The Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), has called on Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), the National Oil Spill Detection and Remediation Agency (NOSDRA) and all relevant stakeholders to take immediate action on a reported strange chemical leakage from a domestic borehole facility in Agudama Community in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, which is in close proximity to an SPDC owned facility in the area.
Deputy Executive Director of EDEN, Alagoa Morris (left), with the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Environment, Ebi Ben Ololo (middle), accompanied by members of the State sanitation Authority on an investigative visit to see the strange spilling chemical
Following a distress call from a resident of the community, Beatrice Mieye, on Sunday, January 12, 2025, about a strange liquid which looks like crude oil obtained from her borehole, the EDEN field monitoring team led by the Deputy Executive Director of EDEN, Alagoa Morris, visited the site on the same day to investigate the complaint.
Speaking to the EDEN team, Mieye revealed that she had been using water from the borehole for about six years without experiencing such chemicals. She, however, stated that due to some careless handling of the submersible pump, the pump could not be accessed and had been lying fallow for about six to seven months until she acquired a new surface pump and tried to get water on that same Sunday when the strange liquid was seen inside the water.
Morris reported the issue to the Commissioner for Environment in Bayelsa State, Ebi Ben Ololo, which prompted another visit of the site by Morris, the Commissioner for Environment and the State Sanitation Authority on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
While Ololo has expressed the determination of the Ministry of Environment to follow up on the matter, EDEN on its part is seeking a swift intervention by SPDC and all related government agencies, to detect the cause and source of the spill for prompt resolution.
Meanwhile, EDEN has applauded the Bayelsa State Government and the state Ministry of Environment on its move against indiscriminate logging, implementing a forest closure in the state and meeting timber dealers in the state.
“We commend the Bayelsa State Government for such environmentally friendly move, as the forest closure will protect the biodiversity of the environment,” said the group.
China National Chemical Engineering International Corporation Ltd (CNCEC) has expressed its readiness to support the development of the Federal Government’s $20 billion Ogidigben gas project in Delta State.
Joseph Tegbe, Director-General, Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP)
The CNCEC President, Li Zhenyi, stated this in Beijing when he received a delegation of Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), led by the Director-General, Joseph Tegbe.
A statement made on Monday, January 20, 2025, in Abuja by the NCSP media team, said Zhenyi expressed the company’s desire to support the project.
He said that the support would be through partnership with other Nigerian stakeholders in a restructured funding partnership.
Zhenyi expressed CNCEC’s commitment to contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth through construction and industrialisation.
He also reiterated his support to President Bola Tinubu on the ongoing development projects across the country to fast track his administration’s move toward industrialisation.
The NCSP delegation is currently in China for strategic engagement with key Chinese stakeholders.
The visit aims to deepen the bilateral cooperation between China and Nigeria, as part of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) projects coordination and investment drive.
The statement said that the visit would also ensure a review of priority FOCAC projects, explore innovative funding options and attract major Chinese investments into Nigeria.
Tegbe said that his delegation had also met with representatives from China Exim Bank and China Development Bank to discuss accelerated delivery of priority projects.
He said that the delegation also visited the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) headquarters, where they toured a 2.5 million eggs-per-day production poultry farm.
Tegbe said that his delegation also held strategic sessions with renowned economist and former World Bank Director, Prof. Justin Yifu, where he (Yifu) pledged support for NCSP in areas of policy implementation, reforms and attraction of Chinese investments.
The director-general further stated that the NCSP team visited TBEA, a leading electricity corporation in China and leading power transmission enterprise, located at Xinjiang.
He said that during the visit, the delegation discussed the status of TBEA project and explored investment options and opportunities in mini and micro-grid solutions to enhance Nigeria’s power sector.
Tegbe said that the delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Nigerian consulate in Shanghai, engaging in productive discussions about trade and investment opportunities in the region.
The conversations, according to him, focused on facilitating growth in key areas and exploring ways of enhancing cooperation between the consulate’s trade mission and his office.
The delegation, he said, thereafter visited Yangshan Deep-Water Port, also known as Shanghai Port.
“This massive port, which is currently the largest in the world, was constructed by China Harbor Engineering Company, which also constructed the Lekki Deep Sea Port in Nigeria.
During the visit, the delegation had the opportunity of crossing the 35-kilometer bridge, specifically designed for the evacuation of men and materials from the port.
“This bridge is a testament to China’s impressive engineering capabilities,” he said.
Before leaving China, the delegation is expected to engage key players in Chinese economy in Shenzhen and Guangzhou.
This, according to the statement, is to facilitate and fast-track FOCAC project implementation through familiarisation and feedback sessions with the relevant participating companies.
“This visit is part of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership’s efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and promote economic cooperation between the two countries.
“This initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for Nigeria’s economic growth and development, particularly in the areas of infrastructure development, technology transfer and job creation,” Tegbe said.
Troops of the Nigerian Army have destroyed 23 illegal artisanal refineries and apprehended 25 suspected operators during an anti-bunkering operation conducted in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states.
An illegal refinery
Lt.-Col. Danjuma Danjuma, spokesman for the Nigerian Army 6 Division in Port Harcourt, disclosed this development in a statement issued on Monday, January 20, 2025.
He revealed that soldiers also seized 14 boats used for transporting petroleum products and confiscated 45,000 litres of various adulterated petroleum products during the raids.
“The operations were conducted between Jan. 12 and Jan. 19 in Bayelsa, Delta, and Rivers states,” he stated.
Danjuma reported that the operation began in Rivers, where troops intercepted a truck carrying over 15,000 litres of fake petroleum products.
“The tanker truck was impounded along the Eneka-Tank stretch of the East-West Road in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State.
“On the same day, troops deactivated seven illegal refining sites, seized four fibre boats, and recovered 12,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in the Karakarma area of Degema LGA.
“Additionally, soldiers conducting anti-illegal bunkering operations in Bille, Degema LGA, destroyed two illegal refineries, three receivers, and three large metallic cooking pots filled with over 2,400 litres of products,” he said.
The division spokesman added that troops proceeded to Imo Riverside where they dismantled 13 illegal refining sites, 25 cooking drum pots, 24 receivers, and six metallic containers were destroyed with 7,000 litres of products recovered.
Other items seized included 7,000 litres of stolen products, several empty gallons, four hollow pipes, an unspecified number of motorcycles, and a boat used in the criminal enterprise.
According to Danjuma, troops impounded four boats and over 2,700 litres of stolen products in Oga-Ama, Buguma LGA, while a tugboat and a barge were seized around the Finima area of Bonny LGA.
“In Oshimili, Delta State, a sting operation was carried out, which resulted in the arrest of four suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) involved in the illegal bunkering of petroleum products.
“The suspects were caught conveying stolen products around the Abor community junction to Kwale in Ndokwa West LGA,” Danjuma added.
He further said that acting on intelligence, soldiers dismantled five dugout pits filled with an unspecified quantity of stolen petroleum products along the Yokri River in Burutu LGA.
According to him, troops also confiscated two Toyota Avalon vehicles carrying an unspecified quantity of illegally refined diesel along Okarki-Otuasega Road in Ogbia LGA, Bayelsa.
“The vehicles and petroleum products have been handled in accordance with our operational mandate,” Danjuma said.
A group comprising no fewer than 27 civil society organisations (CSOs) has called on the Nigeria Police to release detained environmental activist, Odey Oyama, and his six associates and cease all further hostile acts against their persons and legitimate campaigns.
Odey Oyama
In a statement made available to EnviroNews on Sunday, January 19, 2025, the group, coordinated by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), submitted that it “shall go to all legitimate lengths to enforce the right of Odey Oyama and his associates to advocate peacefully without any let or hindrance”.
On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, environmental activist and director of the Rainforest Resource and Development Centre (RRDC), Mr. Odey Oyama, and six others were arrested by Police officers from the Ikom division of the Cross River State Police Command. He was reportedly taken from his Okuni home and driven to Calabar where he was kept incommunicado, without legal representation and without formal charges for at least 24 hours.
The were reportedly protesting the exploitation of Olulumo Effi rainforest in Cross River State. The arrests reportedly followed their “peaceful resistance” to deforestation activities by Chinese and local collaborators in the forest.
Odey Oyama is described as a resolute campaigner for the protection of the rainforest and biodiversity in Cross River State, a cause that has brought him in constant confrontation with illegal loggers who plunder the rich forest ecosystem of Cross River State.
In recent times, Odey Oyama has been engaged in a fierce campaign against Chinese business concerns working with indigenous collaborators who are logging the Effi Rainforest, a trend that has resulted in massive deforestation, dissipation of wildlife and loss of biodiversity.
According to the group, Oyama has up till now not been formerly charged with any wrongdoing.
The activists criticised the Nigeria Police, saying that it has once again demonstrated flagrant disregard for due process and their role in stifling dissenting voices, especially when vested business interests are at stake. In this instance, Odey Oyama a conscientious objector to the destruction of the environment, rather than enjoy the protection of the government, is being systematically persecuted, added the campaigners.
They added: “As civil society organisations and activists in Nigeria, we are familiar with the selfless campaigns of Odey Oyama that have earned him national and international recognition and have helped to preserve the ecological heritage of Cross River State. We are therefore alarmed that rather than support the efforts of Oyama and other campaigners like him to check the illegal destruction of the Cross River forests, the Police is complicit in weakening his resolve and repressing him. It is even more alarming that he was arrested and detained without formal charges against all extant Nigeria and international laws.
“We are also concerned that this latest arrest is symbolic of the growing intolerance of the government towards the legitimate activities of civil society organisations. In Cross River State in particular, we have witnessed a pattern of arrest and detention of journalists and activists with the flimsiest excuses, but covertly to stifle democratic dissent. We are worried that the civic space is shrinking at an accelerated rate in the state, and the Police is highly complicit in this deteriorating trend.”
In another statement, Missang Oyama, a family member, described the activist’s detention as an act against his efforts to “defend the sanctity of our land against the greed of Chinese invaders and their despicable and mindless local collaborators”.
“Their only crime was standing up for the Olulumo forest, a treasure that should be preserved for generations yet unborn,” the statement reads.
“We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Prince Odey Oyama and all others unlawfully detained.”
In April 2024, Odey Oyama raised alarms over alleged deforestation and illegal exploitation by unidentified Chinese nationals, purportedly working in collaboration with locals.
He described the rainforest as a sanctuary for biodiversity and a vital resource for local communities, now under threat from indiscriminate deforestation.
“The exploitation of the Effi Pristine Rainforest by these entities is resulting in wanton destruction, indiscriminate deforestation, and irreversible damage to the delicate ecosystem. Immediate action is imperative to prevent further devastation,” the activist wrote.
“RRDC condemns the complicity of community elites and the silence surrounding this ecological plunder. We urge community leaders to break their silence and join efforts to protect our shared heritage.
“Efforts to uncover the truth behind these nefarious activities have been met with resistance and secrecy, highlighting the urgent need for government intervention.
“We therefore call upon the local government, the Cross River state government, and the federal government of Nigeria to invoke the necessary measures to halt the destruction of Effi Pristine Rainforest and hold perpetrators accountable.
“It is imperative that immediate action is taken to restore and preserve the Effi Pristine Rainforest for future generations, reaffirming our commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable development.
“We implore government authorities to act swiftly to avert this ecological crisis and safeguard the Effi Pristine Rainforest for the benefit of present and future generations.”
Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) and international energy companies TotalEnergies, Eni, OMV, Repsol and Nabors, outlined key exploration milestones and strategies to advance oil and gas production in Libya at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit 2025 on Saturday, January 18.
TotalEnergies
Among the key developments highlighted were TotalEnergies’ recent onshore exploration project and promising exploration opportunities in the Sirte and Murzuq basins.
“With 40% of Africa’s reserves, Libya remains largely untapped,” said Julien Pouget, Senior Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa at TotalEnergies.
Pouget shared TotalEnergies’ plans for 2025, including the completion of an onshore exploration project and new exploration in the Waha and Sharara fields.
“We expect results next week,” he added.
Luca Vignati, Upstream Director at Eni, echoed optimism for Libya’s potential and outlined the company’s ongoing investment initiatives in the country. “We are launching three exploration plays – shallow, deepwater and ultra-deep offshore. No other country offers such opportunities,” Vignati stated.
He also highlighted the company’s investments in gas projects, including over $10 billion for the Greenstream gas pipeline and a CO2 capture and storage plant in Mellitah.
Repsol affirmed its commitment to advancing exploration in Libya, focusing on overcoming industry challenges and achieving significant production milestones.
“Over the past decade, Libya has made remarkable efforts to fight natural field decline and encourage exploration,” said Francisco Gea, Executive Managing Director, Exploration & Production at Repsol. “We have reached 340,000 barrels per day. The two million target is within reach, and as international companies, we have the responsibility to bring capacity and technology.”
“Innovation is key to maximising production and accelerating exploration. By deploying cutting-edge solutions, Nabors can enhance efficiency, reduce costs and ensure safer operations,” added Travis Purvis, Senior Vice President of Global Drilling Operations at Nabors.
Bashir Garea, Technical Advisor to the Chairman of the NOC, highlighted the country’s immense oil and gas potential. “We have 48 billion barrels of discovered but unexploited oil, with total potential estimated at 90 billion barrels, especially offshore,” he said.
He also pointed to Libya’s sizable gas reserves, noting, “Libya has 122 trillion cubic feet of gas yet to be developed. To unlock this potential, we need more investors and new technology, particularly for brownfield revitalisation.”
“Our strategy spans the entire value chain. Strengthening infrastructure is essential to maximising production and efficiency,” said Hisham Najah, General Manager of the NOC’s Investment & Owners Committees Department.
NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber and session moderator, underlined Libya as a prime destination for foreign investment: “Libya is at the cusp of a new energy era. The time for bold investments and strategic partnerships is now.”
Dangote Petroleum Refinery has made a significant and commendable decision to absorb a substantial portion of rising global oil prices, ensuring that Nigerians continue to benefit from stable fuel costs despite a surge in international crude prices.
Dangote Refinery
Africa’s first private refinery, which disclosed this in a statement by its Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, said the move underscores its commitment to the Nigerian people.
Dangote Refinery recently announced an increase in its ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, from N899.50 to N950 per litre. However, the company clarified that the price hike is a direct reflection of a spike in global crude oil prices, which recently surged from $70 to $82 per barrel.
It noted that while the cost of crude oil on the global market rose by 15%, Dangote Refinery decided to absorb a significant portion of these rising expenses to shield Nigerian consumers from the full brunt of the global price surge. As a result, the ex-depot price increase remains at 5%, considerably lower than the price hikes experienced in other global markets.
“We wish to clarify that the recent adjustment in our ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) is directly related to the significant increase in global crude oil prices. As crude remains the primary input in the production of PMS, any fluctuation in its international price inevitably impacts the cost of the finished product. At Dangote Petroleum Refinery, we recognise the critical importance of affordable fuel for all Nigerians, and we remain committed to offering the best value with guaranteed quality to our customers.
“While we have made a 5% adjustment to our ex-depot price from N899.50 to N950 per litre, it is important to note that this increase is considerably lower than the 15% rise in global crude oil prices, which has seen Brent Crude rise from $70 to $82 in a matter of days, in addition to the premium for Nigerian crude (approximately $3 per barrel) in international markets. Furthermore, Dangote Refinery has maintained the Single-Point Mooring (SPM) ex-vessel price at N895 per litre,” it said.
The company also said it kept the Single-Point Mooring (SPM) ex-vessel price stable at N895 per litre while absorbing the increased logistics cost to ensure that its PMS are sold at a uniform price across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, ensuring that no region is left to bear the full weight of the global oil price fluctuations.
The statement added that had the refinery not intervened, Nigerians could have been facing an eye-watering increase, with petrol prices potentially climbing to as high as N1,150 or even N1,200 per litre, further compounding the woes of millions of Nigerians already grappling with inflation and economic hardship.
“All our partners, including Ardova, Heyden, and MRS Holdings, will offer petrol to Nigerians at a retail price of N970 per litre nationwide. We have absorbed the increased logistics costs to guarantee uniform pricing across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“Dangote Refinery has absorbed approximately 50% of the cost increases in the international oil market. This is due to our unwavering commitment to quality and affordability, as well as the ownership of the refinery by Nigerians, which remain central to our mission. If Dangote Refinery were to pass on the entire increase in the price of crude oil to the market, the retail price of PMS would be approximately N1,150 to N1,200 per litre in some locations, compared to the current price of N970 per litre,” he said.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery emphasised that this move reflects its deep commitment to the Nigerian people and its mission to ensure access to affordable, high-quality fuel. The company, which is wholly Nigerian-owned, prides itself on prioritising national interests, even at the expense of short-term profits.
Furthermore, the refinery has committed to maintaining transparency with the public, promising to publish its ex-depot, ex-vessel, and pump prices on a weekly basis. This ensures that consumers remain well-informed and protected from potential price exploitation.
The Refinery also expressed its gratitude to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for its continued support, particularly through initiatives like the Naira for Crude scheme, which has allowed Nigeria to maintain consistent access to petrol while mitigating the pressures of global price volatility.
“We would like to express our gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the introduction of the visionary Naira for Crude Initiative. This groundbreaking initiative has enabled consistent access to high-quality PMS for all Nigerians, while also insulating the Nigerian consumers from the volatility of the global oil market,” it said.
As the global oil market continues to face uncertainty, Dangote’s decision to absorb these costs ensures that Nigeria remains shielded from the worst impacts of rising oil prices, safeguarding the interests of Nigerian consumers.
Experts at AccuWeather say extreme weather events and disasters in the past 12 months have had the costliest and most widespread impacts that Americans have faced in nearly a century.
A burnt neighbourhood in California. Photo credit: Ariana Drehsler for The New York Times
“The catastrophic wildfires burning in Southern California combined with destructive hurricane impacts last year have been the worst series of natural disasters in America since the Dust Bowl in the 1930s,” AccuWeather Founder and Executive Chairman, Dr. Joel N. Myers, said.
“The Dust Bowl led to a massive migration west to California. Ninety years later, we expect these wildfires, the rising costs of rebuilding and recovery, the challenge of securing and affording insurance, as well as drought and water supply concerns will likely lead to a significant migration out of California over the next few years,” added Myers.
AccuWeather’s revised preliminary estimate of the total damage and economic loss from the fast-moving, wind-driven infernos in Southern California stands at $250 billion to $275 billion.
When combined with the nine additional weather disasters that AccuWeather issued preliminary estimates for in the past 12 months, Myers says AccuWeather estimates that the total damage and economic loss from extreme weather events over the past year has skyrocketed to $693 billion to $799 billion. That figure is equivalent to nearly 3 percent of the United States annual gross domestic product.
AccuWeather’s preliminary estimate for the total damage and economic loss for the wildfires in Southern California is substantially higher than other estimates because many other organisations only focus on insured losses and direct losses.
AccuWeather experts consider the costs of immediate healthcare, long-term physical and mental healthcare, the financial impacts of excess deaths in the years following a disaster, and dozens of additional factors, to provide a more holistic and comprehensive scope of the long-term financial impacts.
“Damage estimates based only on insured losses and direct impacts grossly underestimate the long-term financial losses that families, businesses, and communities endure after a weather disaster,” Myers explained. “There are many compounding factors that can multiply the financial impacts in the months and years after a disaster. Damage estimates that solely consider immediate and insured losses cannot truly capture the immense magnitude of a tragedy like this, especially in a high-risk area where some insurers are canceling policies and leaving thousands of people underinsured or uninsured.”
With thousands of multi-million-dollar properties destroyed in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the nation, Myers said impacts to property values and a loss of tax revenue will have major ramifications for the region’s economy.
“The destructive fires will likely erode the tax base, which could lead to a cutback in public services or higher taxes,” Myers said. “This domino effect could worsen the migration out of California, as more families consider moving to states with lower taxes and a lower risk of wildfires.”
AccuWeather’s total damage and economic loss estimates also factor in cleanup costs, the value of home contents, damage to businesses, and medical facilities, infrastructure and vehicles, as well as temporary wage losses and permanent job losses. AccuWeather total damage and economic loss estimates also account for the financial impact of power outages from utility damage and power outages from planned public safety power shutoffs during wildfire threats, which can result in business disruptions and food spoilage impacting hundreds of thousands of people.
AccuWeather incorporates independent methods to evaluate all direct and indirect impacts of the storm and is based on a variety of sources, statistics and unique techniques AccuWeather uses to estimate the damage. It includes damage to property, job and wage losses, crops, infrastructure damage, interruption of the supply chain, auxiliary business losses and flight delays.
The estimate also accounts for the costs of evacuations, relocations, emergency management and the extraordinary government expenses for cleanup operations and the long-term effects on business logistics, transportation and tourism as well as the health effects and the medical and other expenses of unreported deaths and injuries, as well as the long tail of negative impacts to physical and mental health that survivors may face in the next decade.
The European Union (EU) Commission has allocated €510 million to Nigeria and others in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
The amount is part of the €1.9 billion set aside for the 2025 humanitarian assistance.
The bloc made this known through Ms Hadja Lahbib, the EU Commissioner for Equality Preparedness and Crisis Management in a statement.
The statement was signed by Mr. Modestus Chukwulaka, the Press and Information Officer for the EU Delegation in Nigeria and ECOWAS and made available in Abuja.
It stated that Lahbib said that these funds were set to be channelled across West and Central Africa, the Sahel, the Lake Chad basin, North-West Nigeria, Central Africa, the Great Lakes region and the Greater Horn of Africa.
She added that a further €470 million of the funding is destined for the Middle East and North Africa, with a particular emphasis being on delivering aid to Gaza and Yemen.
The EU continues to remain a leading global humanitarian aid donor with more than 300 million people estimated to need humanitarian assistance in 2025.
The EU on Thursday announced an initial humanitarian budget for 2025 of €1.9 billion.
“With more than 300 million people needing humanitarian assistance in 2025, the EU is upholding its commitment to help those most in need as a leading humanitarian aid donor.
“Our humanitarian aid funding will support our partners on the ground – the UN family, the Red Cross/Red Crescent family, international and local government and non-governmental organisations – to provide life-saving, emergency assistance where needed.
“At the same time, I reiterate my call for safe and unimpeded access to people in need: funding is not enough – we need to be able to reach the most vulnerable.
“And for this, there is an urgent need for all parties to respect International Humanitarian Law,” Lahbib the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, said.
According to the statement, the EU’s humanitarian aid will be allocated as follows: Middle East and North Africa €375 million will be allocated to the wider Middle East.
The humanitarian situation remains extremely acute and fragile, particularly in Gaza.
The region has seen significant changes in recent months, including after the recent developments in Syria.
€95 million will be allocated to North Africa and Yemen: a region exposed to complex political, economic and social challenges.
For Ukraine, now in its third year of war, the initial allocation is €140 million. An additional €8 million is allocated to humanitarian projects in neighbouring Moldova.
For Africa, a total of €510 million will support vulnerable people across the continent. Aid will be channeled in West and Central Africa, the Sahel, the Lake Chad basin, North-West Nigeria, the Central Africa, the Great Lakes region and the Greater Horn of Africa.
For Latin American and the Caribbean, an initial €113 million will be directed at addressing the domestic and regional impact of the crisis in Venezuela, the needs of the most vulnerable people affected by the armed conflicts in Colombia.
Others are the complex crisis in Haiti and the violence in Central America, Mexico and Ecuador.
Around €182 million in Asia and the Pacific will be allocated to humanitarian assistance, in particular for the Myanmar crisis and its impact in Bangladesh, as well as for the crisis in Afghanistan.
Moreover, €35 million are allocated to the Southern Africa and Indian Ocean region as well as €5 million in the southern Caucasus and Central Asia.
Additional emergency funding of more than €295 million are reserved for worldwide actions, responding to sudden-onset emergencies and unforeseen humanitarian crises that may arise throughout the year.
Over €110 million will be committed to horizontal activities, including innovative projects and policy initiatives, for example, the multi-year programmatic partnerships, and the enhanced response capacity.
Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, has extended condolences to the government and people of Niger State following the tragic explosion of a petrol-laden tanker at Dikko Junction, along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway.
Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), briefing newsmen on Friday in Abuja
In a statement on Saturday, January 18, 2025, the minister described the incident, which resulted in the loss of lives and left several others injured, as a heartbreaking tragedy.
Scores of residents were burned to death, with many others sustaining varying degrees of injuries from the tanker explosion in Dikko Junction, Suleja LGA.
Lokpobiri expressed his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims, stating, “I am deeply saddened by this tragic event, and my thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved families.
“May the souls of the departed find eternal rest, and may God grant their families the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
He also wished for a swift and complete recovery for those injured.
The minister emphasised the need for enhanced safety measures to minimise such incidents and urged the public to exercise caution around petrol-laden tankers during emergencies.
“The risks are enormous, and lives are too precious to be lost unnecessarily,” he said.
Lokpobiri announced that he had directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to investigate the incident and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring safe petroleum transportation across the country.
He called for ongoing collaboration among relevant stakeholders to prevent similar tragedies, stressing the importance of collective responsibility in ensuring safety in petroleum distribution.
“This tragedy reminds us of the importance of collective responsibility.
“We must all work together, government, transport operators, and citizens to ensure that safety remains paramount in all aspects of petroleum distribution,” Lokpobiri said.
The minister assured the people of Niger State of his ministry’s support during this difficult time.
The Director-General, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Chief Chukwuemeka Woke, has called for immediate repair of a leaking well-head at Bukuma in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
NOSDRA D-G, Chief Chukwuemeka Woke, leads a technical team on an evaluation tour of well-head leak in Bukuma, Rivers State
Woke made the call during a tour to evaluate the extent of the spill which occured on a facility operated by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
He also called for a continuous surveillance of the operational areas by the NNPCL in order to prevent future incidents.
“On January 12, NOSDRA received reports of a fire outbreak at the well-head, which was attributed to excessive gas release.
“We are actively coordinating with the operator, and relevant stakeholders to extinguish the fire, and to mitigate its effects on the community.
The D-G further said that the agency was working with other stakeholders to provide relief materials to residents of the affected community.
Woke said that NOSDRA would thoroughly analyse the data collected during the tour and collaborate with stakeholders to bring the situation under control.
He reiterated the commitment of the agency towards ensuring that the welfare of the affected communities was promoted.
The spill, which was reported on Jan 1, involved a gas leak from the OML Well 8, operated by NNPCL.
Local security sources told newsmen that the spill was likely instigated by the actions of suspected pipeline vandals who attempted to illegally tap into the well-head.
Before the D-G’s visit, residents of Bukuma had raised an alarm over the gas leak and the resultant inferno that had affected their environment.
Analysts say that the NOSDRA D-G’s visit and promises of immediate action will provide some relief to the people of the community.
