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NNPC’s N17.5trn energy-security bill sparks outrage, calls for forensic audit

Michael Simire
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NNPC’s N17.5trn energy-security bill sparks outrage, calls for forensic audit

The Federation racked up a record N17.5 trillion debt to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) in the 2024 financial year for pipeline protection, under-recovery on petrol, and other energy-security operations undertaken by the national oil company.

The figure – contained in NNPC’s newly released 2024 consolidated financial statements – has triggered widespread public concern, with economists and industry analysts demanding a full forensic audit of the spending.

Bayo Ojulari
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bayo Ojulari

Breakdown of the N17.5trn Cost

Findings show that N7.13 trillion of the expenditure was incurred as energy-security costs to keep petrol prices stable whenever the gap widened between the exchange rate and the ex-coastal cost of imported fuel.

Another N8.67 trillion was spent directly on under-recovery – the financial shortfall that arises when the regulated pump price of petrol is lower than the actual landing cost.

In addition, N8.84 trillion was recorded under Other Receivables from the Federation, representing advance payments made by NNPC and additional security spending on the protection of oil and gas installations.

The 2024 figure nearly doubled the N9.36tn recorded the previous year, signalling rising fiscal strain as the nation battles crude theft, vandalism, and volatile exchange rates.

Legal Basis and Contradictory Realities

Under Section 64(m) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the Federation is responsible for reimbursing NNPC for energy-security costs incurred as the supplier of last resort.

But the latest disclosures complicate President Bola Tinubu’s May 2023 declaration that “fuel subsidy is gone.” With under-recovery costs now at multi-trillion-naira levels, the financial statements indicate that government support for petrol pricing has in effect continued.

The report also confirmed that the year opened with an under-recovery balance of N6.21 trillion, up sharply from N2.06 trillion in 2023, and that total energy-security debts owed to NNPC climbed to N8.67 trillion by December 31.

NNPC Posts Record Profit Despite Rising Debts

Despite the heavy financial burden on its books, NNPC announced a Profit After Tax (PAT) of N5.4 trillion for 2024, its strongest performance since becoming a limited liability company. The company’s PAT represents a 64% increase from the N3.297 trillion reported in 2023.

Proshare, a Nigerian financial intelligence platform, described the performance as “strong and commercially encouraging,” citing an 87.89% growth in total revenue, driven largely by higher crude oil production and improved operational efficiency.

Crude sales alone surged to N29.21 trillion, more than double the previous year’s figures, while natural gas and power revenues rose by 125.66%.

However, Proshare warned that the company’s rising finance costs and shrinking gross margins demand cautious oversight.

Stakeholders Demand Probe

The massive security-related expense has drawn sharp criticism from experts, who question the transparency and justification for such spending.

Jeremiah Olatide, CEO of Petroleumprice.ng, described the N17.5 trillion bill as “outrageous and indefensible,” accusing the national oil company of masking deep inefficiencies and internal collusion.

“N17.5 trillion spent on pipeline security and energy-security costs in a single year is outrageous and should be probed,” he said. “How do you justify such a humongous expense when production remains around 1.4–1.5 million barrels per day?”

He argued that despite years of security spending, crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and sabotage remain rampant.

A critique, Kelvin Emmanuel, public finance analyst and co-founder of Dairy Hills, alleged that the government has been compensating militant groups with crude supplies under the guise of pipeline surveillance agreements.

Writing on X, Emmanuel said: “Now that NNPC’s financial statement shows that N7.1 trillion was disbursed in 2024 from supposed subsidy savings for pipeline security contracts, I am sure the 78,000 to 110,000 barrels per day is now confirmed.”

He called for open contracting, third-party verification of all security-related payments, and a complete overhaul of the current pipeline protection framework.

Repayment Uncertain

The financial documents do not indicate whether the Federal Government has refunded any portion of the mounting amount owed to NNPC. With debts nearly doubling in a single year, analysts warn that delayed reimbursements could weaken NNPC’s liquidity and ultimately shift the financial burden to the Nigerian public.

Rising Pressure on Nigeria’s Oil Sector

As the country struggles with declining output, deteriorating infrastructure, and persistent under-recovery of fuel costs, stakeholders insist that transparency, accountability, and reform of the national security and subsidy systems are now unavoidable.

With the national oil company carrying the cost of government-mandated fuel pricing and security operations, experts say Nigeria’s energy future hinges on bold policy decisions – and a willingness to confront long-standing distortions in the petroleum sector.

NUPRC opens licensing round portal, backs inclusive development for PWDs

Michael Simire
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NUPRC opens licensing round portal, backs inclusive development for PWDs

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced the official commencement of the Nigeria 2025 Licensing Round, marking another major step in the Federal Government’s drive to enhance the sector.

Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, the Commission Chief Executive, NUPRC, on Monday, December 1, 2025, unveiled the dedicated bid portal: br2025.nuprc.gov.ng during a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Unveiling the portal, Komolafe said the development was in the bid to expand investment, strengthen transparency, and deepen exploration in the upstream sector.

Gbenga Komolafe
Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive of NUPRC

The CCE recalled that recent licensing initiatives, particularly the 2022 Mini-Bid Round and the historic 2024 Licensing Round, were conducted with unprecedented transparency, global competitiveness, and strong investor engagement.

He said the 2024 Licensing Round was completed without a single litigation and earned commendations from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) and other stakeholders.

Komolafe said that, with Presidential approval from President Bola Tinubu, the NUPRC had now placed 50 Oil and Gas blocks on offer across onshore, swamp/shallow water, frontier basins, and deepwater terrain.

“A breakdown of the blocks includes 15 onshore blocks, 19 shallow water blocks, 15 frontier assets and One deepwater block,” he said.

He outlined the key objectives of the 2025 Licensing Round, to include boosting Nigeria’s reserves, increasing production capacity, expanding gas utilisation and creating thousands of jobs across the value chain.

Komolafe listed others as enhancing indigenous participation, and reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to transparency in line with EITI principles.

He said as a business enabler, and with the president’s approval, NUPRC had also reduced signature bonuses to attract greater investment and participation.

He said to further de-risk exploration, the NUPRC had undertaken extensive multi-client surveys, reprocessing thousands of kilometres of 2D and 3D seismic data to deliver the highest-quality subsurface imagery available in Africa.

“This, the commission noted, sharply reduces uncertainty, lowers entry costs, accelerates time to first oil or gas, and enhances investor confidence.

“The 2025 Licensing Round is projected to attract about 10 billion dollars in investments, add up to two billion barrels to national oil reserves over the next decade, and deliver an estimated 400,000 barrels per day from fully developed assets.

“At the Commission, we acknowledge that transparency is key to investor confidence. To ensure that the bidding process is credible and seamless, the Commission has rolled out guidelines which are now available on its website,” he said.

The CCE said it had adopted a two-stage bidding process for the award of the Blocks, comprising a qualification stage and a bid stage.

Reinforcing its commitment to transparency, Komolafe said the NUPRC had also introduced a two-stage, fully digital bidding process, comprising a qualification stage and a bid submission stage.

According to him, winners will emerge at the commercial bid round and the Commission emphasised that the age or date of incorporation of bidding companies is not a limiting factor.

He added that the assessment would focus strictly on technical capacity, professionalism, and financial capability.

Komolafe said, “The qualification stage involves the submission and evaluation of applications by interested parties or consortia in accordance with the Regulation and the Guidelines.

“Only applicants who are adjudged qualified and subsequently shortlisted by the Commission shall proceed to the Bid Stage and will be required to execute a Confidentiality Agreement prior to participation.

“At the bid stage, shortlisted applicants or bidders shall submit their Technical and Commercial Bids in accordance with the Regulation, the Guidelines, and any other bidding documents issued by the commission.

“Given our commitment to transparency and alignment with best practices, the bid process will be automated and digital.”

Meanwhile, the NUPRC has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting inclusive development in the Niger Delta region, with particular focus on Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

The Chief Executive Officer, NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, made the remark during a one-day workshop organised by the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) for PWDs, held in Port Harcourt, on Monday.

Komolafe, represented by Dr Ogechi Opete, the Deputy Director at NUPRC Port Harcourt Regional Office, acknowledged that the workshop, with the theme “Ending Barriers Against Niger-DeItans with Disabilities (EBANA), was apt.

He emphasised that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 provided a legal framework for promoting social equity and inclusion in host communities.

Komolafe noted that the Host Community Development Regulations of 2022 mandates participatory, needs assessment, stakeholder engagement, and transparent governance structures.

The NUPRC chief executive officer stressed that PWD-inclusive planning was not optional, but a requirement for development projects, saying that representation of PWDs in governance structures was vital to ensuring their unique needs were met.

He said that the commission would ensure full compliance with the PIA and Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT) regulations, strengthen accountability, and support initiatives that promote equity and social harmony in host communities.

Earlier, the Acting Director of the CCD, Mr. Godwin Unumeri, stated that the workshop was aimed at finalising a regional demand charter for the inclusion of PWDs in the petroleum industry act benefit structures.

Unumeri stated that the organisation had developed a regional demand charter for the nine Niger Delta states, highlighting the needs of PWDs, including accessible infrastructure, education, and employment opportunities.

The acting director said that the stakeholders, including PWDs, policymakers, and advocates gathered to deliberate on measures to ensure that the PWDs demand charter would be included in the PIA’s host community development trusts, needs assessments, and budgets.

“The stakeholders will review and finalise the charter, which will be presented to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission to form a supplementary act for disability inclusion,” he said.

Unumeri appealed to NUPRC to develop a supplementary act that would ensure host community development trusts prioritises disability inclusion in their needs assessments, development plans, and budgets.

Also, Mr. Amadi Onyekwere, the Director of Petroleum Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resource, Abia, said that the initiative was a right step to ensuring that right and needs of the PWDs were recognised and properly addressed in the oil and gas sector.

Onyekwere said that the PIA was a landmark legislation governing Nigeria’s oil and gas industry,  but that the PWDs were not properly considered.

He said that the situation could be changed by co-creating the charters demands of the PWDs.

He called on the HCDT to integrate disability related concerns, providing support for infrastructure development, economic empowerment and social services.

The director also called on Nigerian government and industry regulators to consider amendment of the relevant sectors of the PIA act to include appropriate qualified PWDs into relevant communities of the HCDT.

He also called on government to recognise state ministry vested with oil and gas portfolio in host communities mattered.

Onyekwere stated that the governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti, through the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, strongly advocated inclusivity in the membership of the trust.

He reaffirmed that Abia State Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources would always work with the government for effective implementation of the PIA for the good of the people.

The workshop drew stakeholders from across the nine states of the Niger Delta region 

By Emmanuella Anokam and Precious Akutamadu

UN meeting in Panama addresses global loss of fertile lands, extreme droughts

Michael Simire
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UN meeting in Panama addresses global loss of fertile lands, extreme droughts

Addressing global loss of fertile lands and escalating droughts will be the focus of the 23rd session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC23), as 197 Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) convene in Panama this week.

The meeting comes at a crucial moment. If current trends continue, land almost the size of South America (16 million square kilometres) will show continued degradation by 2050, just as the global demand for food, water and energy continues to soar. Meanwhile, two-thirds of the planet have become permanently drier in the last three decades, and the past two years have seen the most widespread and damaging droughts in recorded history. In Panama, drought disrupted traffic through the Canal, significantly impacting global trade.

Yasmine Fouad
UNCCD Executive Secretary, Yasmine Fouad

UNCCD Executive Secretary, Yasmine Fouad, said: “The resilience of our communities, economies and ecosystems depends on healthy land. Yet, we continue to degrade an area the size of Egypt every year, eroding the land’s ability to produce food, store water, support biodiversity and shield people from droughts, floods and sand and dust storms. Investing in sustainable land management, land restoration and nature-based solutions is not only an environmental necessity; it is a development imperative and a strategic investment in stability, prosperity and peace.”

“CRIC23 is a key moment to assess our collective progress, strengthen the bridge between Riyadh and Ulaanbaatar, and recognize land and drought resilience as the red thread connecting the Rio Conventions. Together, we can accelerate the shift toward a more resilient, food-secure and nature-positive future.”

From Riyadh to Ulaanbaatar

CRIC23 will review progress in implementing decisions taken at the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to UNCCD in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December 2024 and discuss the Convention’s post-2030 roadmap. 

Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UNCCD COP16 Presidency, said: “In Riyadh, world leaders established new priorities for land and drought action. One year on, this meeting is a crucial opportunity to accelerate the translation of COP16 decisions into concrete policies and practices and to advance the Convention’s agenda. Sustainable land management and drought resilience cannot wait: we depend on them to ensure food, water and energy security, as the world will need to produce 50 per cent more food by 2050.”

The meeting will hold thematic sessions on land tenure as the basis for investments in healthy land; discuss the growing threat of sand and dust storms; and host the second Gender Caucus to give a voice to women, who are disproportionately affected by land degradation and drought, while supporting the livelihoods of entire communities around the world.

Parties will also engage with other key stakeholders including youth, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and see the launch of new reports on Small Island Developing States and rangelands.

In addition, the first of three informal and voluntary dialogues on drought resilience will be convened alongside CRIC23, building on the outcomes of COP16 and preparing for the resumption of negotiations at COP17. Led by the COP16 Presidency, the Tafa’ul Process is inspired by the Arabic word تَفَاؤُل (Tafa’ul), meaning constructive optimism and hopeful determination. CRIC23 recommendations will inform decision-making by the Convention’s 196 country Parties and the European Union ahead of the next UNCCD COP17, which will take place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in August 2026.

Mr. Batmunkh Dondovdorj, Special Advisor to the Minister and Chairman of upcoming COP17 Presidency National Office, stressed that the road from Riyadh to Ulaanbaatar must be a road of hope for communities and ecosystems that have long been undervalued. COP17 will coincide with the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, offering a unique political moment to highlight rangelands, which are disappearing faster than rainforests.

“The meeting in Panama is crucial to set the basis for a successful COP17, which will bring to the fore the links between human wellbeing and healthy, productive and resilient landscapes,” said Dondovdorj. “That is particularly true for rangelands, which cover around half of the planet’s land area and are home to two billion people, but are often treated as empty, expendable spaces. For Mongolia – a country whose history, culture and economy are deeply rooted in pastoralism – this is not an abstract issue. It is about dignity, identity and opportunity for people who have been overlooked for far too long.”

Panama’s Nature Pledge

Today, Panama highlighted the centrality of land in its Nature Pledge, a roadmap that unifies national efforts to tackle land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change to leverage the synergies between the three Rio Conventions and advance all of their interconnected goals, faster.

As part of its Nature Pledge, Panama plans to restore 100,000 hectares of degraded land by 2035. 

Juan Carlos Navarro, Minister of Environment of Panama, declared: “Nature is the backbone of the global economy. The Panama Nature Pledge shows our commitment to restoring critical watersheds, protecting forests, and incentivising sustainable agricultural practices as a means to build the resilience of our economy and our communities. The Panama Natural Fund, in turn, guarantees long-term conservation actions across the territory. There is no time to lose: We must urgently take care of nature, so nature can continue taking care of us.” 

A signatory to UNCCD since 1996, Panama has committed to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality by 2030, identified 31 critical hotspots, and is advancing reforestation and Dry Corridor adaptation programmes – underlining its role as CRIC23 host. This year, Panama became the first country to host meetings of all three Rio Conventions in the same year.     

Drafting of IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report begins in Paris

Michael Simire
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Drafting of IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report begins in Paris

More than 600 experts appointed to the three Working Groups of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are gathering in Paris this week to commence work on the first draft of IPCC’s Seventh Assessment Report (AR7). This is the first time in IPCC’s history that the three Working Groups are holding a joint Lead Author Meeting.

At the invitation of the French government, through the Ministry of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, and International Negotiations on Climate and Nature, the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the IPCC’s Lead Author Meeting, held jointly by the three Working Groups, is taking place from 1 to 5 December.

Jim Skea
Jim Skea, IPCC Chair

The authors, from more than 100 countries, will focus their work on the initial drafts of the three Working Group contributions to AR7 and cross-cutting topics. Bringing together authors from all three Working Groups in a single venue aims to enable the IPCC to take an ambitious qualitative leap in assessing key interdisciplinary questions related to climate change.

“It is apt that France is hosting our first Lead Author Meeting for the Seventh Assessment Report on the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement. The meeting marks the beginning of our assessment of the latest science related to climate change. From here on, our focus will be on delivering scientifically robust and actionable findings relevant for the world’s policymakers,” said IPCC Chair Jim Skea.

The IPCC provides the world’s policymakers with comprehensive summaries that synthesise and contextualise what is known about the drivers of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and how adaptation and mitigation can reduce those risks. Through its assessments, the IPCC identifies the strength of scientific agreement in different areas and indicates where further research is needed.

“In this year marking the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, France is proud to host the very first joint meeting of all IPCC authors. This is an opportunity to send a strong message of support for science, which must remain the foundation of our decisions to reduce our emissions everywhere across the world,” said Monique Barbut, Minister of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity and International Negotiations on Climate and Nature.

France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, said: “Ten years after the Paris Agreement, France is proud to champion climate and scientific diplomacy informed by the work of the IPCC. In an era marked by growing information warfare, France stands as a steadfast bulwark against attacks on science. We will continue to act with strength and determination to ensure that science and climate action remain inseparable.”

IPCC assessments aim for the highest standards of scientific excellence, balance, and clarity.  Appointed experts volunteer their time and expertise as IPCC authors to assess the tens of thousands of scientific papers published each year. 

“The sheer volume and high level of interest that we received from the scientific community to participate in the IPCC is a positive indication of a global commitment to advance climate action policies that are rooted in science,” said Robert Vautard, Co-Chair of Working Group I and senior climate scientist at the National Centre for Scientific Research at Institute Pierre-Simon Laplace, Paris.

IPCC reports are subject to multiple stages of review to ensure a comprehensive, objective and transparent assessment of the current state of knowledge of the science related to climate change. An open and transparent review by experts and governments around the world is an essential part of the IPCC process, to ensure an objective and complete assessment and to reflect a diverse range of views and expertise. 

The IPCC’s first joint Lead Author Meeting will be opened by Monique Barbut, Minister of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity and International Negotiations on Climate and Nature.

IPI members gather in Abuja as Nigeria’s press freedom ranking worsens

Michael Simire
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IPI members gather in Abuja as Nigeria’s press freedom ranking worsens

Members of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria will converge on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, for their Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM), with a major focus on Nigeria’s deteriorating press freedom indicators.

Nigeria has fallen 10 places to 122nd in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a sharp drop from its 112th position in 2024.

This troubling slide will dominate discussions at the 2025 Annual Conference on the opening day, December 2, 2025, and at the members-only closed-door AGM session on December 3.

Musikilu Mojeed
IPI Nigeria President, Musikilu Mojeed

The worsening situation informed the group’s choice of papers and speakers for the conference, reflecting the collective concern of its seasoned membership.

The first paper, “Addressing Media Repression in Nigeria: Safeguarding Press Freedom and Democratic Accountability,” will be delivered by the Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda (MRA), Edetaen Ojo.

The session will be moderated by Busola Ajibola, Deputy Director at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID, with a panel featuring the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade; Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin; and Special Adviser at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Idayat Hassan.

The second paper, “Building Sustainable Media in Nigeria: Navigating Innovation, Credibility, and Revenue Challenges,” will be delivered by the President/CEO of CBD MediaEdge Communications Limited and Co-Founder of Media Trust Limited, Isiaq Ajibola.

A robust panel will follow, comprising the Vice-Chair of Channels Television, Olusola Momoh; Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP, Azu Ishiekwene; the Director of the MacArthur Foundation in Nigeria, Kole Shettima; and the Publisher of The Point Newspaper, Yemi Kolapo.

The session will be moderated by Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, a Professor of Mass Communication and Director of the Institute of Continuing Education (ICE), University of Lagos (UNILAG).

As part of activities lined up for the first day, a Book of Infamy will be unveiled by Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, a Professor of Mass Communication and Registrar of Baze University, while the President of IPI Nigeria, Musikilu Mojeed, will coordinate a Surprise Honorary Event.

For the second day, reserved strictly for IPI Nigeria members, the institute will conduct a deeper interrogation of the country’s press freedom climate.

According to the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by RSF, “Nigeria is one of the most dangerous countries for journalists in West Africa.”

RSF noted that electoral periods continue to trigger “significant violence” against journalists.

In August 2024 alone, about 30 journalists were assaulted, arrested, or targeted with tear gas or gunfire while covering nationwide social protests.

The report adds that crimes against journalists persist with “almost no state mechanism for protection,” and that authorities “keep investigative journalists under close surveillance and do not hesitate to threaten and arbitrarily detain them,” often with impunity even when perpetrators are identified.

Vice President Kashim Shettima is billed to chair the conference, while the Minister of Information and National Orientation will deliver a special remark.

Other high-profile guests expected include the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi; former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed; former spokesperson to the late President Muhammadu Buhari, Garba Shehu; and former State Chief of Protocol to Buhari, Ambassador Lawal Kazaure.

Several eminent personalities and senior media leaders are also scheduled to attend, including the Executive Director of IPI Global, Scott Grifen, who will deliver a solidarity address; and former Governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba.

Presidents of major media associations invited to the event include Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru, President of the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN); Eze Anaba, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE); Danlami Nmodu, mni, President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP); and Comrade Alhassan Yahya Abdul, President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Heads of agencies under the Ministry of Information and National Orientation will also be present. They include the Directors General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Issa-Onilu; Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jubrin Baba Ndace; Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Mohammed Bulama; Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Salihu Dembos; and the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali M. Ali.

Other invited dignitaries include former Director of Information in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Haruna Imrana; former Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Gbemiga Ogunleye; IPI Global Board Member, Raheem Adedoyin; former Managing Director of Champion Newspaper, Emma Agu: former Executive Director at the Tribune Newspapers, Folu Olamiti; former editor of The Punch, Najeem Jimoh, a Professor of Communication at the Lagos State University, Tunde Akanni; Associate Professor of Mass Communication at Bayero University, Kano, Sule Yau Sule; and Publisher of PRNigeria, Yushau Shuaib.

Campaigners react as UK withdraws $1.15bn loan from TotalEnergies’ Mozambique gas project

Michael Simire
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Campaigners react as UK withdraws $1.15bn loan from TotalEnergies’ Mozambique gas project

Business secretary, Peter Kyle, confirmed on Monday, December 1, 2025, that the UK Export Finance (UKEF) agency would pull its support for the long-delayed Mozambique liquified natural gas project, led by French energy giant TotalEnergies. The decision comes five years after the scheme became a focal point for environmental protests and accusations that it was fuelling instability in Cabo Delgado province.

The project has been frozen since 2021, when Islamist militants stormed the nearby town of Palma, killing more than 800 people and forcing Total to evacuate staff and halt operations. The company is preparing to restart work in the coming months after enhanced security measures were deployed in the area.

TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies

Kyle said UKEF’s withdrawal followed “a comprehensive assessment of the project and the interests of UK taxpayers”, adding: “Whilst these decisions are never easy, the government believes that UK financing of this project will not advance the interests of our country.”

The UK had initially approved the loan in 2020, shortly after MPs on the environmental audit committee urged the previous Conservative government to end financial support for overseas fossil fuel projects, warning such backing undermined the UK’s climate commitments.

UKEF originally argued the scheme could support more than 2,000 UK jobs, benefit small businesses and deliver economic development for Mozambique. A 2019 agreement with Centrica also raised the possibility that gas from the project could supply British households.

But environmental groups and development campaigners have long criticised the project’s climate impact and the forced relocation of communities living near the construction zone. They also argued that Mozambique – one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change – should be supported to expand renewable energy capacity instead.

Antoine Bouhey of Reclaim Finance said the UK’s withdrawal showed the project was “riddled with problems and cannot be supported”, adding that major lenders including Standard Chartered, Crédit Agricole and Société Générale should now follow suit. “It has been blatantly clear for years that this project is a disaster for local communities and for the climate,” he said.

In a reaction to the development, environmental campaigners, say that UK’s Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, “has righted this wrong”.

Friends of the Earth chief executive, Asad Rehman, said the government’s decision was long overdue. “This gas project is a huge carbon timebomb, linked to serious human rights abuses,” he said. “It should never have been given UK taxpayer-funded support in the first place.”

Rehman urged other governments to withdraw backing and called on the UK to shift support toward climate adaptation efforts and clean energy projects in Mozambique, where 60% of the population still lacks access to electricity.

Adam McGibbon, Campaign Strategist at Oil Change International, said: “Keir Starmer and his government made the right decision to refuse to fund the Mozambique LNG project, which is a human rights and environmental disaster. Committing UK taxpayer’s money to enable the project was a reckless move by the last government and would have breached the UK’s policy to not fund fossil fuel projects overseas. Starmer has now righted this wrong. 

“It’s time for the other financiers – governments like The Netherlands, the United States, Italy and Japan, and private financiers like Standard Chartered – to pull out too and put an end to this nightmare project forever.”

Daniel Rubiero, from Justicia Ambiental Mozambique, said: “This decision by the UK shows that it is never too late to correct a mistake. Gas exploration in northern Mozambique has been associated with numerous human rights violations. Local communities have suffered the brunt of this, as well as having lost their livelihoods and lands to the project.

“In addition, the project is a carbon bomb and will have an impact on one of the most pristine ecosystems in Africa.

“Hopefully other financiers reflect on the reality of this project and put people’s rights over profits.”

Environment groups, such as the Friends of the Earth, have long campaigned against UK support for the project.

In October last year, the Friends of the Earth lawyers wrote to the Government and the UKEF chief executive saying that recent developments in climate litigation, including the ‘Finch ruling’, meant that the earlier climate assessment for the project could no longer be used lawfully.

The Supreme Court’s landmark “Finch ruling” requires regulators to include Scope 3 emissions in Environmental Impact Assessments for all new oil projects.

The UK Government’s decision does not stop the Mozambique LNG project from continuing, but it may lead other countries including Japan, Italy, South Africa, and the US to reconsider their support.

Friends of the Earth’s Rehman added: “We now urge other countries to follow suit and end their backing for this destructive project.

“The UK should instead support countries like Mozambique – which are on the frontline of the climate crisis – by helping them adapt to its impacts and invest in their abundant clean energy resources to bring affordable energy to the 60% of the country locked into energy poverty.”

The Mozambique LNG project is regarded as a controversial fossil fuel project with grave allegations of human rights abuses and severe climate harms.

The UK initially signed up to support the LNG project in 2020, at the insistence of then-International Trade Secretary Liz Truss, and personally signed off by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The UK withdrawing its export finance support for a project – after initially saying yes in 2020 – is said to unprecedented.

UK financing was seen as key for the project to go ahead. Campaigners believe that the UK pulling out could start a “domino effect” of other key financiers pulling out, such as the Dutch government, who have yet to make a decision on whether to go ahead with financing.

In June 2025, Oil Change International threatened the UK government with court action, saying that financing the project could put the government in breach of its international human rights obligations.

CISLAC seeks competitive green economy, energy security for Nigerians

Michael Simire
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CISLAC seeks competitive green economy, energy security for Nigerians

A civil society organisation (CSO), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), has called for a competitive green economy that creates jobs, unlocks innovation and strengthens energy security for Nigerians.

Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Rafsanjani, made the call during its Policy Dialogue with Legislators on Tax for Fossil Fuel Phase-Out in Lagos on Monday, December 1, 2025.

The dialogue was aimed at convening the leadership of African Parliamentary Network on Illicit Financial Flows and Tax (APNIFFT).

CISLAC
Participants at the Policy Dialogue with Legislators on Tax for Fossil Fuel Phase-Out in Lagos

Rafsanjani expressed CISLAC’s deep commitment to supporting the process.

He expressed the belief that the legislature must have the evidence, technical capacity and the institutional tools required to scrutinise existing fiscal incentives, evaluate their environmental and economic impact and introduce reforms, where necessary.

He said that the dialogue aimed to effectively situate Nigeria in the global drive towards transitioning to greener and sustainable energy sources.

“It is no longer news that Nigeria operates an oil and gas-dependent economy. Hence, Nigeria relies heavily on oil revenue to finance annual budgetary implementation and thereby financing its development.

“While we recognise the critical need to diversify and break the dependence on oil revenue, the challenges of global warming and climate change and the accompanied global efforts to combat the menace have made the need to break away from fossil fuel a major necessity.

“This is why today’s conversation could not be more timely, as Nigeria stands at a crossroads.

“On one side is our long-standing dependence on fossil fuels and on the other is the imperative to pursue a cleaner, more resilient and economically-inclusive energy future,” he said..

According to him, the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan (ETP) provides a national compass towards net-zero emissions by 2060.

He, however, said that its success would depend heavily on the country’s capacity to enact and enforce strategic fiscal reforms and targetted tax incentives that redirect investments towards transition fuels and green energy.

“Even as the largest economy in Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria continues to face significant energy challenges, including a growing demand for energy, heavy reliance on fossil fuels and limited penetration of renewable energy sources.

“With the share of renewable energy in Nigeria’s energy mix remaining critically low and accounting for less than 10 per cent of total energy consumption, Nigeria continues to be vulnerable to energy insecurity and environmental degradation,” he said.

Rafsanjani noted that the country had demonstrated a good understanding of the problems and had rolled out significant attempts to transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy sources.

This, he said, was part of Nigeria’s contributions to combatting climate change and tackling energy poverty in the country.

The executive director acknowledged the fact that the legislature had contributed its own quota by passing into law these critical frameworks and establishing key government agencies in implementing climate actions.

He, however, stated that effective implementation of key provisions of the frameworks remained a challenge and barriers to building the needed climate resilient infrastructure and low carbon development.

Rafsanjani expressed the belief that the legislature had bigger roles beyond the establishment of frameworks to over-sighting implementations, entrenching transparency and accountability as well as mobilising for efficient climate financing in the country.

“We know that fiscal policy – especially tax incentives – is one of the most powerful levers governments can use to shape economic behaviour.

“Around the world, countries have deployed incentives to accelerate renewable energy, stimulate green industries and encourage divestment from fossil fuels. Nigeria must not be left behind,” he said.

Rafsanjani recalled that CISLAC had also conducted a study on assessing tax practices, such as incentives and holidays for fossil fuel industries in the country.

He said, however, that incentives could only be effective if they were well-designed, transparently administered and closely overseen.

This, he said, was where the National Assembly had a pivotal role to play through lawmaking, budget appropriation and oversight.

Rafsanjani said that the national assembly could ensure incentives support strategic divestments from high-emission assets, expand access to transition fuels like natural gas for households and industries, and encourage investments in solar, wind, hydrogen and other renewable technologies.

Also speaking, Speaker of House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, commended CISLAC and African Parliamentary network on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation (APNIFFT) for convening the dialogue at an important moment in the country’s national life.

Tajudeen, represented by the House Committee Chairman on Media and Public Affairs, Akin Rotimi, expressed the parliament’s commitment to collaborating to strengthen the energy transition’s fiscal foundations, deepening environmental accountability and safeguarding Nigeria’s long-term prosperity.

“To underscore the seriousness with which the House approaches this subject, we have ensured strong institutional representation at today’s dialogue.

“Committees responsible for fiscal policy, the environment, economic planning and national development are also represented.

“Our presence reflects a united, whole-of-parliament commitment to a just, inclusive and future-focused transition,” he said.

In his own contribution, House Committee Chairman on Foreign Affairs, Oluwole Oke, said that the world had witnessed lots of progress on the issue of climate change in the last two decades.

“In Nigeria, we see increased mining of coal in places like Okaba in Ankpa Local Government of Kogi State, which has come with significant environmental and infrastructural breakdown.

“Generally, there seems to be a resurgence in the world’s recourse to fossil fuel. We, therefore, must deliberate on these issues and come up with a strategy on where we want to stand as a country, as a people and as a parliament.

“We must not lose sight of the fact that we need to preserve the planet because it is the only habitation we have and the only place for generations unborn to live and thrive,” he said.

The lawmaker said that the event was coming at a very crucial time when everyone needed to be asking key questions and seeking how the planet could jointly be protected.

By Abiodun Abegunde

Sahara Group deepens reforestation drive with Gelegele Forest Reserve partnership under Adopt-A-Forest Initiative

Michael Simire
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0
Sahara Group deepens reforestation drive with Gelegele Forest Reserve partnership under Adopt-A-Forest Initiative

Sahara Group has expanded its environmental sustainability agenda through a strategic partnership between its flagship Adopt-A-Forest Initiative and the Gelegele Forest Reserve in Edo State, Nigeria. The collaboration, which kicks off with the planting of 20,000 tree seedlings, is aimed at regenerating degraded areas of the reserve and reinforcing Sahara’s long-term commitment to nature-based climate action.

The project launch featured engagements with the Edo State Forestry Commission and the Gelegele Forest Reserve Board, underscoring Sahara Group’s collaborative approach to restoring ecosystems, safeguarding biodiversity, and promoting sustainable livelihoods within host communities.

Adopt-A-Forest
L-R: Babatomiwa Adesida, Head, Business Support, Asharami Energy; Valentine Owamagbe Asuen, Chairman, Edo State Forestry Commission; Ejiro Gray, Director, Governance and Sustainability, Sahara Group; and other executives from the two organisations during the launch of reforestation drive with Gelegele Forest Reserve partnership under Adopt-A-Forest initiative in Edo State, Nigeria, recently

Launched in 2023, the Adopt-A-Forest Initiative is one of Sahara Group’s foremost climate action programmes designed to restore degraded landscapes, conserve Africa’s natural carbon sinks, and strengthen resilience against climate change. By 2024, the initiative had successfully expanded across Nigeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, and Dubai, with further projects planned in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Kenya in 2025.

Ejiro Gray, Director, Governance and Sustainability, Sahara Group, described the initiative as a key driver of Sahara’s vision for a greener and more sustainable future.

“The Adopt-A-Forest Initiative is more than a tree-planting programme, it is aimed at driving environmental sustainability of our natural carbon sinks. We recognise this God-given gift as vital to managing emissions, sequestering carbon, and ensuring that Africa’s lungs continue to sustain the planet.”

Also speaking at the launch, Babatomiwa Adesida, Head of Business Support, Asharami Energy (a Sahara Group company), said the project reflects the Group’s integrated approach to sustainability.

“At Asharami Energy, sustainability is at the core of our business. Our support for the Adopt-A-Forest Initiative reflects our shared responsibility to regenerate the environment and protect biodiversity,” he said. “Every tree planted represents a step toward reversing decades of degradation and rebuilding hope.”

Asuen Valentine, Chairman, Edo State Forestry Commission, commended Sahara Group for its forward-looking intervention.

“The best time to plant a tree was years ago; the second-best time is now. We are grateful to Sahara Group for championing the Adopt-A-Forest Initiative and commend this visionary effort that will go a long way in restoring our forests and preserving them for future generations.”

Speaking further on the initiative, Gray reaffirmed Sahara’s resolve to continue driving climate leadership across its operations in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

“This work is necessary and non-negotiable,” she added. “We must continuously strike the right balance between preserving our natural forests and biodiversity and driving sustainable development for all.”

The Adopt-A-Forest Initiative remains a cornerstone of Sahara Group’s climate action strategy, integrating nature-based solutions, resource efficiency, and stakeholder collaboration to ensure Africa continues to “breathe” through its forests, the continent’s most vital gift to the world.

SPP engages Youth Corpers on climate change education

Michael Simire
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SPP engages Youth Corpers on climate change education

The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) has taken its climate education campaign to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation camp in Kubwa, Abuja, during the ongoing three weeks orientation camping exercise for Batch C, Stream One.

The outreach is part of SPP’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment, which aims to empower young Nigerians who will inherit the impacts of climate change with the right information and skills to become climate ambassadors in their communities.

During the session, Corps Members were introduced to the fundamentals of climate change, its causes, and personal actions they can adopt to reduce emissions and increase resilience, illustrating how individual behavioural changes can add up to measurable benefits for the collective fight against the climate crisis.

SPP
An SPP official addressing the Corp Members

Corps Members were also introduced to career opportunities in the growing green economy, highlighting skills and roles in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, waste management, and climate-resilient community planning and infrastructure.

Addressing the Youth Corps Members, the Director, Corps Welfare and Health Services, Mr. Ayodele Omotade, reminded Corps members that the Youth Service year was not a part time affair, but rather a great opportunity for Corps members to build on extra skills and knowledge that can help them navigate the world.

This latest engagement builds on the organisation’s growing partnership with the NYSC. Earlier in May this year, SPP teamed up with Corps Members in the Environmental Community Development Service (CDS) group in Abuja to mainstream climate education in primary and secondary schools across Abuja, where students learned practical skills such as building eco-trash bins using recycled plastic bottles, helping to improve environmental awareness among schoolchildren while giving corps members hands-on experience in leading community-based climate action.

Ayodele Omotade
Mr. Ayodele F. Omotade, Director, Corp Welfare and Health Service Department, NYSC

“When young people understand the science of climate change, and see practical examples they can replicate, they become powerful drivers of change in their host communities and beyond,” said Timothy Ogenyi, Senior Policy Analyst at SPP.

This outreach forms part of the organisation’s broader Action for Climate Education (ACE) initiative, which seeks to close the knowledge gap that limits youth participation in climate solutions. By integrating climate education into NYSC activities and school outreach programmes, the organisation aims to build a generation of informed climate leaders who understand both the science and the practical steps needed to drive change.

SPP encouraged Corps Members to put forward climate solutions they can lead locally, and invited them to continue to engage with the organisation for follow-up trainings and volunteering opportunities.

In the end, over 3,000 Corps Members were introduced to SPP’s Climate Change manual, and key information on climate action.

By Ugochukwu Uzuegbu, Communication Specialist, SPP

DR Congo declares end of 16th Ebola outbreak

Michael Simire
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DR Congo declares end of 16th Ebola outbreak

The Democratic Republic of the Congo on Monday, December 1, 2025, declared the end of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai Province, after no new cases were reported in the past 42 days since the last patient was discharged from treatment centre on 19 October 2025.

“On behalf of the government – and taking into account all the scientific and operational indicators confirming that the chain of transmission of the virus has been broken – I hereby officially declare the end of the 16th Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,” said Dr Samuel Roger Kamba, Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare.

The rapid and coordinated response by the Ministry of Health, with support from World Health Organisation (WHO) and partners, was said to be pivotal in halting the spread of the virus which affected Bulape Health Zone, a rural community with limited road and telecommunication infrastructure. In total, 64 cases (53 confirmed, 11 probable) and 45 deaths were recorded in the outbreak.

Samuel Roger Kamba
Dr Samuel Roger Kamba, DR Congo Minister of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare

A total of 112 WHO experts and frontline responders were deployed to support the national authorities to swiftly scale up and sustain the response, and over 150 tonnes of medical supplies and equipment were delivered to protect health workers and communities.

“Controlling and ending this Ebola outbreak in three months is a remarkable achievement. National authorities, frontline health workers, partners and communities acted with speed and unity in one of the country’s hard-to-reach localities,” said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “WHO is proud to have supported the response and to leave behind stronger systems, from clean water to safer care, that will protect communities long after the outbreak has ended.”

For the first time in an outbreak, an innovative treatment facility known as the Infectious Disease Treatment Module (IDTM) was set up to bolster safer and more patient-friendly care. The module – developed by WHO, the World Food Programme and other partners – was designed to better protect health workers while enabling more dignified and effective care for patients. 

To protect communities and health workers, more than 47,500 people were vaccinated against Ebola, with vaccination initially targeting contacts of people confirmed with the virus and later expanded to communities in and around Bulape.

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, played a key role in supporting the response by enabling the swift deployment of over 48 000 vaccine doses from the Gavi-funded global stockpile. The support also enabled the International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision to preposition doses and maintain a small stock in the country and, in partnership with WHO and the Ministry of Health, provided delivery funding for vaccine activities and essential cold chain and logistical support.

“The swift response to this Ebola outbreak is a testament to the dedication of healthcare workers, the Ministry of Health, partners and communities – and to what is possible when mechanisms are in place to fight deadly vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Allyson Russell, Senior Programme Manager, Global Health Security at Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

“With vaccines from the global Gavi-funded stockpile and timely delivery support, coupled with other critical interventions such as surveillance, contact tracing, isolation and case management, our colleagues in the DRC have demonstrated that it is now possible to rapidly bring Ebola outbreaks like this one under control, dramatically reducing cases, long-term disabilities and deaths. Gavi remains committed to the fight against Ebola by maintaining the global stockpile and through continued support for preventive vaccination for frontline health workers in at-risk countries,” added Russell.

Among the response challenges was the lack of reliable clean water supply to Bulape hospital for clinical use. WHO and partners set up a piped water system to the hospital as well as public taps, which will continue providing clean water to the community in the years to come. Additionally, reconstruction and rehabilitation work continues at the hospital and other facilities to bolster long-term health system resilience. 

The outbreak was the country’s 16th since the disease was identified in 1976. Previous outbreaks in Kasai Province were in 2007 and 2008.  

Ebola virus disease is a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans. Human-to-human transmission is through direct contact with blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola, or objects and surfaces contaminated with body fluids from a person sick with Ebola or the body of a person who died from Ebola. 

With the outbreak declared over, efforts are now shifting from Ebola-specific surveillance to the broader Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response system. WHO says it continues to work closely with national and provincial authorities to maintain vigilance and ensure preparedness, rapid and effective response in case of any flare-ups. 

The country now begins a 90-day period of enhanced disease surveillance. As part of the sustained vigilance, a survivor care programme established with support from WHO and partners is helping to provide holistic post-recovery support for Ebola survivors. 

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