most of the heavy lifting.
By 2050, gas-fired capacity could swell by more than 77 GW, yet its share of the total energy mix should stay around 40%. This demonstrates how gas can fill in as a transitional fuel during the expected growth in renewables, as well as its flexibility in supporting solar and wind during downtime.
Numerous nations are phasing out coal and oil – implementing gas-to-power in their national strategies while looking toward LNG imports or domestic sources. For instance, Nigeria has made gas-to-power a centerpiece of its master plan. South Africa’s plans emphasise converting gas to electricity during its coal retirement. Senegal aims to have 3 GW of gas-to-power in place by 2050, and Ghana and Tanzania have similar gas-powered ambitions.
Though challenges like infrastructure gaps, import vulnerabilities, and environmental concerns will surely arise, we at the AEC are confident that targeted investments can overcome them.
These efforts are amplified by regional power pools – collaborations that allow neighboring countries to connect to each other’s power grids. Five pools cover the continent:
Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) leads as the most mature and serves as a model for strong interconnections and competitive trading.
West African Power Pool (WAPP) has advanced cross-border links but grapples with regulatory and financial issues.
Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) is also making progress on interconnections despite political hurdles.
Central African Power Pool (CAPP) is the furthest behind due to instability, limited infrastructure, and a lack of investment.
North African Power Pool (NAPP) has arguably the most advanced infrastructure but limited trade as it has more of a focus on integration with European markets.
The African Single Electricity Market, an effort to combine these five pools into a single continental power market, has sights on full integration by 2040. Although barriers like physical distances and technological and political compatibility issues are expected, finding ways around these barriers could further unlock the potential of gas by linking exporters to importers and boosting access and cooperation.
“The State of African Energy” spells it out: Natural gas is a catalyst for African prosperity, not merely a commodity on the market. By expanding LNG and domestic uses, nations can drive growth, cut emissions, and assert their energy independence. As a transitional fuel, it offers a comfortable route to an eventual conversion to renewables and can ensure that no African is left in the dark during the process.
Africa deserves to thrive on the wealth of its own resources, and the developments outlined in our latest report prove that outcome is possible.
By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber
From boreal forests near the Arctic Circle to dense tropical jungles south of the Equator, Earth’s last primary forests – ancient ecosystems that remain undisturbed by industrial activity – are vanishing. These forests, rich in biodiversity and unmatched in their carbon storage capacity, have a high degree of ecological integrity and are nature’s defence in the fight against climate change and species extinction. Yet they continue to fall, often quietly, cleared for short-term economic gain or degraded due to weak policy protections and underfunded conservation efforts
Amazon Rainforest. Photo credit: Neil Palmer / CIAT
Primary forests are the heart of the global climate and biodiversity agenda, underpinning key international agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. These forests store dense carbon stocks while continuing to act as powerful carbon sinks. They also regulate water systems, reduce the risk of zoonotic disease, support livelihoods with essential resources, and provide irreplaceable habitat for countless species – many of them critically endangered and found nowhere else.
Over 80 percent of terrestrial biodiversity lives in forests, and primary forests host the highest concentrations of species: especially those that are endemic, endangered or both. Primary forests fulfil a host of ecological functions, and the loss of these ecosystems is permanent – no restoration plan can replicate the complexity and resilience of intact forest landscapes within a reasonable timeframe, if ever.
Since 2001, the world has lost at least 83 million hectares of tropical primary forest and 50 million hectares of intact boreal forest. In 2024 alone, tropical primary forest loss exceeded 6.7 million hectares, releasing more than 3.1 gigatonnes of CO into the atmosphere – slightly more than India’s fossil fuel emissions that year. This marks a doubling of loss from 2023 and the highest annual rate in two decades – an alarming reversal of hard-won progress.
Despite rising awareness, much of the global response remains misaligned and siloed. Although restoration efforts are extremely important to repairing functionality and restoring habitat in degraded areas and ought to be continually funded, these efforts should not be at the expense of preventing further deforestation and degradation of the primary forests that remain.
We cannot plant our way out of deforestation: prevention is more effective, more cost-efficient and ecologically far superior
A fundamental shift is needed in both policy and finance frameworks concerned with forest ecosystem integrity which sustains primary forests. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), through the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), aims to protect 30% of the planet by 2030, and countries are striving to make progress towards this target. Fortunately, the CBD took critical steps both in Montreal and in Cali to integrate a clear and strong ecosystem integrity mandate into the GBF in Goal A, and Targets 1, 2, 8 and 12. Of course, the comprehensive focus on ecosystem integrity in the GBF by definition includes primary forests, but it is important to recognise this explicitly in the CBD at COP17.
The financial commitments made through CBD by countries earlier this year represent a critical milestone, but unless primary forests are explicitly prioritised in national strategies, we are sadly liable to continue seeing significant deforestation and degradation, as was the case in 2024. Similarly, the financial commitments made at UNFCCC COP29 represent an important step towards accelerating action to combat climate change – but primary forest conservation remains an overlooked solution within climate dialogues.
Where primary forests remain, governments must integrate primary forest protection into their international commitments and back those promises with legally binding safeguards, robust monitoring, enforceable protections, policy coherence and elimination of harmful incentives. In parallel, global finance must evolve. Current funding models fall short in prioritising conservation efforts with the highest ecological returns – leaving primary forests underfunded and exposing biodiversity, climate and communities to avoidable harm.
Beyond just a new policy, safeguarding primary forests demands an evolution of mindset: environmental protection isn’t a barrier to economic growth – it’s a value-add, a long-term investment in resilience, stability and prosperity of the planet.
These ecosystems are not liabilities to be cleared or degraded for development – they are assets, already delivering high-value ecological services that underpin healthy societies and healthy economies.
Innovative financial mechanisms can help close this gap. Redirecting climate finance toward avoided deforestation strategies, including payments to communities for ecosystem services and sovereign debt swaps for countries which steadfastly protect their primary forests, can unlock substantial resources to maintain and restore the ecosystem integrity of forests. Nations and communities demonstrating effective forest stewardship should be directly rewarded.
Moreover, Indigenous Peoples and local communities who have stewarded these landscapes for generations offer robust networks and approaches for maintaining these landscapes, a fact which has been reinforced by decisions made at CBD COP16 last year. Their governance systems have proven effective at protecting primary forests for millennia, and they are to this day both dependents and stewards of these ecosystems. Securing Indigenous land rights and channelling direct financial support to Indigenous forest stewards is not only equitable – it is a proven conservation strategy.
Some global conservation initiatives are already pushing for these changes and are backed by funding from multilateral organisations. For example, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which provides the largest funding for forest protection globally, supports the conservation of tropical primary forests as a priority globally – notably through the Amazon, Congo and Other Critical Forest Biomes Integrated Programme, endowed with $306 million grants leveraging in addition around $1.5 billion, as well as through other global projects executed by IUCN, Wild Heritage, Griffith University and other pioneering partners. These initiatives demonstrate that investing in primary forest integrity can simultaneously advance benefits for climate, biodiversity, people and economies, creating a win-win situation for everyone.
Protecting primary forests is not just an environmental imperative – it is a strategic policy decision with climate, economic and social benefits. Yet without immediate intervention, these ecosystems will continue to disappear, weakening global efforts to combat climate change and stem accelerating biodiversity loss. Policymakers must act to close policy gaps, realign and unlock financial flows, and position primary forests as foundational to global sustainability
The time for action is now. The destruction of these ecosystems is irreversible
We are already off-track to meet the goal of halting global deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, a commitment made by several global platforms over the last decade, including the UNʼs Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030. As critical global policy forums like COP30 bring decision-makers together, world leaders have a timely opportunity to act.
These forums must move beyond broad commitments and blanket statements and instead position primary forest conservation at the heart of climate and biodiversity agendas. We urge donors, financial institutions and policymakers to prioritise long-term solutions. The time for incremental action has passed. Preserving the world’s last great forests is not only possible – it is non-negotiable.
By Dr. Chetan Kumar (Global Head of the IUCN Forest and Grasslands Team), Cyril Kormos (Founder and Executive Director of Wild Heritage), Pascal Martinez (Senior Climate Change Specialist at the Global Environment Facility – GEF)
At the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat, 2025 has been an eventful, busy and rewarding year. It started with the preparations for the resumed session of COP 16/NP-MOP-5/CP-MOP-11 in Rome, where Parties to the Convention completed what they had started at the COP de la gente in Cali.
With 10 months away from COP17 and as the new year approaches, the CBD hopes that 2026 will be a year of “Taking Action for Nature” as called for by Armenia with its slogan for the 2026 UN Biodiversity Conference.
As the Convention bids farewell to 2025, it looks back at a year that saw important moments and collective achievements for nature and for people.
Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Off to a good start in Rome
In Rome, Parties adopted a roadmap for resource mobilisation and reached agreement on the Planning, Monitoring, Reporting and Review mechanism, thus paving the way for the first global review of collective progress in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), at COP17 in Yerevan in 2026.
Rome also saw the launch of the Cali Fund, a mere three months after it was operationalised, making 2025 truly a defining year for the collective quest to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources. The Guide to the Cali Fund, issued in June, provides essential information that can help boost the Fund’s capitalisation in 2026, building on the first contribution to the Fund in October.
In addition, SBSTTA-27 adopted important recommendations on aligning the programmes of work of the Convention with the KMGBF, on potential new areas of work, and on strengthening the response to the threat of invasive alien species. The critical contribution of soil biodiversity to agriculture was also in focus as was progress in the implementation of the Convention’s new Biodiversity and Health Action Plan and expanded voluntary guidelines on design and implementation of approaches on the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.
SBSTTA also discussed ways of encouraging synergies between the implementation of biodiversity, climate change and desertification policies at national level (more on such synergistic approaches below), deliberated on the risk assessment and risk management of living modified organisms, and successfully piloted some key approaches for improving the effectiveness of processes under the Convention, some of which have been adopted for the upcoming SBI-6.
In the margins of SBSTTA-27, we were happy to benefit from the strong engagement of our IPBES colleagues and lead authors of their seminal nexus and transformative change assessments. A two-day seminar provided the opportunity to Parties to discuss their findings and what they may mean for national policy making. And there was a moment of buzzy celebration as we marked the International Pollinators Initiative’s 25th anniversary.
Immediately after SBSTTA-27, also in Panama, was the inaugural meeting of the Convention’s new Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) and Other Provisions of the Convention Related to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (SB8j-1), marking a new chapter in the Convention’s history. This first meeting of SB8(j) was a truly special moment. In the words of Irene Vélez Torres (Colombia), COP President and Co-Chair of the inaugural meeting of SB8(j), this was “an unprecedented step toward greater environmental democracy within the United Nations”.
Adopting six recommendations and holding an in-depth dialogue on resource mobilisation and access to finance for indigenous peoples and local communities, the meeting took the CBD closer to giving SB8(j) everything it needs to adequately elevate and protect the role and contributions of the custodians of a sizeable portion of the planet’s biodiversity in the work of the Convention.
Striking the right balance between maintaining the principle of a Party-led process and the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities proved challenging, meaning that, in the run-up to and at COP17, more discussions will be needed so that the Subsidiary Body’s Modus Operandi can be adopted.
More discussions will also be needed on the proposed guidelines in relation to protecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities in the implementation of the KMGBF’s restoration and conservation targets (Targets 2 and 3) and on how to recognise traditional lands and resource use in spatial planning processes and environmental impact assessments.
Increased momentum for crucial synergies
Throughout the year, culminating at UNEA-7, there were lively discussions on synergies. Symbiosis among MEAs was seen as a must for increased policy impact. The launch of the Rio Conventions website, the joint contribution to the GEF-9 replenishment by the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions, and the CBD SBSTTA-27 discussions in Panama City, followed by the UNFCCC COP30 in Belém, contributed to building that momentum.
At SBSTTA, Parties recommended strengthening cooperation with the other two Rio Conventions, UNFCCC and UNCCD, including by strengthening the Joint Liaison Group and working together with the Secretariats and the current and incoming COP Presidencies of all three Rio Conventions towards the development of a multilevel roadmap with short-, medium-, and long-term actions, for discussion at COP17.
On the sidelines of COP30, the current and incoming Presidencies of the Rio Conventions issued a joint statement recognising the interconnected nature of biodiversity loss, climate change, and land degradation and drought, and affirming the imperative of complementary approaches towards implementing the goals and targets of the three Conventions.
The upcoming entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement, which reached enough ratifications earlier this year in September, provided an opportunity to reflect on synergy and areas of confluence between the CBD and this landmark treaty.
Business and finance: Stepping up action for nature
Given the size of the finance gap, innovative approaches are needed. A very encouraging development – which was welcomed as a trailblazing financial innovation showing how finance can thrive in harmony with nature – came from the heart of the Brazilian Amazon with the launch of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility in the margins of UNFCCC COP30.
All hands on deck for biodiversity
Listing every important happening would be a challenge, but the Secretariat would like to express its heartfelt gratitude for the extraordinary engagement from Parties and members of the public in the context of the celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity 2025, which examined how action on biodiversity underpins the SDGs.
Beating the drum for the KMGBF implementation beyond “Biodiversity Day,” the Secretariat engaged in many of the year’s defining meetings, from the United Nations General Assembly and the IUCN World Conservation Congress to Conferences of the Parties to the Ramsar, BRS, Minamata, CITES and Climate Conventions, and regional ministerial forums as well as high-level environmental gatherings in Africa, Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean. We conveyed a message of urgency to act for biodiversity to the first Africa Biodiversity Summit and to Summits of the G7 in Canada and the G20 in South Africa.
Around the world, it has been heartening to see the strong commitment from youth, women, cities, and other stakeholder groups to accelerating the tempo of implementation of the KMGBF, demonstrating the whole-of-society approach that the world needs for its full implementation. Actions showcasing the importance of biodiversity and what can be done to halt and reverse its loss were plentiful, with Cali Biodiversity Week, happening one year after COP 16, serving as an outstanding example.
Commitments from actors other than national governments will be a crucial contribution to strengthening the implementation of the KMGBF. In October, the CBD issued this notification enabling them to submit such commitments through the CBD Online Reporting Tool.
Biosafety in focus
This year, biosafety was an area where important progress was made, despite difficult discussions at SBSTTA-27. Strengthening collective commitment to the detection and identification of living modified organisms and highlighting the role of customs officials in implementing the Cartagena Protocol were among the areas the Secretariat focused on. The publication of the COP-MOP 11 Booklet and of the Technical series issue 7 took the CBD all a little closer to fulfilling the vision of a biosafe world.
From global commitment to regional action
The Convention’s Technical and Scientific Cooperation Mechanism is crucial for facilitating and increasing Parties’ access to relevant information, tools, advice, technical support and additional resources. Since COP16 welcomed the selection of 18 organisations around the globe to serve as the Convention’s subregional technical and scientific cooperation support centres (TSCCs) and mandated the Secretariat to host and operationalise the Global Coordination Entity, we have worked hard to bring this novel and promising mechanism to life.
Bolstered by the strong response, commitment and enthusiasm of the designated centres, the CBD concluded eight host agreements and are looking forward to the first biennial workplans of the TSCCs. It is also looking forward to the workshop of all the TSCCs to be held in Montreal in mid-January 2026 (as well as to building some snow(wo)men).
CBD also organised nine regional and sub-regional dialogues on NBSAPs and national reporting throughout 2025 to support Parties in accelerating the implementation of the 23 action targets and accounting for their work.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and cloudiness from Friday, December 26 until Sunday, December 28, 2025, across the country.
NiMet’s weather outlook released on Thursday, December 25 in Abuja, predicted sunny skies on Friday over the northern region throughout the forecast period.
According to the agency, sunny skies with patches of clouds are anticipated over the central region throughout the forecast period.
Cloudy weather
The agency predicted sunny skies with patches of clouds over the southern region during the morning hours.
It anticipated isolated thunderstorms with light rains over parts of Ondo, Ogun, Lagos, Rivers, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Edo and Bayelsa states later in the day.
“For Saturday, sunny skies are anticipated over the northern region throughout the forecast period while sunny skies with patches of clouds are anticipated over the central region during the forecast period.
“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are anticipated over the southern region during the morning hours.
“The isolated thunderstorms with light rains are anticipated over parts of Edo, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Lagos, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Bayelsa states later in the day,” it said.
NiMet envisaged sunny skies over the northern region throughout the forecast period on Sunday, while anticipating sunny skies over the north central region throughout the forecast period.
According to NiMet, sunny skies with patches of clouds are anticipated over the southern region during the morning hours.
NiMet urged motorists driving under rain to drive with caution while airline operators should get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective operations.
“Residents are advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet. Visit our website (www.nimet.gov.ng),” it said.
On a rainy evening on a Nigerian highway, a tanker overturned, blocking the road.
As a result, some victims died immediately, while others later died in crowded hospitals, leaving families in grief and confusion.
Such incidents therefore reveal why Nigeria is reassessing its disaster and epidemic preparedness.
Director-General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar
Moreover, recurring emergencies continue to expose gaps in coordination, response capacity, and the humane management of mass fatalities.
Across the country, floods, explosions, road crashes, and disease outbreaks have repeatedly tested emergency systems.
Consequently, families are often left struggling with loss and unanswered questions.
Questions such as who identifies the dead, ensures bodies are handled with dignity, and supports survivors have long exposed weaknesses in Nigeria’s response framework.
Data further highlight the scale of these challenges.
Between 2020 and 2024, Nigeria recorded over 150 infectious disease outbreaks, including cholera, Lassa fever, and measles, revealing gaps in rapid response, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
In addition, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) reports that Lagos, Kano, and Rivers states account for nearly 35 per cent of road fatalities, with unsafe practices such as fuel scooping and overloading contributing heavily.
Similarly, surveys by the West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN) indicate that malnutrition affects up to 45 per cent of patients in surgical and paediatric wards in northern tertiary hospitals, increasing recovery times, infections, and readmissions.
Albeit these challenges, authorities say the gaps are now being addressed.
In Abuja, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) inaugurated Nigeria’s first National Mass Fatality Response Plan.
The framework is designed to improve coordination, clarify responsibilities, and ensure dignified handling of victims during large-scale disasters.
According to NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, the plan was developed in response to lessons drawn from previous emergencies.
“This document is a response to what we saw in past disasters.
“We now have clear procedures, defined responsibilities, and the right tools to manage mass fatalities with compassion and professionalism,” Umar said.
She noted that mass fatality incidents, ranging from explosions and floods to building collapses and epidemics, have become increasingly common across the country.
Umar attributed the trend to climate change-induced flooding, rapid urbanisation, strained infrastructure, and rising insecurity.
She added that each incident leaves behind not only casualties, but families searching for answers and closure.
Moreover, she explained that the new response plan prioritises coordinated action across federal, state, and local governments to address past challenges of fragmented responses and overlapping mandates.
“In the past, overlapping mandates and unclear chains of command often resulted in confusion, duplication of efforts or neglect,” Umar said.
Unlike previous emergency responses, where bodies were sometimes mishandled, poorly documented, or left unaccounted for, she said NEMA now has standard operating procedures, trained personnel, and essential resources, including body bags.
According to her, the plan establishes clear protocols for identification, documentation, storage, and burial or release of remains, while taking cultural and religious sensitivities into account.
“The goal is dignity for the dead and hope for survivors,” Umar said, saying the initiative was a shift from reactive to proactive disaster management.
Developed through stakeholder consultations and evidence-based processes, the framework assigns responsibilities across all tiers of government and relevant agencies.
Running from 2025 to 2029, Umar said the plan is designed as a living document that will be periodically reviewed and adapted as new risks and lessons emerge.
Beyond policy formulation, she stressed that the document must guide training, simulations, and real-time operations to restore public confidence and improve outcomes during emergencies.
While natural disasters and epidemics often dominate public attention, officials say road traffic crashes remain Nigeria’s most persistent source of mass fatalities.
Mr. Hyginus Omeje, Assistant Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), said Nigerian roads have effectively become the country’s most consistent disaster zone.
“In 2024 alone, more than 5,400 people were killed on Nigerian roads, a seven per cent increase from the previous year.
“This is in spite of a reduction in the total number of crashes and injuries,” Omeje said.
He added that tanker explosions, highway collisions, and urban road accidents occur daily, overwhelming emergency responders and devastating families.
Omeje also identified fuel scooping from fallen tankers as one of the most dangerous practices, noting that poverty and desperation continue to drive the activity.
According to him, more than 400 people died in 2024 alone while attempting to scoop fuel from overturned tankers.
Human factors, he said, remain central to the crisis.
“Reckless driving, speeding, overloading, fatigue and poor road discipline continue to fuel Nigeria’s high fatality rates,” Omeje said.
In spite of the progress in reducing crash numbers, he noted that Nigeria remains among countries with the highest road accident rates globally, contributing nearly 10 per cent of road fatalities worldwide.
Omeje called for the declaration of a state of emergency on Nigerian roads, warning that without sustained intervention, road traffic deaths would continue to overshadow other disasters.
“Daily on Nigerian roads, lives are lost. We don’t need to wait for another tragedy before identifying that there are gaps,” he said.
He added that road crashes are one of the most frequent sources of mass fatalities, reinforcing the need for a comprehensive national response framework.
Nigeria’s renewed commitment to humane disaster response has drawn support from international partners.
Dr Latifa Arfaoui, Field Coordinator for Health Emergencies at the World Health Organisation (WHO), noted that the National Mass Fatality Response Plan was a “critical milestone” in strengthening Nigeria’s emergency preparedness.
She emphasised that managing the dead with dignity is not merely a technical issue, but a deeply human one.
According to her, respectful handling of remains supports family grieving, community healing, and reduces the long-term psychological toll of disasters.
Furthermore, Arfaoui added that the plan adequately addresses cultural and religious considerations, ensuring that emergency responses do not deepen trauma.
She reaffirmed WHO’s commitment to providing continued technical support to strengthen readiness at national and subnational levels.
Similarly, Ms. Nourane Houas, Protection Coordinator at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), stressed that implementation would determine the success of the plan.
“The impact of this document lies specifically in execution.
“We stand ready to play our part to ensure it achieves the purpose for which it was created,” Houas said.
She emphasised the importance of wide dissemination to ensure that all agencies and stakeholders understand and apply the framework consistently.
According to her, the ICRC will support training, systems, and tools that improve coordination and uphold the dignity of human remains during mass casualty incidents.
Emergency response, experts say, extends beyond disaster sites to hospitals and military medical facilities.
In Kaduna, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, underscored the role of healthcare professionals while addressing Nigerian Air Force nurses during a Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme.
“In an era marked by epidemics, disasters and tumultuous conflicts, the role of healthcare professionals, especially nurses, has never been more critical.
“Your expertise forms the backbone of our medical response capabilities,” Abubakar said.
He added that nurses play a vital role in caring for the injured, maintaining operational continuity, and supporting humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
The training, organised in collaboration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, focused on emergency preparedness and disaster response within the Nigerian Air Force.
According to Abubakar, such programmes help build resilience, encourage innovation, and strengthen collaboration among healthcare workers.
Even when disaster victims survive and reach health facilities, another challenge often threatens recovery.
Dr Teresa Pounds, President of WASPEN, described hospital malnutrition as a “silent epidemic”.
Speaking during the 2025 Malnutrition Awareness Week, Pounds said that globally, between 20 and 50 per cent of hospitalised patients suffer from malnutrition.
She added that emerging studies from tertiary hospitals in Nigeria suggest inpatient malnutrition rates of 30 to 45 per cent, especially among surgical, paediatric, oncology, and elderly patients.
Pounds cited findings from Nasarawa, Borno, and Enugu states, noting high levels of malnutrition among hospitalised children and elderly patients.
“Malnutrition in the community and in hospitals are two sides of the same coin,” she said.
She called for the integration of clinical nutrition into national health strategies, stressing that addressing malnutrition is essential for improving patient outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and strengthening resilience during emergencies.
Stakeholders say initiatives such as the National Mass Fatality Response Plan, road safety advocacy, military healthcare training, and increased attention to hospital nutrition reflect a growing recognition that preparedness saves lives and preserves dignity.
For NEMA, the focus is ensuring the new plan does not remain a document on the shelf; it must become “a living tool,” guiding daily operations, inter-agency collaboration, and training.
Oil and gas experts have urged Nigeria’s newly appointed petroleum regulators to make the full and faithful implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) the central focus of their leadership.
The experts, who made these submissions in separate interviews in Lagos on Friday, December 26, 2025, described the law as too critical to be diluted after two decades of legislative struggle.
The interviews serve as part of agenda-setting expectations for the new leadership of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan (top) of NUPRC Chief Executive and Mr. Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, NMDPRA Chief Executive
They also called for decisive enforcement of a “Nigeria First” policy framework, including concrete measures to reverse the country’s long-standing dependence on imported petroleum products.
The experts also called for the mandatory implementation of at least 30 per cent value addition to raw materials before export.
Prof. Ken Ife, an Energy Development Economist, congratulated Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Chief Executive of NUPRC, and Mr. Saidu Mohammed, Chief Executive of NMDPRA, describing their appointments as a rare opportunity to steer Nigeria through a difficult but pivotal phase of energy-sector industrial transformation.
According to Ife, the overriding task before both regulators is the uncompromising implementation of the PIA, particularly provisions designed to strengthen domestic refining capacity and deepen local value creation.
“The critical focus of their leadership must be the full implementation of the PIA law that took us 20 years to pass,” he said.
“This must be anchored on a Nigeria First policy – reversing import dependency and enforcing a minimum of 30 per cent value addition to our raw materials before export.”
For the upstream regulator, Ife urged strict enforcement of Domestic Crude Obligations (DCO), the naira-for-crude framework, and reforms to make upstream operations more efficient and attractive to investors.
He also proposed the introduction of a five per cent non-DCO compliance tax and insisted on backward integration, arguing that oil marketers should be compelled to invest in modular refineries or take over existing NNPC refineries.
“Developing strategic petroleum reserves to stabilise supply across the value chain must also be prioritised,” he added.
Turning to the downstream regulator, Ife advised the NMDPRA leadership to begin with a fact-finding visit to the Dangote Refinery to establish its existing production capacity, inspect Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) logistics and distribution systems, and assess laboratory facilities.
He further recommended independent testing of imported fuels suspected to be substandard, establishment of mutual cooperation with local refiners, and a clear determination of Nigeria’s actual daily fuel consumption.
“NMDPRA should urgently build its own internationally accredited laboratory in Nigeria and advise NUPRC on domestic supply capacities.
“The importation of petroleum products that drain foreign exchange, damage public health, and destroy machinery must stop,” he said.
Ife also called for the immediate implementation of the 15 per cent ad valorem levy on imported fuels, noting that facilitating the emergence of an oil and gas processing and refining hub should be a core mandate of the authority.
In his submission, Prof. Wumi Iledare, Professor Emeritus of Petroleum Economics at Louisiana State University, said expectations for the new regulators should be anchored not on personalities, but on leadership mindset and institutional loyalty to the PIA.
“Nigeria does not need transactional regulators who merely administer routines, manage optics, or negotiate influence.
“What this moment demands is transformational regulatory leadership, one that strengthens institutions, restores credibility, and applies the law without fear, favour, or political convenience.”
Using what he described as the QUAD-E framework, Iledare stressed the need for efficiency, effectiveness, equity, and ethics in regulation.
He urged regulators to reduce discretion-driven delays, eliminate regulatory frictions, and ensure predictable, time-bound approvals that lower transaction costs across the oil and gas value chain.
“Regulation must translate into measurable outcomes such as investment confidence, infrastructure development, domestic capacity growth, and energy security, not just compliance statistics,” he said.
Iledare further cautioned against regulatory capture, stressing that competitive neutrality must be maintained among state, private, domestic, and foreign operators.
“Above all, credibility will rest on transparency, rule-based decision-making, and strict adherence to both the spirit and letter of the PIA.
“Without ethical guardrails, efficiency and effectiveness quickly become instruments of exclusion,” he added.
According to him, the true measure of success for the new leadership is not early announcements or enthusiasm, but whether the institutions evolve into strong, predictable, and law-governed regulators, which he says is the real test before them.
An energy lawyer, Dr Ayodele Oni, said both regulators should jointly publish accurate monthly production data to boost transparency, policy clarity and investor trust.
Oni urged practical and lasting solutions to the Domestic Crude Oil Supply Obligation, alongside stronger institutional backing for domestic refiners.
He said the NUPRC should conclude the licensing round and tighten compliance to reduce leakages and improve fiscal discipline.
According to Oni, the NMDPRA should prioritise safety, environmental standards and effective market oversight to guarantee fuel availability and quality.
He also advised the new leadership to consolidate areas where the outgoing management delivered strong performance.
MEMAN Chief Executive, Dr Clement Isong, praised the outgoing NMDPRA leadership for integrating key petroleum agencies into a single authority.
“That integration was no mean feat,” Isong said, noting it helped stabilise downstream regulation and policy coordination.
He said steady stakeholder engagement during petrol price deregulation helped prevent supply disruptions and improved industry transparency.
Isong described Mohammed as a seasoned professional and pledged industry support for policies that deepen regulatory effectiveness.
He added that sustained investment in staff skills, safety systems, automation and customer service would strengthen downstream regulation.
CPPE Chief Executive, Dr Muda Yusuf, said domestic refining and energy security must anchor Nigeria’s new petroleum regulatory era.
Yusuf urged deliberate support for locally refined products to cut imports and align downstream policy with the Nigeria-First agenda.
He said fair competition requires equal regulatory and fiscal conditions for imported and locally refined petroleum products.
Yusuf added that domestic refining drives jobs, foreign exchange savings and long-term economic stability.
On the upstream segment, he called for urgent investment to raise crude output amid tightening global energy transition timelines.
Yusuf urged the NUPRC to target at least two million barrels daily through investment facilitation, security improvements and industry collaboration.
Nigeria Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohamed Fall, on loss of lives in a suspected suicide attack in Gamboru, Maiduguri, Borno State
I am deeply saddened by yesterday evening’s reported loss of life in a mosque in Gamboru Market, Maiduguri, in Borno State in north-east Nigeria, following a suspected suicide bombing attack.
The attack, which took place during evening prayers, led to the loss of lives and left scores injured.
Mohamed Malick Fall, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria
I join the Governor of Borno, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, in strongly condemning this heinous attack in a place of worship.
On behalf of the United Nations in Nigeria, I convey my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who were killed, and to the Government and the people of Borno State. I wish the injured a speedy recovery.
I also echo the Borno Governor’s call for increased vigilance and enhanced security measures during this festive period and beyond.
This alleged suicide attack is yet another horrific reminder of the deadly toll of violent attacks in Borno State this year. On September 5, more than 50 civilians were killed when suspected members of a non-state armed group attacked Darajamal, in Bama Local Government Area.
Other incidents have ranged from targeted attacks on communities to attacks on internally displaced persons camps, using improvised explosive devices, suicide bombings and other tactics targeting farmers, fishermen, travelers and traders.
I reiterate my call to parties to the conflict to protect civilians, including those gathered in places of worship, as well as their property, and to adhere to international humanitarian and human rights law.
To complement Government efforts, the United Nations reaffirms its commitment to continue supporting people affected by the conflict in north-east Nigeria.
Biodiversity loss continues to accelerate, driven by multiple interconnected pressures including unsustainable use, illegal trade, habitat degradation and the broader impacts of environmental change.
It was within this evolving landscape that the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7) convened in Nairobi, Kenya under the theme “Advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet”, where the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) engaged in a wide range of activities, highlighting the Convention‘s role in ensuring the legality, sustainability and traceability of international wildlife trade within the context of the triple planetary crisis.
CITES at UNEA-7. Photo credit: Kiara Worth, IISD/ENB
UNEA-7 concluded with the adoption of 11 resolutions, three decisions and a Ministerial Declaration, reaffirming Member States’ commitment to multilateral solutions to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. CITES engagement underscored the essential role of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) in effective multilateralism, translating global commitments into effective, coordinated action on the ground.
During UNEA-7, CITES Secretary-General, Ivonne Higuero, delivered three key interventions and contributed to a joint statement through the Biodiversity Liaison Group (BLG), highlighting the essential role of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) in addressing the triple planetary crisis, stating: “As we look ahead and, reinforced by our CITES CoP20 last week, our priority commitment is clear: strengthen multilateralism and work with Parties, other MEAs and partners across society so that MEAs act as catalysts for sustainable development. Leveraging these synergies will help us collectively deliver on the [Sustainable Development Goals] SDGs for planet and people.”
At the UNEA Plenary the Secretary-General underscored that biodiversity is deeply interconnected with global trade, culture, and economies, and cannot be treated in isolation. She highlighted the unique mandate of the Convention and reflected on the outcomes of the recently-concluded 20th World Wildlife Conference (CITES CoP20) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan – including 82 new species listings, decisions to further strengthen effective implementation of the Convention, Resolutions on jaguars and eels, and stronger measures against wildlife crime – calling for breaking governance silos and investing in practical tools to turn commitments into results.
During MEA Day, the Secretary-General Higuero stressed the 50-year legacy of CITES as a legally binding mechanism supporting conservation and sustainable trade. She called for integrated approaches linking biodiversity with supply chains and finance and urged Parties to align policies and leverage UNEA’s convening power to foster cooperation and digital innovation, concluding: “Partnership is not a choice – it is the key to a future where progress benefits everyone.”
CITES joined seven other biodiversity-related conventions of the BLG in welcoming UNEA-7’s focus on sustainable solutions. The statement called for moving “from silos to systems” to address interconnected challenges and highlighted practical steps such as harmonized reporting and digital platforms to ease burdens on countries, reaffirming readiness to support Parties in achieving shared objectives for a sustainable future.
Youth engagement was also highlighted during UNEA-7, with the CITES Secretariat underscoring the importance of meaningful youth participation in strengthening biodiversity action and implementation across multilateral environmental agreements. The Secretariat also highlighted the growing recognition of youth engagement within CITES, including at CITES CoP20, where Parties amended the CITES Youth Resolution to recognize the CITES Global Youth Network, which brings together more than 100 young people from 73 countries.
The CITES Secretariat contributed to a range of official MEA side events and associated events held throughout UNEA-7, reinforcing its commitment to collaboration, innovation, youth engagement and science-based policy. These included:
Joining Forces: How MEAs Drive Compliance and Enforcement Against Illegal Traffic (video recording available here)
Leveraging AI for better cooperation, collaboration and impact for MEAs (video recording available here)
GEF-MEA Exchange on Financing: From synergies to solutions – achieving a resilient, nature-positive, pollution-free future through GEF-9 (video recording available here)
Integrated Actions for a Resilient Planet: ACP-MEAs III Achievements and Pathways forward (video recording available here)
Youth Leadership for Biodiversity: Supporting MEA Collaboration for a Resilient Planet (video recording available here)
Bridging Science and Policy: Strengthening Resilience to Tackle the Environmental Crisis.
As UNEA-7 came to an end, discussions underscored the importance of environmental agreements and institutions working together to address the interconnected challenges of biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change.
Exchanges in Nairobi highlighted the growing recognition that coordinated and complementary action across these three crises is essential, including through species conservation and sustainable trade, to deliver practical solutions that benefit both people and the planet.
