The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting biotechnology for national development, defending the safety of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in food and medicine.
Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare
Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, reaffirmed the government’s position during a collaborative meeting with the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) in Africa – Nigeria Chapter and National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Abuja.
Salako, who described biotechnology as “cornerstone of innovation”, said it is capable of transforming healthcare delivery, tackle malnutrition, boost food security and improve environmental sustainability.
He said: “Biotechnology opens doors to innovative diagnostics, precision medicine, regenerative therapies and improved vaccines.
“It offers immense promise to addressing endemic diseases, maternal and child health and nutritional deficiencies, especially among children.”
Salako added that responsible use of biotechnology must go hand-in-hand with robust biosafety frameworks to ensure public trust and environmental protection.
“With great promise comes great responsibility. Biosafety is the bedrock of our efforts,” he noted.
Addressing widespread public misconceptions, Salako defended the safety of GMOs, citing more than 2,000 studies and endorsements from global scientific organisations, including the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and more than 275 independent scientific bodies.
He said: “There is no credible evidence linking GMOs to cancer or other health risks, on the contrary, some genetically modified foods have been proven to offer superior health benefits. Our policies must be guided by facts, not fear.”
The minister, therefore, urged critics with contrary evidence to come forward for open scientific dialogue, reiterating that public policy would continue to be shaped by science, rather than commercial or vested interests.
He said the President Bola Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda places science and innovation at the heart of national development and aims to position Nigeria as Africa’s “Blue Zone”, a region of longevity, productivity and prosperity.
He assured that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare would intensify collaboration with agencies like the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) and the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA).
Among others were the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ensure proper regulation, labelling and public education around biotechnology products.
“We are committed to creating a future where biotechnology and biosafety converge to create a healthier, more sustainable Nigeria,” he said.
The meeting brought together researchers, policymakers, regulatory agencies and civil society organisations to deepen understanding of biotechnology and biosafety and to chart a collaborative path forward.
The United Nations (UN) has called on all nations to develop new national climate action plans aimed at limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a crucial step to avert severe climate disasters.
Mohamed Malick Fall, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria
This appeal was highlighted during the commemoration of International Mother Earth Day, which is celebrated on April 22, as established by a UN General Assembly resolution in 2009.
The day emphasises the importance of recognising the Earth and its ecosystems as a shared home, underscoring the need for their protection to improve livelihoods, combat climate change, and prevent biodiversity loss.
During the event in Abuja, Mr. Roland Kayanja, the Director of the UN Information Centre, stressed the urgency of creating these climate action plans, urging countries, particularly those in the G20, to lead by example.
Kayanja was represented by, the Digital Media Assistant, Mrs. Bolanle Olumekor.
He underscored the importance of addressing pollution, halting biodiversity loss, and securing the necessary financing for environmental protection.
Kayanja expressed hope that 2025 could be a pivotal year for restoring the health of the planet.
Dr Umar Yakasai, Director General of the Tinubu Campaign Organisations, echoed the call for collective action to safeguard the environment,
Yakasai highlighted the responsibility of humanity to preserve nature for future generations through initiatives like tree planting.
Mr. Roland Echee, Director of Parks and Recreation in Abuja, also spoke about the intricate value of Mother Earth and advocated for a commitment to sustainable practices.
Hajiya Fatima Kachallah, President of the Association of Flower Nurseries and Landscaping Practitioners of Abuja, reinforced the message by stating that planting trees could mitigate the dangers of climate change.
She urged the adoption of environmentally friendly practices and emphasised the importance of environmental education, conservation, and sustainability in preserving the planet.
The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) says it has arrested over 300 persons and prosecuted scores, for waste disposal infractions.
Muyiwa Gbadegesin,
This is contained in a statement signed by Mrs Folashade Kadiri, Director, Public Affairs, LAWMA, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Lagos.
The statement said that the arrest was carried out through the authority’s surveillance and investigative activities.
It said that the arrests occurred through collaboration with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) on its day and night surveillance efforts.
According to LAWMA, the surveillance is aimed at identifying and apprehending individuals and businesses involved in illegal dumping of waste across the city.
The statement quoted the LAWMA Managing Director, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, as saying that it deployed comprehensive strategies, including the use of surveillance teams and mobile enforcement units, to monitor environmental infractions.
He said: “Our night surveillance and enforcement team, working with LAGESC, has apprehended over 300 people for various waste-related infractions.
“Many have already been charged to court and many sentenced to community service.
“This will serve as a deterrent to those bent on derailing the authority’s efforts to sustain cleanliness of the environment.
“I like to note some specific incidents, including the arrest of one Engr. Akinsola along Egbeda-Akowonjo Road at about 9:20 p.m. on Feb. 7, 2025.
“The individual was caught dumping waste at the road median, and he claimed to be a police officer during questioning.”
Gbadegesin said that investigations later revealed that Akinsola’s residence had no waste bin and was not even registered with any Private Sector Participant (PSP) for proper waste disposal.
He added that the man later confessed to acting under the instruction of his landlord.
“Legal proceedings have commenced against him.
“In another operation on Shasha Road, 25 individuals, including six car owners, were arrested for using personal vehicles to dump large quantities of waste at the fence of Abati Primary School.
“Similarly, a woman identified as Fatima was caught on Feb. 5, 2025, at 10.37 p.m. dumping waste near Miccom Bus Stop along Akowonjo Road.
“Like others, her residence was not registered with any PSP. She is currently being prosecuted,” Gbadegesin said.
According to him, these arrests reveal the scale of illegal dumping activities across the city, especially under the cover of darkness, with the culprits claiming ignorance of the law or blaming their landlords.
Gbadegesin referenced Section 82 (1) of the Lagos State Environmental Management and Protection Law, which prohibited waste dumping in unauthorised locations such as road medians, drains, and canals.
He noted that offenders risked fines of at least ₦25,000 and potential jail time under Section 109 of the same law.
“LAWMA will not relent in its mandate to make Lagos cleaner and safer for all. Enforcement is key, and we are leaving no stone unturned,” Gbadegesin said.
The LAWMA boss added that the Authority would continue to monitor, arrest and prosecute offenders.
He said that the agency ran continuous community sensitisation programmes such as door-to-door campaigns, to educate residents on proper waste disposal.
Gbadegesin added that the sensitisation are also to promote patronage of PSP operators and ownership of waste bins under the ‘Adopt A Bin’ Programme.
The LAWMA boss observed that new innovations such as the deployment of tricycle compactors and expansion of recycling programmes would help reduce the city’s dependence on dumpsites and improve access to waste collection in difficult-to-reach areas.
He called on residents to play their part by reporting erring neighbours or landlords, and urged them to patronise only registered PSPs and take collective ownership of their environment.
“Our goal is to prevent avoidable issues like flooding and disease outbreaks. We can’t achieve this without the support of the people.
“Environmental protection is everyone’s responsibility. This is the era of, ‘See something, say something,” Gbadegesin stressed.
Biomass is currently the EU’s largest renewable energy source, but climate strategies often focus on other energy sources. A comprehensive analysis, led by Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, now shows that biomass is crucial for Europe’s ability to reach its climate targets, as it can be used to produce fossil-free fuels and chemicals and also enables carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere.
A comprehensive analysis led by Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden shows that biomass is crucial for Europe’s ability to reach its climate targets
If biomass were excluded from the European energy system, it would cost an extra €169 billion per year – about the same as the cost of excluding wind power.
Biomass, such as energy crops, logging residues, cereal straw and wood waste, is a versatile source of renewable energy that many industries want to use to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Biomass can replace fossil fuels, for example in steel and cement industries and in power plants that supply households with electricity and district heating. It can also replace oil and fossil gas in the production of plastics and chemicals, as well as the production of fuels for vehicles, shipping and aviation.
In addition, biomass can play a key role in an increasingly important part of the climate transition: carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere, via carbon capture and storage (CCS). The carbon atoms in biomass have been absorbed from the air through plant photosynthesis.
Normally, when biomass is used for energy the carbon atoms are released back into the air as carbon dioxide. But when bioenergy is combined with CCS, those carbon dioxide emissions are avoided. Biomass use with CCS therefore provides energy along with carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere, which is known as negative emissions.
Rapidly increasing costs if the amount of biomass is reduced
With growing demand for non-fossil alternatives, the competition for renewable resources has intensified – prompting policymakers and industry to address questions about policies and investments into resources and technologies that effectively support the energy sector’s climate transition. As biomass has so many uses, scientists are grappling with questions about the role of bioenergy in the energy system. How is the energy sector’s climate transition affected by the varying availability of biomass? How and where is biomass best used?
In a paper in Nature Energy, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Rise Research Institutes of Sweden and Technische Universität Berlin, have carried out a comprehensive analysis and shown what a future European energy system could look like – including electricity, heating, industry and transport.
The researchers investigated two emissions targets for the energy system; one with zero emissions of carbon dioxide and one with negative emissions (minus 110 per cent compared to 1990). The biomass in the system consists mainly of waste material from forestry and agriculture within Europe, plus a more expensive part which can be imported.
The study’s lead author Markus Millinger, a researcher at Chalmers when the study was conducted and now a researcher at Rise, notes that biomass plays an unexpectedly important role in the energy transition.
“One thing that surprised us was how quickly it becomes very expensive if we reduce the availability of biomass in the energy system, due to the high costs of alternatives. If biomass is completely excluded, the costs of the energy system with negative emissions would increase by €169 billion annually, compared to the same system with a cost-optimal level of biomass. This is an increase of 20 per cent, which roughly corresponds to the cost of excluding wind power.”
If biomass availability is limited to the current level of biomass use in the European energy system, the additional cost is 5 per cent compared to the cost-optimal level.
“But the financial part is perhaps not the largest problem,” says Markus Millinger. “The big difficulty may be to scale up the alternatives. Even with biomass in the system, it is a real challenge to expand fossil-free energy to the extent needed. Further restrictions on the supply of biomass would make the energy transition very difficult, as even larger amounts of other types of fossil-free energy would be needed.”
“In addition, we would miss out on the opportunity for negative emissions that the utilisation of biomass provides. To then achieve negative emissions in the energy sector, carbon capture directly from the air would instead have to be scaled up to a large extent. This is a significantly more expensive technology that requires an energy input instead of providing a net energy output.”
Capturing carbon dioxide is most important
A central conclusion of the study is that the value of biomass in the energy system is primarily linked to the fact that it contains carbon atoms. Biomass as an energy source is less important. The large-scale technologies we have today to utilise the energy content of biomass, for example by burning it in power plants, can be combined with technologies to capture the carbon dioxide in the waste gases. Then the carbon dioxide can either be stored permanently underground or reused as a building block in products such as fuels and chemicals.
Biomass can thus supply energy and simultaneously enable negative emissions or replace fossil raw materials. And it is the latter opportunities that have now proven to be most important for the climate transition. Consequently, it is crucial that the carbon atoms are captured to be stored or reused efficiently, but it matters less how the energy content of biomass is used.
“As long as the carbon atoms are utilised, it is not crucial in which sector biomass is used, except that it is an advantage to use a small share of the biomass as a flexible reserve for electricity production to strengthen supply reliability,” says Markus Millinger. “Factors such as regional conditions and existing technical infrastructure are therefore important to determine what is most favourable. This means that countries can choose different paths if they want to use biomass to achieve negative emissions – for example via the production of electrical power, heat or biofuels.”
Provides an expanded knowledge base for policy development
The researchers have used an advanced model that includes more technologies and a higher level of detail than previous similar studies. The model also shows how all society sectors affect each other within the energy system. The new study thus provides an expanded knowledge base for policy development – not least linked to biomass and technologies for negative emissions.
“The capture and storage or reuse of carbon dioxide, for example through the production of advanced fuels, is dependent on large investments to get started, and long-term sustainable and reliable value chains need to be built. A market for fossil-free carbon dioxide would significantly strengthen the opportunities for such investments compared to today, when it is primarily the energy that is valued. But this requires that decision-makers create stable policy instruments to realise the great value of fossil-free carbon atoms within the climate transition,” says Markus Millinger.
Technology development and policy have stimulated an increasing utilisation of bioenergy in the EU. But there are also policy instruments that limit its use in various ways, based on concerns about possible negative effects such as higher food prices, deforestation and loss of biodiversity.
“The bioenergy sector is developing in a context where agriculture and forestry are meeting increasing sustainability requirements,” says Göran Berndes, co-author of the study and Professor of Biomass and land use at Chalmers. “Given that the climate transition is expected to increase the pressure on forests and agricultural land, it is important that there are regulatory systems that lead the development in a positive direction.”
“At the same time, bioenergy systems can be designed to contribute to more efficient use of resources and mitigation of the negative environmental effects of current land use. If policy instruments are designed to reward landowners and other actors for ‘doing the right thing’, this in itself can drive development away from environmentally harmful activities,” says Göran Berndes.
More than 10 million people across Ethiopia now face hunger and malnutrition amid a perfect storm of conflict, displacement and weather emergencies, the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) warned Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP)
WFP officials said their ability to respond has been critically hampered by a $222 million funding shortfall, putting 3.6 million vulnerable Ethiopians at risk of losing food assistance between April and September.
“Without urgent new funding, 3.6 million of Ethiopia’s most vulnerable people will lose access to WFP’s life-saving food and nutrition assistance in the coming weeks,” a WFP spokesperson said.
The crisis is particularly severe for children and pregnant or breastfeeding women, with 4.4 million requiring malnutrition treatment. Officials reported that in parts of Somali, Oromia, Tigray, and Afar regions, child wasting has surpassed the 15% emergency threshold.
WFP assisted more than three million people during the first quarter of 2025, including treatment for 740,000 malnourished women and children.
Ongoing violence in Amhara region has disrupted humanitarian operations, threatening access to over half a million people. Car hijackings, threats and theft pose serious risks to aid workers.
The situation is further complicated by regional instability. WFP currently supports 800,000 refugees in Ethiopia, including 100,000 from Sudan.
Officials expect up to 10,000 more refugees may cross from South Sudan due to escalating violence there.
Weather patterns also contribute to the crisis, with poor rainfall expected through May potentially triggering another drought in the Somali region, where families are still recovering from the country’s longest recorded drought (2020-2023).
Without additional funding, WFP will halt treatment for 650,000 malnourished women and children in May and suspend assistance to up to one million refugees in June.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, China’s National Crop Variety Registration Committee (CNCVRC) published the third list of genetically modified (GM) maize and soybean varieties that passed the preliminary CNCVRC review for cultivation, the yield performance and suitable planting regions of these varieties. The public comment period for the announcement is 30 days, or until May 9, 2025.
Maize plant
In contrast to other regulatory systems, in China a biotechnology event introduced in one of the five major crops (maize, soybeans, cotton, rice, and wheat) may be approved for cultivation by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), but it cannot be commercialised until the event in combination with a variety is approved for cultivation.
Beijing’s inaugural GM maize and soybean variety registration list was published for comment in October 2023 and finalised in December 2023; its second list was published for comment in March 2024 and finalised in October 2024. Together, China has approved a total of 64 GM maize varieties and 17 GM soybean varieties. USDA report is attached.
The following day on April 9, the European Commission authorised three new GM maize events for import and use in food and feed. These authorisations were for: MON 94804, DP 910521 and MON 95275.
These were the first GM events that were authorised by the new College of Commissioners, which took office in November 2024.
The European Commission stated: “These maize have gone through a comprehensive and stringent assessment procedure, which ensures a high level of protection of human and animal health, and of the environment. The Commission’s decisions only allow these genetically modified maize to be imported for use in food and animal feed, but not to be cultivated in the EU.
“The authorisations are valid for 10 years, and any product produced from these genetically modified maize will be subject to the EU’s strict labelling and traceability rules. The Commission had a legal obligation to decide on these authorisations after Member States did not reach a qualified majority either in favour or against the authorisation. More information on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the EU is available online.”
In a related development, Switzerland’s Federal Council on April 2 released a proposal for the Breeding Technologies Act (BTA) to ease restrictions on plants developed through new genomic techniques such as CRISPR. The bill also aims to strengthen Switzerland’s position as a hub for agricultural innovation and cultivation.
Under the current law, these plants are treated identically to those developed through conventional genetic engineering. They are subject to the strict provisions of the Genetic Engineering Act (GEA), including the ongoing moratorium on cultivation in Switzerland. The new proposal marks a shift in the country’s regulatory landscape and introduces a risk-based authorization system that will reflect the potential of new breeding technologies (NBTs) and the need for appropriate safeguards.
The draft BTA aims to simplify the authorisation process for plants developed through NBTs compared to the existing GEA. Comparability-based authorisation offers a streamlined route, waiving the complex environmental risk assessment if the new plant’s biological properties and genetic modifications are comparable to an already authorised plant.
Switzerland is NOT part of the European Union, but this proposal mirror’s the proposed EU Regulation on New Genetic Techniques, which is now in the final stages of the decision-making process. The draft BTA must first undergo a full legislative process. It has now entered a consultation period until July 8, 2025, to allow stakeholders to provide their support or concerns.
The Tinubu Media Support Group (TMSG) says the federal government’s decision to make the naira-for-crude policy permanent is a sustainable solution to the cost of living crisis in the country.
Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil)
Mr. Emeka Nwankpa, Chairman of the advocacy group, said this in a statement on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Abuja.
Nwankpa said this would lay to rest the heightened anxiety that trailed the suspension of the policy at the end of the initial six-month arrangement with local refiners.
According to him, like all Nigerians, we saw how President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the sale of crude in naira to local refineries significantly reduced the cost of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery at the outset of the policy.
“We also acknowledge that at the time it was introduced in October 2024, it was for six months in the first instance, subject to negotiations.
“But now the administration has made it a permanent key policy initiative which it said is designed to support sustainable local refining.
“This, for us, is a good development that will help conserve foreign exchange, especially as there will be no need for the use of dollars for domestic crude or petroleum products transactions.”
Nwankpa added that, more importantly, the policy would keep the pump price of fuel and other petroleum products stable.
“Invariably, this will guarantee energy security with a resultant positive effect on the cost of living in a country where prices of goods and services are tied to fuel prices.
“So, by ensuring that local refiners do not have to scramble for foreign exchange to buy crude, the government has effectively stalled the unnecessary increase in the pump price of fuel.
“We now expect oil marketers to take advantage of the new policy and ensure that it reflects in the pricing of fuel once the new policy takes full effect,” he further said.
Nwankpa expressed hope that the relief expected from the policy would translate to a reduction in prices of goods and services in the long run.
A financial expert, Mr. Moses Igbrude, has urged the Federal Government to entrench the naira for crude oil policy to ensure its affordability and also help to moderate the inflation rate.
Igbrude, National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), made the submission on Tuesday in Lagos.
He noted that entrenching the naira for crude oil policy was key in increased domestic supplies and growth of the sector.
“This might allow for stiff competition in the industry and the prices of refined petroleum could begin to moderate over time.
“This will, in turn, have a spillover effect on the cost of goods and services, as well as spurring businesses in the country,” Igbrude said.
He stressed that the federal government could invest in infrastructural renewal to ameliorate the cost of production.
“The government giving priority to reliable and renewable energy as well as a functioning railway system will accelerate growth.
“This will support domestic production and check the rising inflation rate,” Igbrude said.
He stressed that the monetary authorities should sustain the foreign exchange reforms to ensure its stability in the economy.
“This will ameliorate speculators and engender investment confidence within the business communities,” Igbrude said.
Also, Mr. Nnamdi Ifenkwe, Project Coordinator, Nisi Agro Allied Service, said that the government could address insecurity challenges fuelling food inflation.
“The government improving the security situation, especially in food hub states, will curb destructions in many farming settlements.
“This will ensure farmers return to various agrarian communities without being molested,” Ifenkwe said.
He noted that the exorbitant cost of transportation was partially responsible for the cost food producedede in the country.
“The cost of logistics from up north to down south has become too expensive, coupled with the various taxes on the road.
“This is being passed down to the final consumer through exorbitant food produce,” Ifenkwe said.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said the nation’s headline inflation rate rose to 24.23 per cent in March.
The NBS disclosed this in its Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Inflation Report for March.
According to the report, the headline inflation showed an increase of 1.05 per cent compared to the 23.18 per cent recorded in February.
Wild chimpanzees have been pictured eating and sharing fruit containing alcohol for the first time.
Chimpanzee
Researchers set up cameras in Guinea-Bissau’s Cantanhez National Park and recorded footage of chimps sharing fermented African breadfruit.
The scientists said the findings raised questions about whether and why chimps deliberately seek out alcohol.
And they likened it to humans consuming alcohol far back in evolution, with benefits for social bonding.
“For humans, we know that drinking alcohol leads to a release of dopamine and endorphins, and resulting feelings of happiness and relaxation.
“We also know that sharing alcohol, including through traditions such as feasting helps to form and strengthen social bonds.
“So, now we know that wild chimpanzees are eating and sharing ethanolic fruits, the question is: could they be getting similar benefits,’’ asked Anna Bowland, from the University of Exeter in England
The researchers used motion-activated cameras, which filmed chimps sharing fermented fruits on 10 separate occasions.
Fruit shared by these chimps was tested for alcohol content and the highest level found was the equivalent of 0.61per cent strength.
The researchers said, it may be the tip of the iceberg because 60 to 85 per cent of chimps’ diet is fruit, so low levels of alcohol in various foods could add up to significant consumption.
They stressed the chimps were unlikely to get drunk as this would clearly not improve their survival chances.
The impact of alcohol on chimps’ metabolism is unknown.
But recent discoveries of a molecular adaptation that greatly increased ethanol metabolism in the common ancestor of African apes suggests eating fermented fruits may have ancient origins in species including humans and chimps.
“Chimps don’t share food all the time, so this behaviour with fermented fruit might be important.
“We need to find out more about whether they deliberately seek out ethanolic fruits and how they metabolise it, but this behaviour could be the early evolutionary stages of feasting,’’ said Kimberley Hockings.
Hockings is also from the University of Exeter.
“If so, it suggests the human tradition of feasting may have its origins deep in our evolutionary history.’’
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has announced that some 60 governments from countries around the world – the large majority at Minister or equivalent level – will take part in the international Summit on the Future of Energy Security, which is being held in partnership with the UK government in London from April 24 to 25, 2025.
UK Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband
The Ministers and senior government officials taking part in the Summit are from countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the Middle East – including those on the front lines of a wide range of energy challenges, including access, affordability, reliability and climate.
Leaders from all across the energy sector – including oil, gas, renewables, electricity, nuclear, critical minerals and more – as well as from international organisations and civil society, will also take part in the discussions in and around the Summit, which will seek to build consensus on a holistic approach to energy security and ensure governments have the tools they need to prevent and respond to the range of challenges confronting them in a fast-evolving context. Altogether, 120 high-level invitees will participate in the Summit itself, and many more in the associated events.
UK Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband and IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol will co-host the event and feature among the keynote speakers.
Key sessions of the Summit will be livestreamed on IEA digital channels, including the Summit event page.
The current list of high-level participants is available here.
The current version of the Summit agenda is available here.
The IEA has been at the heart of international energy security for 50 years – helping avoid, mitigate and manage energy supply disruptions and crises. As the world changes, so do the challenges around energy security.
The Summit will examine the geopolitical, technological and economic factors affecting energy security at the national and international level. It will provide leaders and decision makers from around the world with an opportunity to review the trends shaping global energy security – and reflect on the tools needed to address traditional and emerging energy security risks.
Key areas include changes in demand, supply and trade of major fuels; energy access and affordability; the expanding role of electricity in many energy systems; the growth of clean energy technologies and their supply chains; and the availability of the minerals and metals required for many clean energy technologies; energy system resilience to the impacts of extreme weather and climate change; and technology innovation and the rise of AI.
On April 23, government, industry and other experts will convene in London for a series of preparatory sessions and technical workshops on key topics – including critical minerals, gas security, gender, methane and Ukraine’s energy system – that will feed into the Summit discussions.
Oil and gas experts have asked the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL), Mr. Bayo Ojulari, to adhere to the rule of law and the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, New GCEO, NNPC Ltd
They said these were key to enhancing transparency, accountability, and investor confidence in the sector.
Ojulari was appointed by President Bola Tinubu on April 2, 2025.
Speaking in separate interviews on Monday, April 21 in Lagos, the experts congratulated Ojulari while highlighting critical areas the new leadership must address.
Professor Emeritus of Petroleum Economics, Louisiana State University, Prof. Wumi Iledare, emphasised the non-negotiable need for legal compliance, warning that failure to uphold the provisions of the PIA could discourage investment.
“Rule of law compliance is essential for accountability. Deviating from this path will deter capital inflows into the NNPCL,” Iledare said.
He urged the company to focus on upstream cost efficiency, especially in joint venture (JV) brownfield projects, while also securing its operational assets.
He advised against “gold-plating” of projects and called for more value extraction from midstream and downstream operations.
“NNPCL is now a vertically integrated commercial entity, not a government agency.
Long-term value lies in leveraging downstream and midstream infrastructure,” he added.
Iledare also warned against treating NNPCL as a government cash cow, urging the Federal Government to avoid imposing subsidies on the company.
He advocated compensation models that reflect the distinct financial realities of each operational segment and suggested selling JV interests to local consortia rather than foreign entities.
On energy transition, Iledare said that NNPCL should focus on reducing emissions while maintaining fossil fuels as its core business.
“Petroleum will remain a key energy source well into the future unless a viable, sustainable alternative becomes widely accessible,” he noted.
Oil and gas consultant, Mr. Henry Adigun, expressed same views, urging Ojulari to prioritise shareholder returns, review asset performance and address operational inefficiencies.
“NNPCL must operate strictly as an oil company and not blur the lines with regulatory responsibilities. Its inability to make that distinction has affected its efficiency,” Adigun said.
He noted that while NNPCL could facilitate sectoral growth, it cannot independently attract significant investment without leveraging its existing assets and joint ventures.
On energy transition, Adigun called for proper internal structures to drive the implementation of policy goals, adding that leadership reform at NNPCL could trigger broader industry improvements.
“NNPCL’s reform can set a positive tone for the entire oil and gas sector,” he said.
