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Mike Owhoko: Nigeria’s traitor-powered terrorism and the looming danger

Michael Simire
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Mike Owhoko: Nigeria’s traitor-powered terrorism and the looming danger

Worried and moved by the unending terrorism in Nigeria, I was recently compelled to investigate the menace, using my crystal ball.  From the revelation, some high-ranking individuals are fueling the widespread terrorism-induced bloodbath through betrayal and tacit support.

And except there is a unified response driven by sincerity, patriotism and unbiasedness, devoid of religious and ethnic prejudices, Nigeria will be brought to its knees by terrorist’s groups with jihadist agenda.

I am not a clairvoyant, but I have a crystal ball which I occasionally consult when I am eager to forecast the future. I have never doubted the accuracy of my crystal ball due to outcome of previous results. This forms the basis of my concern and fear for Nigeria, a country that had once showed great promises, could become a victim of traitors and systems contradictions.

Dr. Mike Owhoko
Dr. Mike Owhoko

In my crystal ball, I see terrorism draped in jihadism with ultimate goal to establish Islamic Caliphate in Nigeria. There is a covert design aimed at spreading Islamic authority and influence across the country, and what is playing out is a script to deliver this plan. Current outlook for control of economic and political power is accidental, and not the underlining motive. It is a carefully guided intent by the traitors.

This underscores the reason for the underground conspiracy by some powerful Islamic extremists to weaken capacity of government to fight terrorism, implicitly, exposing the country to complex risks with streaming effect of sliding into an Afghanistan’s experience. Afghanistan is currently ruled by the Talibans, reputed for terrorism and human rights violations. Though a long-term plan, the goal is aimed at making Nigeria an Islamic country, using Sharia law as driver.

Unarguably, the introduction of Sharia law in 12 northern states of Zamfara, Sokoto, Kano, Bauchi, Katsina, Jigawa, Borno, Kaduna, Yobe, Gombe and Niger, has encouraged Islamic extremism, and provided the framework for promotion of jihadism in Nigeria. Islamic extremists, particularly those of Fulani extraction, believe Sharia law should be extended to other parts of the country through Jihad, even though it undermines Nigeria’s secular status.

This ambition emboldens Fulani Islamic extremists and other terrorist groups to move into communities to maim, kill, dislodge and dispossess inhabitants of their ancestral homes and lands. Until Sharia law is abolished, Islamic terrorism in Nigeria will not abate.

Trailer load of Fulani youths together with some persons suspected to be from the Sahel, being transported and dropped off in large numbers in bushes of various communities across the country, particularly in the southern part of Nigeria, is part of the overall plot. These youths with no visible education and skills, carry out various crimes from their hidden locations, including kidnapping and rape, and most times, forcefully converting their victims to Islam.

In my crystal ball, I see some notable traditional rulers, Islamic clerics, politicians, businessmen and influential personalities from the north as benefactors, providing support for jihadist agenda in a coded fashion. The Nigerian Army is also not immune to insider traitors who secretly volunteer classified information to advance Sharia scheme.

As a ploy to gather sympathy, I see some of these sponsors and sympathisers appealing to sentiments by downplaying the gravity of crime of these terrorist groups and portraying them as bandits and insurgents fighting for religious obligations. This position is expected to be canvassed and sustained in various social media platforms in the time ahead.

A few of these collaborators are also secretly working with some external groups with leanings to Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). It is ISIS’ agenda to push its ideology and influence across some key African countries, including Nigeria.

Besides, I see the conspirators not giving up in their attempts to frustrate government’s efforts at defeating terrorism. Targeting and killing of Christians, and some Muslims who hold contrary view of Islam, is part of grand design to blackmail government into submission and expand Islamic hegemony in Nigeria. It is also their plans to leverage strategic alliance with some Sahel groups to attain mutual goals.

Notwithstanding the recent United States’ bombing of terrorists’ cells in Sokoto State, I see terrorists’ organisations expanding their bases and networks beyond current operational holds in the north and making incursion into the southern parts of the country. I also see emergence of new splinter groups from Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), while Ansaru, Fulani Islamic extremists, Mahmuda and Lakurawa, will remain united with common agenda for territorial expansion.

Major manifestations in my crystal ball are reminiscent of the events that happened during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. While in power, Jonathan had said that Boko Haram members and sympathisers were in almost every level of his government. In an interview with the Voice of America (VOA) in 2015, he further disclosed that Boko Haram had links with international extremist groups like ISIS in the Middle East where they were undergoing training.

When President Jonathan made these remark, Nigerians glossed over it, believing that, as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, he had the powers to deal with the terrorist groups. Unfortunately, his government was encumbered by entrenched Islamic interests, resulting largely to failure to conquer the Islamic extremists.

Since it was within Jonathan’s constitutional responsibility to protect lives and properties, why did he not move proactively and swiftly in identifying and encircling the Boko Haram elements in his government? Evidently, Jonathan was overwhelmed by the domineering influence of Islamic stalwarts, both in and outside his government.

The former President failed to exercise the will and political courage to confront the monsters, owing to offence-aversion to avoid likely blackmail and sabotage by some powerful northerners. This encouraged Boko Haram’s influence to fester in his government. Unfortunately, he learned in a hard way, following the kidnap of Chibok girls, which was obviously orchestrated to humiliate and bring down his government.

With the Chibok experience and the on-going terrorism attacks in the country, I have often wondered why government, with all its contraptions, including intelligence network and security formations, would allow these Islamic moles in government, despite implications on Nigeria’s sovereignty?

With my knowledge of Political Science, I know for a fact that government is the supreme entity with overall authority over the people, with primary purpose to provide security and welfare. In absolute terms, there is nothing a government in power cannot do, except to literally turn a man to a woman, and vice versa.

So, why the waiver of some persons from the weight of the law, making government to look like institutional weakling? In the absence of compromise, government has the capacity to identify and track activities of terrorists.

Late General Sanni Abacha might not have become Head of State through democratic means, but he understood the risk posed by saboteurs in and outside government. To achieve stability, he identified and punished persons considered as threat to government, irrespective of status. Abacha believed that once insurrection had lasted more than 72 hours, there was insider’s collaboration fueled by political motive.

For government, there should be no sacred cows and individuals with blue blood, as the law is sacrosanct. Government’s current seeming fatigue to contain and deal with these Islamic fundamentalists, is rooted in overwhelming influence enjoyed by radical Islamic adherents in government. They should be fished out.

For too long, government has exhibited cowardice in the face of growing crimes against Nigerians by a few entrenched Islamic extremists. Seeking external help to save lives and properties, is not a sign of weakness, but diplomatic courage. The recent intelligence cooperation between the Federal Government and the United States, resulting in airstrikes of terrorists in the North-West region is commendable. The government must leverage all available external opportunities to defeat this jihadist scheme.

Nigeria is a secular state and a plural society with over 250 ethnic groups. There must be freedom of religion devoid of discrimination, just as no one ethnic group has the authority to encroach into other peoples’ ancestral land and violently take possession. This must stop.

Therefore, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu must demonstrate courage to identify and deal with the sympathisers, financiers and sponsors of these Islamic terror groups, otherwise, he risks facing the Jonathan’s fate, and possibly, dismemberment of Nigeria. 

Dr. Mike Owhoko is a Lagos-based public policy analyst, author, and journalist. He can be reached at www.mikeowhoko.com, and followed on X {formerly Twitter} @michaelowhoko

Reduce waste at home, make zero waste a daily habit – BAN Toxics

Michael Simire
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Reduce waste at home, make zero waste a daily habit – BAN Toxics

January marks International Zero Waste Month, a growing global observance that calls for systemic action from governments, industries, and all sectors to reduce waste at its source and prevent pollution.

The movement began in the Philippines in 2012 through the Zero Waste Youth Initiative and was formally recognised in 2014 with Presidential Proclamation No. 760, which promotes designing and managing products and processes to systematically avoid and eliminate the volume and toxicity of waste and materials, while conserving and recovering resources instead of indiscriminately disposing or burning them.

Since 2023, environmental organisations led by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) have helped expand the campaign internationally, making zero waste a shared advocacy across countries, sectors, and communities.

International Zero Waste Month
International Zero Waste Month 2026

This year’s observance of International Zero Waste Month also coincides with the 25th anniversary of Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, enacted on January 26, 2001, which provides the national framework for integrated solid waste management based on resource conservation and recovery. More than two decades on, persistent challenges such as improper waste disposal, infrastructure constraints, and gaps in public awareness underscore the need to strengthen and fully implement the law.

According to DENR reports, the Philippines generates 2.7 million tons of plastic waste annually, contributing to the 61,000 metric tons of solid waste produced daily – enough to fill 37 Olympic-sized swimming pools. This includes 163 million plastic sachets, 48 million shopping bags, and 45 million thin-film bags. Alarmingly, only a third of this waste ends up in landfills, while 35% is discarded into the ocean.

“Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient, and visionary, guiding industries, governments, and communities to prioritise upstream solutions – reducing production, designing products responsibly, and minimising waste at its source – while recognising that recycling and other downstream measures remain essential,” said Jam Lorenzo, Deputy Executive Director of BAN Toxics.

The group emphasised that the country should adopt the principle of Zero Waste across all sectors, focusing on policies and practices that prevent waste generation before it occurs. By prioritising upstream solutions, the country can conserve natural resources, protect ecosystems, and create sustainable production and consumption systems, complementing downstream strategies like recycling, recovery, and safe disposal.

Meanwhile, at the community level, BAN Toxics suggests practical Zero Waste approaches that can help reduce waste, promote sustainable production and consumption, and create a safer, healthier environment at home and in the neighborhood:

  1. Segregate Your Waste

Segregating waste at home is the first step toward a Zero Waste approach. Separate recyclables, compostables, biodegradables, and hazardous items to conserve resources, reduce landfill dumping, and prevent toxic contamination and pollution.

  1. Refuse Single-Use Plastics, Switch to Reusables

Say “no” to plastic bags, straws, and disposable utensils, and bring reusable alternatives whenever possible. Use bayongs, mesh, or cloth produce bags for fruits and vegetables, and carry metal straws and reusable utensils for take-out orders. Replace plastic wrap and disposable containers with glass or stainless-steel food storage, which keeps food fresh without generating waste or absorbing odors. Consistently adopting these practices can prevent hundreds of single-use plastics from entering the waste stream.

  1. Compost Kitchen Waste and Non-Recyclables

Biodegradable waste makes up a significant portion of household garbage. Compost vegetable peels, fruit scraps, coffee grounds, and eggshells. Tear non-recyclable items like food cartons, paper napkins, tissue paper, pizza boxes, and paper egg cartons into small pieces and add them to the compost bin. The resulting compost can be used in home gardens, potted plants, or community composting programmes.

  1. Support Eco-Friendly Refilling Stores or Plastic-Free Sari-Sari Stores

Refilling stores and plastic-free sari-sari stores are zero-waste shops where you bring your own containers to fill with bulk goods like food, cleaning supplies, and personal care items. They reduce single-use plastics and packaging while offering sustainable alternatives for everyday essentials.

  1. Make Your Own Cleaning Products

Replace household cleaners with simple ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon. Natural cleaners cost less, reduce plastic bottles, and eliminate harsh chemicals. A basic all-purpose cleaner of equal parts water and vinegar with a few drops of essential oil works for most tasks.

  1. Choose Environmentally Friendly Products

Select products made from natural or recycled materials, such as bamboo, organic cotton, or native leaves. Choose items that reduce waste, like steel bottles and cloth bags, energy-efficient options like LED bulbs or solar devices, non-toxic household cleaners, and chemical-free personal care products.

  1. Practice Mindful Meal Planning

Plan meals weekly, shop with a list, and use what you have before buying more. Store food properly to extend freshness and repurpose leftovers to reduce food waste.

  1. Repair, Repurpose, and Donate

Before discarding items, consider if they can be repaired, repurposed, or given to someone who needs them. Learn basic repair skills such as sewing buttons, patching clothes, or fixing small appliances. Transform old t-shirts into cleaning rags, glass jars into storage containers, and worn towels into washable cleaning cloths. Donate usable items you no longer need instead of throwing them away. These practices extend product lifespans and keep materials in circulation.

  1. Replace Disposables with Sustainable Alternatives

Examine your daily routine for disposable items you can replace with reusable alternatives. Use cloth handkerchiefs instead of tissues, washable menstrual products instead of disposables, rechargeable batteries instead of single-use, and real dishes for gatherings instead of paper plates and cups. Small changes like these may seem minor, but together they prevent large amounts of waste.

BAN Toxics emphasises that transitioning to zero-waste habits does not require perfection. Individuals and communities can start with one or two manageable changes and gradually add more as these practices become routine. Focusing on progress over perfection, even reducing waste by 20% can make a meaningful difference.

The organisation stresses that the Zero Waste journey is ultimately about being more intentional with resources, reconnecting with what we consume, and recognizing that individual and collective choices shape the environment.

Africa’s nicotine moment: What to watch in 2026

Michael Simire
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Africa’s nicotine moment: What to watch in 2026

As Africa moves into 2026, the continent is quietly becoming one of the most consequential battlegrounds for the future of tobacco harm reduction. With a fast-growing population, limited healthcare capacity, and millions of adult smokers, policy decisions taken in the next year will determine whether smoking declines rapidly or remains entrenched for decades.

Across the continent, tobacco control is strengthening. Taxes are rising, smoke-free laws are expanding, and public awareness of smoking harms is improving. Yet one reality remains unchanged: cigarettes still dominate nicotine consumption. The question for 2026 is whether African governments will begin to actively enable safer alternatives or continue regulating all nicotine as if risk were equal.

Tobacco smoking
Residue from tobacco smoke can end up in indoor air even in nonsmoking spaces

A Shift from ‘Control Only’ to Risk-Proportionate Policy

In 2026, the most important trend to watch is the growing tension between traditional tobacco control and modern harm-reduction approaches. While many African countries remain cautious about vaping, heated tobacco, and oral nicotine products, regulatory silence is no longer sustainable. These products are already in the market, legally or otherwise.

Policymakers are increasingly confronted with a choice: regulate safer nicotine products to displace smoking, or leave adult smokers with only combustible options while illicit markets expand.

Countries that adopt risk-proportionate regulation, distinguishing cigarettes from significantly lower-risk alternatives, will likely see faster declines in smoking prevalence and reduced long-term healthcare costs.

Country Signals to Watch in 2026

South Africa will remain the regional bellwether. Its proposed tobacco legislation could set a precedent for how emerging nicotine products are treated across Southern Africa. Whether the law differentiates risk levels or regulates all products identically will be closely watched by regulators, industry, and advocates alike.

Kenya represents a market of opportunity constrained by policy uncertainty. Vaping and oral nicotine products exist but remain expensive and inconsistently regulated. In 2026, tax reform and clearer product standards could unlock harm reduction as a genuine smoking-cessation pathway rather than a niche consumer option.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest market, remains largely unregulated when it comes to novel nicotine products. This regulatory vacuum presents both risk and opportunity. A science-based framework could rapidly position Nigeria as a continental leader in pragmatic tobacco control, or, if delayed, allow informal markets to dominate.

Zambia highlights the challenge of over-restriction. High taxes or bans on safer alternatives may protect public health in theory, but in practice risk preserving cigarette dominance. In 2026, pressure will grow for evidence-based reassessment.

The Bottom Line

Africa’s tobacco control story is no longer just about reducing smoking, it is about how fast and how effectively that reduction happens. Tobacco harm reduction is not a replacement for tobacco control; it is its most underused accelerator.

In 2026, the countries that move beyond ideology and regulate nicotine based on risk will define the next chapter of African public health. Those that do not may find that cigarettes remain the default, not by choice, but by policy design.

By Joseph Magero

What WHO Africa’s new health blueprint means for Nigeria – Experts

Michael Simire
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What WHO Africa’s new health blueprint means for Nigeria – Experts

Health analysts say the reform agenda unveiled by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, signals an important shift in how African countries prepare for disease outbreaks.

According to them, it will also help strengthen routine health services, particularly in Nigeria.

The analysts said this in an interview on Saturday, January 3, 2026, in Abuja.

Mohamed Janabi
Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa

Janabi said Africa must prioritise early detection of outbreaks, stronger primary healthcare (PHC) systems and regional manufacturing of vaccines and medical commodities to reduce dependence on emergency responses.

He warned that delayed reporting and weak laboratory systems had contributed to the wider spread of infections across the continent, noting that preparedness should no longer rely on funding that only increases during crises.

“Africa has learned repeatedly that delayed action is costly. If we strengthen systems early, we reduce the severity of the shocks that follow,” he said.

Dr Ishaku Akyala, an Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases at Nasarawa State University, said that the blueprint was particularly relevant to Nigeria, which continued to battle recurring outbreaks such as Lassa fever, cholera and diphtheria, alongside a growing burden of non-communicable diseases.

Akyala noted that Janabi’s emphasis on district-level surveillance, real-time data, laboratory readiness and reliable electricity in health facilities aligned with Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to modernise disease intelligence systems.

According to him, the approach could help the country detect outbreaks earlier, reduce response delays and limit both economic and human losses.

Janabi identified PHC as the strongest lever for improving public health in Africa, warning that heavy investment in tertiary care at the expense of community-level services leaves millions exposed to out-of-pocket health expenditure.

“If we strengthen the foundations, everything upstream becomes more efficient,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Samuel Eleojo, a Public Health Expert, said that this supported Nigeria’s plans to revitalise PHC centres, expand health insurance coverage and scale up community-level care through initiatives such as the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.

Janabi also called for increased local manufacturing of vaccines, diagnostics and medicines, saying Africa must not continue to depend almost entirely on foreign supply during global emergencies.

He said coordinated procurement, regulatory harmonisation and sustained financing were needed to make regional production viable.

Eleojo said that Nigeria would benefit from such reforms through its ongoing national vaccine manufacturing and pharmaceutical sector revitalisation initiatives.

Janabi further acknowledged funding pressures within WHO Africa and pledged reforms to make country offices more responsive, technically strong and accountable to member states.

He said WHO Africa would continue to support governments to shift from a crisis-driven response to a predictable, long-term system strengthening.

“The momentum is there. Our task is to turn promising progress into standard practice,” he said.

Observers said that the blueprint challenged Nigeria to sustain health financing, improve coordination, strengthen PHC delivery and invest in early warning systems to ensure resilience against shocks such as pandemics, climate-related disease spread and economic strain.

They noted that full implementation would help Nigeria move toward routine readiness, protecting households from catastrophic health spending and strengthening health security.

By Abujah Racheal

Oscar-nominated Chicago filmmaker teaches wildlife conservationists in Rwanda, Uganda to make documentaries

Michael Simire
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Oscar-nominated Chicago filmmaker teaches wildlife conservationists in Rwanda, Uganda to make documentaries

A Chicago filmmaker decided to create a classroom in Africa, where he shares his knowledge and insight with wildlife conservationists in Rwanda and Uganda.

The images they’ve captured are wonderful; the gaze of a gorilla, a hidden herd of hippos. But the people behind the cameras are not professionals.

“These are the people on the front lines of wildlife management,” said filmmaker David McGowan. “They’ll see things other people won’t see because they’re there all the time, and it’s only fair – they want to have a voice in the discussion too.”

David McGowan
David McGowan

As much as a voice, McGowen wanted them to have “the eyes,” the camera gear to tell their stories. So in 2022 he decided to go to Rwanda, bringing them the equipment they needed and teach them himself.

“It worked like a charm. The people who took the class were rangers, trackers and guides. They got it right away,” he said.

The idea began in 2007 when McGowan was in Uganda. A veterinarian he was working with told him a story: a silverback gorilla he was watching died, which wasn’t unusual. What happened after that was.

“The body was surrounded by juveniles and females in an unmistakable mourning rite,” McGowan recalled. “He had never seen that. He went to his colleagues, and they had never seen that. He went back to the literature – nothing. He said, ‘If I had a camera and knew how to use it, that would have been international news and a boon to science.'”

It took several years, but McGowan bought everything budding filmmakers would need; most of it with his own money.

He headed to Africa, where he taught a month-long course to rangers and guides, the people who drive the wildlife tourism industry but had never documented what they see every day in their backyard.

“I feel like this is working,” he said. “This is exactly what we want to do. We want them to have the tools and the skills to offer their voices about what are the solutions to keeping wildlife wild.”

McGowan’s students have already produced several short documentaries they share online, about everything from wildlife conservation to human, animal and environmental health. And their teacher is never far away; every Monday, McGowan gets on a Zoom call to encourage his students and answer any questions they have.

One of the film projects his students in Rwanda asked to do focused o how locals were learning to create handmade paper from banana plants, a full-circle moment because McGowan was nominated for an Academy Award in 1992 for his documentary on an Indiana couple who create handmade paper.

“I don’t know what to make of it, it’s like serendipity,” McGowan said.

Life, indeed, has a way of opening doors, many of them unexpected, like an opportunity to learn, fulfill dreams, protect and document a way of life for generations to come.

“I’m training people to feel like I do,” said McGowan. “They’re as passionate about conservation as I am. I know I have allies on other continents. I know there’s a cohort who will continue to do what I did with my career.”

By Joe Donlon and Edie Kasten (CBS News)

Article was first published here Oscar-nominated Chicago filmmaker teaches wildlife conservationists in Rwanda and Uganda to make documentaries – CBS Chicago in CBS News

Groups frown as Lagos forcefully evicts Makoko floating community

Michael Simire
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Groups frown as Lagos forcefully evicts Makoko floating community

Two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have decried the ongoing attack by the Lagos State Government on Makoko community, an impoverished and predominantly fishing community in Lagos.

While describing the development as “a symbolically inhuman and vicious New Year gift on the urban poor”, the groups called on the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to halt the exercise.

The Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and Centre for Children’s Health Education Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE) in a joint statement condemned what they termed a “gross human rights abuse” against the people of Makoko community in Lagos in response to the ongoing forced eviction exercise being carried out by the Lagos State Government using armed security personnel and thugs.

Makoko community
Houses are set ablaze at Makoko community

Houses are being set ablaze with people’s properties in the houses and with community members including children, women and aged persons scampering for safety amidst a major chaos.

According to community insiders, in a swift and unannounced move on Monday January 5, 2026, the Lagos government sent bulldozers into the waterfront community and started setting fire on houses.

“We earlier had a meeting with some government representatives, and they assured us that only houses which were 30 metres to the power lines would be pulled down. We are extremely shocked that they came and started setting fire on other houses.

“They came around 8am today and starting shooting, spraying teargas and seizing people’s boats. As I speak, they have almost reached 100 metres, burning houses down. Many of the occupants of the houses have either gone to the market or fishing jobs or traveled for the holidays and their properties are being set on fire.

“The chiefs were summoned to government house today after they complained about the presence of bulldozers in the community and while they were away, the demolition squad came and started the destruction. This is unimaginable. They are bent on driving us away by hook or crook,” said an insider.

HOMEF and CEE-HOPE described the latest eviction exercise as unlawful and condemnable and another attack on poor and vulnerable members of the society.

“It is really sad that rather than securing citizens, government and their agents are adding to the horrors, deprivations, harms and insecurity in the land. The assault on Makoko is absolutely reprehensible and unacceptable,” said Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, HOMEF’s Executive Director and eminent human and environmental rights activist.

“The human and shelter rights of every resident of Makoko must be respected by the Lagos State Government. Enough of this dehumanising treatment of the urban poor by the state in cahoot with private developers,” he added.

‘”It is sad indeed that the state government has shown itself to be consistently lawless on so many fronts especially in its dealing with the urban poor,” said Betty Abah, CEE-HOPE’s Executive Director. “Just after the savage attack on Oko-Baba, Ayetoro followed by that of Otumara and Baba-Ijora followed by the recent massive eviction of Oworonshoki all of which led to the displacement of tens of thousands of people, the government is turning its vicious searchlights on Makoko again. Lagos has an acute short of housing issue, why then is it not provision of affordable or social housing that is making the headlines from Lagos every year?”

She added: “Why is it the vicious attack on poor and vulnerable masses and massive forced homelessness, most times in direct violated of set down rules of prior and informed notification, resettlement and compensation plans? Why are these evictions mostly in direct flouting of existing court rulings or injunctions?”

She further lamented the toll of the demolition on children, thousands of whom are typically removed from school following such developments.

“These perennial attacks by a government on people to whom they owe a duty of care and protection are lawless, unwarranted, reprehensible and should stand condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians and indeed the world. They fall short of international and local standards of engagements. They must stop now and treat and compensate all wounded members and displaced members of the community immediately. Lagos must upgrade slums in line with international best practice and not destroy lives,” the statement concluded. 

Dangote Refinery denies shutdown rumours, confirms 50Sm PMS litres daily supply

Michael Simire
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Dangote Refinery denies shutdown rumours, confirms 50Sm PMS litres daily supply

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has rejected a circulating report claiming the refinery is shutting down for maintenance, describing the story as false and misleading.

In a statement released on Monday, January 5, 2026, the refinery emphasised that production remains ongoing, stable, and uninterrupted.

“Dangote Petroleum Refinery continues to operate at scale and retains the capacity to supply between 40 million and 50 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily through January and February, subject solely to market demand,” the statement said.

Dangote Refinery
Dangote Refinery CNG trucks

It added that, on January 4, the refinery produced 50 million litres of PMS and evacuated 48 million litres via its gantry. “Current stock levels cover over 20 days of national consumption, effectively dispelling any concerns about supply.”

The refinery clarified that routine maintenance on specific units, including the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and Residual Fluid Catalytic Cracking (RFCC), does not interrupt overall production, owing to the sophisticated and integrated design of its processing units. Other critical units, such as the Naphtha Hydrotreater, CCR Reformer, and Hydrocracker, remain fully operational, producing PMS, Diesel (Automotive Gas Oil), and Jet A-1.

“Dangote Petroleum Refinery confirms that it has consistently maintained adequate PMS availability for the domestic market. From 16 December 2025 to date, the refinery has loaded between 31 million and 48 million litres of PMS daily from its gantry, in line with prevailing market demand. These volumes are fully verifiable against depot loading records maintained by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in the normal course of its regulatory responsibilities,” the statement said.

The refinery also reaffirmed its ex-gantry price of N699 per litre for PMS, available to all marketers and bulk consumers. It encouraged filling stations, large-scale users, and institutional buyers to patronise locally refined products, which are more affordable, reliable, and of high quality, rather than relying on imported alternatives.

“By sourcing PMS locally at N699 per litre, marketers are better positioned to pass on price relief to consumers, enhance market stability, conserve foreign exchange, and support Nigeria’s broader economic recovery and energy security objectives,” the refinery said.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery accused fuel importers of promoting false reports to justify recent, unwarranted increases in petrol pump prices, noting that such actions run counter to national interest and impose unnecessary hardship on Nigerians. According to the refinery, without domestic refining, petrol prices could rise to as much as N1,400 per litre in a post-subsidy environment, highlighting the stabilising role of local production.

“Recent price movements further highlight an uncomfortable reality. In the absence of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, fuel importers would continue to operate without restraint, with petrol prices potentially escalating to levels estimated at up to N1,400 per litre in a post-subsidy environment. The refinery’s operations have therefore served as a critical stabilising force in the downstream petroleum market,” the statement added.

Reiterating its commitment to energy security and market stability, the refinery said it would continue supplying high-quality petroleum products, maintaining steady availability, and supporting Nigeria’s broader economic growth. Stakeholders and the public were advised to disregard misinformation and rely on verified sources.

“Dangote Petroleum Refinery will continue to act in the national interest by supplying high-quality, locally refined petroleum products while supporting Nigeria’s economic stability, energy independence, and industrial growth,” it concluded.

Africa’s upstream future: Momentum builds, but investment discipline remains a hurdle

Michael Simire
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Africa’s upstream future: Momentum builds, but investment discipline remains a hurdle

Two breakthrough offshore discoveries in Namibia in 2022 – one by Shell and one by TotalEnergies – marked an important milestone for the country’s future energy landscape and for Africa’s broader upstream ambitions.

The excitement generated by high-impact discoveries creates a ripple effect that benefits the entire continent. I’m convinced that the ongoing interest we’re seeing today in African exploration and production (E&P) stems in part from the major discoveries in Namibia, alongside recent successes in Côte d’Ivoire, Angola, and Egypt.

When you factor in advances in E&P technology, the promise of newly emerging basins, and the continued strength of Africa’s established producing regions, there are genuine reasons to feel confident about the future of African oil and gas.

Onshore drilling
Onshore drilling: Upstream activity in the oil industry

That sentiment is reflected in the African Energy Chamber’s 2026 Outlook Report, “The State of African Energy,” which projects renewed momentum in the continent’s upstream market during the next several years. According to the report, global E&P capital expenditure (capex) is forecast to reach approximately $504 billion by 2026, with Africa contributing about $41 billion.

Africa’s hydrocarbon production is expected to remain stable at roughly 11.4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) through 2026, and new projects are on track to increase output toward 13.6 million boe/d by 2030.

Yes, the report acknowledges that optimism is being tempered by caution. Keen to protect their balance sheets, investors are scrutinising opportunities closely. But overall, the potential for sustained upstream expansion is truly promising for African states with petroleum reserves. The key will be doing as much as possible to attract the capital needed to pursue the next wave of discoveries.

Frontier and Emerging Basins Signal Strong New Potential

As investors weigh their options, the most compelling signs of progress are coming from Africa’s frontier and emerging basins.

In Namibia’s Orange Sub-Basin, where more than 6 billion boe have been discovered in less than four years, operators are preparing the next wave of high-impact wells. Côte d’Ivoire, meanwhile, is seeing a surge of activity around its recent deepwater finds.

Egypt, which already has long history as a producing state, is experiencing fresh momentum in underexplored offshore acreage. Earlier this year, drilling in the Herodotus Basin confirmed gas at the Nefertari-1 well.

Even in Libya, where hydrocarbons have been produced for decades, frontier acreage remains. BP and Eni aim to spud the Matsola-1 ultra-deepwater gas prospect later this year. If it delivers, the well could pave the way for deeper Sirte Basin exploration and reduce geological risk across the broader Gulf of Sirte.

“The continent continues to offer up new frontiers, all of which may draw exploration capital,” our Outlook report notes. “Places to keep an eye on are the ultra-deepwater portion of the Congo Fan in Angola, the Gabon–Douala Deep Sea Basin offshore São Tomé and Príncipe, the Namibe Basin in Namibia and Angola, the Herodotus Basin offshore Egypt and the offshore portion of the Sirte Basin.

“Others that have already played host to exploration cycles may still present significant opportunities in a similar fashion to the Côte d’Ivoire-Tano Basin. One example is the MSGBC Basin, where over 9.5 Bboe was discovered between 2014 and 2019, but which is still viewed as immature in terms of exploration.”

Still, prospects alone are not enough. To translate discoveries into development, Africa must confront the operational and investment challenges that stand in the way.

Data, Imaging, and a New Era of African Prospecting

As encouraging as the upstream outlook is, Africa’s geology remains complex, and that complexity can shape how and where companies invest. In parts of West Africa, for example, thick layers of salt can distort seismic signals and make it difficult to identify potential reservoirs with confidence. And in the far south, strong offshore currents can interfere with seismic acquisition itself, degrading data quality and forcing operators to invest in more advanced imaging and noise-reduction technologies.

But as our Outlook report notes, technology is starting to change these dynamics. “Recent advancements in seismic acquisition, processing technologies, and drilling capabilities have enabled exploration efforts over the past decade to target more intricate prospects at greater depths in Africa as elsewhere,” it states.

These advances have been helping oil and gas companies de-risk prospects once considered too complex or too costly to pursue.

Emmanuelle Garinet, TotalEnergies’ vice president for exploration in Africa, has pointed to Namibia as a prime example of how high-resolution seismic imaging and advanced subsurface modeling can reshape exploration strategies. She noted that the company’s decision to drill the Venus prospect – which lies within the Namibian portion of the Orange Sub-Basin – was possible because the technical data provided enough confidence to reduce uncertainty ahead of drilling. The results validated that choice: the 2022 Venus-1 discovery, estimated at 1.5 to 2 billion barrels of recoverable oil, stands as the largest ever made in sub-Saharan Africa. Its scale has reshaped expectations for what may still be unlocked across the Orange Sub-Basin.

The trend is also visible offshore Angola, where better subsurface imaging and advanced drilling systems are opening deepwater and ultra-deepwater opportunities in heavily salt-influenced geology. Azule Energy aims to drill the Kianda prospect in late 2025. If the ultra-deepwater test succeeds, it could pave the way for exploration across a vast area – more than 30,000 square kilometres – previously viewed as high risk.

The Capital Challenge: Competing for Global Investment

But geological complexity isn’t the only factor shaping investment decisions. Political and security challenges persist in several countries – among them Nigeria, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo – and can materially affect both operations and capital flows. Add to that the lack of clarity around monetisation and industrialisation pathways, and it becomes clear why some investors remain cautious.

The Outlook report notes that upstream capital spending in Africa has risen consistently over the past three years as the sector recovers from the pandemic-related lows of 2020. Even so, worldwide investment growth has not kept pace with the strong cash flows generated by upstream operations. Analysts from firms like Wood Mackenzie and Deloitte all describe the same pattern: Companies are channeling a significant share of their cash flow into dividends, buybacks, and debt reduction instead of chasing growth at any cost.

In short, Africa is competing for capital at a time when global investors are more disciplined than ever.

In this environment, African states cannot simply assume that interest in our geology will translate into final investment decisions. We must move quickly to capitalise on today’s E&P appetite by reducing above-ground risks, providing clear monetisation and industrialisation pathways, and building stable, predictable frameworks that give investors the confidence to commit for the long term.

The window of opportunity is open, but it will not stay open forever.

By NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber

Farmers raise alarm over hippo attacks on farmlands in Gombe

Michael Simire
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Farmers raise alarm over hippo attacks on farmlands in Gombe

Some farmers in Hinna Community, Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State, have raised concerns over increasing hippopotamus attacks on their farmlands and livelihoods.

Mr. Zakari Ladan, Head of Farmers in Hinna Community, raised the alarm in an interview on Monday, January 5, 2026.

Ladan said persistent hippo attacks had resulted in huge losses, noting that the animals frequently destroyed crops and posed serious threats to residents.

Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus

He said the population of hippopotamuses in the area had grown to more than 40, wreaking havoc on farmlands and affecting both farmers and fishermen.

According to him, from Sept. 2025 to date, no fewer than 100 hectares of farmlands cultivating various crops and vegetables had been destroyed.

Ladan said crops affected included rice, beans, cabbage, maize, carrots, okro, sweet melon, watermelon, onions and other vegetables, with losses estimated at more than N180 million.

“We are seriously worried about the hippos in our community that are destroying our farmlands and livelihoods.

“Currently, the population of the animals has grown to more than 40. They are destroying our crops and killing people.

“From Sept. 2025 to date, three persons have been killed in my community, while three others who sustained serious injuries are currently hospitalised in Gombe.

“If you come to my community, you will see hippos moving freely on farmlands. A single hippo can destroy up to two hectares of farmland in one day.

“We are calling for help to protect our lives and livelihoods because we are losing a lot on a daily basis,” he said.

Another farmer, Malam Haruna Hinna, said his carrot and okro farm had been destroyed by hippos, adding that one hectare of carrot was valued at N1.7 million.

Hinna said farmers were helplessly losing their investments in spite of reporting the situation annually to the state government, non-governmental organisations and other relevant authorities.

“We need urgent support from both the federal and state governments. We are tired and financially exhausted,” he said.

Other farmers shared similar experiences and appealed to the government to support them with farm inputs to enable them to return to farming.

They also called on relevant stakeholders to support fishermen in the community to adopt fish farming as an alternative livelihood.

By Peter Uwumarogie

Foundation urges DNA preservation to save species

Michael Simire
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Foundation urges DNA preservation to save species

The Margo Abayomi Memorial Evergreen (MAMIE) Foundation has advocated preservation of animals’ DNA as a long-term scientific strategy to help regenerate species threatened with extinction globally amid biodiversity loss pressures worldwide today.

Dr Dayo Abayomi, co-founder of the foundation, made the call on Monday, January 5, 2026, in an interview in Abuja discussing conservation science, policy, sustainability and awareness.

Abayomi explained that conserving genetic material from endangered animals could enable scientists recreate species that might had disappeared as advances in biotechnology continued to evolve globally through research, innovation, collaboration efforts.

Prof. Akinola Abayomi
Founder of MAMIE Foundation, Prof. Akinola Abayomi

According to her, DNA represents the fundamental unit of life, carrying the complete blueprint that defines an organism and determines its development, function and reproduction across species, ecosystems and evolution broadly.

“If we can replicate the DNA system and maybe incorporate that result in another animal, you can reproduce that animal,” Abayomi said, explaining potential scientific applications of genetic replication techniques conceptually.

According to her, assuming the pangolin becomes extinct and its DNA has been preserved, that genetic material could be applied in scientific research.

 She underscored possibilities for endangered species recovery through conservation efforts.

Abayomi said science was developing and one could use that DNA in another animal to give birth to a pangolin.

She cited future scientific incubator possibilities similar to stored human eggs research.

“From eggs, we are moving down to the actual unit that generates life and that can copy itself until it produces itself,” Abayomi said, describing genetic research focus evolution over time.

She noted that similar scientific concepts already existed in practices such as the storage of human eggs and embryos, adding that research was gradually moving beyond cells to core genetic material.

“Scientists and anthropologists have, in some cases, extracted DNA from ancient bones, fossils and preserved biological materials to study or attempt regeneration,” she said, citing global research examples, experiments, discoveries worldwide.

She emphasised that without proactive conservation and DNA preservation, future generations would lack essential genetic resources needed for scientific breakthroughs and species regeneration efforts, innovation, resilience, sustainability, research, and planning globally.

She added that such initiatives were part of the mandate of the foundation, which was committed to long-term environmental sustainability and biodiversity protection through conservation, advocacy, education, partnerships, research programmes nationwide.

The foundation, made up of three siblings, is conserving the Emerald Forest Reserve, a small forest by a river in Ikoyi-Osun, Osun State as part of practical conservation efforts locally today.

According to Abayomi, the reserve serves as a biodiversity area and a practical step towards protecting wildlife and ecosystems threatened by deforestation and climate change impacts, habitat loss, erosion, flooding risks.

She called for better investment in conservation science, supportive policies and public awareness to ensure Nigeria did not lose its rich biodiversity heritage, ecosystems, wildlife, livelihoods, resilience, sustainability, development, and future generations.

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

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