Some Lagos residents have attributed their preference for cart pushers to the ineffectiveness of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Private Sector Partnership (PSP) operators in ensuring prompt refuse evacuation.
Cart pushers
They, however, urged LAWMA to ensure effective waste evacuation in 2025 to prevent the spread of dirts and health hazards.
The residents disclosed this in separate interviews on Sunday, January 19, 2025, in Lagos.
They tasked LAWMA to spread their waste evacuation net to accommodate more residents as cart pushers cash in on the gap to make brisk business.
Mrs Joan Obasi, a FESTAC resident, said LAWMA had not been visible in their area, making many residents to prefer cart pushers.
“The LAWMA thing has not really worked for us, it works for the traders at the market because they force them. LAWMA tried forcing it on us, the residents, several times in FESTAC but it didn’t work.
“When we were using LAWMA, we expected them to come every Tuesday but they never showed up.
“You can keep your waste outside for more than two days and they won’t come.
“We prefer to use the cart pushers because they are readily available.
“I would have preferred that LAWMA comes because of all the benefits, but the truth is that it doesn’t really work for us here.
“Another challenge is that LAWMA PSP will not come to carry your wastes if you are not at home,” Obasi said.
Also speaking, Mercy Ogunjobi, a Dopemu resident, said that LAWMA had not been consistent in the area.
Ogunjobi said that LAWMA had the practice of evacuating their waste once in a month, “but barely showed up.”
“We complained but there has been no change. They usually complain about the cost of diesel to power their vehicles.
“I don’t think that is an excuse because the LAWMA rate keeps increasing.
“I think they can do better,” Ogunjobi said.
For Dorcas Ikechukwu, a resident of Shasha, a suburb of Lagos, said that LAWMA had the practice of coming once in two or three months to evacuate their wastes.
“We hardly see them. So, we rely on the cart pushers to evacuate our wastes.
“We appeal to LAWMA to up their game because littering the environment comes with lots of health hazards,” Ikechukwu said.
Akunne Obiora, who resides along the Ago Palace Way, Okota, said majority of streets in the area make use of the cart pushers because they are readily available and efficient.
“LAWMA do not carry our refuse. We make use of the cart pushers that passes our streets everyday.
“Where we usually see LAWMA is the major road, that is, Ago Palace Way and they usually evacute waste that has been pilled up along that road.
“Sometimes, they delay in coming to evacuate the refuse, but they do come.
“LAWMA come when people are not around and it is not convenient for us,” she said.
For Lilian Agunbiade, a resident of Aboru, LAWMA has remained averagely consistent.
“They come every week, but sometimes we don’t see them.
There are a few places where refuse litter the environment because of the population density of the area.
Rosemary Ani, a resident of Bucknor, along Jakande Estate/Ijegun corridor, said “I don’t use LAWMA because I have not really seen them.”
“Though my landlord told me that they come every Saturday,” Ani said.
She said that majority of the residents in the neighbourhood have their waste bins outside their compounds.
“Sometimes, it will be full to the brim before LAWMA will come to evacuate them
Mr Benjamin Mordi, a resident of Jakande Estate, said that LAWMA PSP’s have been regular at the estate.
A resident of Lekki Phase One said that LAWMA had been very effective.
She attributed their effectiveness to the nature of the neighbourhood highbrow area.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Affairs, LAWMA, Mrs Folashade Kadiri, disclosed that LAWMA is dedicated to ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment by improving waste management practices and encouraging collaboration between citizens and the government.
Kadiri described proper waste disposal as a shared responsibility.
She condemned the use of illegal cart pushers who contribute to indiscriminate dumping of refuse, causing environmental damage and flooding.
She noted that as part of effort to address waste challenges, LAWMA would enforce environmental laws through a robust monitoring team and as well strengthen the operations of PSPs to ensure timely waste collection.
“The agency also promotes the Adopt-a-Bin initiative, encouraging households and businesses to use smart waste bins to reduce illegal dumping and pollution.
“LAWMA remains proactive in adapting strategies to meet the city’s growing waste management needs and urges residents to report waste-related issues through its toll-free lines.
“By working together, Lagosians can foster a cleaner and more sustainable city,” Kadiri said.
The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has told a Federal High Court in Abuja why it issued oil import licences to oil marketing companies in the country.
Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed
NMDPRA told Justice Inyang Ekwo in a counter affidavit it filed and deposed to by Idris Musa, a Senior Regulatory Officer in the office, against a suit filed by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.
The regulatory authority, in the application dated and filed Dec. 13, 2024, said the current production of Dangote Refinery, the plaintiff in the suit, is yet to meet the national daily petroleum products sufficiency requirement.
“Consequently, and in compliance with Section 317 (9) of the PIA (Petroleum Industry Act), the 1st defendant (NMDPRA) issued licences to import petroleum products to bridge product shortfalls to companies with good track records of international products trading,” Musa said.
Dangote Refinery had sued NMDPRA and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) as 1st and 2nd defendants.
Also joined as 3rd to 7th defendants respectively in the originating summons, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024 and dated Sept. 6, are AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited.
The oil company, through its lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN, prayed the court to nullify import licences issued by NMDPRA to the NNPCL and the five other companies for the purpose of importing refined petroleum products.
The company (plaintiff) also prayed the court to declare that NMDPRA was in violation of Sections 317(8) and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by issuing licenses for the importation of petroleum products.
It stated that such licenses should only be issued in circumstances where there is a petroleum product shortfall.
It equally sought a N100 billion in damages against NMDPRA for allegedly continuing to issue import licences to NNPCL and the five companies for importing petroleum products, among other reliefs.
But the NMDPRA, through its officer, prayed the court to dismiss the suit as it is misconceived, unmeritorious and incompetent.
Musa argued that Dangote Refinery is not entitled to any of the reliefs sought.
He said the key functions of NMDPRA is to ensure a vibrant petroleum sector which will be operated in line with international best practice.
He said it also ensures national energy security through continuity of supply and the prevention of abuse of the market by any individual or group, dominance and unhealthy monopoly, wherein a single company or entity will control the supply chain and determine the fate of over 200 million Nigerians.
He said in furtherance of the above objectives, the regulatory agency had supported and continued to support all local refineries to enable their optimum capacity utilisation while ensuring that national energy security is maintained.
According to him, as at Jully, 18, 2024, there are four functional licenced modular refineries.
“There are also four other refineries owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) which are currently at different stages of maintenance.
“At the second quarter of 2024, the plaintiff and the four functional licensed modular refineries produced Automative Gas Oil (AGO) and Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) in considerable volumes,” he said.
Musa, however, added that NMDPRA was closely monitoring the development to ascertain when the locally refined output would meet the country’s daily petroleum products sufficiency.
Besides, he said the agency is also mandated to promote competition and prevent abuse of dominant market positions and unhealthy monopoly in the oil and gas sector.
“The Import volume to be allocated between participants (that is licensed importers) by the 1st defendant is based on the criteria to be setout taking into account the respective refining output in the preceding quarter of the year, the share of active wholesale customers, competitive pricing and prudent supply, storage and distribution track records.”
The official said there had been palpable uncertainties and instability regarding activities and capacity of the Dangote Refinery to solely cater for the petroleum products supply needs of the entire Nigerian population both in short and long term.
He said the alleged production capacity of the refinery as regards AGO and Jet Oil (Jet A-1) were estimations not backed with scientific proof and the NMDPRA, as regulators, cannot depend on such data to allow the plaintiff own the sole right to cater for the market.
He said, having taken cognisance of the current state of affairs and in consideration of the oil production output at the preceding quarter before the filing of the suit, NMDPRA found that it would be premature and imprudent to suspend the importation of petroleum products for other entities and simply hand over the sole supply right to Dangote.
He said the present market structure of local refining would not only result in a monopoly with its pricing implications but also put at risk the nation’s energy security “which is best assured through multiple supply sources given the present market structure of local refining.”
“The 1st defendant is however optimistic that the anticipated operationalisation of NNPCL’s four refineries in addition to increased output from the four modular refineries will improve the much-required competition in local refining, thereby mitigating the overarching concern of the creation of monopoly and its implication on energy security and pricing.”
Musa said contrary to Dangote’s argument, NMDPRA’s demand of 0.5 per cent levy is justified.
He said the levy is prescribed by Sections 47 (2)(c) and 52(7) of the PIA and to be paid at wholesale points by the wholesale customer and not the producer and that this fact is well known to the plaintiff.
“The plaintiff (Dangote) cannot claim not to be bound by local laws due to its being in a free zone, whilst seeking to take the benefits of the same local laws,” he said.
According to him, the levies are due immediately upon the sale of petroleum products or natural gas to a wholesale customer and shall be remitted by the plaintiff to the 1st defendant.
“The plaintiff is to remit such levies to the 1st defendant not later than 21 days following the month of the sale,” he said.
The official explained that Dangote Refinery was supposed to keep record and or particulars of the levies received from the wholesale customers..
“I know as a fact that it was when the plaintiff failed to communicate its record of sales of petroleum products or natural gas and remit the statutory levies of 0.5% amongst others that the 1st defendant was constrained to issue a letter dated 10th June, 2024 marked as ‘Exhibit C’ in paragraph 22 of the plaintiffs affidavit.”
He said the procedure for the payment of the levies agreed is contained in the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Fees Regulations, 2024, gazetted Nov. 4, 2024.
He said contrary to the company’s submission, it was untrue that the Dangote Industries Free Zone Regulation 2020 was enacted for it to carry out operations in the free zone “devoid of payment of all levies, taxes and rates by the federal, state and local government in Nigeria.”
He said it was incorrect to suggest that the refined products from the refinery is to be sold only to Nigerians.
“Rather, the plaintiff has stated through its alter ego that it need not sell products to only Nigerians, but can sell to other customers globally where there is a demand for same.”
Musa disagreed that Dangote Refinery’s local production of petroleum products obviates the need to issue import licences to other entities with the capacity to meet the market demands of the Nigerian populace.
“I know as a fact that the plaintiff does not have the capacity yet, to meet the entire local demand of refined petroleum products based on the count and readiness of its licensed and commissioned production lines.
“To ensure availability of products to meet the market demand in Nigeria, it is therefore the responsibility of the 1st Defendant to license qualified entities to cater for any shortfall and meet domestic demand.
“The 1st defendant granted licences to the 2nd to 7th defendants as companies with proven track records of international crude oil and petroleum products trading in line with the provisions of Section 317(8) and (9) of the PIA 2021.
“It is to meet the shortfall in the domestic supply so as to avoid the hardship and sufferings which inadequate products availability often causes on Nigerians,’ he insisted.
He denied the allegation that NMDPRA is partaking in any purported “grand conspiracy and concerted efforts” against the refinery, describing it as “an allegation for which the plaintiff has provided no facts or evidence in support.”
The NNPCL, in its preliminary objection dated and filed Nov. 15, 2024, prayed the court to strike out the case for being incompetent.
Also, the oil marketers, in a joint counter affidavit filed on Nov. 5, 2024, told the court that granting Dangote’s application would spell doom for the country’s oil sector.
According to them, the plan to monopolise the oil sector is a recipe for disaster in the country.
The three marketers; AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, in their response, said the plaintiff did not produce adequate petroleum products for the daily consumption of Nigerians.
Besides, they argued that there was nothing placed before the court to prove the contrary.
Justice Ekwo had fixed Monday (Jan. 20) for report of settlement or service.
Across Africa, the sunlight shines bright and natural resources abound. Yet despite that lies a pressing issue that threatens to stifle the continent’s growth and prosperity: the lack of access to reliable and sustainable electricity.
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, is hosting the Africa Energy Summit
As we prepare for the Africa Energy Summit (https://apo-opa.co/3PEPMUY), taking place from January 27 to 28, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the urgency of addressing Africa’s energy needs cannot be overstated. Without power, Africa cannot achieve its development aspirations and take its rightful place at the global first table. This summit is a critical step towards unlocking Africa’s vast potential and empowering its people.
The Stark Reality of Energy Poverty and Africa’s Power Sector
Today, nearly 600 million Africans – approximately half the continent’s population – still live without access to electricity. For these individuals, daily life is a struggle illuminated by the dim glow of kerosene lamps or the intermittent hum of diesel generators. These stopgap solutions are not only expensive but also polluting, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and environmental degradation. At the current pace of electrification and with Africa’s rapid demographic growth, the number of people without electricity will remain largely unchanged unless we take bold and immediate action.
What makes this challenge significant in Africa is that, for many decades, the power sector has faced numerous interlocking challenges which include inter alia, low access rates, lack of maintenance, lack of investment, non-cost reflective tariffs, unaffordable subsidies, and lack of financial sustainability. Most of Africa’s public utilities are in financial distress – they struggle to cover their operating costs and cannot finance the required capital expenditure to maintain their operations, thus forcing them to rely on public subsidies.
At the same time, most of the financing available for energy projects today is in hard currency, which is not always sustainable because energy services are paid for by local populations in local currencies, thus resulting in a currency mismatch occasioned by the volatility of local currencies against international hard currencies. In addition, regulatory authorities are subject to political interference in most African countries, which affects their decision-making and ability to implement policies that support long-term sector development.
I believe passionately that without access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity, Africa will not achieve its development aspirations. Energy access is the cornerstone of economic transformation, unlocking opportunities for education, healthcare, gender equality, and income generation. It is a prerequisite for creating a green and resilient future, one where poverty is a relic of the past.
Mission 300: A Bold Vision for the Future
In response to this urgent need, the African Development Bank Group, the World Bank, and other partners have launched an ambitious initiative known as Mission 300 (https://apo-opa.co/3PEPMUY). This initiative aims to provide electricity access to 300 million Africans by 2030. Mission 300 is not just a number; it represents lives transformed, economies revitalized, and communities empowered.
The plan focuses on accelerating electrification through a mix of grid extensions and distributed renewable energy solutions, such as mini-grids and stand-alone solar home systems. These solutions are particularly effective in reaching fragile and remote areas where traditional grid infrastructure is impractical. Complementing these efforts are investments in generation, transmission, regional interconnection, and sector reform to ensure that power supply is not only reliable but also affordable and sustainable.
Partnerships and Reforms: The Keys to Success
Mission 300 will only succeed with the collective efforts of governments, private sector stakeholders, and international partners. Governments must lead the charge by implementing critical reforms to make the energy sector more efficient and utilities more robust. Transparent and competitive tendering processes for new generation capacity, along with cost-recovery mechanisms for utilities, are essential. Regulators will have to respond with appropriate nimbleness and innovation to stay responsive to a fast changing technological and business environment.
Governments and development partners must amplify the call for regional electricity trade to facilitate a shift away from the single-buyer model as well as allow the sustainable integration of Variable Renewable Energy (VRE) into weak grids to help shape the energy transition pathways of African countries.
Private sector participation is crucial for addressing Africa’s energy challenges, especially considering Africa’s rapidly growing population and the need for increased investment. The private sector is already playing a vital role in expanding renewable energy access, particularly through decentralised energy solutions, an area where traditional utility-scale projects face limitations due to infrastructure constraints. Meanwhile, multilateral development banks and philanthropic organisations must step up in unlocking private capital for the energy sector through targeted financing instruments, risk mitigation tools, technical assistance and policy advocacy.
The recently launched Technical Facility Accelerator Fund (https://apo-opa.co/3CaOjmm) is a promising step in this direction, providing technical assistance to governments and helping streamline processes to achieve Mission 300 targets.
A Defining Moment: The Africa Energy Summit
The upcoming Africa Energy Summit represents a pivotal moment for the continent. Hosted by the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, the African Union, the African Development Bank Group, and the World Bank Group, this summit will bring together heads of state, energy experts, and private sector leaders to forge a path toward universal energy access.
At the summit, several African governments will present their national energy compacts, outlining their commitments to reforms and near-term actions to achieve their energy targets. These compacts will showcase the innovative strategies and partnerships being deployed to advance universal energy access in a reliable, affordable, and sustainable manner. The summit will also highlight the critical role of international partners such as the Rockefeller Foundation, Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), who are mobilising resources and expertise to support this mission.
Significantly, the summit will unveil some new spending commitments and innovative initiatives designed to encourage African Countries to mobilise more of their domestic resources to finance the accelerated roll-out of green energy infrastructure across the continent.
Why Now?
The convergence of technological breakthroughs, digitisation, and innovative financing models makes this the most opportune time to tackle Africa’s energy challenges. Achieving Mission 300 will not only light up homes and businesses but also drive progress in education, healthcare, and gender equality. It will reduce emissions, enhance welfare, and boost income generation and financial inclusion across the continent.
Let us make Mission 300 a turning point. Let us make sure the 13 landmark compact agreements (https://apo-opa.co/3C1OzUL) signed this week point the way to lighting up the rest of our continent.
By Wale Shonibare, African Development Bank’s Director of Energy Financial Solutions, Policy, and Regulation
The Chinese government on Friday, January 17, 2025, promised to work closely with the international community to ensure sustainable peace and stability in the Middle East.
Guo Jiakun, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson of China. Photo credit: NAN
It also reaffirmed its commitment to partnering the international community to promote green environment and protect the blue planet.
The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson of China, Guo Jiakun, made this known at the regular virtual news conference organised by the ministry in Beijing, China.
He commended the recent agreement reached between Israel and Hamas to ensure a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza and to release people being held.
According to him, China welcomes the agreement and hopes that this agreement will be implemented effectively and that there will be a full and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Guo said, “Since the outbreak of the current round of conflict in Gaza, China has been calling for an early ceasefire and working actively for de-escalation, protection of civilians, and humanitarian assistance.
“China supports the implementation of the ceasefire deal and will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza and make a strong effort for the resumption of post-war reconstruction.
“We also sincerely hope that relevant parties will take the ceasefire in Gaza as an opportunity to further de-escalate the tensions in the region.
“China will work with the international community to make an unremitting effort for peace and stability in the Middle East.”
He said China’s partnership with the international community would further contribute to the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.
He spoke on China’s achievements in climate response to having realised nationally determined contribution targets on rolling out climate mitigation policies and cutting emissions, in line with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 4th biennial report.
The spokesperson described climate change as a major global challenge, saying China attaches great importance to climate response and is one of the first countries to become party to the UNFCCC and to sign and ratify the Paris Agreement.
“The two reports that China submitted recently reflect its transparency and professionalism in information sharing and showcased various dimensions of China’s policies, measures, results and experience in climate governance.
“The reports offer a glimpse of China’s resolve in and actions on actively responding to climate change and deeply engaging in global climate governance. China has never stopped promoting green development.
“The reports mentioned that in 2021, CO2 emissions per unit of GDP dropped by 50.9 percent compared with 2005 (the base year of nationally determined contributions).
“As public data shows, at the end of 2023, China’s installed renewable energy capacity surpassed the thermal power capacity for the first time in history.
“China has never let up in its effort to promote global low-carbon transition. In 2023 alone, the wind and photovoltaic products exported by China helped relevant countries cut 810 million tons of CO2,” he stated.
He restated that climate change requires a global response, saying China is ready to partner with all parties to uphold the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, practice true multilateralism, and promote green development to protect the blue planet.
The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has sealed off Cyvilian Garden, a popular relaxation spot located on Abacha Road in Mararaba, Nasarawa State, for noise pollution.
Dr Innocent Barikor, Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESERA)
Speaking with newsmen on Friday after the exercise, the Director-General of NESREA, Dr Innocent Barikor, said that the measure followed complaints by residents and the refusal of the leisure spot management to comply with guidelines after notifications.
Barikor, who was represented by Dr Christopher Beka, Director, Inspection and Enforcement in the agency, said due process was followed in shutting down the facility.
“We took all necessary steps before getting to the point of sealing.
“Complaints from residents were investigated and noise readings were taken at different times, and they were too high for a residential area.
“Abatement notices were subsequently issued to the facility as required by law.
“We also had an arbitration meeting where they were advised to operate within the standards set out in the National Environmental (Noise Standards and Control) Regulations, 2009,” he said.
“Noise pollution is a very serious issue, and we are tackling it headlong because the health of citizens is affected.
“It is intolerable that one would return from a hectic day at work and unable to sleep at night because of noise.
“You cannot run your business or create fun for yourself at the expense of others,” he said.
Barikor restated the commitment of NESREA towards ensuring that Nigerians enjoy a high quality of life through effective environmental regulation and enforcement.
Barikor called on Nigerians to act as environmental stewards by adhering to environmental laws and reporting any violations.
He promised that more enforcement exercises would be carried out across all states of the federation.
A power outage has disrupted parts of the Presidential Villa, Maitama, Wuse, Jabi, Lifecamp, Asokoro, Utako, and Mabushi, following a vandalised 132kV transmission line and underground cable supplying bulk power to the Central Area transmission substation in Katampe, with thieves carting away 40 meters of 1x500mm XLPE conductor.
National grid lines
Ndidi Mbah, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) General Manager of Public Affairs, made the disclosure in a statement made available to EnviroNews on Friday, January 17, 2025.
According to her, the incident impacted eight distribution feeders supplying the Central Area, leading to the disruption of over 60 percent of Abuja’s power supply.
Mbah expressed concern over the ongoing issue of cable vandalism, which continues to disrupt power delivery across the country.
She further emphasised that TCN has already dispatched a team of engineers to restore power to the affected areas promptly.
“The vandalism of this critical infrastructure is suspected to have occurred near the Menillum Park axis of Abuja,” Mbah noted, explaining that the perpetrators stole 40 meters of 1x500mm XLPE conductor from the two 132kV transmission lines.
Mbah has therefore appealed to residents in the affected areas to remain patient while efforts to repair the damaged cables are underway.
She also called on Nigerians to stay vigilant and protect transmission equipment to prevent further incidents of vandalism.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is seeking collaboration with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on effective reportage of disaster management in Niger State and across the country.
Director-General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar
Malam Hussaini Isah, the newly appointed Head, NEMA, Minna Operations Office, spoke at a familiarisation visit to NAN Zonal office on Friday, January 17, 2025, in Minna, the state capital.
He said the visit was to seek more areas of collaboration and to sustain existing ones.
“The purpose of the visit is to collaborate with NAN and other partners to move disaster management in Niger and across the country to the next level.
Isah said that NAN was an agency known for timely and accurate dissemination of information; hence, the need for the partnership.
According to him, any agency that has a mandate of doing such is an agency that fosters unity in enlightening and engaging citizens.
He said disaster management had taken a new direction with complex threat that could be natural or human-induced.
“The management of disaster has also taken centre stage globally due to the increase in intensity and frequency of disasters, coupled with climate change and global warming.’’
Isah said that NEMA was the coordinating agency for disaster management in Nigeria with the mandate to formulate policies and programmes.
“NEMA is also saddled with the responsibility to sensitise citizens on disaster prevention and control and collect data from key stakeholders.
“Information is key and it is through sensitisation that we can tell people about mitigation and preparedness, risk reduction and global best practices,” he said.
Isah cited the 2024 flood that affected Maiduguri and Niger as an example of the importance of disaster management.
He said that there was need to create more awareness, particularly at the grassroots where most disasters happen.
Isah said that the partnership with NAN would help to counter fake news, especially on disaster reporting.
He said the collaboration with NAN included training and public enlightenment programmes as well as using local languages to reach the grassroots.
Responding, Alhaji Mohammed Bababusu, NAN Zonal Manager in charge of Niger, Kogi and Nassarawa states, pledged the agency’s readiness to collaborate with NEMA to counter fake news.
According to him, NAN is a Federal Government media outfit with subscribers across all media outlets and internationally recognised agencies.
“So, be rest assured that NAN will effectively disseminate disaster management news in accordance with our slogan ‘Talk to NAN, Talk All’,” he said.
He said that NAN was created to ensure peaceful coexistence of Nigerians, which was why the agency avoided reporting news that created confusion.
Bababusu assured NEMA of NAN’s willingness and interest to partner with the agency in disaster management.
“The development of regional value chains requires an alignment of industrialisation frameworks of which the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are the main tool,” said Jean Luc Mastaki, Director of the Sub-Regional Office for Central Africa of the Economic Commission for Africa.
Douala, Cameroon
In Douala, Cameroon, from January 21 to 23, 2025, ECA, the African Union, the African Development Bank, UNIDO and UNDP are organising a “symposium for the successful harmonisation of frameworks for the development and operationalisation of special economic zones in Africa”.
Experts from ECCAS and CEMAC member countries as well as the respective RECs will discuss, together with financiers, development partners and the private sector, ways of action to accelerate operationalisation SEZs in Central Africa, as an instrument for inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and economic diversification.
Building on previous milestones such as the first joint session of the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts held in 2022 in Seychelles, the Sub-Regional Webinar on the Challenges and Opportunities of SEZs in Seychelles, the new generation for economic diversification and industrialization in Central Africa and studies, the symposium has the ultimate goal of structuring a well-understood common commitment.
For example, it is expected that a new Inter-agency working group and a robust regional cooperation platform to accelerate the operationalisation of industrialisation strategies and the implementation of high-potential value chain and next-generation SEZ approaches. Similarly, the symposium should allow the launch of work on the development of a joint programme aimed at supporting the States of the sub-region in the development and implementation of new generation SEZs, which would contribute to industrialisation and other broader economic and social development goals.
Central Africa is committed to reducing its vulnerability to exogenous shocks, of which inflation and debt overhang and fiscal imbalance are the faces. To remedy this, the States and the Regional Economic Communities have defined subregional and national import-substitution strategies.
These strategies, anchored in industrialisation plans, should ensure the successful implementation of the AfCFTA in line with the commitments made at the extraordinary summit of the Union in Niamey (Niger) in November 2022.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has said that the country’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion capacity increased by over 2,500 per cent in 2024.
Mr. Farouk Ahmed, Authority Chief Executive, NMDPRA
Mr. Farouk Ahmed, Authority Chief Executive, NMDPRA, said this on Thursday, January 16, 2025, in Abuja at the inaugural Petroleum Industry Stakeholders’ Forum, organised by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
Ahmed said that NMDPRA supported the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) by stimulating 186 new conversion centres which triggered the county’s conversion capacity.
“The NMDPRA will continue to collaborate with the PCNGI to ensure deployment of CNG infrastructure in major cities of Lagos and Abuja, up to 100,000 conversions, while collaborating with states to develop Nigeria Gas Vehicles (NGVs) in other areas.
“The development of CNG as a viable alternative to Petrol has been incentivised.
“These conversions alongside new buys have raised the Nigerian Gas Vehicles population to an estimated 30,000 to 50,000 vehicles and trucks, and it continues to grow daily.
“With over 400 million dollars attracted for investment in 86 and 65 new daughters and mother stations under construction respectively, Nigeria refueling capacity has therefore risen from 20 to 56,” he said.
Ahmed said that the collaboration between PCNGI, NMDPRA and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) led to the development of standards and the NGV Monitoring System expected to be inaugurated this year.
“The NMDPRA also collaborates with the SON, the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the National Institute of Transportation Technology (NITT) in ensuring that our mobility CNG growth is achieved in a safe and sustainable manner,” he said.
The NMDPRA boss, however, listed some challenges facing the initiative to include establishment and operation of petroleum handling facilities without proper licensing, permits and authorisations.
He listed other challenges to include poor collaborations for Open/ third party access to facilities and lack of cooperation of some operators for an effective regulatory oversight, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) provisions.
“We implore the industry to adhere to all regulatory requirements, especially as they relate to safety, efficiency, best practices, sustainability, consumer protection and community participation.
“As we progress into 2025, the NMDPRA will continue to consolidate on its successes for enhanced regulatory oversight.
“This will include the upgrade of our laboratories for enhanced product quality analysis and referencing, inter-agency collaborations, automation and sustainability in the industry,” Ahmed said.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has promised to inaugurate more water projects in Ogoni communities in 2025.
Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, Project Coordinator, HYPREP
Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, HYPREP Project Coordinator, made the pledge in a statement made available on Friday, January 17, 2025, in Abuja.
Zabbey said that two additional water schemes in Beeri and Bunu in Khana and Tai Local Government Areas respectively which were in Phase II of the project would be completed and ready for inauguration in February.
He said that the water schemes were part of HYPREP’s mandate to provide potable water to impacted communities in Ogoni.
Zabbey expressed satisfaction at the pace of work and the commitment of community workers to the project shortly after his visit to the water facilities and some shoreline remediation sites in K-Dere, Gokana LGA.
He said he was impressed with the water projects at very advanced stages of completion, assuring that more communities would have access to clean drinking water.
Zabbey reiterated that the project was community-centric as both stakeholder buy-in and useful feedback were necessary for effective project implementation,
He promised to attend to the demands of K-Dere community.
The project coordinator advocated for women inclusion in the proposed meeting with K-Dere community.
He said that, as drivers of the local economy, women should not be left out in discussions that would affect them.
“In 2025, we will embark on a lot of trading with the youth and women of Ukoni especially in the area of agribusiness to build their capacity in aquaculture.’’
Zabbey promised to organise trainings in sustainable aquaculture for the people of the area to enhance food security in the region, assuring that Ogoniland would contribute to national food security.
“HYPREP is currently carrying out 34 shoreline remediation works in Gokana LGA and the construction of 14 water lots in its Phase II water project which will provide potable water to 68 communities.
“Currently, the shoreline cleanup is at 25 per cent completion, covering 123 grids across 357.6 of 1747.6 ha. Also the general percentage completion for the 14 water lots is 55.56 per cent.’’
He expressed satisfaction over the return of oysters to the community.
“Oyster is a salt water bivalve molluscs that was once in abundance before the environmental pollution in the creeks.’’
Zabbey attributed the positive development to an improvement in the ecosystem following the ongoing remediation of the environment by HYPREP.
“So, what we are doing is not just for the Ogoni people, it is also for contiguous communities.
“It is also for Nigerians because Ogoni used to be a full basket of this region and what we are doing will return Ogoni a better state,” Zabbey said.
