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TechnoServe, Coca-Cola Foundation launch PReP 2.0 to help scale plastic recycling in Nigeria

Michael Simire
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TechnoServe, Coca-Cola Foundation launch PReP 2.0 to help scale plastic recycling in Nigeria

Building on the success of the first phase of the Plastic Recycling Program in Southern Nigeria (PReP), international nonprofit, TechnoServe, has launched the Plastic Recycling Programme in Nigeria PReP 2.0, with funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation. This new phase is aimed at continuing to develop an inclusive recycling system, strengthening livelihoods, and supporting more sustainable environmental solutions across Nigeria.

According to the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Nigeria generates approximately 2.5 million metric tons of plastic waste annually, with Lagos producing about 13,000 metric tons of solid waste daily. Much of this ends up in waterways and communities, posing severe environmental and health risks. Through the PReP initiative, what was once seen as waste has become a source of income, employment, and environmental renewal for thousands of Nigerians.

Coca Cola
L-R: Mr. Cajetan Okeke, General Secretary, Recyclers Association (RAN); Malam Ladan Ajumawa Acting Permanent Secretary, Kano State Ministry of Planning and Budget; Mallam Umar Dahiru, Representative, Kano State Refuse Management and Sanitation Board (REMASAB); Mrs. Adesuwa Akinboro, Country Director, TechnoServe; Nwamaka Onyemelukwe, Senior Director, Public Affairs, Communication & Sustainability, Coca-Cola Nigeria; Salisu Ali Yarima, President Waste Pickers Association of Nigeria (WAPAN); and Alhaji Abba Danguguwa, Permanent Secretary of the Kano State Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation at the launch of Plastic Recycling Program PReP 2.0 in Kano recently

Since its inception, PReP has transformed the recycling landscape in Lagos and Anambra, diverting over 59,000metric tons of plastic waste, creating and improving 10,000 livelihoods, and building a vibrant network of 51 aggregators who now drive more inclusive growth and sustainability in the recycling sector. The programme has provided equipment, training and working capital support, empowering women and youth-led enterprises to lead in developing a robust recycling value chain.

“These achievements represent not just statistics, but powerful stories of resilience and transformation,” said Adesuwa Akinboro, Nigeria Country Director, TechnoServe. “Aggregators and collectors are now operating as business owners, improving their livelihoods and helping their communities while keeping plastic waste out of the environment.”

The launch of PReP 2.0 marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s journey toward a sustainable recycling economy. Expanding operations to Kano State, alongside Anambra and Lagos, this new phase will aim to create and improve an additional 2,400 jobs and divert 32,000 metric tons of plastic waste from the environment.

The initiative aims to build a more profitable, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable recycling industry by:

  • Strengthening collaboration between market actors to help ensure fair, efficient, and safe recycling practices.
  • Creating a cadre of business-oriented players, to increase recovery and recycling efficiency.
  • Expanding partnerships with financial institutions, local governments, and private sector actors to unlock financing and create enabling conditions for growth.

“At The Coca-Cola Foundation, we’re focused on supporting environmental sustainability and empowering communities,” said Carlos Pagoaga, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation. “Through initiatives like PReP 2.0, we are proud to deepen our impact, reducing plastic waste, cutting emissions, and supporting thousands of livelihoods across Nigeria as we work toward a cleaner and more inclusive future.”

The programme will also promote gender inclusion, environmental education, and behavior change communication so that women and youth can continue to play central roles in driving local recycling innovations.

As Nigeria strives to achieve its sustainability and environmental goals, Prep 2.0 stands as a model for how public-private partnerships can turn challenges into economic opportunities, advancing both community well-being and resilience.

40 migratory animal species receive new, upgraded protection at close of UN meeting in Brazil

Michael Simire
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40 migratory animal species receive new, upgraded protection at close of UN meeting in Brazil

Confronted with stark new evidence that many migratory species are moving closer to extinction, governments at a major UN wildlife conservation meeting on Sunday, March 29, 2026, agreed on expanded conservation efforts, including new or enhanced treaty protections for 40 species and populations of birds, aquatic wildlife, and terrestrial animals.

Meeting in Brazil, Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) adopted several measures to strengthen global or regional conservation efforts of such iconic species as the cheetah, striped hyena, snowy owl, giant otter, great hammerhead shark, and several shorebird species facing steep population declines. 

CMS COP15
Delegates at CMS COP15 in Brazil

Parties agreed to list the 40 additional species or populations of species on CMS Appendices I (species in danger of extinction) or II (species in need of coordinated international action), which now include over 1,200 unique species under the 47-year-old Convention.

They also approved multi-species conservation plans in key regions such as the Amazon.

The week-long CMS COP15 opened with new findings that key indicators for many treaty-protected species continue to trend downward, reinforcing warnings that habitat loss, overexploitation, and infrastructure barriers are accelerating declines across species that traverse national borders.

The conference also highlighted a growing need to address threats such as deep-sea mining, climate change, plastic pollution, underwater noise, illegal wildlife killing, fisheries bycatch, and marine pollution.

CMS COP15 began with strong political and scientific warnings: migratory species are in accelerating decline and international cooperation is required to effectively respond.

  • The State of the World’s Migratory Species: Interim Report (2026) report underlined that key biodiversity indicators are trending negatively, with rising extinction risk and population declines
  • Scientific and political leaders, including Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and Santiago Peña of Paraguay, underlined threats such as habitat fragmentation, bycatch, illegal killing, and infrastructure barriers
  • Parties emphasised ecological connectivity, international cooperation, expanded partnerships with CITES, IPBES, and other multilateral agreements
  • There was a strong push to integrate Indigenous and local knowledge into scientific considerations, with a parallel debate on how to balance scientific rigor with multiple knowledge systems

Said CMS Executive Secretary, Amy Fraenkel: “We came to Campo Grande knowing that the populations of half the species protected under this treaty are in decline. We leave with stronger protections and more ambitious plans but the species themselves are not waiting for our next meeting. Implementation has to begin tomorrow. Expanded protections for striped hyena, snowy owls, giant otters, great hammerhead sharks, and many more, demonstrate that nations can act when the science is clear. Our duty now is to close the distance between what we’ve agreed and what happens on the ground for these animals.”

Said João Paulo Capobianco, Chair of COP15 and Executive Secretary, Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, Brazil; “We protect species that may never remain within our borders. We invest in a natural heritage we do not own, but are all responsible for. In doing so, we give concrete meaning to global solidarity, recognizing that migratory species transcend nations, jurisdictions, and generations. From the Pantanal to the Arctic, from the oceans to the savannas, migratory species connect our planet in ways no political map ever could. They remind us that ecological integrity depends on continuity on flows that must remain alive, uninterrupted, and resilient.”

With the conclusion of COP15, the Government of Brazil now holds the mantle of the CMS COP Presidency and will carry the momentum from this meeting into the next three years, not only in South America but also for all regions of the world, for the conservation of migratory species and their habitats.

CAPPA urges govt to increase tobacco control budget

Michael Simire
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CAPPA urges govt to increase tobacco control budget

The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has renewed its call on the Federal Government to significantly increase budgetary allocation for tobacco control.

CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, made the call in a statement signed by Robert Egbe, Media and Communications Officer, CAPPA, on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Abuja.

Oluwafemi said that Nigeria’s current budgetary allocation remained grossly inadequate to address the growing public health threat posed by tobacco and emerging nicotine products.

Tobacco
Tobacco

He urged the government to raise the annual tobacco control allocation to at least N300 million and ensure sustained increases in subsequent budgets.

He said that current funding levels fell far short of what is required to effectively implement the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA) 2015.

Meanwhile, CAPPA’s has highlighted how international tobacco and allied companies are exploiting policy gaps to flood the Nigerian market with highly addictive novel products.

The highlight is contained in its new report, “New Smoke Trap: New and Emerging Nicotine and Tobacco Products, Youth Exposure and Policy Gaps in Nigeria”.

Oluwafemi said that the products included electronic cigarettes, vapes, and other smokeless nicotine devices, targeted at young Nigerians.

He sais that the rapid spread of these products, combined with weak enforcement and limited funding posed a serious public health risk.

“We are dealing with a fast-changing nicotine market that is clearly targeting young people.

“Without adequate funding for regulation, enforcement and public education, the country risks a new wave of addiction,” he said.

According to him, tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable death in Nigeria, responsible for nearly 30,000 deaths annually. 

Citing data from the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), the CAPPA boss warned of the economic burden of tobacco and nicotine.

He said that Nigerians spent over N526 billion treating tobacco-related diseases in 2019 alone.

He said that in spite of these costs, Nigeria has continued to underfund tobacco control efforts.

“This is limiting critical activities such as public awareness campaigns, enforcement of smoke-free regulations, monitoring of industry practices, enforcement of existing regulations, and research into emerging trends,” he said.

Oluwafemi said that the Tobacco Control Fund (TCF), established under the NTCA to support these efforts, was yet to be fully operationalised and remained under-resourced.

“The TCF was designed as a sustainable financing mechanism to protect Nigerians from the harms of tobacco.

“However, without adequate budgetary allocation and full operationalisation, it can not deliver on its mandate,” Oluwafemi said.

He said that increased investment would enable key bodies to carry out their statutory responsibilities.

He listed the bodies to include the National Tobacco Control Committee (NATOCC) and Tobacco Control Unit in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare

According to him, the responsibilities include nationwide sensitisation campaigns, compliance monitoring, enforcement of advertising bans, and prosecution of violations.

The CAPPA boss also emphasised the need for sustained investment in alternative livelihoods for tobacco farmers, noting that transitioning to safer and more sustainable crops required technical support, training, and financial backing.

Drawing from its new report, he said that tobacco companies were intensifying their marketing efforts on digital platforms, using influencers, lifestyle branding, and misleading harm-reduction claims to attract young users.

“This is a deliberate strategy to recruit new users and replace those lost to tobacco-related diseases.

“Government must respond by strengthening regulation and backing it with adequate funding required for enforcement,” Oluwafemi said. 

In addition to increased budgetary allocation, he reiterated the call for stronger fiscal and regulatory measures.

These measures include raising tobacco taxes to at least 100 per cent, and ring-fencing a portion of the revenue for public health interventions and tobacco control programmes.

Oluwafemi urged policymakers to treat tobacco control as a public health priority.

He said that failure to act decisively would continue to strain Nigeria’s health system, deepen poverty, and expose millions, especially young people, to preventable diseases.

“Investing in tobacco control will save lives, reduce healthcare costs and protect the next generation from addiction,” he added.

By Deji Abdulwahab

Over $100bn lost to oil and gas price spikes in first month of Iran war – Analysis

Michael Simire
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Over $100bn lost to oil and gas price spikes in first month of Iran war – Analysis

One month after the start of the Iran war, new analysis from 350.org shows that over $100 billion has been siphoned from ordinary people to oil and gas companies due to soaring energy prices.

In addition to the horrific loss of human life, campaigners say the crisis highlights how dependence on fossil fuels enriches the few at the expense of the many. The analysis estimates that rising oil and gas prices have already cost consumers and businesses an additional $104.2–$111.6 billion. Impacts have been sharp and immediate, from textile factory layoffs in Bangladesh, to fuel rationing in Kenya, to a looming recession in the United States.

Oil reserve
Oil reserve

The 350.org analysis calculates losses from price spikes using weighted oil and gas price averages over the first month of the war, combined with global consumption levels and adjustments for uncertainty, such as reduced demand and rationing in response to rising prices.

It does not yet include wider knock-on effects, such as rising fertiliser and food costs, declines in economic output and employment, or broader inflation driven by fossil fuel price volatility. As a result, the true economic damage is likely significantly higher than the losses from oil and gas prices alone.

The $111 billion lost to higher oil and gas prices alone could instead build enough solar power to supply around 40 million households in high-consumption countries, or about 150 million households in lower-consumption contexts.

This figure is also roughly equivalent to current annual international climate finance – public and private funding provided by developed countries to developing countries under the UN Climate Convention and the Paris Agreement.

Anne Jellema, Chief Executive of 350.org, said: “On top of the incalculable suffering of families and communities torn apart by the war, ordinary people around the world are paying an extraordinary price through fossil fuel-driven energy spikes. Over $100 billion has gone straight into the pockets of fossil fuel companies, while families struggle to afford energy and basic necessities. The case for windfall taxes has never been clearer.”

The organisation warns that, without urgent intervention, the impacts will deepen, particularly for lower-income households and countries already facing economic strain.

“Next month, governments will gather in Colombia to discuss how to end the era of oil, gas and coal. No more procrastination: our leaders must seize this moment to adopt binding targets to phase out fossil fuels and ramp up investment in a clean, safe energy future for all.”

350.org is calling on governments to tax the fossil fuel industry’s windfall profits in order to protect households from soaring prices. The group says that part of this revenue should be used to subsidise access to fast-deploying renewable solutions, such as rooftop and community solar and electric vehicles.

It emphasises that investing in renewables is the most effective way to stabilise prices, strengthen energy security, and shield economies from future crises. 350.org is also urging governments to agree on binding plans to replace oil, gas and coal with homegrown renewable energy, for example, through a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Marine flyways: Major breakthrough in global ocean conservation

Michael Simire
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Marine flyways: Major breakthrough in global ocean conservation

In what looks like a landmark decision adopted on Sunday, March 29, 2026, in Brazil, governments at the fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS COP15) formally recognised marine flyways for the first time. Scientists describe this as one of the most significant advances in ocean conservation in a generation. 

What Marine Flyways Reveal 

Marine flyways are vast migration highways across the open ocean, used by more than 150 seabird species across 54 countries. Despite their resilience, 42% of these species are globally threatened and more than half are declining. 

Marine Flyways
Northern gannet colony Skrudur Iceland Photo credit: Beth Clark

Dr Tammy Davies, Marine Science Coordinator at BirdLife International, says: “Seabirds are indicators of ocean health. When seabirds struggle, it is because the ocean itself is under strain. They are a highly visible dipstick for our ocean’s health.” 

New Science, New Urgency 

Research from BirdLife International identifies globally important sites, or Key Biodiversity Areas, across these flyways. These highlight where conservation action is most urgently needed. The threats facing seabirds are global and relentless, from invasive species to climate change. No single country can solve these challenges alone. 

A Transformative Global Framework 

The CMS resolution establishes marine flyways as a global conservation framework. It is built on a simple but transformative principle: shared routes require shared responsibility. 

Marine flyways now provide a structure for countries and stakeholders to coordinate priorities, mobilise finance and deliver action. This includes new marine protected areas, invasive species eradication on breeding islands and safer fishing practices. 

Prof Dr Aline Kühl Stenzel, Senior Policy Manager, Marine at BirdLife International, says: “Without coordinated action at an ocean basin scale, we will lose many of these species within our lifetimes. Marine flyways show us that the ocean is a single, interconnected system and its protection depends on cooperation at a scale we have never attempted before.” 

Strengthening Global Agreements 

The new framework supports major global agreements including the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Regional Seas Conventions and the new High Seas Treaty. It gives governments a shared language, shared priorities and shared accountability. 

From health systems to health sovereignty across Africa, Eastern Mediterranean

Michael Simire
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From health systems to health sovereignty across Africa, Eastern Mediterranean

Recently, I attended the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, which brings together Member States from both the WHO African Region (AFR) and the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). The discussions highlighted a structural shift in global health: health systems are operating within the context of geopolitical fragmentation, prolonged crises and increasingly constrained and volatile external financing.

Official development assistance (ODA) for health is contracting sharply, decreasing by 9% in real terms in 2024, with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) projecting a further decline of 9-17% in 2025. At the same time, structural dependence remains high: in half of the low-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa, external financing accounts for one-third or more of total health expenditure.

Dr. Hanan Balkhy
Dr Hanan Hassan Balkhy will serve as Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean

In parts of the Eastern Mediterranean Region – particularly the conflict-affected settings – essential health services continue to rely heavily on externally financed humanitarian assistance. These realities heighten the urgency to strengthen national institutions while deepening structured cooperation between regions that share epidemiologic risks.

Health sovereignty, in this context, must be understood as institutional capacity. It is not confined to domestic production of vaccines or medicines. It encompasses the ability to finance and govern essential services sustainably, regulate medical products, maintain resilient supply chains, generate and share surveillance data, and respond to emergencies without systemic collapse. Sovereignty rests on durable systems.

The African and the Eastern Mediterranean regions are experiencing converging crises – conflict, displacement, climate shocks, economic strain and recurrent disease outbreaks, which unfold simultaneously rather than sequentially. In several EMR countries, prolonged conflict and large-scale displacement have placed extraordinary strain on health systems, and in such settings, hospitals and primary care facilities are not only providers of care but also anchors of social stability. When systems fracture, instability often follows.

The polio incidence illustrates the indivisibility of health security across regions. Although the African Region has been certified as free of wild poliovirus, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreaks continue in many of the countries. In the Horn of Africa and Yemen, for example, transmission has demonstrated clear epidemiological linkages between the two regions. Whenever cross-border coordination weakens – whether due to insecurity, population movement or immunisation campaign quality gaps – transmission resurges.

Viruses exploit fragmentation. WHO has been supporting interministerial coordination across the Horn of Africa and Yemen to strengthen synchronised campaigns, improve surveillance quality and address persistent implementation gaps. Eradication will depend on urgency as well as on sustained improvements in campaign quality, shared environmental surveillance and collective accountability. In this context, cooperation will reduce collective risk while fragmentation will amplify it.

The same logic applies to malaria, neglected tropical diseases and waterborne disease outbreaks. Vector ecology, climate patterns, increasing biological threats, and human mobility do not align with administrative boundaries. In malaria-endemic corridors linking the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and parts of the Arabian Peninsula, cross-border coordination on policies, surveillance, integrated vector control, treatment protocols, and monitoring of drug resistance and biological threats is essential to move towards elimination and prevent resurgence. Sustainable progress requires embedding disease control within strong primary health care systems, reinforced water and sanitation programmes, effective surveillance, and community ownership and engagement. Vertical gains are fragile without system integration.

Primary health care is central to health sovereignty. For millions of people across AFR and EMR, primary health care remains the first – and often only – point of contact with the health system. Yet, services remain fragmented, with limited integration across the life-course, and there is uneven adoption of digital technologies. Strengthening primary care through integrated service packages, workforce development, streamlined referral systems and accountable data platforms creates shock absorbers that protect populations when crises converge.

WHO and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) are increasingly aligning support across surveillance, emergency preparedness, workforce development, and regulatory strengthening in countries connected by cross-border transmission – particularly across the Horn of Africa, the Sahel and the Red Sea corridor linking AFR and EMR Member States. By coordinating across regions, the partnership reduces fragmentation and strengthens collective resilience against transnational health threats.

The ongoing negotiations on pathogen access and benefit-sharing (PABS) under the WHO Pandemic Agreement further illustrate the link between sovereignty and cooperation. AFR and EMR countries were among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic – in terms of health system strain and delayed access to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics. The pandemic exposed weaknesses in pathogen and genetic sequence data sharing and revealed profound inequities in access to countermeasures.

For AFR and EMR Member States, active and coordinated participation in the PABS negotiations is essential. The final framework must reflect the realities of countries with limited manufacturing capacity, fragile supply chains and recurrent disease outbreaks, linking rapid pathogen sharing to fair and equitable benefit distribution.

Ultimately, health sovereignty and interregional cooperation are mutually reinforcing. Sovereignty requires strong national institutions, skilled health workforces and accountable governance. Yet in an interconnected world, it is consolidated through deliberate collaboration across regions that share epidemiologic corridors and structural vulnerabilities.

AFR and EMR are not peripheral to global health governance; they are central testing grounds for its resilience. If health systems can withstand compound stress in these regions – conflict, climate shocks, displacement and infectious threats – then the architecture of global health is robust. If not, redesign is required. Health sovereignty can only be achieved through institutional strength aligned with structured and sustained inter-regional cooperation.

By Dr Hanan Hassan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean

Idle water schemes, not funding, main challenge in Cross River’s WASH sector – Stakeholders

Michael Simire
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Idle water schemes, not funding, main challenge in Cross River’s WASH sector – Stakeholders

Concerns over the proliferation of abandoned and non-functional water projects dominated discussions as the Cross River State Government and its partners shifted focus from funding gaps to the urgent need to revive existing infrastructure in the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector.

At the end of a two-day draft presentation and review of the state’s WASH Financing Strategy in Calabar, the state capital, stakeholders acknowledged that while financing remains important, poor maintenance and weak sustainability frameworks have left over 200 water schemes idle across the state.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Bassey Mensah, said the continued neglect of completed water projects poses a bigger threat to access than the absence of new funding.

WASH
Participants at the draft presentation and review of the state’s WASH Financing Strategy in Calabar

He lamented that several boreholes and water facilities, including those funded by international donors, have become redundant due to lack of maintenance and unreliable power supply.

According to him, the state must prioritise making existing investments functional before seeking fresh funds.

“Inasmuch as water is not running in our communities, I cannot rest. We cannot abandon existing water schemes for Abuja engagements,” he said.

Mensah disclosed that the government is considering the conversion of dormant water facilities to solar-powered systems, especially in rural communities and schools, to ensure consistent water supply.

He added that the intervention would also target schools for girls, noting that access to water is closely linked to improved health and school attendance among female students.

Stakeholders at the meeting emphasised that sustainable financing models must go beyond government budgeting and incorporate private sector participation to ensure continuity.

Managing Director of Ekondo Microfinance Bank, Charles Abiola, said financial institutions have a critical role to play in supporting WASH-related enterprises and services.

He noted that the bank, in collaboration with development partners, has introduced financial products tailored to water, sanitation and hygiene businesses.

Abiola stressed that investments in WASH are not only socially beneficial but also economically viable when structured properly.

Also speaking, a representative of In-line Informatics Limited, Emmanuel Ami-Okhani, warned that any financing strategy that is disconnected from market realities would fail to deliver long-term impact.

He called for broader stakeholder inclusion, including microfinance institutions, service providers and end users, in designing workable funding frameworks.

According to him, sustainability in the WASH sector depends largely on the ability of users to pay for and maintain services over time.

Participants at the meeting agreed on the need to rehabilitate abandoned water schemes, strengthen maintenance systems and develop financing models that integrate public and private sector contributions.

They noted that aligning infrastructure development with sustainable financing and community ownership would be key to improving access to clean water and sanitation across Cross River State.

By Stina Ezin, Calabar

CSOs flay AGF’s repeated absence in Bayelsa oil pollution case, warns of threat to justice

Michael Simire
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CSOs flay AGF’s repeated absence in Bayelsa oil pollution case, warns of threat to justice

A coalition of Nigerian and international civil society organisations has raised concerns over what it describes as a troubling pattern of absence by representatives of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) in an ongoing environmental justice case at the Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

In a strongly worded communication addressed to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, the groups expressed alarm over the repeated failure of government legal representatives to appear in court, a development they say is undermining justice and accountability in a case involving allegations of large-scale environmental pollution.

Lateef Fagbemi
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN

The case, filed by King Bubaraiye Dakolo, the traditional ruler of Ekpetiama Kingdom and Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, is before the Federal High Court, Bayelsa Division (Suit No: FHC/YNG/CS/81/2025). The suit is instituted against Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, Shell Petroleum N.V., and Shell UK Plc over alleged environmental degradation affecting thousands of residents.

According to the coalition, proceedings on March 18, 2026, could not move forward due to the absence of representatives from the AGF’s office. This marks the sixth adjournment since the case was first heard on June 20, 2025, and most of which, they noted, were caused by the failure of government counsel or relevant agencies to attend court sittings. The groups warned that this pattern is fast becoming a “justice delayed, justice denied” scenario, raising serious questions about the commitment of public institutions to uphold the rule of law.

“The case is of significant public interest, as it seeks justice for victims of oil pollution allegedly linked to the operations of Shell, and addresses broader concerns around corporate accountability and environmental responsibility in the Niger Delta. The repeated absence of AGF representatives was described as “deeply disappointing” and cautioned that it risks escalating into a national and international scandal if not urgently addressed.” Statement reads.

With the next hearing scheduled for May 6, 2026, following yet another adjournment requested by a government representative, the coalition called on the AGF to take immediate steps to ensure full and timely participation of its legal team in the proceedings. They also disclosed that the case is being closely monitored, with plans to report developments to both the Nigerian public and the international community, particularly on issues of human rights, environmental justice, and government accountability.

The statement was endorsed by a broad coalition of organisations, including Hawkmoth, HEDA Resource Centre, Justice 4 Nigeria, Help Initiative for Social Justice and Humanitarian Development, The Corner House, Tsvek Consulting Limited, Enamel Development Initiative, Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre, Women Initiative on Climate Change, League of Queens Empowerment International, re•generation, Lekeh Development Foundation, Samuel Uchechukwu Chukwure’s Family (Ibaa Community), 350 Hawaii, Allen +, Network Advancement Program for Poverty & Disaster Risk Reduction, Eagle Eye Transparency And Integrity Initiative, Accountability Lab Nigeria, Miideekor Environmental Development Initiative, Collective Pathways, Both ENDS, Powershift Africa, Rights Advocacy and Development Centre, FENRAD Nigeria, and Socio Economic Research and Development Centre.

Other endorsing organisations include Cherokee Concerned Citizens, Oil Change International, Climate Action for Lifelong Learners, Earthlife Africa Durban, ReCommon, Social Action Nigeria, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Centre for Renewable Energy and Action on Climate Change, Weka Afri Sustainable Biodiversity and Food Security Foundation, Urgewald, War on Want, Animals Are Sentient Beings Inc, Amnesty International Nigeria, Amnesty International, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, Peer Foundation, Batani Foundation, Policy Alert, Vessel Project of Louisiana, Public Service of Ukraine Poltava Branch, Platform London, Safe Space Development Foundation, Justice Institute Guyana, Mothers Rise Up, Eco Clean Active Initiative, The Future We Need, BudgIT, and SOMO.

The coalition reiterated that ensuring diligent legal representation is not only a constitutional responsibility but also a moral obligation in the pursuit of justice for affected communities in the Niger Delta.

Ekuri women petition Cross River Assembly over logging impacts in community forest

Michael Simire
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Ekuri women petition Cross River Assembly over logging impacts in community forest

Women from Ekuri in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State have petitioned the Cross River State House of Assembly on the activities of illegal loggers in the Ekuri Forest affecting them adversely.

The petition, which is captioned “Illegal Logging in Ekuri and Environs Impacting Negatively on Women, Forest and Biodiversity|, is dated March 26, 2026, and was jointly signed by the Women Leader of Ekuri, Mrs. Lawrencia Agbor, Imelda Offiong Oyi, Theresa Benedicta Akamo, Agatha Egot, Lucy Abel, Esther Atim Jerome, Akamo Mary Godwin, and Mrs. Freda Francis.

Ekuri women
Ekuri women

Addressed to the Speaker, Elvert Ayambem, the petition articulated the concerns of the women which included harassment and the depletion of Ekuri forest resources, which have cumulatively led to food security concerns.

They lamented the fact that the ban on illegal logging by the state government has not been enforced and illegal logging had gone unchecked for years despite the outcry of Ekuri people who depend on the forest for their livelihood and sustenance.

The text of the petition reads: “Honourable Speaker, every day more than 200 truckloads of timber and other exotic wood leave Ekuri forest and efforts by our people to halt this practice are met with harassment and intimidation by security personnel hired by the logging merchants.

“Aside the harassment we face, the trucks belonging to the loggers continue to worsen the already bad state of the only access road to old and new Ekuri. Sometimes they break down in the middle of the road and remain there for days, making access by our people totally impossible.”

They referenced recent statistics which showed that, aside biodiversity loss, an estimated 91,000 tons of timber leave Cross River State annually due to illegal logging activities, and further reinforced their argument with the recent Global Forest Watch report which alerted that illegal logging activities has cost Ekuri and environs the loss of more than 540 square miles of its tree cover as at 2024.

The petition captured the fact that women in Ekuri are mainly farmers who depend on the forest resources for food and medicine but are now unable to access the forest for basic needs. Continuing, they said that when it is inevitable, women wander far into the forest in search of fuel wood, medicinal plants and other necessities to take care of their families.  

They frowned at the fact that despite forming the largest population that suffer the socio-economic situation in Ekuri, in the decision-making processes concerning the forest they are hardly mentioned or consulted.

To address this gap, they urged the House to make it mandatory that key government ministries, especially Women Affairs and Youth Development, actively engage women and youths in Ekuri, to foster inclusivity and participation.

Their prayers included urging the government to work with conservation groups to embark on a reforestation exercise to repopulate forest areas depleted due to logging and other unsustainable practices.

They urged the government to create a framework that would properly define what constitutes legal logging and how it can be operationalised in the context of Ekuri forest. They equally encouraged the Speaker to use his good office to weigh in on the matter and stop the illegal forest practices that have made life difficult for them.

In a reaction to the development, the Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) said that the step taken by the Ekuri women is in the right direction and represents the first major effort of women in the community to take their destinies in their hands.

RDI Project Officer, Linda Amadi, said: “We anticipate that the Cross River State House of Assembly will handle this issue with the seriousness it deserves. The forest sustains the Ekuri people and no one understands this better than the women. They have asked for environmental justice and that is what they deserve. Anything short of this is unacceptable.”

WWF Africa marks 20 years of Earth Hour with call for renewed environmental action

Michael Simire
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WWF Africa marks 20 years of Earth Hour with call for renewed environmental action

WWF Africa has commemorated 20 years of Earth Hour, celebrating two decades of global and African-led action to protect the planet.

Millions of people across Africa joined communities worldwide on Saturday, March 28, 2026, to mark the milestone anniversary of Earth Hour, widely recognised as the world’s largest grassroots environmental movement.

Across the continent, individuals, communities, organisations and cities participated by dedicating one hour to actions supporting nature, climate and local communities.

Earth Hour
Old Mutual Kenya switched off lights at its Nairobi headquarters on Saturday night in a symbolic gesture supporting global climate action to mark Earth Hour 2026

Since its launch in 2007, Earth Hour has evolved from a symbolic lights-off campaign into a year-round global movement mobilising people to safeguard natural systems that sustain life.

Africa’s Unique Approach

While the campaign began as a call to switch off lights, Africa quickly adapted the initiative to reflect its realities. In many communities where electricity access is inconsistent, the symbolic act held less meaning.

Instead, African participation became action-oriented – focusing on tree planting, ecosystem restoration, community clean-ups and environmental education. This practical approach has since influenced the global direction of the movement.

Key Milestones Over Two Decades

Earth Hour began on March 31, 2007, in Sydney, Australia, when 2.2 million people and more than 2,100 businesses switched off their lights to demand action on climate change.

By 2009, the movement had expanded to 4,000 cities in 88 countries, with a petition of one million signatures presented to world leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009.

In 2013, WWF-Uganda established the first Earth Hour Forest, protecting 2,700 hectares of land while supporting local livelihoods.

Youth engagement became a defining feature in 2019 through partnerships with the Africa Alliance of YMCA and the World Organization of the Scout Movement, mobilising thousands of young people in environmental action across the continent.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Earth Hour transitioned to a fully digital campaign in 2020, connecting participants across 190 countries. In 2021, its “Virtual Spotlight” campaign reached 2.4 million views within 24 hours.

The initiative has since evolved into “The Biggest Hour for Earth,” introducing tools such as the Hour Bank to track environmental actions. In 2024, Africa recorded a leading contribution of 171,531 hours globally.

Calls for Leadership and Action

Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Yvonne Godo, said the anniversary is a moment to recognise the role of communities and young people in driving environmental change.

“Across the continent, people are showing that when individuals act together, even one hour can inspire lasting change for nature and climate,” she said.

Meanwhile, Regional Director, Congo Basin ad Interim, Laurent Some, urged African leaders to prioritise measurable environmental initiatives.

“This movement is about leadership and decisive action to safeguard the natural systems that underpin our economies, stability, and identity,” he said.

Growing Environmental Urgency

Africa remains home to some of the world’s richest biodiversity and ecosystems, but these face increasing threats from climate change, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss.

Earth Hour continues to serve as a unifying platform for individuals and organisations to reconnect with nature and demonstrate commitment to protecting it.

WWF has called on individuals, communities and organisations to take part by dedicating one hour to activities such as tree planting, clean-ups and environmental education, while logging their contributions through the global Hour Bank.

The organisation says collective action across the continent will be key in shaping a sustainable and nature-positive future.

By Winston Mwale, AfricaBrief

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