Renaissance Africa Energy Company was on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, named the winner of the Energy Deal of the Year for 2025 at the Awards Night of the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) in Abuja.
The award was in recognition of the historic $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell’s onshore assets in March 2025, a transaction widely regarded as one of the most consequential in Nigeria’s energy evolution.
The NIES awards committee noted the leadership of Renaissance in advancing local participation in upstream operations and reinforcing Nigeria’s strategic energy autonomy.
L-R: Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Mr. Tony Attah; Renaissance Director and Chairman/CEO, Waltersmith Group, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isa; and Renaissance Director and MD/CEO, Aradel Holdings, Mr. Adegbite Falade, receiving the award of Energy Deal of the Year presented to Renaissance at the ongoing Nigerian International Energy Summit in Abuja on Tuesday night
According to the award committee, for the first time in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, ownership, operational control, and strategic direction shifted decisively into Nigerian hands, reinforcing indigenous leadership and strengthening Nigeria’s energy sovereignty.
“Some transactions change balance sheets. This one changed history,” the committee noted in Renaissance’s citation at the ceremony
Receiving the award, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance, Mr. Tony Attah, said: “This recognition is deeply meaningful because it affirms a bold belief that Nigerians can build, operate, and lead world‑class energy enterprises at scale. The onshore asset acquisition from an international oil company was more than a transaction; it was a turning point for indigenous participation in our industry.
“I dedicate this honour to our exceptional workforce, our partners, and the communities we work with. Together, we are proving that Nigeria is not just a host to global energy but can be the driver, the innovator, and the standard‑bearer for Africa’s energy future.”
Renaissance’s recognition at NIES 2026 adds to a series of high‑profile industry awards the company secured in 2025 including the Energy Excellence Award at the Nigeria Oil and Gas Energy Week in July 2025.
In the same year, the company was named the Nigerian Content International Upstream Operator of the Year, while Attah received the individual category award of Local Content Icon of the Year at the Nigeria Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair organized by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.
The Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), Dr. Nana Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, has called on African countries to strengthen unity and collective action as global multilateralism continues to weaken.
Addressing the first strategic meeting of the AGN under Ghana’s leadership, Dr. Amoah warned that Africa, as one of the region’s most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, cannot afford the erosion of multilateral cooperation.
“With Africa’s well-documented vulnerabilities to climate change, the continent cannot afford to let multilateralism die,” he stated.
Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN), Dr. Nana Antwi-Boasiako Amoah
Dr. Amoah reaffirmed his commitment to mobilising the broad expertise within the AGN to ensure Africa maintains a strong and coordinated presence in global climate negotiations, despite growing geopolitical and economic pressures.
“The strength and success of the AGN lie in our ability to work together, even under difficult circumstances,” he said. “My chairmanship will harness the collective expertise within the AGN family to project Africa’s interests at a time when the spirit of multilateralism is clearly under strain.”
The strategic meeting, held virtually, marks the first under Ghana’s chairmanship and focused on preparations for the upcoming African Union Summit scheduled to hold from February 11 to 15, 2026, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ahead of in-person engagements leading up to the mid-year UN Climate Conference in June, the meeting was guided by the following objectives:
Reviewing outcomes and priority issues from COP30 and their implications for continental policy processes;
Consolidating AGN positions and negotiation priorities to inform strategic engagement during the African Union Summit; and
Reviewing the AGN Chair’s priority agenda and aligning it with Lead Coordinators and country focal points perspectives.
The African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (AGN) is a technical body of the three-tier African negotiating structure that engages in the technical negotiations during the UN Conferences of the Parties (COPs) and the inter-sessional negotiations on Climate Change. It was established in 1995 with the objective of representing the interests of Africa in the international climate change negotiations, with a common and unified voice.
On World Cancer Day, themed “United by Unique”, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has reaffirmed its solidarity with the global community to honour the millions affected by cancer. While advocating for personalised, patient-centred care, CAPPA called on Nigeria to also address the growing link between cancer and Nigeria’s broken food system.
In a statement to mark the day on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, the public interest organisation warned that cancer is no longer a distant threat in the country, but a growing epidemic with no fewer than 72,000 annual cancer-related deaths and over 120,000 new cases recorded annually, according to the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Muhammad Ali Pate
It noted that while genetic and environmental factors play a role, increasing evidence links the rise in colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers to the food Nigerians consume and how that food is produced.
Consequently, CAPPA called on the federal and state governments “to implement proactive measures to curb this public health crisis by fixing the cracks in our food system that are contributing to the rising burden of cancer and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria.”
These cracks, it added, include unrestricted marketing and consumption of ultra-processed foods, poor regulation of tobacco and emerging nicotine products marketing, and excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and salt, among other major cancer and NCD risk factors.
“We urge the government to place renewed focus on strengthening its healthy food policies. These include stricter regulation of tobacco and nicotine products, an upward review of the tobacco control budget, the development of a national guideline to reduce salt consumption including implementation of mandatory salt targets for processed and pre-packaged foods, a review of the SSB tax from the current N10 per litre to 50 per cent of the final retail price of sugary drinks, restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy foods to children, and clear nutrition standards for schools, hospitals and other public institutions,” CAPPA stated.
Recognising tobacco’s role as one of the biggest preventable cancer risks, the statement called for a full implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act, inclusion of new and emerging nicotine products in the ban on all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, higher tobacco excise taxes adjusted for inflation, and strict enforcement against illicit tobacco and nicotine products trade.
The organisation also renewed its commendation of the federal government’s plan to earmark pro-health taxes for cancer prevention and care, noting that such measures would help reduce out-of-pocket healthcare spending.
The statement urged governments to make cancer control a development priority, saying the country’s health sector, with only 40,000 doctors for over 200 million people, according to media reports, is at a breaking point.
“Nigeria cannot treat its way out of the cancer crisis. Prevention-focused policies, especially those related to tobacco, food, and alcohol, offer perhaps the biggest and most cost-effective gains. When combined with early detection, health financing, and accountability, they can save thousands of lives each year,” CAPPA added.
Dangote Refinery says it does not import refined petroleum products into Nigeria, insisting that all petrol and other fuels sold from its operations are fully refined locally.
The clarification was made by the Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Refinery, Mr. David Bird, during a news conference on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, in Lagos, amid allegations over fuel importation and local refining capacity.
Bird explained that materials often mistaken for imported fuel were, in fact, intermediate feedstocks used to optimise refinery operations.
Dangote Refinery officials at the news conference in Lagos
He said these include high catalytic sulphur gasoline and straight-run naphtha, unfinished components that undergo extensive processing at the Lekki-based facility before becoming market-ready products.
“We do not import refined fuel. Everything sold as petrol, diesel or aviation fuel is refined here in Lekki to Nigerian and international Euro-V standards,” Bird said.
According to him, the use of intermediate feedstocks is standard practice in complex and merchant refineries across major refining hubs such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and India.
Bird noted that the Dangote Refinery, unlike refineries located directly at the end of crude oil pipelines, operates as a merchant refinery, sourcing diverse crude and feedstock grades largely by sea.
He said this flexibility allows the refinery to maximise utilisation of its advanced conversion units and upgrade every molecule into high-value, clean fuels and petrochemicals.
Bird accused some oil marketers and regulatory actors of undermining the nation’s local refining drive by importing cheaper, sub-standard fuels while declining to patronise domestically refined products.
Such actions, he warned, threaten the country’s energy security and foreign-exchange stability.
Bird disclosed that the refinery currently supplies about 45 million litres of petrol daily to the domestic market and did not export petrol during the peak Christmas and New Year period.
He said exports only occur when there is excess supply or limited domestic uptake, particularly during the early operational phase.
Highlighting public health benefits, Bird said local refining had significantly reduced sulphur and metal content in fuels now consumed in Nigeria, making them comparable to products used in Europe and North America.
Bird described the Dangote Refinery as one of the most modern and automated facilities globally, producing high-value “white products” such as petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and polypropylene.
Reaffirming the company’s long-term vision, Bird said the refinery remained committed to meeting domestic demand first while positioning Nigeria as a hub for clean, world-class fuels in Africa.
“West Africa should no longer be a dumping ground for inferior products. Nigeria deserves and now produces the best,” he said.
Solar power is set to overtake coal in China for the first time in 2026, according to the China Electricity Council.
However, drawing on the latest analysis from Global Energy Monitor, environmental campaign group, 350.org, has warned that this historic turning point – which confirms renewables have decisively won on economic grounds – risks being undermined by China’s continued, record-level coal build-out.
“The Chinese coal expansion is unnecessary, increases the risk of stranded assets, and stands in stark contradiction to the country’s own clean-energy success,” criticises the group.
President Xi Jinping of China
China’s installed solar power capacity is projected to surpass coal for the first time this year, according to the China Electricity Council. By the end of 2026, non-fossil energy sources – primarily solar and wind – will make up 63% of China’s power capacity, while coal drops to just 31%.
Latest numbers by the Global Energy Monitor show that developers submitted proposals to build a total of 161 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired power plants in 2025 alone.
291 GW of coal power capacity remains in China’s pipeline, already permitted or under construction according to Global Energy Monitor.
Andreas Sieber, 350.org Head of Political Strategy, said: “This is a historic turning point: solar power is set to overtake coal in China for the first time in 2026. This is maybe the clearest demonstration yet that clean energy has won – on cost, scale, and air quality. However, China is responding to coal’s economic defeat by building more of it.
“With around 290 GW of new coal capacity already permitted or under construction, and another record year for approvals, the country is schizophrenically proving coal is obsolete while rushing to entrench it. This mostly serves a coal industry racing against time. The consequence is predictable: stranded assets, higher system costs, and a transition made harder.”
The Federal Government has said that Nigeria will soon produce additional expertise needed to address climate change and environmental degradation, particularly in the Niger Delta region.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated this on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at the maiden matriculation ceremony of the newly established Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET), Koroma/Saakpenwa, Tai area of Rivers State.
Represented by Mr Sunday Ajide, a director in the ministry, Alausa said climate change and environmental pollution had increasingly become serious global concerns.
Newly inducted students at Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET), Koroma/Saakpenwa, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State
According to him, the establishment of FUET is a clear demonstration of the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to expanding access to quality higher education and providing solutions to environmental challenges.
“FUET will promote environmental sustainability and address the unique ecological and developmental challenges of the Niger Delta region,” he said.
He added that the choice of environment and technology as the institution’s core mandate was both timely and strategic.
“In an era in which climate change, environmental degradation, renewable energy and sustainable development dominate global discourse, FUET is well positioned to become a centre of excellence in research, innovation and solutions-driven scholarship.
“The university will play a critical role in producing skilled professionals, researchers and leaders who will contribute meaningfully to national development and global environmental stewardship,” Alausa said.
The minister assured the institution of the full support of the Ministry of Education in the areas of policy guidance, infrastructural development, staff capacity building, programme accreditation and funding.
Alausa also urged industry stakeholders, research institutions and developmental partners to collaborate with the university to enhance its relevance, innovation and sustainability.
He commended the vice-chancellor, members of the governing council, management and staff for their efforts in bringing FUET into operations following its establishment on Feb. 3, 2025.
Speaking at the event, the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of FUET, Prof. Prince Mmom, said the university had admitted more than 1,000 students across six faculties, including Agriculture and Applied Health Sciences.
The other faculties are Engineering Technology, Environmental Sciences, Natural and Applied Sciences, and Management Technology.
According to him, within the next five years the institution would produce some of Nigeria’s best minds to drive environmental solutions across the Niger Delta and the country at large.
“This will be achieved through strict adherence to university rules and regulations and by exhibiting a high sense of personal responsibility in upholding and maintaining these standards at all times,” he said.
Mmom said that within its first year, the university had recorded notable milestones, including ongoing infrastructural development, commencement of academic activities and the admission of students.
He described FUET as a specialised institution designed to become a world-class centre of excellence in environmental restoration, sustainable development and technological innovation.
“The university will promote translational research with direct impact on communities, Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta region.
“FUET will focus on ecosystem regeneration, environmental justice partnerships and the production of skilled graduates capable of addressing contemporary environmental challenges,” he added.
The vice chancellor said the institution would not tolerate cultism, examination malpractice, sexual harassment, drug abuse, the exchange of grades for money, or the sale of handouts and unapproved books or manuals.
He urged students to remain focused, uphold the highest ethical standards, and embrace the opportunities for learning, innovation and character development offered by the university.
Also speaking, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of FUET’s Governing Council, Prof. Don Baridam, said severe sanctions awaited lecturers and non-teaching staff who extort students, sell handouts or demand sexual gratification.
“In addition, lecturers must be visible on Google Scholar, ResearchGate, while local scholars who fail to publish indexed articles will not be tolerated at FUET,” he warned.
Baridam advised students to set high personal high academic standards, warning that the institution would rusticate those who fail to comply with its rules and regulations.
The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, has commenced strategic collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure the proper documentation, planning and management of informal spaces across the state.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting held in Alausa, organised by the project consultant, Octragon Multi-Project Limited, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Gbolahan Awolesi.
Participants at the stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting in Lagos
Dr. Olumide explained that the initiative was aimed at systematically documenting all informal spaces, including setbacks, open areas, and common spaces, with a view to clearly designating and optimally utilising them in line with planning standards.
According to him, over the years, the government had cleared several setbacks and common areas that later remained idle or were re-encroached upon due to the absence of proper planning and documentation.
“Common areas are deliberately set aside to enhance environmental quality. This programme is designed to change the narrative by ensuring that informal spaces are properly identified, planned, managed, and put to appropriate use,” the Commissioner stated.
He further noted that Lagos State had an estimated 3,000 hectares of informal spaces, stressing the need for intentional planning to ensure sustainable use.
“We must take charge of informal spaces, be mindful of how they are utilised, and ensure that we operate within a planned and well-managed urban environment,” he added.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Oluwole Sotire, said that the programme would significantly enhance the aesthetic quality of the environment by demonstrating how setbacks and informal spaces could be properly planned and productively utilised.
He emphasised that informal spaces were often wrongly perceived as belonging to no one, noting that such spaces were among the state’s most valuable and limited natural resources, which must be protected and efficiently managed.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mr. Babatunde Onigbanjo, expressed concern about ensuring that the initiative benefited residents without undermining their livelihoods whilst affirming his Ministry’s support for the programme and urging more advocacy.
Also speaking, the representative of the Director-General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Adedeji Aladegbemi, described the initiative as timely and appealed that any informal spaces designated for sports development be allocated to the Commission to help address space constraints and youth engagement challenges.
The General Manager, Lagos State Informal Space Management Authority, Daisi Oso, noted that improper use of setbacks had brought about limited opportunities for youth engagement while assuring proper planning and management of such spaces henceforth.
Similarly, the General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Mr. Babatunde Ajayi, expressed readiness to collaborate on environmental regulation, particularly recycling initiatives.
He revealed plans to establish recycling facilities and designated public toilet spaces within informal areas to curb open defecation, adding that a monitoring directory should be installed in all identified informal spaces.
The Consultant, Gbolahan Awolesi said that Octragon Multi-Project Limited had been mandated to comprehensively document informal spaces across Lagos State and ensure their optimal utilisation in accordance with international best practices.
The Kano State Zoological Garden and Wildlife Management Agency (KAZOWMA) is to embark on a comprehensive multi-phase revitalisation of the 45-hectare the Audu Bako Zoological Garden into a model wildlife park.
Malam Musayyib Kawu, the newly appointed Managing Director of the agency, made this known in Kano, the state capital.
This, he said, is with the aim to boost domestic tourism and economic growth in the state.
The Audu Bako Zoological Garden
The initiative, which he said is supported by Gov. Abba Yusuf, aims to reverse the decline in visitors and turn the zoo into a premier tourist destination.
He said that improved, cleaner environment and enhanced amenities are expected to increase revenue for the state and create jobs in conservation and hospitality.
The agency, he said, would introduce new animal species and improve staff welfare to ensure efficient service delivery.
“A detailed assessment of the agency’s challenges and needs will be compiled and submitted to state government to strengthen its status as a major tourist destination,” he said.
The Audu Bako Zoological Garden, established in 1971/1972 on Zoo Road, Kano, is one of Nigeria’s premier 46-hectare wildlife parks.
It hosts over 70 species, including lions, giraffes, and elephants, acting as a key site for education, conservation, and recreation.
In recent years, the Kano Zoological Garden has faced some challenges, including inadequate funding and a lack of proper facilities for the animals
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) says Africa’s energy transition must be equitable and people-centred, noting that more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity.
Mr. Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., made this known while delivering an address at the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) 2026.
Ojulari said that although Africa was endowed with vast energy resources, the continent continued to grapple with trilemma of accessibility, affordability and sustainability.
The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited, Bayo Ojulari
According to him, Africa’s energy pathway should not be a replication of models from developed economies, given its unique developmental realities.
He said Nigeria, with over 37 billion barrels of oil and about 2.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, remained Africa’s strategic energy reserve holder and an emerging global energy powerhouse.
Ojulari added that Nigeria was strategically positioned to lead Africa’s energy evolution by leveraging its oil and gas resources to drive industrialisation and economic growth across the continent.
“Energy is no longer just a sector; it is the lifeblood of global peace, security and human development.
“Modern energy systems determine whether nations can thrive, industries can grow and societies can remain stable in a rapidly changing world.
“Nigeria is no longer on the margins of the global energy conversation but at the centre of Africa’s energy transformation,” he said.
Ojulari traced the link between energy and human progress, noting that oil and gas had historically powered industrial growth, created jobs and lifted nations, including Nigeria, out of poverty.
He acknowledged, however, that global energy systems were evolving due to climate concerns, technological innovation and economic pressures.
The NNPC boss highlighted recent milestones achieved by the company, including the unveiling of its Gas Master Plan and progress on key infrastructure projects such as the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) Pipeline, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Pipeline, expansion of the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) and the Regional Pipeline Survey Project.
He described the projects as catalysts for economic opportunities rather than mere infrastructure assets.
According to him, NNPC Ltd. is also investing in processing facilities, digital infrastructure and workforce development to build a competitive energy economy driven by innovation, efficiency, safety and environmental responsibility.
Ojulari said the company’s ongoing transformation also involved a cultural shift anchored on accountability, performance, excellence and national service.
He attributed recent progress in the sector to reforms under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, citing fiscal stability, policy liberalisation and improved security as factors enhancing Nigeria’s attractiveness as an investment destination.
Nigeria’s major media and journalism organisations have issued a joint call on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to urgently intervene to protect the Nigerian press from what they describe as the growing dominance of global digital platforms over the country’s information ecosystem.
In a strongly worded statement released under the banner of the Nigerian Press Organisation (NPO), the groups warned that Nigeria risks surrendering control of its democratic conversation, national cohesion, and information sovereignty to unregulated foreign technology companies if decisive action is not taken.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris
The NPO – comprising the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) – described the situation as a strategic national threat, not merely an industry challenge.
According to the statement, global digital platforms now dominate Nigeria’s digital advertising market, control algorithms that determine what Nigerians see or ignore, and extract revenue offshore, while local newsrooms struggle to survive.
“This is not conventional market disruption,” the organisations said. “It is the emergence of private, transnational gatekeepers over public discourse, operating beyond the effective reach of national democratic accountability.”
The media bodies warned that the erosion of professional journalism poses serious consequences for national security, electoral integrity, social cohesion, and press freedom, noting that no counterterrorism or intelligence framework can compensate for the collapse of credible information systems.
They also stressed that press freedom cannot exist without economic viability, arguing that news organisations unable to pay salaries, fund investigations, or retain skilled professionals are, in effect, unfree – regardless of constitutional guarantees.
Drawing parallels with global responses, the NPO cited actions taken by the European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and South Africa, where governments have introduced competition laws and bargaining frameworks to curb the dominance of digital gatekeepers and ensure fair remuneration for news content.
The organisations urged Nigeria to adopt a homegrown, legally grounded solution, either through existing digital legislation or targeted amendments, that would:
Recognise journalism as a public-interest activity
Correct extreme bargaining power imbalances
Ensure fair compensation for Nigerian news content
Preserve innovation, competition, and consumer choice
They noted that Nigeria already has capable institutions, including the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), with statutory powers to enforce proportionate remedies and penalties where necessary.
Describing the appeal as “a call to leadership, not alarm,” the NPO warned that the cost of inaction would be borne by society at large through weakened institutions, rising misinformation, diminished public trust, and fragile national cohesion.
“Protecting the Nigerian press is not an industry rescue,” the statement concluded. “It is an investment in national stability, democratic durability, and Nigeria’s standing as a serious constitutional democracy.”
The statement was jointly signed by:
Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru, President, Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN)
Mr. Eze Anaba, President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE)
Comrade Salihu Abdulhamid Dembos, Chairman, Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON)
Danlami Nmodu, mni, President, Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP)
Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, President, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)
The organisations said they are ready to collaborate with the Presidency, the National Assembly, regulators, civil society, broadcasters, and technology companies to design a fair, forward-looking Nigerian framework – stressing that the moment to act is now.
