The French embassy on Monday, June 2, 2025, in Abuja shed more light on its €1 million (N1.8 billion) grant for civil society organisations (CSOs) in Nigeria, providing a list of beneficiaries.
French Embassy in Nigeria
Some 19 CSOs, drawn from 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory, are listed.
The grant is to be deployed to drive grassroots development in the country.
The donation was announced in Abuja on Friday, May 30.
Tagged the French Embassy Fund for Civil Society Organisation (FEF-OSC), the initiative is now in its sixth year.
Among the CSOs listed are Against All Odds Foundation and Grassroot Researchers Association based in Adamawa State, and Girl Child Values Support Initiative and Youth and Adolescent Health Initiative and Counselling in Bauchi State.
Also on the list are The Centre for Redefining Alternative Civic Engagement for Africa (RACE Africa) in Benue, Economic and Social Empowerment of Rural Communities (Enugu State), and Empower to Thrive Development Initiative (FCT).
Circuit Pointe (Imo), Anti-Sexual Violence Lead Support Initiative (Kaduna State), Bridge Connect Africa Initiative (Kano State), and Protect the Child Foundation (Kogi) are also listed.
The list includes HopeSalive Initiative for Africa-HAI and Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (Lagos State), as well as Olive Rights to Health Initiative (Nasarawa State).
Also listed are Community Health Initiative for Youth in Nigeria and RippleAfrica Trust Foundation (Niger).
The rest are Committed Soul Women Health Advocacy Africa Initiative (Oyo State) and Gender Equality, Peace and Development Centre and Protection Without Borders League (Zamfara).
According to Bertrand de Seissan, the Political Counsellor at the French embassy, the initiative will provide targeted financial and technical support to empower the organisations to tackle pressing challenges.
These challenges, he said, include gender inequality, economic vulnerability and community resilience.
He said this year’s edition was carried out through a competitive process aimed at implementing high impact projects spread across diverse communities.
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed an executive order designed to lower costs and enhance revenue from oil and gas projects.
President Bola Tinubu
The Upstream Petroleum Operations Cost Efficiency Incentives Order (2025) introduces performance-based tax incentives for upstream operators and is expected to play an instrumental role in attracting investment, driving development and unlocking greater value from the country’s oil and gas resources.
The African Energy Chamber (AEC) commends the Nigerian government’s continued commitment to not only improving the operating climate for oil and gas firms but strengthening the competitiveness of doing business in Nigeria.
The Upstream Petroleum Operations Cost Efficiency Incentives Order (2025) is an intentional strategy to transform the country and, with this reform, Nigeria is said to be well-positioned to attract fresh investment across its upstream oil and gas sector – reaffirming the country’s position as one of Africa’s top producers.
The Upstream Petroleum Operations Cost Efficiency Incentives Order (2025) will feature incentives for operators who deliver verifiable cost savings that meet defined industry benchmarks. The country’s upstream regulator the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission will publish the requisite benchmarks on an annual basis and according to asset type. Benchmarks will cover a variety of assets including onshore, shallow-water and deep-water.
In addition, the executive order will cap available tax credits at 20% of a company’s annual tax liability, thereby protecting the government’s revenues as well as fiscal competitiveness. Nigeria’s Special Advisor to President Tinubu on Energy Olu Verheijen will spearhead inter-agency coordination, ensuring operators maximize the opportunities presented through the executive order.
The executive order could not come at a better time for Nigeria. Targeting two million barrels per day (bpd) in oil production and 12 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscf/d) in gas production – up from the current 7.3 bscf/d – Nigeria requires significant levels of investment in both active fields and exploration blocks.
While the country has long-faced investment decline owing to a variety of factors – including regulatory uncertainty and shifts in global spending – recent reforms promise to turn this trend around. The Upstream Petroleum Operations Cost Efficiency Incentives Order (2025) follows the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in 2021, which sought to address industry challenges by providing a comprehensive framework for the country’s oil and gas landscape. With both policies, Nigeria is expected to accelerate investment in exploration and production.
The impact of the PIA has already been felt across the country, with energy companies – from majors to independents to the national oil company (NOC – making sizable investments. Renaissance Africa Energy – a consortium of independents – is planning $15 billion in spending across 32 oil and projects; ExxonMobil is investing $1.5 billion to revitalise the Usan deepwater oilfield at OML 138; while TotalEnergies and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company is investing $550 million in a non-association gas project.
ExxonMobil’s Usan field plans to make a final investment decision Q3, 2025. In 2024, the country secured $6.7 billion in investments, with $5.5 billion of this directed towards oil and gas asset acquisitions. Looking ahead, both the PIA (2021) and Upstream Petroleum Operations Cost Efficiency Incentives Order (2025) are expected to entice greater spending across the market, providing operators with strong fiscals that prioritize high returns. By 2029, Nigeria seeks to unlock $30 billion in oil and $5 billion in gas investments, and the policies are anticipated to serve as a driving force behind this goal.
“This recent executive order is a testament to Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening its regulatory landscape, improving fiscals and supporting revenue generation across the oil and gas industry. The order is expected to play a significant role in attracting new investment into the country at a time when national production goals require greater capital and technology injection. The Upstream Petroleum Operations Cost Efficiency Incentives Order (2025) positions the country as a globally competitive hydrocarbon market,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.
In what looks like a historic demonstration, over 60 chiefs of the Indigenous peoples Karipuna, Galibi Marworno, Galibi Kali’na and Palikur Arukwayene, from Oiapoque, Amapá, Brazil, have released a letter demanding the immediate suspension of the licensing process for block FZA-M-59, in the Foz do Amazonas, and all blocks included in the next auction by the National Petroleum Agency (ANP), scheduled for June 17, 2025.
Indigenous peoples Karipuna, Galibi Marworno, Galibi Kali’na and Palikur Arukwayene, from Oiapoque, Amapá, Brazil
Meeting at the Council of Chiefs of the Indigenous Peoples of Oiapoque (CCPIO), the leaders denounce that they were never consulted about oil exploration in the region – as determined by ILO Convention 169 and the Brazilian Constitution. Despite the socio-environmental impacts already felt in the villages, the indigenous territories were left out of the Environmental Impact Study presented by Petrobras.
The letter denounces the serious socio-environmental risks of oil activity, such as pollution, destruction of biodiversity and threats to the livelihood of indigenous peoples, in addition to condemning the dissemination of misinformation and the persecution of indigenous leaders.
The CCPIO demands the immediate suspension of any exploration project in the region and calls for the support of indigenous organisations, human rights entities and Brazilian society in defense of the lives of indigenous peoples and the protection of the Amazon.
The Letter
Oiapoque/AP, Brazil, May 28, 2025
From the Council of Chiefs of the Indigenous Peoples of Oiapoque – CCPIO
LETTER OF REPUDIATION TO THE POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF AMAPÁ
For the disrespect for the rights of the Indigenous Peoples of Oiapoque and the pressure for oil exploration in the mouth of the Amazon.
We, the Council of Chiefs of the Indigenous Peoples of Oiapoque (CCPIO), legitimate representatives of the original peoples of this land, express our vehement REPUDIATION of the statements and actions of the entire political class of the State of Amapá, which insists on defending oil exploration in the mouth of the Amazon, ignoring the serious socio-environmental impacts and violating the fundamental rights of the indigenous peoples.
1. Violation of the Right to Self-Determination and Prior Consultation:
Disrespect for ILO Convention 169 and the 1988 Federal Constitution, which guarantee indigenous peoples the right to prior, free, informed and good faith consultation on projects that affect our territories and ways of life. Oil exploration in the mouth of the Amazon directly threatens our cultural and physical survival, in addition to putting one of the most sensitive biomes on the planet at risk.
2. Irreversible Socio-Environmental Threat:
Oil drilling in the region will cause pollution, destruction of ecosystems and irreparable impacts on biodiversity, affecting our fishing, agriculture and water sources. We do not accept that economic interests take precedence over the lives of our relatives and the future of future generations. Oil drilling in the region will cause pollution, destruction of ecosystems and irreparable impacts on biodiversity, affecting our fishing, agriculture and water sources. We do not accept that economic interests take precedence over the lives of our relatives and the future of future generations.
3. Devastation Bill (No. 2159/2021) and Senator Davi Alcolumbre
We repudiate the stance of Senator Davi Alcolumbre, who has been acting irresponsibly and disrespectfully by ensuring that laws that facilitate the devastation of the environment are approved. The senator’s actions demonstrate a political trajectory marked by disregard for environmental guarantees and the rights of indigenous peoples. His activism against environmental licensing and his attempt to speed up, at any cost, the authorization for oil exploration in the Amazon coastal region show that he chooses to defend immediate economic interests, even if this means putting the lives of entire communities at risk.
For us, this stance is unacceptable. Oil cannot be worth more than our lives, our waters, our ways of existence. Senator Davi Alcolumbre, who should be protecting his people and his land, is acting as an instrument of destruction, pushing the Amazon down a path of contamination, conflicts, and irreparable loss.
4. Dissemination of hate and misinformation:
We repudiate the political class, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Davi Alcolumbre, Randolfe Rodrigues, Lucas Barreto, Deputy Inácio, Governor Clécio Luis, Vice-Governor Teles Junior, Mayor Breno Almeida, the Oiapoque City Council and all others who shamelessly disseminate misinformation to the population of the State of Amapá about oil exploration, the creation of the Marine Extractive Reserve and the persecution and threats to the lives of leaders who oppose these projects that violate our rights.
5. NO TO OIL IN THE MOUTH OF THE AMAZON!
We repudiate any attempt to silence our voice. We demand that the Brazilian Government immediately suspend any exploration project in the region and that the National Congress respects our autonomy and constitutional rights. We will not be sacrificed for the sake of the profit of a few!
We call on all indigenous organizations, human rights entities and Brazilian society to join this struggle.
FOR THE LIVES OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE AMAZON!
As Morocco and other nations develop storage facilities of life saving provisions for times of severe disasters and crises, Yossef Ben-Meir, in this treatise, looks at the approaches taken by biblical Egypt to survive its cataclysmic famine that could be helpful today
The city of Marrakech in Morocco
The Kingdom of Morocco is taking the wise measure of building 36 storage facilities that will serve the people’s serious needs during severe crises, should they ever arise, such as with the horrifying 2023 earthquake in the High Atlas region. Ancient knowledge captured in the biblical story of Egypt’s cataclysmic famine can help guide nations today as they prepare for climactic and other forms of threatening instability that can occur with sudden destructive consequences.
The oral transmission of information through millennia embodied in the Midrash illuminates helpful guidelines for effectively preparing and ultimately saving lives or even civilisations. At the outset, a critical first lesson is that the cost of preparation today is less than the cost that will be borne when calamity strikes. Egypt’s preparation before the onslaught of the famine, when there was relative price stability, was a critical feature in their survival during the period of profound scarcity and the associated increasing of prices.
The biblical Egyptian experience also notes that, even with Joseph’s correct interpretation of the pharaoh’s dream and forewarning, the famine still came with a suddenness as if the prior phase of abundance had hardly existed. Even when we are aware of potential impending disaster – as we are with today’s climate crisis – when we experience its devastating effects, it feels as if there was no forewarning; whatever bounty may have existed, its abrupt end can be so severe that we feel as if times of plenty never were. This underscores the centrality of preparedness and how vital are the measures we take before a crisis befalls. After all, once the crisis happens, what was prior feels ended forever and even forgotten.
Egypt at that time also contended with the people’s lack of appreciation for the essential measures, particularly food surplus storage, to prepare against the looming devastation. The people’s gratitude came only after the fact when Joseph’s foresight with the support of the pharaoh was widely realised to be what saved them. Leaders today ought not to expect thanks for crisis preparedness but ought to find comfort in the fact that should catastrophe occur the measures they have taken to save the people will only then be understood and acknowledged.
The Midrashic commentaries of Egypt’s ancient experience note that their famine devastation struck the wealthy at least as profoundly as anyone; no one was spared and all faced its brutal force. Rather than indulging during the years of abundance, all people were strictly limited to meeting essential needs while the surplus was saved and preserved, gathering essential provisions in order to survive.
This is a vital guideline in that overconsumption during periods of relative plenty can undermine the vital measures needed to gather and preserve the necessary resources to live. Overindulgence during abundance – even when measures for storage have been taken – will see its harmful effect when serious scarcity is visited upon society.
Egypt established the arrangement that essentially a flat tax of 20 percent was levied during the preceding non-crisis period to prepare for their coming disaster. The management of that across-the-board arrangement was commonly and immediately understood, more able to be regulated for compliance, and seemingly fair.
Egypt’s stockpiling was not of a singular grain variety, but of a range of innovatively preserved food and essentials. Product diversity for overwhelming human needs contributes to overall survival by stabilising or dampening (even to some degree) dramatic price spikes and not having to rely on any single or even few products. The biblical text also notes that the storage procedure of different foods and grains require different manners of handling. However, general principles included storing in locations closest to where the products were produced to effectively preserve them.
This touches upon a key tenet of disaster preparedness in regard to storage, which is that the Egyptians localised it. Each city and town had their own facility. Organising storage in this decentralized way involved people nearby in the collection and maintenance of the facilities and therefore reduced any tendency to panic when the onslaught occurred. Every region preserved its own produce and they took upon themselves such strategies as to use the local resources in the preservation process. There are some natural preservatives they used that should be considered today, such as quicksilver and mercury as insect repellents, salty soil, dust, ash, and woodchips.
In a number of instances, storage houses were underground. When we consider the weather features scientists describe in relation to our modern climate crises, such as heat domes of increasing voracity (that we are already seeing in Morocco) and ruinous winds, we should seriously consider underground storage facilities.
Notably, even as ancient Egypt’s building and maintenance of storage was local, the dispersing of goods for the survival of the people was centralised to achieve regional balance and minimise waste. Notably, productive divisions of responsibilities between the local and national levels are highly consistent with Morocco’s contemporary decentralisation roadmap and system it is forging.
In the distribution of food and other vital essentials administered by Joseph, Egypt did not immediately open the storehouses when the people asked and even “cried” when the effects of famine were felt. People were able to endure during its beginning phases, and it was only when the famine became “severe” that the storehouses were opened. For Egypt to endure its seven-year civilisational threat, it could only open its storehouses when the threat level was significantly acute.
The storage facilities designated for the most serious disasters should be very specific as to when the threshold for their opening should take place. Opening them too soon could use resources too early and not provide enough resources to sustain the people throughout the entirety of potentially prolonged crises.
The location of the storehouses is also of major significance. Their placement should, for example, consider that in Morocco’s earthquake the municipalities furthest from the provincial capital did not receive support as immediately as those in closer proximity, which is often the case worldwide with humanitarian service delivery. The most distant municipalities from provincial capitals might border a municipality of another province that is also relatively remote from its regional centre.
Storage facilities should be established near enough for access by those peripheral locations. This will have the stabilising impact of less migration during times of crises and thereby place less pressure upon provincial, regional, and national capitals.
Finally, the biblical text and the Midrashic commentaries do describe Joseph’s qualities as well as effective management attributes that are essential for societies to survive through cataclysmic events. The attention to detail on the part of national leaders is absolutely vital, and becoming somewhat of a grain, food, and critical supply merchant was not beneath Joseph, a prophet.
Immediately upon being assigned the lifesaving task to prepare for what could have amounted to doom, he travelled from city to city, place to place, covering the entire land of Egypt, catalysing and assisting its people in their actions to participate in saving their civilisation. Shared purpose and communal direction were discussed and realised, avoiding what could have been widespread panic and enabling survival.
Our leaders today need to have a global humanistic vision, be entirely steeped in knowledge of the local situations’ specificities, and sincerely connected through travel and close proximity to the people they serve. The management of storage facilities could not be relied upon to be a strictly bureaucratic function, but one of committed, focused, and immediate leadership to help steer through the seriousness of what had befallen them.
The scripture and Midrash point out that surrounding nations too were saved by Egypt’s preparedness. It was its bounty and storage that spared people, communities, and countries beyond Egypt. The viceroy and pharaoh allowed those from abroad to come and obtain supplies to survive, which not only achieved their societies’ continuation, but also brought essential revenue to Egypt and allowed for growth in the years following the end of the famine.
The Midrash speaks of the kindness and generosity of the viceroy as a person who did not speak harshly, who was discerning and wise in his consideration of the future ramifications of present actions. Food distribution required compassion and focus, and was a matter of cost to ensure survival; non-depletion of resources required an unusual thoughtfulness and calculation.
Most of all, consider the exceptionality of such a person who travelled so far and constantly, who connected with the inhabitants in all parts of his nation, and who provided in accordance with the children of families and their needs. For one to be so effectual as to save nations beyond his own provides a guide for us today, four thousand years later, as we too face imminent threats. Perhaps it could be helpful to our beloved Kingdom of Morocco, as it sets out to apply lessons of recent years and of the human condition and build storage facilities to save its people, should it ever be needed.
Morocco has all the biozones of Northern Africa and the Middle East and is not only of a diverse people but of vast biodiversity. Morocco, long committed to South-South unity, may be that breadbasket that not only will save itself, but even countries surrounding it, should it succeed in storing in preparation for what this world can put upon us.
Yossef Ben-Meir is President of the High Atlas Foundation and resides in Morocco
The Nigerian Association of Energy Correspondents (NAEC) has announced October 9, 2025, as the date for its annual conference, with the theme: “Nigeria’s Energy Future: Exploring Opportunities, Addressing Risks for Sustainable Growth.”
Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri (left) with Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperipe Ekpo will be keynote speakers at NAEC 2025
The event is scheduled to take place at Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos.
Mr. Ugo Amadi, Chairman of NAEC, in a statement released on Sunday, June 1, emphasised that the 2025 edition promises to be robust and insightful, reflecting ongoing developments in Nigeria’s energy industry amid the global push for energy transition.
According to Amadi, keynote speakers headlining the event include Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas); Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil); Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Minister of Power; and Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Also expected are representatives from international energy organisations such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), as well as Chief Executive Officers of international oil companies (IOCs), independent energy companies as well as national oil companies and other leading industry figures.
Amadi added that the conference would conclude with the release of a comprehensive report highlighting Nigeria’s energy investment landscape, policy recommendations for regulatory reforms, the establishment of a stakeholder network, and the identification of key investment opportunities.
Dr. Adeola Yusuf, Chairman of the 2025 Conference Planning Committee, on his part, stated that the conference aims to bring together stakeholders, experts, and policymakers to deliberate on the challenges and prospects within Nigeria’s energy landscape.
He noted that discussions during the conference would focus on unlocking investment, advancing sustainable growth, and driving innovation across the sector.
Yusuf explained that key topics would include an in-depth analysis of Nigeria’s energy policy and regulatory framework, the impact of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) on investment, and the roles of regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in fostering investor confidence.
He said, “Another major segment of the conference will spotlight ‘Accessing Financing and Investment Opportunities for Gas’, with panellists expected to assess the current investment climate, infrastructure development, the role of local and international financial institutions, and innovative financing models such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and crowdfunding.”
Speaking on the power-focused panel session, Dr. Yusuf revealed that discussions would centre around “The Power Solution: Energy Infrastructure, Technology and Integration.”
He noted that the session would also explore issues such as post-privatisation finance challenges, renewable energy integration, and how technology can drive energy efficiency.
Saudi Arabia, through its National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), has issued heatwave warnings for Hajj 2025, urging pilgrims to take precautions amid soaring daytime temperatures between 40°C and 47°C.
Daytime temperatures in Saudi Arabia range between 40°C and 47°C
The NCM has forecasted challenging weather, including high temperatures, potential thunderstorms, and reduced visibility.
With temperatures projected to reach up to 47°C, Saudi authorities said that they are implementing comprehensive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of all pilgrims.
According to the NCM, humidity levels are expected to fluctuate between 15 per cent and 60 per cent, potentially intensifying discomfort for pilgrims.
“Northerly to northwesterly winds, blowing at speeds of 25 to 35 km/h, may raise dust and significantly lower visibility, especially in open areas and along highways leading to the holy sites.
“Additionally, there is a possibility of thunderstorms forming over the Taif highlands between the 8th and 13th of Dhu Al Hijjah.
“This may extend to Mecca and surrounding areas, accompanied by strong downdrafts that could worsen dusty conditions,” it said.
In response to these forecasts, the NCM advised the pilgrims to take necessary precautions.
“Pilgrims are advised to stay well-hydrated, use protective gear such as umbrellas, and adhere to official weather updates.
“883 air conditioning units, 244 mist fans, and 3,139 ventilation fans have been installed throughout the holy sites to enhance comfort amid the desert heat.
“Additionally, 432 fragrance diffusers will infuse the air with calming aromas, enhancing the overall atmosphere of tranquillity and reverence,” it said.
It said that the recently inaugurated cooled pedestrian walkway in Makkah was part of the broader “Cooled Roads Initiative”.
“It is aimed at reducing surface temperatures and enhancing comfort for the millions of pilgrims during the intense summer heat.
“Mobility has also been addressed with the deployment of 400 electric carts, providing additional support for elderly and physically limited pilgrims in completing their rites,” it said.
On the health precautions, the Saudi Ministry of Health had confirmed five cases of heat exhaustion among the more than one million pilgrims who have arrived to perform Hajj rituals.
According to the ministry, all affected individuals received immediate medical attention and are currently in stable condition.
“Health teams are on high alert to respond swiftly to similar cases as part of the Kingdom’s commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of pilgrims.
“Symptoms of heat exhaustion include headache, excessive sweating, nausea, dizziness, and severe thirst.
“If not treated promptly, heat exhaustion can escalate to heat stroke. a life-threatening medical emergency within 10 to 15 minutes,” the health ministry said.
To combat heatstroke risks, the ministry announced a series of measures in coordination with the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites.
These include planting more than 10,000 trees, installing 400 additional water coolers and misting fans, and expanding shaded pedestrian pathways to protect pilgrims from extreme heat.
The 2022 Goldman Environmental Prize Laureate, Prince Chima Williams, has disclosed that he started the first ever student environmental justice movement in Africa in 1998 as a Law student at the University on Benin in Edo State, Nigeria.
Prince Chima Williams displays “The Distinguished Trailblazer Order of the GFSC” award
Called “Students Environmental Assembly Nigeria” and still in existence in some universities in Nigeria including the Delta State University, the movement is described as a platform to mentor young Nigerians in environmental justice and contribute to the protection of the environment.
Williams, who is also the Executive Director, Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), made the disclosure on Friday, May 30, 2025, in a speech delivered during his special recognition at the Sessional Intra-Moot Competition organised by the Gani Fawehinmi Students Chamber, Faculty of Law, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.
He said he personally learnt a lot from Chief Fawehinmi’s struggles and what he learnt helped to form him and stoked the fires of his advocacy against corporate powers ruining the Nigerian environment.
His words: “I led the team that took oil giant Shell to court in the Hague for despoilation of the environment in some Niger Delta communities – Ikot Ada Udo, Goi and Bodo.
“It was not an easy task. For nearly 18 years, my colleagues and I worked tirelessly with the communities to document the atrocities of Shell in relation to their environment. We had near death brushes with militants and risked our lives many times to obtain credible information that was useful in the courts.
“Finally, we won and the affected communities got justice.
“The work we did in the affected communities was one among several reasons why I was awarded the Goldman Prize in the environment category in Africa in the year 2022. But beyond prizes, it is not only these three communities that suffer from the extractive companies. Similar situations are playing out across the Niger Delta and even in mining communities in Nasarawa, Kogi, Zamfara in the north and across the entire federation.
“These activities are enabled by big companies that exploit our resources with reckless abandon and believe they do not owe the people and environment anything. These things are going on with the connivance of people in high places and foreigners and need to be checked.
“Though we have done work strenuously in the last three or more decades, to save our environment and people, the younger generation must now be involved. You are the heroes of now and the future waiting to be drawn into the battle of saving our nation.
“Nobody will do it for you. Outsiders will not save Nigeria. Sitting back and complaining on social media will not achieve it. You must be ready to leave your comfort zone, roll up your sleeves and get into the field. That is what the great Gani Fawehinmi did. And that is what many did.
“It is not a one-off activity because protecting freedom is an eternal work that does not stop. That is why it seems we have not liberated Nigeria. We did not take on this course because we wanted awards. We did it because it is noble and we believed in it and knew it was the right thing to do. Even the great democracies we hail today are still under threat of autocracy and dictatorship and their citizens are still fighting to hold back the tide.”
Williams stated that, in recognition of the work of environmental human rights defenders also require support, he decided to inaugurate the Chima Williams Prize for the Spirit of Advocacy.
He said: “This is a modest effort to support young activists who use their talent and time to support meaningful and challenging situations in their communities.
“It is also a way of giving back to the society which gave me the opportunity to play a role in saving it.”
Managing Partner, Gani Fawehinmi Students’ Chamber, LASU Chapter, Ayomide Dacosta, told Williams: “Throughout your career, from landmark community-rights litigation in the Niger Delta to your present leadership at Environmental Defenders Network, you have shown that the law can indeed serve as a force for environmental justice. Your example now forms the living context in which our freshmen advocates will argue, learn, and grow.”
Williams was decorated with “The Distinguished Trailblazer Order of the GFSC” award by the LASU Gani Fawehinmi Students’ Chamber.
Themed “Ecojuris – Law, Profit, and Planet”, the 2025 Intra-Chamber Moot Competition focused on environmental law.
“Today’s age is defined by climate crises, with the accompanying climate urgency and contested development, consequently, the law finds itself in the crossbars of competing interests: the pursuit of economic growth, the protection of the environment, and the pressure to maintain order.
“This year’s GFSC Moot Competition sought to examine the delicate, often volatile, intersection among these interests,” disclosed the organisers.
Through a carefully crafted fictional dispute, inspired by real-world environmental challenges, participants engaged legal questions bordering on state-backed oil extraction, environmental degradation, constitutional claims, indigenous beliefs, and corporate accountability.
The aim, it was gathered, was to test not only the participants’ legal acumen, but their ability to navigate the moral and commercial complexities of environmental advocacy.
Towering over the Lekki Free Zone on the edge of the Atlantic, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is more than just a feat of engineering; it has become a symbol of ambition, vision, and industrial self-reliance for an entire continent. Now, that promise has been affirmed by the region’s highest political and economic bloc: the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
L -R; ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Sédiko Douka; President/ CE, Dangote Industries Ltd; Aliko Dangote; President, ECOWAS Commission; H. E. Dr. Omar Aliau Touray; ECOWAS Commissioner for Internal Affairs; Prof. Nazifi Abdullahi Darma, during the visit of the ECOWAS Commission to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, on Thursday, May 29, 2025
During a high-level visit to the state-of-the-art 650,000 barrels-per-day facility, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, declared the refinery a beacon of hope for Africa’s future, and a clear demonstration of what the private sector can achieve in the drive for regional industrialisation.
The delegation also included ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Sediko Douka; Commissioner of Internal Services, Prof. Nazifi Abdullahi Darma; Director of Private Sector/SME, Dr Tony Luka Elumelu; and Dr Touray’s Chief of Staff, Abdou Kolley, among others.
“What I have seen today gives me a lot of hope, and everybody who doesn’t believe in Africa should come here. Visiting here will give you more hope because this is exactly what our continent should focus on,” Dr Touray remarked, visibly moved by the scale and sophistication of the facility.
“We have seen something I couldn’t have imagined, and really the capacity in all areas is impressive. We congratulate Alhaji Dangote for this trust in Africa because I think you do this only when you have the trust, and he has a vision for Africa, and this is what we should all work to encourage,” he added.
Dr Touray noted that the refinery, which produces fuel to Euro V standard, is critical for enabling the ECOWAS region to meet its 50ppm sulphur limit for petroleum products – a standard many imported fuels fail to meet, posing health and environmental risks across member states.
“We are still importing products below our standard when a regional company such as Dangote can meet and exceed these requirements,” he said. “The private sector must take the lead in ECOWAS industrialisation.”
The ECOWAS Commission President used the visit to call for stronger collaboration between governments and the private sector, stressing that policy decisions must reflect the real challenges and opportunities experienced by African industrialists.
“We believe our visit also serves as an opportunity to hear directly from Mr Dangote, about what the private sector expects from the ECOWAS community,” Dr Touray remarked, noting that as ECOWAS celebrates its 50th anniversary, the community is more committed than ever to bringing the private sector to the table – to listen to their perspectives and to understand how best to create an environment that works for them.
“We cannot continue to make decisions on behalf of the private sector from a distance. Visits like this provide us with first-hand experience and direct insight into the challenges they face – challenges that authorities and government officials must work to address,” he added.
Dr Touray said the time is ripe for the region to pursue an industrial strategy capable of addressing deep-rooted challenges such as youth unemployment, poverty, and insecurity.
“We often speak about poverty eradication and youth employment, but the government alone may not have the capacity to achieve these goals. Only the private sector can deliver the scale of impact required, and it is essential that we listen to them, understand how these objectives can be met, and identify the bottlenecks they face so that they can be effectively addressed. This is the only realistic path to creating jobs and fostering genuine prosperity across our economies.”
He pledged the Commission’s full support for enabling regional giants such as Dangote Group to access wider ECOWAS markets and urged other African nations to follow Nigeria’s example by building infrastructure that serves the continent, not just individual countries.
“Once again, I congratulate the Dangote Group and commit that ECOWAS Commission will do everything to open up the ECOWAS market for them, if not the entire African continent.”
President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, led the ECOWAS delegation on a detailed tour of the facility, explaining the challenges and milestones involved in bringing the world’s largest single-train refinery to life.
He reiterated his longstanding position that Africa’s continued dependence on imported goods is unsustainable and hinders economic sovereignty.
“As long as we continue importing what we can produce, we will remain underdeveloped,” Dangote said. “This refinery is proof that we can build for ourselves at scale, to global standards.”
He noted that the Dangote Refinery is fully equipped to meet the petroleum needs of Nigeria and the entire West African region, countering claims that the facility would not produce enough for local and regional demand.
“There have been many claims suggesting that we don’t even produce enough to meet Nigeria’s needs, so how could we possibly supply other West African countries? But now, they are here to see the reality for themselves and, more importantly, to encourage other nations to embark on similarly large-scale industrial projects,” he said.
Noting that Africa will benefit greatly by encouraging trade among its countries, especially through value addition to the continent’s abundant resources, Dangote stressed how the refinery has helped Nigeria to bring down the cost of refined products and production costs across many sectors of the economy.
“Last year, when we began diesel production, we were able to reduce the price from N1,700 to N1,100 at a go, and as of today, the price has crashed further. This reduction has made a significant impact across various sectors. It has supported industries, benefited those of us in mining, and provided vital relief to the agricultural sector. The effect has been far-reaching,” he said.
He also noted that Nigerians are benefiting from local refining as the price of petrol has dropped significantly compared to neighbouring countries.
“In neighbouring countries, the average price of petrol is around $1 per litre, which is N1,600. But here at our refinery, we’re selling at between N815 and N820. Many Nigerians don’t realise that they are currently paying just 55% of what others in the region are paying for petrol. We also have a much larger initiative in the pipeline, something we’ve not yet announced but Nigerians should know that this refinery is built for them, and they will enjoy the maximum benefit from it,” he said.
He emphasised that this price reduction is a direct result of local refining, which continues to improve fuel affordability while enhancing energy security and reducing dependence on imports.
In a related development, Gov. Umar Bago of Niger State has called for partnership with the Dangote Group in the exploration and development of the discovered oil blocks in Niger State’s Bida Basin.
Bago said that the group would significantly contribute to the exploration project with its proven expertise in the energy sector in the country.
The governor said this while addressing industry leaders at the Dangote Special Day event at the Niger National Trade Fair in Minna on Saturday, May 31.
Bago said that the state was “open for business” regarding Bida Basin oil development, calling for private sector investment and expertise in the state’s hydrocarbon exploration.
The governor, represented by Hamza Sarki, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment, acknowledged Dangote Group’s proven capacity in executing large-scale industrial projects.
He cited the successful delivery of the world’s largest single-train refinery in Nigeria as evidence of its technical expertise and operational excellence.
Dangote Group is the major sponsor of the 2025 Niger State National Trade Fair.
The Governor described the Bida Basin oil discovery as Niger State’s ticket to economic prosperity, and win-win for partnership with relevant players in the oil sector.
A 2023 geological survey report identified 17 commercially viable oil blocks in Niger, with estimated hydrocarbon reserves projected to sustain production for approximately 70 years.
The Bida Basin, stretching across parts of Niger and Kwara States, has been identified as a promising sedimentary basin with hydrocarbon potential.
Representative of the Dangote Group, Mr. Hashem Ahmed, said the company was investing massively in Niger State, adding that it was ready to partner the state to develop its potential.
“The Dangote Rice Mill in Wushishi when completed will enhance local rice production and drastically reduce post-harvest losses. We are also working closely with the Governor’s Office on the Niger Food Initiative – a game-changing agricultural programme.
“We have committed to serving as a guaranteed off taker for 1 million metric tons of paddy rice, creating a stable market and encouraging further private investment.”
Ahmed commended the proactive measures taken by the Bago administration to foster a business-friendly environment and stimulate private sector engagement in economic growth.
He said that the government’s strategic policies, such as the planned establishment of a Free Trade Zone, demonstrate a clear commitment to attracting investment, enhancing trade, and positioning Niger as a hub for industrial and agricultural development.
“For Dangote Group and the broader Organised Private Sector, these initiatives represent a significant and encouraging step forward.
‘’The Free Trade Zone provides a competitive advantage by streamlining business operations, reducing bottlenecks, and creating a conducive ecosystem for large-scale investments,” he said.
The Presidency says Nigeria’s 209 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves have been positioned as the nation’s key asset for energy transition and economy diversification.
Mrs. Olu Verheijen
Mrs. Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Energy, stated this in an interview in Abuja on Sunday, June 1, 2025.
Verheijen, who was speaking on the second-year anniversary of the Tinubu’s administration, said the government is leveraging on the nation’s gas resources in diversifying the economy and achieving energy transition and creating jobs.
She said the administration built on the Petroleum Industry Act through the Presidential Directives 40 to 42, improved fiscal terms and regulatory clarity to restore investors’ confidence.
“This is evident by projects like the Betafield Final Investment Decision, which will supply 350 million scuffs per day of gas and many more projects like this to come,” she said.
The Betafield project, specifically, is expected to produce 350 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.
The project, along with others like the Ubeta, aims to enhance Nigeria’s domestic gas supply and its presence in the global energy market.
Verheijen said the administration’s reforms, including the presidential CNG initiative and LPG incentives, were enabling the displacement of diesel, firewood, and improving health while creating jobs.
“Our decade of gas is accelerating progress with 12 million homes now having LPG access, while infrastructure projects like OB3, AKK Pipeline, and the looping of ALPS are unlocking gas for power and industry.
“This aligns fully with our energy transition plan,” she said.
The special adviser added that, through presidential directives, the administration had improved fiscal terms, reduced the costs and timelines for delivering projects, and improved regulatory clarity.
She assured that more of the supply projects would be unlocked over the coming years as a result of those directives.
Speaking on infrastructure required to connect supply to demand of gas, she said the government is ensuring completion of critical infrastructure projects such as the OB3, AKK pipelines and the ELPS looping.
“We have a fund within our midstream regulator called the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), which is to provide catalytic capital for much needed infrastructure for our midstream and downstream segments of the market.
“These investments and strategies are critical for unlocking gas for growth to power homes and industry?” she said.
Verheijen also assured that the administration is working towards meeting it’s ambitious target of 10 billion cubic feet of gas by 2030.
“Our ability to unlock, not only onshore gas, associated gas, but non-associated gas from the deep water is critical to our ability to meet that long-term target of 10 BCF per day.
“Our continued improvement around security in collaboration with security agencies and the private sector operators of these assets will continue to curb theft and vandalism.
“This will ensure that every barrel or molecule produced makes it to the market,” she said.
Verheijen said the country is currently producing between 1.5 and 1.7 million barrels of crude oil per day, with the aim to grow it to 4 million barrels in the long term.
To achieve the long-term target, she said the administration’s bold policy reforms would ensure improved investors’ confidence and accelerate final investment decisions of critical deep-water projects.
As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu marks two years in office under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has urged the administration to recalibrate its governance strategy with a renewed focus on transparency, accountability, and inclusive development.
President Bola Tinubu
In a statement signed by its HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the civil society organisation acknowledged key strides made by the current administration but emphasised that the country’s worsening poverty rate, weak anti-corruption mechanisms, and erosion of democratic accountability demand urgent intervention.
Suraju noted that while commendable efforts have been recorded by anti-corruption agencies and reforms in the passport issuance process, the legal autonomy granted to local governments, Nigerian Education Loan Fund, and infrastructure development, the impact of economic reforms has been severely undercut by inflation, rising debt, and unaddressed corruption scandals.
“President Tinubu came into power at a time when Nigerians were yearning for credible leadership, economic stability, and justice. Two years later, while some progress has been made, millions of Nigerians are still trapped in multidimensional poverty, insecurity persists, and anti-corruption enforcement remains challenging,” Suraju noted.
HEDA further called on the Tinubu administration to demonstrate greater political will by prosecuting high-profile individuals implicated in corruption scandals, particularly within key ministries, departments and agencies. It expressed concern that the much-publicised Conditional Cash Transfer programme and other social investment schemes have been marred by lack of transparency and poor monitoring mechanisms.
The group also urged the government to publish regular audit reports, enforce the Freedom of Information Act, and empower anti-graft institutions to operate independently and without political interference.
“Much of the hardship in the country is exacerbated by unbridled public spending, such as billions allocated for luxury vehicles for lawmakers, religious pilgrimages, and underused official residences, at a time when universities remain underfunded and basic amenities are scarce,” Suraju stated.
HEDA stressed the importance of institutionalising reforms that go beyond superficial palliatives. It pointed to the need for a stronger justice system, improved citizen engagement, and protection of civil liberties. The group criticised the heavy-handed response to peaceful protests like the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations and called for greater tolerance of dissent in a democratic setting.
HEDA further commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on the recent official handing over of 753 housing units recovered from the immediate past Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to the federal government for management, and demand transparency and accountability in the administration and allocation of the recovered proceeds of crimes to victims of Emefiele’s corrupt activities.
“As the country navigates the next two years of Tinubu’s administration, it is imperative to place citizens’ welfare and institutional integrity at the heart of governance. We urge the President to lead a national reorientation process that prioritise accountability, competence, and service delivery across all levels of government,” he added.
