As part of a trade deal, US President Donald Trump’s administration announced that Japan will finance $36 billion worth of projects, including an Ohio natural gas-fired plant set to be the US’ largest, and an oil export facility in Texas.
The Ohio gas plant, to be operated by a subsidiary of Japan’s SoftBank Group, aims to cater to power-hungry data centres, while the Texas GulfLink deepwater crude oil export facility is expected to generate $30 billion in annual US crude exports.
US officials said that these projects would strengthen US global energy dominance, while Japan Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, said that it would lead to mutual economic security and growth.
Japan Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi
But environmental compaigners have frowned at the development, with 350.org saying that Japan’s oil and gas investments in the US are unwise in a world that’s preparing to transition away from fossil fuels.
Masayoshi Iyoda, 350.org Japan Campaigner, said: “Pouring money into costly US fossil fuel projects makes no sense when the world is moving fast toward cleaner, more affordable energy. Prime Minister Takaichi is not demonstrating Japan’s economic strength, she is showing that Japan will follow Washington’s lead even at the planet’s expense. PM Takaichi must rethink the outdated assumption that fossil fuels equal growth. These investments lead to stranded assets, heat up the planet, and undermine the real economic growth Japan needs.
“Japan should instead build on its technological advantages and invest in renewable energy as its path to long-term economic growth and security. PM Takaichi has spoken about reducing Japan’s dependence on imported fossil fuels – financing US oil and gas projects sends the opposite message. It also risks betraying young people who voted for a better future, not one made worse by the climate crisis.”
Vanuatu has tabled a draft resolution to the UN to formally endorse last year’s International Court of Justice advisory opinion on climate change. Despite pressure from big polluters to stall the momentum from international law to action, island nations like Vanuatu continue to push for accountability.
The current draft resolution responds to the unanimous ICJ advisory opinion on climate change, which among others confirmed that:
Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology & Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management for the Republic of Vanuatu
The 1.5°C limit is legally binding, not aspirational, and must guide all state conduct.
States have binding obligations under customary international law to prevent foreseeable climate harm and resulting rights violations – obligations that apply to all countries, including those that have withdrawn from the Paris Agreement.
Fossil fuel subsidies, exploration licenses, and continued production can breach international law.
Climate harm can be attributed to individual states, and states cannot escape liability by asserting that they are only one of many releasing greenhouse gases.
States must regulate private actors, including fossil fuel corporations whose emissions cause harm, including transboundary devastation.
Fenton Lutunatabua, 350.org Programme Lead Pacific & Caribbean, said: “Six months ago, this advisory opinion was unanimous, meaning all agreed that countries have the legal responsibility to avoid climate harm and are liable for the damages if they fail to do so. This decision put the fossil fuel industry, and the governments that enable them, on notice. It is crucial, for all of us on the frontlines, that this notice be turned into concrete action.
“The world may think that the climate crisis is confined to islands like ours in the Pacific, but the reality is that it is impacting everyone – from heatwaves in Australia to wildfires in the US. As people that have lived this reality for decades, we are urging the international community to grasp this opportunity to avoid the worst of it. Global cooperation to solve this crisis is in everyone’s best interest.”
Anne Jellema, Executive Director of 350.org, said: “Vanuatu’s leadership is a powerful reminder that climate justice is not abstract, it is rooted in law, responsibility, and lived reality. The International Court of Justice has made clear that protecting people and the planet is a legal obligation, not a choice. This UN resolution is about turning that clarity into action.
“At a time when some governments are trying to delay and deny, island nations are showing what true leadership looks like: standing up for fairness, accountability, and a livable future for all. Communities on the frontlines should not have to pay the price for pollution they did not cause. The world now has both the moral and legal mandate to act, governments must rise to that moment.”
The World Liquid Gas Association (WLGA) is participating in International Energy Agency (IEA) Energy Access and Clean Cooking Ministerial Meetings taking place from February 18 to 19, 2026, in Paris, highlighting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as the fastest scalable pathway to universal clean cooking access across the developing world.
The Ministerial High-Level Dialogue on Advancing Energy Access and Clean Cooking Solutions chaired by the Netherlands’ Deputy Prime Minister Sophie Hermans, serves as a critical milestone following the landmark 2024 Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa.
World Liquid Gas Association (WLGA) CEO, James Rockall
Since then:
$470 million has been disbursed across 22 African countries to accelerate the deployment of clean cooking fuels, with $2.2 billion pledged.
LPG has driven around 70% of global clean-cooking gains since 2010. It is abundant, affordable, and deployable today, unlike large-scale electrification and many alternative energy solutions.
Approximately 900 million Africans still lack access to clean cooking fuels, resulting in severe health impacts (particularly for women and children), widespread deforestation, and substantial losses in economic productivity. Roughly four in five people in Africa and 90% of schools relying on firewood or charcoal for cooking,
James Rockall, Managing Director and CEO, World Liquid Gas Association, joins global energy leaders including Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director, IEA and the Chris Wright, Secretary of Energy, United States at the Ministerial, which serves as a prelude to the second Summit on Clean Cooking in Africa set to take place from July 9 to 10, 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya. Discussions will focus on identifying priority policy, financing, and delivery actions that may be translated into Government or private sector commitments, to be presented at the next Summit.
Rockall said: “Over 25 countries and 23 organisations are attending these Ministerial Meetings at the IEA underscoring the urgency of this foundational issue for Africa and the world.
“LPG has driven approximately 70% of global clean-cooking gains since 2010 and if we are to get serious about universal access to clean cooking solutions by 2030 then we need to move faster. If we align policy, regulation, and finance, we can move millions of households off traditions fuels within this decade – not in 2040. The industry stands ready to deliver. The question is whether policy will move at the same speed as the need.”
WLGA will convene the global LPG industry in Istanbul from October 12 to 16 under the theme ‘Resilience in a Changing World’ with Dr. Fatih Birol, set to deliver the keynote speech.
The IEA’s World Energy Outlook, released in November 2025, reveals that progress on clean cooking access has decelerated in recent years. While 100 million people gained access to clean cooking in 2023, this represents a decline from 120 million in 2019. Accelerating this rate of change is crucial, as household air pollution from traditional cooking methods causes premature deaths and transitioning to clean cooking solutions could reduce these fatalities by nearly two-thirds globally by 2040.
In the Global South LPG offers a clean and cost-effective energy solution to communities deprived of access to grid electricity. This transformative fuel humanises access to energy, creating substantial benefits for over a billion people, primarily women and girls, who reside in areas where reliance on unsustainable biomass and other hazardous fuels for cooking persists. This not only contributes to mitigating climate change but also enhances overall quality of life.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Tuesday, February 18, 2026, reminded operators, contractors, and service companies in the upstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry of their mandatory obligation to remit one percent (1%) Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) levy into the bank accounts officially designated by the Board.
In a statement at the Nigerian Content Tower, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, explained that the NCDF is established under Section 104 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010 as a dedicated fund for the development of Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry.
Nigerian Content Tower, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
He reiterated that covered entities are bound to remit one percent (1%) of the value of every upstream contract, adding that NCDMB is vested with the exclusive authority for the management and administration of the fund.
Funds generated under the NCDF are deployed to support indigenous oil and gas contractors and service companies, to finance capacity development and training in the industry, to enable access to affordable finance for indigenous participation, and to drive sustainable growth across the oil and gas value chain.
Ogbe clarified further that “the NCDF is a ring-fenced statutory development fund created by a specific Act of the National Assembly,” adding that it is “not classified as Federal Government revenue payable into the Consolidated Revenue Fund and its collection and administration are expressly governed by Section 104 of the NOGICD Act.”
He stressed that all remittances of the one percent (1%) NCDF levy must be made strictly into the accounts officially designated by the NCDMB, pointing out that “any remittance made outside the accounts formally designated by the NCDMB “shall not be recognized as valid payment of the one percent (1%) NCDF Levy under the Act.”
He urged companies to ensure strict compliance and to seek clarification from the Board where necessary prior to effecting any remittance. The Executive Secretary assured industry stakeholders that the Board remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the effective utilization of the Fund for the growth and sustainability of Nigerian Content in the oil and gas industry.
Furthermore, the NCDMB has announced that obtaining the Nigerian Content Development Fund Compliance Certificate (NCFCC) has become a key requirement for accessing the Board’s regulatory services and approvals.
The NCDF Compliance Certificate is issued to companies to confirm their full compliance with statutory obligation to remit one per cent (1%) of the value of every contract awarded in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry.
The Board stated that “without a valid NCDF Compliance Certificate, access to regulatory documents, certifications, approvals, and clearances issued by NCDMB shall not be granted.” Some of these include Nigerian Content Equipment Certificate (NCEC), approvals and clearances for projects and contracts, and other regulatory documents issued by the Board.
The agency advised oil and gas industry stakeholders to regularise their NCDF remittance status, apply promptly for the document and ensure continuous compliance to avoid disruptions to operational schedules.
The Board said the process of obtaining the NCFCC is fully digital and accessible via the NCDMB online portal. It advised all eligible companies to submit relevant contract and remittance information, upload evidence of NCDF payments, complete verification and compliance review, and obtain the Compliance Certificate upon confirmation.
According to NCDMB, obtaining the NCDF Compliance Certificate matters because it is a validation of a company’s standing with the Board, and serves as a mechanism for promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainable Nigerian content development.
Nigeria requires between 1.8 and 2 million units of blood annually but meets just 25 to 30 percent of its need. The shortage affects emergency care, sickle cell treatment, and maternal health where severe bleeding after childbirth is a leading cause of death. Hence, the need for blood is constant, and the gift of blood donation makes the difference between life and loss.
Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) corporate social responsibility efforts enabled Vcare for Development Foundation (VCDF) to conduct annual blood donation drives since 2022 to inspire and strengthen the culture of voluntary blood donation. It is organised in partnership with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS), and Nigerian RedCross, Lagos Chapter.
A group of blood donors
It is noteworthy that a laudable record of 550 blood donors, of which 35% were first time donors, was achieved on February 6 and 7, 2026. This achievement builds on a steady climb over the past four years. VCDF recorded exponential increase from 98 donors in 2022, 147 in 2023, 268 in 2024, and 341 in 2025. These earned VCDF the Blood Donation Champion Award from Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service. The success is inseparable from the commitment of SEEPCO’s volunteers and blood donors.
The cumulative donation now stands at 1,404 donors. Each donor represents the growing willingness to overcome myths and religious concerns that once discouraged blood donation. Intense mobilisation efforts, awareness drives, community engagement activities, responses to frequently asked questions, and other social and behaviour change communication components adopted improved prospective donors to register. These were also instrumental in reshaping perception, and behaviour towards blood donation.
“Although I had myths that discouraged me from donating earlier, but these have been corrected by awareness, confidence, and voluntary participation. Thanks to the intense awareness activities. I am a third time donor,” said Vivian a blood donor.
“I voluntarily donated because my wife has benefitted from blood donation when she lost so much blood during childbirth. I appreciate the practical guidance provided to blood donors to ensure safe and healthy donation practices,” submitted Noah, also a blood donor.
“I felt fulfilled after donating blood because I was encouraged by the right information, and guidelines. I appreciate the care I received which made my experience smooth and memorable as a first-time donor,” stated Ismail, another blood donor.
For over four years, Sterling Oil has collaborated with VCDF and other health organisations across its operating locations to deliver impactful healthcare outreach programmes and regular medical camps. These initiatives address common health issues such as high blood pressure, cough, malaria, typhoid, skin diseases, and other ailments across different LGAs, providing free consultations, medicines, and basic laboratory tests on the spot.
In this series, the 2026 Blood Donation Drive has shown that it is possible to break barriers, inspire action, and save lives, while encouraging voluntary donations, strengthening community engagement, and building a reliable pool of blood donors for hospital emergencies, all contributing to overall community wellness.
Sterling Oil maintains a strong focus on building a sustainable and socially responsible business, contributing to national development, respecting host communities, and creating lasting value for stakeholders. The company’s sustainability efforts are driven by steady, impact-focused progress and a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, reflected in initiatives that support afforestation, promote greener fuel alternatives, and strengthen safe and efficient workplace practices.
In the same spirit of responsible corporate citizenship, Sterling Oil says it remains dedicated to enabling positive public-health outcomes through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes, adding that VCDF will continue to leverage SEEPCO’s support to advance impactful social initiatives aimed at promoting a healthier Nigeria.
New research has showed that breathing in micro plastics can cause inflammation and damage to the lungs.
This potentially increases the risk of respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis and lung cancer, a statement from Australia’s University of Technology Sydney (UTS) on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, said.
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, typically less than 5 millimeters in size, that persist in the environment and can accumulate in ecosystems and the human body.
Microplastics
World Health Organisation data links air pollution to around 7 million premature deaths yearly, and airborne micro plastics from synthetic carpets, clothing and household dust may worsen respiratory risks, it said.
“Micro plastics are tiny fragments of plastic, smaller than 5mm, that are released when larger plastic items break down or shed fibers,” said lead author, Keshav Raj Paudel, a UTS senior researcher on chronic respiratory diseases.
“The lungs are particularly vulnerable to micro plastic damage due to their large surface area and limited ability to clear particles, particularly smaller ones that travel deep into the lungs,” he said, adding lung cancer tumors contain more micro plastics than healthy tissue.
The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) and the Break Free From Plastic Movement (BFFP) on Tuesday launched the Nigerian Plastic Brand Audit Report (2018–2024), highlighting corporate contributions to plastic pollution.
The organisers, at a media briefing in Lagos on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, described plastic pollution as an urgent environmental and public health crisis.
Speaking on behalf of the group and its partners, Mr. Weyinmi Okotie, Clean Energy Campaigner for GAIA, said Nigeria generates about 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with only a fraction recycled.
Participants at the unveiling of Nigeria Plastic Brand Audit Report, 2018-2024 on Tuesday in Lagos
Okotie said a nationwide citizen-science audit was conducted during community clean-ups across eight cities in seven states, namely Osogbo, Jos, Ughelli, Warri, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Uyo and Benin City.
According to him, the report shows that 298,174 pieces of plastic waste were audited to identify the most common items and the brands responsible for their production.
“The findings showed that sachets, particularly water sachets, were the most prevalent waste items, followed by plastic bottles, bags and wrappers,” Okotie said.
He said the report findings estimated that about 60 million water sachets are discarded daily in Nigeria, amounting to over 20 billion annually, many of which clog drains and worsen flooding.
He said the audit identified Coca-Cola and PepsiCo as leading multinational brands linked to plastic pollution across surveyed cities.
“Other major contributors named were Nestlé, Rite Foods, CWAY Group and several local table-water producers.”
He noted that in cities such as Lagos, plastic waste contributes significantly to blocked drainage systems, leading to recurrent flooding that destroys homes and livelihoods.
He said existing policies, including the National Policy on Plastic Waste Management and state-level single-use plastic restrictions, remain weakly enforced nationwide.
He called on federal and state governments to adopt binding plastic reduction targets under the proposed global plastics treaty and strengthen Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks.
“The groups urged mandatory national EPR standards requiring producers and importers to assume full financial responsibility for plastic waste management while integrating waste pickers into formal systems.
“They also demanded that multinational and local companies reduce plastic production, invest in reuse and refill systems, and phase out toxic, non-recyclable packaging.
“Civil society organisations were encouraged to continue exposing polluters and reject incineration as a false solution to plastic pollution.
“The plastic crisis in Nigeria is driven by a throwaway culture fueled by the fossil fuel industry. Delay is no longer an option,” Weyinmi Okotie added.
Other members of the group included Green Knowledge Foundation, Centre for Earth Works, Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development, and other partners.
No fewer than 2071 farmers in Gombe State have benefited from the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project in the state within the past 15 months.
The state Coordinator of ACReSAL, Dr Sani Jauro, disclosed this in an interview in Gombe on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, while speaking on the success of the project in the agriculture sector.
Abdulhamid Umar, National Project Coordinator, Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL)
Jauro said that climate change had become a threat to almost every aspect of life, particularly the agriculture sector which provides the food that sustains humanity.
He said it was therefore imperative for farmers to be empowered towards helping them build resilience against climate change and its devastating impact on food security and their livelihoods.
He said it was in that regard, that farmers in the state were supported with climate-resilient seeds and other agricultural inputs to boost food security, enhance productivity, and adapt to climate change pressures.
According to him, one of the reasons for supporting the farmers is to help them boost productivity as well as their incomes to support their households.
”We have distributed drought-resistant seedlings to about 55 farmer clusters across the state with a total number of 2071 farmers reached.
”These varieties are designed to withstand late onset or early cessation of rainfall, enabling farmers to record better harvests even under irregular weather patterns,” he said.
Jauro added that ACReSAL had also supported the agriculture sector in the state through mechanisation of farming practices to reduce manual labour in farms.
He said that multipurpose tractors were procured and distributed to the Local Government Areas for local farmers to access at subsidised rates.
He noted that since many of the farmers couldn’t afford such equipment, ACReSAL provided the equipment to assist them in cultivating larger farmlands within short period.
”What will ordinary have taken nearly three weeks of manual labour can now be completed in a short period; and given the challenges of climate change, timely land preparation is critical,” he said.
Speaking further on ACReSAL’s impact on agriculture, the project coordinator said that rehabilitation of the Balanga Dam Canal was being carried out and on completion of the second phase, it would boost irrigation farming.
He it would also open opportunities for thousands of farmers to engage in year-round farming, adding that this would contribute to food supply stability, lower market prices, and increased employment.
Jauro also disclosed that through ACReSAL’s intervention, a training hub for extension specialists had been established.
He said that the essence of the initiative was to provide extension workers in the state with up-to-date knowledge, practical techniques, and hands-on training.
According to him, the hub will enhance their ability to assess soil health, interpret environmental indicators, and provide timely advisory services to farmers.
Jauro commended Gov. Inuwa Yahaya for providing the needed support for ACReSAL to carry out the interventions to boost food security, water supply and environmental management in the state.
A Report published on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, by the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change says the European Union must urgently intensify and better coordinate its preparations for escalating climate-related risks.
“Weather- and climate-related extreme events are already causing severe losses across Europe,” said Ottmar Edenhofer, chair of the advisory board.
“Extreme heat alone has resulted in tens of thousands of premature deaths in recent years.”
Ottmar Edenhofer
Edenhofer said that in addition to environmental damage, climate-related disasters are causing substantial economic losses, averaging around 45 billion euros (53.3 billion) annually.
He said the Copenhagen-based body warned that risks are likely to intensify, noting that Europe is warming at roughly twice the global average rate.
It added that the impacts are already being felt across all regions of the bloc.
While reducing greenhouse gas emissions remains essential, the board stressed that adapting to climate change is equally critical.
Among its recommendations, the advisory board called for mandatory and harmonised climate risk assessments across EU institutions and member states.
It also urged the adoption of a clear “vision for a climate-resilient EU by 2050,” increased mobilisation of public and private investment, and the integration of climate risks into all areas of policymaking.
The report further advised that the EU should prepare for a range of future scenarios and establish continuous monitoring and evaluation of adaptation measures to strengthen long-term resilience.
The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) has inaugurated a four‑storey, N8 billion mall to boost employment and business in Abuja.
Managing Director of FHA, Oyetunde Ojo, during the inauguration on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in Abuja, said the mall is a four-floor suspended structure comprising 59 shopping spaces and a penthouse, fully serviced with modern amenities.
He noted that the project had been abandoned but was revived following President Bola Tinubu’s directive to complete stalled projects.
The Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority, Oyetunde Ojo
“The mall is the tallest within the FHA estates and it is expected to generate employment for about 500 people, thereby contributing to poverty reduction and economic expansion.
“Our mandate as management is anchored on the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This goes beyond the provision of affordable and livable houses to include facilities that create a conducive business environment for Nigerians living and doing business in our estates,” he said.
Ojo noted that the project was delivered through a public-private partnership arrangement, adding that no direct government funds were used.
“We provided the land, our partners built, and individuals invested by buying into the project. In terms of value, the project is worth between N6 billion and N8 billon.”
Ojo said that the Authority planned to replicate similar commercial facilities across all FHA estates nationwide.
He also disclosed that another complex had been developed from the old FHA site office in Lugbe to improve staff working conditions and generate additional revenue for the Authority, including office space for the FHA Mortgage Bank.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, while inaugurating the mall, commended the FHA for transforming into a performing agency focused on its core mandate of housing delivery.
“It is pleasing to note that the FHA is now poised to meet its responsibilities. The resolve we are witnessing is what Nigeria needs to overcome its challenges,” Akume said.
He added that the Federal Government was creating an enabling environment to support economic growth, improved security, and reduced cost of living.
The SGF reaffirmed that housing remains a top priority of the Tinubu administration, noting that the creation of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is aimed at addressing Nigeria’s housing deficit.
Akume assured the FHA of continued government support and urged the Authority to replicate such amenities across the country for the benefit of Nigerians.
