The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has urged mining companies to adhere to environmental laws to avoid endangering the lives of inhabitants.
Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Lafia
Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Mr. Mohammed Omadefu, stated this on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, in Lafia, the state capital, when he hosted a team from the Netherlands under the auspices of the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation.
Omadefu said that the house would continue to monitor the activities of mining companies in order to ensure that they adhere strictly to environmental laws.
“We will not allow companies in the mining sector to endanger inhabitants in the state by compromising environmental laws.
“This is to promote the health of our people and for the overall development of the state,” he said.
The chairman promised the team that the climate change bill he sponsored will soon be passed into law.
He appealed to the government of the Netherlands to shift its attention to erosion-affected areas in Nasarawa State as the programme winds down.
The lawmaker assured them of the assembly’s commitment to pass laws and resolutions that would have positive impacts on the lives of the people of the state.
Earlier, Mr Joseph Ibrahim, the Team Lead/Programme Manager, Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, said the intervention has been implemented in eight African countries in the last four years.
Ibrahim said that Nasarawa State was ripe for climate policy to guarantee climate justice.
The programme manager also said that the visit was to appreciate the house for legislating on a bill seeking to curb the impact of climate change.
“And to brainstorm on how to mitigate resultant effects of climate change,” he said.
Reducing energy prices in the European Union is a top priority, and measures to achieve this will be revealed next month, according to European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen.
European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen
“Energy prices in Europe are still structurally higher than in the United States and China, and they vary significantly within the European Union,” von der Leyen said on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
“We must bring them down while we complete the phase-out of Russian fossil fuels.”
Diversifying energy suppliers and investing in “next-generation clean energy technologies” were key to lowering prices in the bloc, she said, listing fusion, enhanced geothermal, and solid-state batteries as examples.
Geothermal energy uses heat from deeper layers of bedrock to generate energy. In fusion, unlike in the reactors of conventional nuclear power plants, atomic nuclei are fused at extreme temperatures instead of being split.
The EU also needed to attract more private capital to modernise electricity grids and storage infrastructure and better connect low-carbon energy systems.
Von der Leyen said she is planning to present a plan for affordable energy in February.
The commission sees the comparatively high energy prices in the EU as one of the main obstacles to reviving a weakening economy and the competitiveness of the bloc.
Health experts and stakeholders in Nigeria have warned that the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organisation (WHO) could significantly affect Nigeria’s health sector and global health security.
Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare
The stakeholders spoke on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, in Abuja.
U.S. President, Donald Trump, has signed an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing the country from WHO.
This marks the second time Trump is giving an order for the U.S. to pull out of the WHO.
He had been critical of how the international body handled COVID-19 and began the process of pulling out from the Geneva-based institution during the pandemic.
President Joe Biden later reversed that decision.
Dr Daniel Adakole, a public health expert, described the decision as a major setback for global health efforts, particularly for low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria.
“The WHO is one of the largest facilitators of health pprogrammes in Nigeria, from polio eradication to disease surveillance systems.
“The U.S. withdrawal means reduced funding, which could destabilise critical interventions, especially in rural and underserved areas,” Adakole said.
Nigeria has been a major beneficiary of WHO-supported programmes, including its fight against polio, malaria, and HIV/AIDS.
Dr Mercy Takpa, a Peadiatrician, highlighted how U.S. funding had bolstered immunisation programmes.
“The WHO, with U.S. support, played a pivotal role in helping Nigeria to eradicate wild polio in 2020.
“A reduction in funding might slow down ongoing efforts to maintain polio-free certification, address vaccine-preventable diseases, and achieve universal health coverage,” Takpa said.
According to her, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), heavily supported by U.S. contributions to WHO, is already facing funding uncertainties.
“This could lead to a resurgence of diseases that we have worked hard to control,” she said.
Dr Mojisola Akanji, a Virlogist, said that the decision came at a time when global health systems were still grappling with the aftermath of COVID-19.
“Without the US, WHO’s ability to coordinate international pandemic preparedness will be diminished.
“For Nigeria, this means delayed access to critical resources like vaccines, technical expertise, and early warning systems for emerging diseases,” Akanji said.
Stakeholders in maternal and child health have also expressed concern.
Mrs Lydia Dimka, a retired nurse and an advocate for maternal health, said that WHO’s programmes addressing maternal mortality and child immunisation were vital for Nigeria.
“Every year, WHO supports initiatives that save thousands of lives.
“If funding is cut, maternal and child health indicators will worsen, especially in the North-East and North-West, where health access is already limited,” Dimka said.
Mr Danladi Kutara, an Economist, called on African nations to strengthen regional health initiatives to mitigate the potential fallout.
Kutara urged Nigeria and the African Union to seek alternative funding sources.
“This is a wake-up call for African nations to take greater ownership of health programmess.
“While the WHO remains a key partner, we must work towards reducing dependence on foreign contributions,” he said.
Meanwhile, WHO expressed regret over the decision by the US to withdraw, highlighting the crucial role WHO plays in global health, including protecting Americans by addressing diseases and responding to health emergencies.
The organisation said that as a founding member since 1948, the US had significantly contributed to and benefited from WHO efforts, such as eradicating smallpox and nearly eradicating polio.
It expressed its commitment to ongoing reforms to enhance accountability and impact, urging the US to reconsider and maintain the partnership for the health and well-being of people worldwide.
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment towards attaining a clean, safe and sustainable environment in Nigeria.
Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Lawal
Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, stated this on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at a one-day workshop on the review of decommissioning plans and environmental remediation strategies in Abuja.
The minister said that the workshop aimed to enhance the technical expertise of participants in evaluating decommissioning plans and environmental remediation strategies.
He said it also aimed to promote compliance with national and international environmental standards and guidelines among others.
Lawal said that the event was not just timely, but crucial to environmental sustainability.
He said that the event underscored the collective responsibility to ensure that environmental sustainability remains at the forefront of the country’s national development agenda.
“This workshop also represents an important step toward ensuring that industrial activities in Nigeria align with the highest standards of environmental protection and sustainability,” he said.
He said that decommissioning and remediation were critical aspects of sustainable resource management.
“Nigeria like many nations, faces challenges in the areas of regulatory compliance, capacity building and the availability of advanced technologies for decommissioning and remediation.
“However, these challenges also present opportunities. By investing in training and fostering collaborations among stakeholders.
“We can build a robust framework that ensures best practices are adopted and enforced.
“As Nigeria continues to grow its industrial, extractive and energy sectors, we must not lose sight of the potential environmental and social impacts of these activities.
“Ensuring that sites are properly decommissioned and that effective remediation strategies are implemented is vital to safeguarding the health of our people.
“This will also protect biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable use of our natural resources.
“Over the years, we have witnessed poorly managed decommissioning and remediation efforts leading to long-term environmental damage, public health crises and substantial economic costs,” he said.
Lawal said the ministry recognised the invaluable contributions of agencies like the National Environmental Standard and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in enforcing environmental regulations.
He equally recognised the contribution of the Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP) for remediation and cleanup of the Niger Delta region.
“Together, we will continue to build a future where industrial growth is balanced with environmental protection as well as ensuring a safe and sustainable Nigeria for generations to come,” he said.
In a remark, Dr. Innocent Barikor, Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), said that decommissioning industrial facilities was an integral part of the agency’s regulatory oversight.
He said that NESREA plays a vital role in safeguarding Nigeria’s environment by enforcing compliance with environmental laws, regulations, and standards.
“Our responsibilities span multiple sectors, including energy, manufacturing, telecommunications and extractive industries.
“Our work ensures that industrial activities do not compromise the well-being of our ecosystems or communities.
“As you know decommissioning industrial facilities is an integral part of our regulatory oversight.
“This process goes beyond the cessation of operations; it involves managing environmental risks, ensuring safe disposal of waste, mitigating hazards and remediating sites to protect public health.
“This workshop is designed to provide you, as NESREA staff, with the tools to effectively evaluate and oversee these processes, ensuring they align with both national regulations and international best practices.
“As a regulator, our effectiveness depends on the strength of our knowledge base, the clarity of our processes, and our ability to adapt to evolving environmental challenges,” he said.
In a presentation, European Union (EU), programme facilitator, Mrs Agharese Onaghise, said that the idea of decommissioning was to serve as an environmental cleanup and remediation strategy to help recover and protect lands for future purposes.
“Decommissioning can be defined as the administrative and technical actions taken to remove some or all of the regulatory controls from a facility so that the facility and it’s site can be reused or repurposed.
“This process encompasses all activities from initial planning to final site release, including decontamination, dismantling waste management and environmental remediation,” she said.
She said that the scope of decommissioning varies, depending on the type and complexity of the facility, the nature and extent of contamination and the applicable regulatory requirements.
UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) have officially launched the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, marking a crucial milestone in global efforts to protect the vital ice that provides freshwater to over 2 billion people.
The disappearance of glaciers is considered by scientists as one of the clearest signs of climate change. Photo credit: beforeitsnews.com
This global and coordinated initiative throughout the year will seek to highlight about the critical role of glaciers and address the urgent challenges posed by accelerated glacier melt.
Around 70% of the global freshwater is stored in glaciers and ice sheets, however these ice formations are rapidly retreating due to climate disruption. Preserving these crucial resources is essential for environmental sustainability, economic stability and safeguarding cultures and livelihoods.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation to raise awareness on the vital role glaciers, snow, and ice play in the climate system and water cycle, as well as the far-reaching impacts of rapid glacial melt.
UNESCO and WMO are the lead agencies coordinating these international efforts supported by over 75 international organisations and 35 countries. WMO hosted the launch event at its Geneva headquarters on Tuesday, January 21, while UNESCO will host celebrations of the very first World Day for Glaciers at its Paris headquarters from March 20 to 21. On this occasion, UNESCO will dedicate its World Water Report to the issue of glaciers, with new data on their disappearance and the measures put in place deal with this challenge.
“The preservation of glaciers stands as one of humanity’s most urgent challenges. These ancient ice formations are not just frozen water – they are the guardians of our planet’s climate history, the source of life for billions, and sacred places for many cultures. Their rapid disappearance is a stark reminder that we must act now,” said Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO.
“WMO recently confirmed that 2024 was the warmest year on record and has sounded repeated Red Alerts about the state of our climate, including the retreat of glaciers. In 2023, glaciers suffered the largest mass loss in the five decades of record-keeping. It was the second consecutive year in which all regions in the world with glaciers reported ice loss. Melting ice and glaciers threaten long-term water security for many millions of people. This international year must be a wake-up call to the world,” said Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of WMO.
The International Year of Glacier Preservation will focus on several critical areas:
Expanding global glacier monitoring systems to enhance data collection and analysis
Developing early warning systems for glacier-related hazards
Promoting sustainable water resource management in glacier-dependent regions
Preserving cultural heritage and traditional knowledge related to glacial environments
Engaging youth in glacier preservation efforts and climate action
‘Water towers of the world‘
Glaciers supply freshwater to over half of humanity. As they retreat they are altering water availability and quality downstream, with implications for aquatic ecosystems and sectors including agriculture and hydropower. This is accompanied by a short-term in landslides, avalanches, floods and droughts, as well as a long-term threat to the security of water supplies for billions of people.
As frozen time capsules of the earth’s past, glaciers provide scientists with invaluable data about historical climate patterns, atmospheric composition, and even human activity spanning thousands of years. Their disappearance also results in the loss of unique ecosystems and biodiversity that have evolved in these specialised environments.
For Indigenous Peoples especially, glaciers hold profound cultural and spiritual significance, often considered sacred spaces and the abode of deities. The loss of these ice formations would mean the irreversible disappearance of sites central to cultural heritage and spiritual practices that have been recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 will mobilise governments, scientific institutions, private sector organisations, and civil society to urgently reduce greenhouse gas emissions and implement effective adaptation strategies. Only through collaborative action and increased awareness will these vital resources be preserved for future generations.
Seplat Energy Plc, Nigeria’s leading indigenous oil and gas producer, has expressed its commitment to partnering with the Akwa Ibom State Government for sustainable development.
Akwa Ibom State Government and Seplat Energy officials
This was disclosed during a courtesy visit to the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, by a Seplat delegation led by the Board Chairman, Senator Udo Udoma, in Uyo.
The Seplat delegation used the occasion to formally brief the Governor on the recent completion of the acquisition of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited by Seplat Energy Offshore Limited, clarifying that the entity will now be known as Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited (SEPNU), retaining all assets and liabilities of the previous company.
The Chairman further outlined the company’s objective of significantly contributing to meeting Nigeria’s strategic oil and gas aspirations while supporting the socio-economic development of Akwa Ibom State. Emphasising its commitment to sustainable operations, Senator Udoma highlighted key areas where SEPNU aims to collaborate closely with the state government and communities to ensure long-term mutual benefits to all parties.
“We are honoured to have the opportunity to engage with the Akwa Ibom State Government and present our vision for a collaborative future,” said Sen. Udoma. “Our commitment is not only to the growth of our operations but also to the well-being and prosperity of the communities where we operate. We are confident that through strong partnerships and shared goals, we can bring significant economic and social benefits to the country, state and our communities.”
Governor Umo Eno welcomed the Seplat team which also included the Group Chief Executive Officer, Roger Brown and the Managing Director of Seplat Energy Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mr. Oladotun Isiaka. He assured the team of the state government’s unwavering support and continued commitment to creating an enabling environment for the company’s operations.
He expressed hope that the collaboration between the state government and SEPNU will yield tangible benefits for the people, boost the local economy and promote sustainable development.
The ECA Office in North Africa and the Ministry Delegate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Abroad, organised a workshop on Thursday, January 17, 2025, in Abidjan on the strengthening the contribution of the diaspora to national development.
President of the Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara
The workshop, which was attended by 55 representatives from various ministries and agencies, the UN system, academia, the private sector and civil society, explored available initiatives to maximise the contribution from diaspora to development.
The meeting is part of ECA’s programme on strengthening the migration-development nexus in Africa, which aims to provide technical support and strengthen the capacity of African countries to integrate diaspora contributions, particularly remittances, into national plans and socio-economic policies.
Remittances have been a resilient and vital source for Côte d’Ivoire’s development in times of international shocks and crises, said Samia Hamouda, an economist and programme officer at the ECA Office for North Africa. Remittances are an opportunity that could increase if they are geared towards investment, she added, calling for designing adequate policies and tools to maximise the benefit.
Mr. Goli Kouamé Louis-Philippe, Chief of Staff of the Ministry Delegate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Ivorians Abroad, for his part, stressed the importance of migration and remittances as a possible driving force in national development. He reiterated the importance of optimising these financial flows, ensuring that appropriate policies are in place and establishing a constructive dialogue between stakeholders. He also expressed his gratitude to the ECA for this initiative and for choosing Côte d’Ivoire for the programme.
The workshop concluded with the establishment of a national technical working group (NTWG), validation and adoption of its terms of reference. Technical support will be provided to (i) implement the identified priorities, (ii) propose reforms/actions and (iii) develop an enabling environment for diaspora investment.
Transforming the Chinese food system could put the country on a better path toward achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, a new study from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and Zhejiang University (ZJU) in Hangzhou, China, finds.
Chinese food
The study analyses the trade-offs and outcomes of various policy measures aimed at transforming the country’s food system. A shift towards healthy diets is thereby a no-regret option for a more sustainable Chinese food system. In contrast, focusing exclusively on climate mitigation, ecological conservation, or accelerated socio-economic development creates significant trade-offs between social and environmental outcomes.
According to the study published in Nature Food, China’s current trajectory is misaligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The researchers assessed potential pathways for achieving the SDGs in China by transforming its food system, focusing on dietary changes, climate change mitigation, ecological conservation, and socio-economic development.
“Action across all areas of the food system is required to achieve a sustainable food system and efficiently address the wide range of social and environmental challenges such as reducing malnutrition, mitigating climate change, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring livelihoods,” says lead author Xiaoxi Wang, scientist at PIK and ZJU.
“We found that transitioning to healthy diets resulted in the fewest trade-offs, improving nutrition, health, the environment, and livelihoods,” says PIK scientist Benjamin Bodirsky, author of the study.
These trade-offs can be minimised by bundling measures aimed at public health, environmental sustainability, and livelihood improvement into a comprehensive approach. This emphasises the importance of coordinated efforts to achieve a sustainable food system.
Using an integrated modelling framework that evaluates 18 outcome indicators, the scientists quantified the impacts of various policy measures, and the trade-offs associated with pursuing public health, environmental sustainability, and livelihood improvements separately.
“Our findings suggest that a holistic approach to food system transformation, addressing these challenges together, is essential for steering China towards its SDG targets,” says PIK scientist Hermann Lotze-Campen, author of the study.
The annual search is underway to find and honour Africa’s most visionary, inspiring, collaborative, committed, and courageous conservation leaders with nominations now open for the 2025 Tusk Conservation Awards, in partnership with Ninety One, organisers said on Wednesday, January 22.
Prince William, Prince of Wales presents the Wildlife Ranger award onstage to Jealous Mpofu during the 2023 Tusk Conservation Awards at The Savoy Hotel on November 27, 2023, in London, England. Photo credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Tusk
Three winners will be chosen from what are expected to be hundreds of applications from across the continent and feted at a prestigious ceremony later in the year, with awards presented by HRH Prince William.
Successful nominees will be those who demonstrate exceptional leadership qualities and collaboration, especially with local communities, who come up with innovative approaches to conservation challenges that others can replicate and scale, and who create change that can outlast them, among other criteria.
Since the Awards were launched in 2013, the 57 winners and finalists have included a Madagascan helping communities conserve 3,500 sq km of their forests and wetlands; an anthropologist leading rangers protecting mountain gorillas in war-torn eastern Congo; a Zimbabwean intelligence officer who has jailed more poachers than anyone else in his country; and a herpetologist working with coastal communities to keep turtles safe in the seas off Sierra Leone.
The Awards’ role in shining a light on the often-unsung efforts of Africa’s conservation visionaries is more important than ever. Africa’s wildlife populations dropped by more than three-quarters since 1970. An area of forest the size of Kentucky or Switzerland is felled each year. Rangelands that cover 43% of the continent, supporting 268 million livestock keepers in 36 countries, are degrading fast.
Tusk says it is committed to funding, supporting, and amplifying the work of Africa’s conservationists, whose innovative projects create meaningful change for both wildlife and people across the continent.
Nick Bubb, CEO of Tusk, said: “There is an urgent need to protect nature in Africa. Tusk believes it is the progressive work of conservationists on the ground that creates lasting change for both wildlife and people. By finding, funding, and telling the stories of such individuals, we are championing those who create inspiring solutions to conservation challenges, and we are backing those who understand, respect and protect the natural world.”
Nominees cannot apply themselves. They must be nominated by someone else, who could be a friend, colleague, lecturer, teacher, mentor or mentee, supervisor, partner, or anyone who knows them well enough to complete the comprehensive nomination form.
Nominations will fall into one of three categories. Nominees may only be entered to one category:
Prince William Award for Conservation in Africa – This is a lifetime achievement award that recognises outstanding dedication and exceptional continued contribution to conservation in Africa.
The Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa – This award is given to an individual judged to be an inspiring mid-career conservationist in recognition of their outstanding contribution and leadership qualities.
Tusk Wildlife Ranger Award – This award gives international recognition to the dedication and commitment of an individual who works in the field to protect Africa’s wildlife and wild places.
Rachel Ikemeh, Founder and Director of the SW/Niger Delta Forest Project and 2021 finalist of the Tusk Award for Conservation in Africa, said: “I am forever grateful for having been made a Tusk finalist. As a project leader of the SW/Niger Delta Forest Project it has been so encouraging and motivating to have the rigours and challenges of my work fully recognised. The exposure from being a Tusk finalist brought my project to light and was a huge help in persuading people of the importance of managing protected areas.”
The Tusk Conservation Awards are held in partnership with Ninety One. They are supported by the Nick Maughan Family Foundation, DHL, Defender, ISPS Handa, Fortemus Films & Gallantium, Shelton Fleming, Justerini & Brooks, Patrick Mavros, and The Savoy Hotel.
Environmental non-government organisation (NGO), DEVCON-PADIC-Afria, has wrapped up a two-year project by empowering women and other community members in Cross River State in bee farming and creation of cooperatives.
Iko Esai community members during the two-day Project Sharing Lessons Workshop
The project, which was implemented by DEVCON PADIC-Africa, a community-based organisation rooted in most communities in the state, got its funding from international donors like Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).
Executive Director of the organisation, Dr. Martins Egot, on Monday, January 20, 2925, during a two-day Project Lessons Sharing workshop held at Iko Esai community in Akamkpa local government council titled “Ensuring Iko Esai Community Forest Management Strategy” said the project has achieved its aim by improving the livelihood of forest communities especially women.
Egot, who expressed satisfaction on how the project has impacted positively on the community, said the two outstanding activities that solidified the project so far was the establishment of eco-guards and the bee farming, noting that it was exciting for the beneficiaries and the organisation.
“The community is interesting; they contributed a lot by cooperating with us in making decisions and their zeal and enthusiasm is really encouraging. I can proudly say that the project met their expectations, and they are happy that the project came this far.
“There are two outstanding activities that solidified the project, one is the eco-guards, which inspected the community roads and forest governance, the people are happy about it, and the second activity is bee farming.
“It is exciting for us and for them, the bee hives are flourishing and we are all expecting to get honey from them in a few months and sell them. Another important activity is the cooperative group for women. We need to upscale these activities for the nearest future,” Egot expressed.
On their part, the two resource persons, Wildlife Conservative Society’s (WCS) Mr. Tony Attah and the Director, Cross River State Eco-Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Mr. Clement Omina, advised the beneficiaries of the project to use the skills to generate income through forest management and at the same time protect the forest from deforestation.
Omina charged them to appreciate and showcase their heritage by identifying natural resources that are not known to the world especially the state government, stating that this would attract donor agencies and government support to the area.
The community members expressed gratitude for what they described as knowledge of wealth received in the past two years since the beginning of the project.
Speaking on behalf of women, Akon Ekpe commended the organisation for bringing the project to the people in the grassroot.
She said the community women have improved their livelihood from all the empowerment ranging from bee farming that produces honey, raising of nurseries of indigenous tree species and creation of cooperative groups for the women.
