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SA communities challenge offshore oil project amid legal storm over environmental authorisation

Michael Simire
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SA communities challenge offshore oil project amid legal storm over environmental authorisation

As court hearings unfold this week in the Western Cape High Court, small-scale fishers and coastal communities from across the Northern and Western Cape in South Africa have united with civil society organisations, The Green Connection and Natural Justice (the applicants), to resist oil and gas exploration in Block 5/6/7 – a marine region critical to their survival.

West Cape Protest
The Green Connection’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Neville van Rooy, leads the chants for ocean justice alongside coastal activists. Communities demand an end to fossil fuel exploration that threaten their livelihoods.

Through the legal challenge, the applicants seek a judicial review of the Environmental Authorisation (EA) granted in 2023 to TotalEnergies for offshore drilling activities. They also fiercely oppose Shell’s bid to join the proceedings, raising urgent alarms over governance failures and environmental risks. The organisations are represented by environmental law firm, Cullinan & Associates Inc.

“This is not only a legal battle,” says small-scale fisher, Walter Steenkamp (Northern Cape), “it’s a fight to defend our livelihoods, our culture, and the ocean that sustains us. As small-scale fishers, we face so many challenges but yet we are excluded from decisions that directly impact our futures. Offshore oil and gas projects pose a huge threat to the marine ecosystems we rely on for food and income. But it’s not just about economics – fishing is in our blood. It’s who we are. Our traditions, our identity, and our knowledge of the sea have been passed down through generations. If we lose our ocean, we lose our heritage.”

South Africa’s coastal communities, who have historically been dispossessed and marginalised, are calling for decision-making processes that do not compound historic inequalities by ignoring the very people whose futures are most at risk. Communities say it is time to challenge decisions that threaten their livelihoods and deepen environmental injustice.

The Green Connection’s Strategic Lead, Liziwe McDaid, says: “It is so relevant that we are kicking-off these court proceedings just as Africa Month begins – especially with its call for ‘Justice for Africans through reparations’ – because this fight is about protecting our continent’s resources and people’s rights. If we consider the potential impacts of an oil spill or well blowout, it could decimate local fisheries that depend on them. Yet the EA was granted with no detailed blowout contingency plan. In our view, this undermines the principle of sound, inclusive governance.”

Another small-scale fisher, Deborah Mcquin (Western Cape), says: “We are trying to stop a disaster before there is a need for reparations – because once damage is done, it is often difficult or impossible to fully repair. You cannot compensate a community for a destroyed ocean or a lost way of life. Prevention must be our priority, and that starts with respecting rights and following the law.”

According to McDaid, there is no legal basis for Shell to be joined to the proceedings – which challenges the government’s approval of TotalEnergies’ (TEEPSA) proposed offshore drilling activities.

“Shell was neither part of the original EA application nor has there been any lawful transfer of the authorisation to the Dutch multinational. In fact, according to our calculations, the exploration right has already lapsed. Shell’s claim to a right that we believe no longer exists undermines proper environmental governance.”

Natural Justice Programme Manager, Melissa Groenink-Groves, further explains that Shell’s supposed interest in the matter is both premature and procedurally flawed. She says, “Total (or Shell) need both an exploration right and an environmental authorisation to conduct the exploration drilling. South African law permits only three renewals of an exploration right – each valid for two years – and that limit was reached in 2021. Their third renewal application should not be permitted to hang in perpetuity, just because Total waited until their third renewal to apply for its environmental authorisation.”

The Environmental Authorisation was granted in 2023 and, following an appeal to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, The Green Connection and Natural Justice launched a judicial review application in the Western Cape High Court in March 2024. This was to challenge the decisions of the Director-General and the Minister. In April this year (2025), Total filed a “joinder application”, seeking to include Shell as a party in the legal proceedings concerning block 5/6/7.

“The Environmental Authorisation (EA) was granted without properly assessing the devastating impact an oil spill could have on small-scale fishers, without accounting for climate change, and without making oil spill contingency plans available as part of the environmental impact assessment process.

“It failed to meet legal standards under our coastal management laws, ignored cross-border environmental risks for our neighbours in Namibia. The Minister, in her appeal decision, also mistook the input from the Petroleum Agency as that of the decision-maker. This is not good, strong environmental governance but rather seems like a recipe for disaster,” concludes Groenink-Groves.

The applicants argue that the government’s approval of the EA failed to assess the climate, ecological and socio-economic risks of offshore oil and gas activities, particularly on marginalised fishers who depend on marine health for survival. Dozens of small-scale fishers and coastal community members travelled from Northern and Western Cape to the Cape High Court to make their voices heard, while others held actions around the country, in solidarity.

“They ignore our voices and call it development. But how is it development if it destroys our livelihoods? Oil spills don’t care about borders. If there’s a blowout, it could wipe out our fish stocks, our tourism, everything. That’s not development – that’s devastation,” adds small-scale fisher, Emelin Mitchell (Western Cape).

Judgment has been reserved in the matter.

COP30: National, subnational leaders unite to advance climate action

Michael Simire
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COP30: National, subnational leaders unite to advance climate action

COP30 CEO, Ana Toni, on Tuesday, April 6, 2025, joined national and subnational government leaders at the Copenhagen Climate Ministerial to discuss the role of the CHAMP Coalition in delivering high-impact outcomes through urban climate initiatives. 

Ana Toni
COP30 CEO, Ana Toni

The Roundtable tagged “The CHAMP Opportunity: Roundtable on Multilevel Climate Action” showcased the practical benefits of involving cities and regions into national climate strategies. It demonstrated how multilevel cooperation can enhance policy effectiveness, accelerate the net zero transition, and support sustainable economic development.

The CEO of this year’s United Nations Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil, highlighted the Brazilian government’s own initiative to support local action: the recently launched Green and Resilient Model Cities program.me Other showcased examples were Colombia’s NDC participatory process, and the Financing Locally Led Climate Action (FLOCA) project from Kenya – the country has recently released its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) with strong multilevel governance focus. 

Ana Toni, COP30 CEO, said: “States and municipalities are on the frontlines of implementation: they deliver basic services to the population, manage infrastructure, and engage directly with communities. In response to the COP30 Presidency’s call for a Global Mutirão (Brazilian term originating from Tupi-Guarani meaning “collective action toward a shared goal.”) against Climate Change, subnational governments play a key role in implementing mitigation and adaptation measures, and are essential providers of climate solutions. Only through integrated, collective efforts can we tackle the climate emergency and protect future generations.”

The meeting was hosted by the Government of Denmark, in collaboration with the COP Presidencies of Azerbaijan (2024) and Brazil (November 2025), as part of the 2025 Copenhagen Climate Ministerial. The roundtable, moderated by Andy Deacon, Co-Managing Director of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), brought together all national government leaders attending the Ministerial, including Chilando Chitangala, Mayor of Lusaka, Zambia, representing the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) constituency.

Chilando Chitangala, Mayor of Lusaka, Zambia, said: “In Lusaka, we live the realities of climate change every day. Severe flooding and heatwaves continue to strain our infrastructure and services, but we are taking bold action to build resilience. Cities are on the frontlines, but we cannot act alone. We need to be part of the decisions that shape climate policy at every level. This is a vital step in ensuring that locally led solutions are implemented at scale. Without local climate action, global ambitions will remain out of reach.”

Ole Thonke, Denmark’s Climate Ambassador, said: “We’re proud to be among the early endorsers of CHAMP, and we see multilevel climate action as essential to delivering on our goals. Through different initiatives, agreements and partnerships, we are fostering dialogue and collaboration between government, industry, and local communities. With all 98 municipalities committed to developing and implementing climate plans, Denmark is showing how collaboration at all levels can drive real change — from accelerating the green transition in energy, transport and agriculture to setting new global standards with the world’s first livestock emissions tax. Together, we are proving that national targets are achieved through local leadership and shared responsibility.”

Also in attendance at the Roundtable were Gino van Begin, Secretary General of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and Pablo Vieira, Global Director of the NDC Partnership.

Coalition for High Ambition Multi-level Partnerships – CHAMP

Launched during COP28 in 2023, the Coalition for High Ambition Multi-level Partnerships (CHAMP) brings together national governments committed to working more collaboratively with their subnational governments in the design, financing and implementation of climate action. This includes the NDCs submission due at COP30, and other climate strategies such as National Adaptation Plans or Long-Term Low-Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS). To date, 75 national governments have endorsed the CHAMP coalition, committing to strengthening subnational climate action.

Andy Deacon, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) Co-Managing Director, said: “The roundtable is a pivotal moment to demonstrate how multilevel climate cooperation is already delivering results – and how the CHAMP Coalition is helping shape more inclusive, effective national climate plans. By bringing together national and subnational actors, we’re not just aligning policies with ambition – we’re building the foundations for implementing action that actually matters to change people’s lives. As we look beyond 2025, this collaborative approach will be key to driving effective progress on fighting the climate crisis.”

Gino Van Begin, ICLEI Secretary General, speaking as the Focal Point of the LGMA Constituency, said: “CHAMP has been an incredibly important strategy to embed multilevel action into the heart of national climate governance. Throughout 2025, ICLEI and the LGMA Constituency will mobilize to advance ambitious multilevel climate action by connecting cities and regions to new national climate plans through mechanisms like CHAMP, Town Hall COPs and the COP30 Urban Climate Ministerial together with the COP30 Cities and Regions Hub in Belém.”

Guidance Report: Increasing Finance for Subnational Climate Action

Earlier this year, C40 Cities and GCoM released a report, during the Green and Resilient Urbanshift Africa Forum 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya, titled How National Governments Can Increase Finance for Subnational Climate Action. This report was developed with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, as a resource for national government members CHAMP, to provide them with implementation options, proven financial techniques, and coordination frameworks that can significantly increase finance for subnational climate action – in line with their CHAMP pledge.

Access the full Report here. 

Power Shift Africa’s Adow lauds Kenya’s national climate plan

Michael Simire
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Power Shift Africa’s Adow lauds Kenya’s national climate plan

Power Shift Africa has welcomed the new national climate plan published by Kenya as part of its commitment to the Paris Agreement.

Mohamed Adow
Director of Power Shift Africa, Mohamed Adow

The plan, known as a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), commits Kenya to reducing climate-heating greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2035, compared to a “business-as-usual scenario”.

The government has also committed to Kenya’s electricity being powered by 100% clean renewable energy, a response to the agreement negotiated at the COP28 summit in Dubai, as part of the Global Stocktake discussions.

Kenya calculates that embracing the country’s abundant clean energy potential of wind, solar and other renewables will cost $22.5 billion, with 20% delivered by the country through its own means and the remaining 80% reliant on international support such as climate finance and technology sharing from countries in the Global North.

On the issue of how Kenya will adapt to the climate crisis and deal with the loss and damage it causes, the plan outlines priority areas. These include managing the country’s resilience to water shortages, coping with disasters and reducing the impact of climate change on agriculture. The adaptation and loss and damage plan will cost $17.7 billion, with 19% covered domestically and the remaining 81% conditional on international support.

Mr. Mohamed Adow, Director of Power Shift Africa, said: “Despite only generating minimal carbon emissions, Kenya is demonstrating genuine climate leadership by strengthening its NDC with new targets that are more ambitious than its previous plan. This was the crucial design of the Paris Agreement; to see countries ratcheting up their emissions reductions every five years so that global action to tackle the climate crisis accelerates. This is a critical year. We need to see other countries now following Kenya’s example and submitting similarly ambitious plans.

“As a developing country, Kenya has limited resources to fund its energy transition from fossil fuels to renewables, whilst helping its people adapt to climate change. But it is showing the political will to go further. That is why it’s NDC is split into what it can achieve itself and a conditional element of how much further it can go with backing from the richer nations.

“It is accepted that the rich polluting countries that have caused the climate crisis owe a ‘climate debt’ to nations dealing disproportionately with extreme weather. That debt must be paid through international support which will boost climate action in developing countries and have a positive impact on global emissions and resilience to climate shocks.

“One area of concern, however, is Kenya’s intention to use carbon markets. These are ill thought through and are being exploited by polluting countries and their industries as a loophole for yet more pollution. If Kenya is to participate in any such scheme, it must protect community rights, prevent exploitation of land and prioritise environmental integrity and accountability.”

Find the full NDC plan here.

Mt Kenya Forest to lose half of vegetation by 2040

Michael Simire
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Mt Kenya Forest to lose half of vegetation by 2040

Half of the vegetation in Mount Kenya Forest will disappear over the next 15 years due to climate change and human activities.

Mt Kenya
Mt Kenya

According to findings of a new research about the impacts of climate change in the Mt Kenya Forest ecosystem, 49–55% of vegetation cover across the forest areas will be lost by 2040, with the most pronounced losses likely in lower zones, which are more sensitive to climate-induced vegetation stress.

The study’s results emphasise precipitation’s critical role in sustaining forest health and highlight the urgent need for adaptive management strategies, including afforestation, sustainable land use planning, and policy-driven conservation efforts.

Mount Kenya Forest is critical in carbon sequestration, water regulation, and biodiversity conservation, supporting endemic species. Additionally, the forest ecosystem serves as a major water tower, supplying over 40% of Kenya’s freshwater resources, which are essential for hydroelectric power, agriculture, and urban consumption.

“Despite its ecological significance, Mount Kenya’s forest is increasingly vulnerable to climate change and anthropogenic pressures. Rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns have altered forest dynamics, vegetation composition, and species distributions, leading to reduced forest resilience. Moreover, human activities such as illegal logging, agricultural encroachment, and unregulated grazing exacerbate forest degradation, further threatening ecosystem stability,” the study indicates.

According to the research, high-elevation ecosystems such as Mt Kenya are particularly sensitive to warming trends, with species migrating downslope in search of favorable conditions. This migration disrupts existing ecological gradients, leading to potential species loss and altered carbon cycling.

Furthermore, the study argues, the rapid retreat of Mount Kenya’s glaciers, primarily attributed to rising temperatures, has intensified hydrological imbalances, reducing water availability for both human and ecological needs. As a result, lower montane forests, which depend on stable moisture conditions, are experiencing increased vulnerability to drought stress and biomass loss.

“Significant widespread vegetation loss and bare soil exposure was observed between 2010 and 2020. This observed decline correlates with increased deforestation, agricultural expansion, and the impact of climate extremes such as erratic rainfall and rising temperatures. This magnitude of decline suggests not just seasonal stress, but long-term structural changes in forest cover, including reduced canopy density, lower photosynthetic productivity, and declining ecosystem resilience. Such changes may compromise the Mt Kenya Forest ecosystem’s ability to provide critical ecosystem services such as carbon storage, habitat connectivity, and hydrological regulation.”

The study found that the lower zones of the forest are the most vulnerable as a result of both ecological and anthropogenic factors: “Ecologically, these zones lie at a transitional altitude where precipitation variability, soil instability, and temperature extremes are more pronounced. They are also subject to more intense human activity, such as land-use pressure from farming, settlement, and logging.

“Unlike the upper montane zones, which benefit from cooler microclimates and reduced human activity, lower montane areas lack buffering mechanisms, making them especially sensitive to both climate extremes and human encroachment. The combined effect heightens the risk of forest degradation, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem service disruption in these zones.”

The study highlights the importance of adaptive conservation strategies and their implications for forest management and conservation within the Mt. Kenya Forest ecosystem, recommending that conservation efforts of the forest must be tailored to enhance ecosystem resilience and maintain biodiversity.

“On the ground, sustainable land-use planning can be operationalized through zoned agroforestry, payment for ecosystem services (PES), and stricter regulation of encroachment and charcoal production. Policies such as the Participatory Forest Management (PFM) regulations and the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) can be leveraged to align conservation with livelihood needs, ensuring both ecological integrity and socio-economic sustainability,” the study recommends.

By Peter Ngare, Big3Africa

The full research report is available at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10661-025-14089-0

Nuclear energy, future of power generation, says Power Minister

Michael Simire
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Nuclear energy, future of power generation, says Power Minister

As part of the efforts towards expanding the scope of electricity supply to Nigerians, the Federal Ministry of Power has begun moves to collaborate with the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) to increase power generation and make supply more stable, effective, and reliable.

Nuclear energy
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu (right) with the Acting Chairman, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) , Anthony Ekedewa

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, disclosed this on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, when he received the Acting Chairman of the Commission, Anthony Ekedewa, in his office in Abuja. Adelabu said the collaboration would boost power generation and stabilise the power sector as part of the reforms being undertaken in the sector.

As an advanced level of power generation, the Minister said the country would benefit significantly from a nuclear power plant especially, with the technology that will come in as it will make power generation less cumbersome. He said the participation of the commission in the power sector was long overdue and promised to work with the agency.

Adelabu however advised against the proposed establishment of four power plants with capacity to generate 1200 MW each by the Commission. He said modular nuclear reactor is the way to go especially with the way the government has decentralised the sector.

“This is an area that states can benefit from. A lot of investment has gone into the development of the commission over the years and Nigeria should start reaping from the investment.”

According to him, although the process is tedious and costly, the outcome is more beneficial to the country adding that nuclear power plant is an advanced stage of energy generation.

“I wish we are there already in this country, but we are not there yet. We should however ask ourselves, how much of the conventional source of energy have we exploited? Nuclear power plant tends to be at the lower end of concern over the years, but we have to understand that nuclear energy is the future of energy generation.”

He recognises that there had not been much done in areas of collaboration between the Ministry and the Commission.

“We have not been having this rapport in the past, but I’m happy we are starting from somewhere now and I believe that we will sustain it for the overall benefit of our country. This is an advanced level of energy generation,  but we must also embrace it because whatever that can add value to our power sector, we must embrace.

“As we all know, leaders would naturally want projects that would materialise in their time in office but any serious government will know that this is the future of the sector. Nuclear energy is the future of power generation. So, we must partner with you on how to improve the sector and this meeting is a right step in the right direction. We have formally established a relationship with you and we have so much to benefit from each other,” the Minister said.

The Minister proposed a workshop by both the ministry and the commission with other stakeholders in the power sector in attendance in order to brainstorm on how the collaboration can be better sustained and beneficial.

“As we all know, this is not a cheap thing but we can start with a workshop where experts from your side and our side will brainstorm and work out how we can further benefit from each other. We are reforming the power sector and this will be the most appropriate time for this kind of collaboration as states are now having their own power projects. This is certainly for the future of this country and it is important we make progress on it,” Adelabu said.

Earlier, Ekedawa briefed the Minister on the activities of the commission, which he said was established in 1976, by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as a military head of state. He said, as a renewable energy, nuclear energy could power the entire country. He said the Commission is proposing the establishment of nuclear power plants with the capacity to generate about 1200MW.

“We want to work and partner with you in the area of power generation. We can be a base load for the country and we have two possible sites, Geregu in Kogi State and Idu in Akwa Ibom State. We have carried out the feasibility studies. This collaboration is part of our energy policy, but we are however limited by resources to undertake this project,” Ekedewa said.

Along with the Acting Chairman during the visit were Prof Abdullahi Mati, Awwal Bisallah, and Justice Sule.

Concern as scientists discover microplastics in brain arteries

Michael Simire
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Concern as scientists discover microplastics in brain arteries

Alarming new scientific findings have sparked a call to action from Swedish water and beverage company Bluewater: We need to urgently investigate the threat of microplastics – tiny fragments of plastic pollution – now discovered inside the arteries that feed the human brain.

Microplastics
Microplastics found in arteries leading to the human brain spark call from Bluewater for more research. Photo credit iambuff iStock-1319045525.jpg

The shocking revelation comes from a preliminary study led by Dr. Ross Clark, a vascular surgeon and assistant professor at the University of New Mexico and was unveiled at the American Heart Association’s Vascular Discovery: From Genes to Medicine Scientific Sessions, held April 22 to 25, 2025, at the Marriott Baltimore Waterfront in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. Clark’s team found micro and nano plastics embedded in the carotid arteries – vital blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the brain. The highest concentrations were found in individuals who had suffered strokes or stroke-like symptoms.

Stroke survivors had 51 times more plastic particles in their arterial plaque than those with healthy arteries. Even individuals with no symptoms, but with arterial plaque, had 16 times more plastic contamination.

“These findings are a red alert,” said Swedish ecopreneur Bengt Rittri, founder and CEO of Bluewater. “This isn’t just about pollution in oceans or landfills anymore – this is about pollution in our bodies. These microscopic plastics may be putting our most vital systems at risk.”

The discovery builds on a growing mountain of evidence showing that microplastics are infiltrating virtually every part of the human body – lungs, liver, placenta, breast milk, urine, and even brain tissue. While it’s too early to say definitively what damage these particles may cause, researchers have observed clear biological changes. In patients with high levels of arterial plaques, there were disruptions in gene activity and immune response, changes that could destabilize plaques and increase the risk of stroke or heart attack.

Dr. Clark cautioned in an American Heart Association news release against jumping to conclusions but emphasised the urgency of further research.

“These particles might just be tagging along – or they might be accelerating disease. The truth is, we don’t know yet. But the fact that they’re there, in such high amounts, should be enough to alarm us,” he said.

Bluewater calls on the international scientific, medical, and policy communities to rally and prioritise this research. With microplastics now unavoidable in the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe, understanding their impact on human health is no longer optional – it’s essential.

“Bluewater is committed to promoting and supporting science and public health efforts to counter the negative impact posed by toxic single-use plastics, particularly single-use bottles,” said Bengt Rittri.

Forests crucial to climate resilience – Environment minister

Michael Simire
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Forests crucial to climate resilience – Environment minister

The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, has emphasised the role of forests in regulating Nigeria’s climatic conditions and strengthening the country’s climate resilience.

Balarabe Abbas Lawal
Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Lawal

He made this known during the 2025 Ministerial Press briefing on Wednesday, May 7, in Abuja.

“Forests play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, maintaining water cycles, and providing livelihoods for millions of people,” Lawal said.

He noted that the ministry has implemented strategic measures to curb unsustainable agricultural practices, excessive logging, and infrastructure deficits.

These actions, he noted have greatly reduced the rates of deforestation, forest degradation, and the resulting adverse climate effects.

“It is worthy of note that significant achievements have been recorded in forest restoration under the administration of President Bola Tinubu,” the minister added.

Lawal highlighted the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) as a key initiative of the Federal Government aimed at implementing the recommendations of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the oil spill in Ogoniland.

“HYPREP has commenced the world’s most extensive mangrove restoration in Ogoniland. The pilot phase, covering 560 hectares, is 85 per cent complete, with over two million seedlings of red, black, and white mangrove species planted.

“This marks the first mangrove restoration in Nigeria involving the planting of multiple species,” he said.

The minister also disclosed that Nigeria signed a Cooperation Framework Agreement with the Republic of Cameroon on April 19, 2024.

“The agreement promotes trans-boundary ecosystem conservation and the sustainable management of forestry and wildlife resources.

“This collaboration is aimed at protecting shared ecosystems, including forests, wildlife, and water bodies, and ensuring coordinated management of trans-boundary protected areas such as the Cross River National Park (Nigeria) and Korup National Park (Cameroon), which are biodiversity hotspots,” he explained.

Lawal said the overarching goal of the ministry’s initiatives is to improve the resilience of vulnerable communities, particularly in Nigeria’s drylands, to climate change and climate variability.

He outlined further achievements of the ministry, including the raising of 3.85 million neem seedlings for the establishment of plant nurseries across the 11 frontline states of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW).

“These seedlings are expected to support reforestation efforts and provide raw materials for medicinal purposes.”

He also commended the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), which has led research on forestry, forest products, and environmental development initiatives, notably the digitalisation of forest zones across the country.

Speaking on the role of the National Park Service (NPS), Lawal said the agency remains central to the protection and conservation of national parks and wildlife reserves.

“NPS is responsible for enforcing environmental laws to prevent illegal activities such as poaching, deforestation, and encroachment on protected lands.

“One of its major achievements is the enhancement of forest security through strengthened inter-agency collaboration, particularly with the Nigerian military,” Lawal stated.

This collaboration, he said, is beginning to yield positive results, notably in the recovery of forest areas previously occupied by bandits and in sustaining efforts against insurgency and terrorism in Nigeria’s forested regions.

By Abigael Joshua

24 federal tertiary institutions powered by solar energy – Minister

Michael Simire
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24 federal tertiary institutions powered by solar energy – Minister

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, says 24 federal institutions have been powered by solar energy under the “Energising Education Project’’ of President Bola Tinubu’s Administration.

Solar
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, at the Collaboration Agreement Signing Ceremony with the Vice Chancellors of beneficiary institutions on powering education through sustainable and innovative energy, in Abuja on Wednesday

Alausa, who disclosed this on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Abuja, at the Collaboration Agreement Signing Ceremony with the Vice Chancellors of beneficiary institutions, added that eight more universities have signed collaboration agreements to join the fourth phase of the project.

Before the signing ceremony, the minister undertook an inspection tour of the solar powered facility at the University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University,

Alausa, who described the project as a “new day for Nigeria”, hailed the transformative initiative under Tinubu, aimed at providing uninterrupted power supply to Nigeria’s federal tertiary institutions.

He said the projects had wide-reaching benefits for education and the economy.

According to him, the University of Abuja, which now boasts of a solar farm comprising 6,000 photovoltaic panels, is generating approximately 3.3 megawatts of electricity daily, enough to power the campus round-the-clock.

“This project brings continuous 24-hour electricity to our institutions.

“It allows for increased academic activity, powers laboratories and libraries throughout the day and night, and improves living and learning conditions for both students and faculty,’’ he said.

The minister emphasised the economic ripple effect of the initiative, explaining how reliable electricity stimulates business within campuses.

“Any campus is a community by itself. With constant power supply, you unleash high economic activity,” he said.

The Minister explained that the project was backed by the Renewable Infrastructure Fund established by President Tinubu, to support infrastructure development across sectors.

He, therefore, challenged Vice Chancellors of universities on innovative and creative ways of sustaining the project, noting that, before 2027, every tertiary institution would have renewable energy generation.

On his part, the Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Abba Aliyu, said that the phases 1, 2, and 3 of the projects have so far impacted over 600,000 students and 50,000 academic staffers.

Aliyu said that the project had also generated over 100 megawatts of electricity to power university campuses and teaching hospitals.

He said the initiative, implemented through multiple phases, had already brought solar mini-grid infrastructure to 24 federal universities across the country.

“What you are seeing here is one of our interventions in the education sector, and the aim is to ensure that universities have a sustainable and affordable electricity supply,” he said

In addition to educational institutions, he said the Universal Public Health Project, part of phase 2, had successfully delivered clean energy to two universities and two teaching hospitals.

He added that the Phase 3, which includes electrification of eight more universities and one additional teaching hospital, is near completion and set to be commissioned in the coming two months.

The eight new beneficiary institutions include: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; and Federal University, Wukari, Taraba state.

Others are Federal University Dutse, University of Benin, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and University of Lagos. 

Valuers seek review of land, housing policies

Michael Simire
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Valuers seek review of land, housing policies

The Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) has called for an overhaul of the Land Use Act and National Housing Policy.

Victor Alonge
NIESV President and Chairman of Council, Victor Alonge

NIESV President and Chairman of Council, Victor Alonge, made the call on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at a news conference during the institution’s 55th annual conference in Abuja.

Alonge said the Land Use Act, in place since 1978, is outdated and needs review to expand land access and spur real estate development.

He noted land should be more accessible to all Nigerians, not just wealthy developers who often acquire vast portions of land.

“The masses struggle to access land. The Act should be reviewed, and the land administration system revisited,” he said.

Alonge also highlighted the need to revisit the National Housing Policy to tackle persistent challenges in the housing sector.

He stated that affordable housing delivery requires a multi-sector approach and deliberate policymaking with input from professionals.

He observed that housing policies often lack clarity, leading to confusion in their implementation.

According to him, affordable housing and social housing are frequently misunderstood as being the same.

He said many so-called affordable homes remain unaffordable for low-income earners.

“There is poor understanding and weak policy design around affordable housing. Nigeria lacks a proper social housing system,” he said.

Alonge explained that social housing typically serves workers like nurses and teachers, providing homes in central or high-value locations.

He said other countries offer city-centre homes to key workers through targeted policies, allowing them to live among the affluent.

Alonge also backed punitive taxation on vacant properties to compel owners to rent or occupy them.

“In advanced economies, empty homes are heavily taxed to discourage leaving them unused.

“If faced with high taxes on an empty house, owners would likely reconsider keeping it vacant,” Alonge added.

By Angela Atabo

Steadfast commitment, pathway to achieving SDGs – Inclusive educator

Michael Simire
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Steadfast commitment, pathway to achieving SDGs – Inclusive educator

An inclusive educator, Dr Akhere Aghedo-Akran, has called on teachers to approach teaching and learning with commitment in order to attain Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 in the education sector.

SDGs
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Aghedo-Akran, who made this call during an interview on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in Lagos, submitted that genuine inclusion in education demands more than token efforts, saying that SDG 4 focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

She advocated a shift from competition to collaboration in schools, noting that a hyper-competitive environment undermined students’ mental health and fosters unhealthy rivalry.

The educator noted: “Inclusion is neither a favour nor an afterthought, but rather a right for every learner and a shared responsibility among all educators and stakeholders.

“When we choose justice over charity in our schools, we affirm the dignity of every child and lay the foundation for a more equitable society,” she said.

“Let us shift our thinking, seeing inclusion not as charity, but as justice. Every child deserves a space at the table and equitable access to educational content.”

Aghedo-Akran urged educators to ensure that every child was not only physically present in the classroom but also actively engaged, participating in lessons, forming friendships, and gaining the confidence to tackle life’s challenges.

“SDG 4 should not be a footnote in our school calendar; it must be the heartbeat of our collective mission. We no longer have the luxury of merely talking about equity in education, we must live it,” she noted.

Aghedo-Akran also called on school administrators, teachers, and support staff to work collaboratively to modify the learning environment, including timetables, teaching methods, assessments, and classroom layouts, to ensure full participation of all students, regardless of ability.

“We must guide every decision, from how we welcome children to how we structure each lesson. It’s time to go beyond warm words and lofty promises, we must work the talk,” she said.

“When competition becomes the sole measure of success, mental health is sacrificed on the altar of grades and trophies. Instead, let us celebrate the pupil who helps a classmate, the group that solves a problem together, and the peer who comforts someone in distress,” she said.

According to Aghedo-Akran, social integration skills and problem-solving abilities are just as vital as exam scores. She stressed the importance of recognising each child’s unique strengths, whether in storytelling, artistic expression, or logical reasoning, and designing lessons that allow them to thrive.

“Inclusion flourishes when we acknowledge and build on the unique gifts each child brings to the classroom. Our role as educators and parents is to nurture potential, not to fit every child into the same standardised mould,” she added.

Aghedo-Akran also called for policy reforms and institutional support, including regular professional development for teachers in inclusive pedagogy.

She also called for greater collaboration with special-needs experts to integrate differentiated teaching strategies, visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic, into daily instruction.

“Parental involvement must go beyond signing homework diaries. It includes understanding each child’s strengths, communicating regularly with teachers, and ensuring that Individualised Education Plans (IEPs) are more than just paperwork,” she said.

She concluded by calling on policymakers and planners to embed inclusion in school funding formulas, curriculum design, and teacher training standards.

“SDG 4 demands measurable targets—such as a percentage of classrooms equipped for learners with disabilities, quotas for special-needs specialists in every district, and annual audits of school climate and accessibility,” Aghedo-Akran said.

By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu

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