The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Thursday, February 6, 2025, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, played host to a visiting team of ranking military officers from the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja, who are in the state on a local study tour.
NCDMB officials and military officers from the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) during the visit
At an interactive session at the Nigerian Content Tower (NCT), corporate headquarters of the NCDMB, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, presented a portrait of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry in its first 50 years of operation and the highpoints in implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010.
According to him, the earlier phase was marked by capital flight amounting to an estimated $380 billion, loss of two million jobs as a result of human capital deficits, and less than five per cent in local content. In sharp contrast is the post-NOGICD Act era which has witnessed phenomenal development of in-country capacity and capabilities as a result of creative enforcement and monitoring of industry operations as well as strategic interventions by the NCDMB.
The NCDMB boss explained that local content hit 56 per cent at the end of 2023, which translates into in-country retention of 56 per cent of oil and gas industry yearly spend on operations – a feat that has made the NOGICD Act as well as implementation strategies the model for other oil- and gas-producing countries in Africa. The target for the NCDMB, he pointed out, is 70 per cent in 2027.
With emphasis he declared that the NCDMB wants to ensure that equipment and tools as well as services required for oil and gas operations are made and procured in Nigeria.
In accounting for the success of the Board thus far and the feasibility of its performance targets in capacity development, he said, “We take research and development seriously,” citing the centres of excellence established, equipped and funded by the Board in the six universities, one in the six geopolitical zones of the country.
The Executive Secretary, who was represented by the Director, Corporate Services and Capacity Building, Dr Ama Ikuru, observed that the Nigerian Army itself has raised the bar in research and development as well as local content, in relation to human capital development and local manufacturing of some components used in military operations.
While conducting the guests, which comprised officers between the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel and General currently undergoing an 11-month Leadership and Strategic Course 3/2024, round different sections and facilities of the Board, Dr Ikuru had the team familiarised with the Board’s Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre (TIIC). Its success story in aiding individuals with innovative ideas and facilitating technology adaptation and process improvement was highlighted.
In further elaboration of the Board’s activities and engagements, the Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, Alhaji Abdulmalik Halilu, noted that there is a history of “mutually beneficial partnership between the Army and the NCDMB,” citing the involvement of the Board’s personnel as resource persons at the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna. According to him, “It is good the military sees NCDMB as a partner.”
In his own remarks, the General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Esueme Dan Kikile, said the visit of the military officers who are Participants of the Leadership and Strategic Course 3/2024 from the NARC, afforded the Board and guests a useful platform for interaction and knowledge sharing. He urged the guests to “tell the success story of the NCDMB” wherever they find themselves”.
Team leader for the military officers, Major General Abubakar A. Tarfa (retd), explained that the Local Study Tour was part of an 11-month course and that members of the team were all professionals in diverse fields – engineering, medicine, nursing, and administration, among others.
He said the course was designed “to prepare participants for higher responsibilities” and that the tour would provide necessary exposure, to have the officers acquainted with the NCDMB and its role and monitoring programmes that “ensure steady growth in local content” in the oil and gas industry.
Major General Tarfa pointed out that there is “a relationship between leadership, strategy and national security,” and that the training and associated activities underline such realities. He said “military assistance to civil authority for oil production in the Niger Delta toward national development” was a major motivating factor in their study tour of the state.
Speaking on behalf of participants, Lt. Col. Juliet Aziekwu expressed appreciation for the interactive session, stating, “We are better informed about the NCDMB and its role; we’ll put the knowledge into use.”
Earlier in opening remarks, the Deputy Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Dr. Obinna Ezeobi, had noted that there was a nexus between what the military officers were in the state to do and what the NCDMB does, that is, capacity building. He said they were thus in the right place.
On the entourage of the NARC team was the Commander of the 16th Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Yenagoa, Brigadier General Oluremi Obolo.
The Lagos State Government has redeployed District Officers of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) to bring about enhanced service delivery.
Commissioner for Physical Planning Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, addressing the District Officers
Commissioner for Physical Planning Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, made this known on Friday, February 7, 2025, during a meeting with the District Officers at LASPPPA Headquarters, First Secretariat, Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja.
The Commissioner explained that the movement of officers was informed by the need to bring about new challenges and reenergise the system as the redeployment mainly affects those who have spent more years in a district and officers on Grade Level 16 and above, whose experience and expertise will best serve policy formulation at the headquarters.
According to Commissioner Olumide, the strategic move was aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, boosting productivity, and improving service delivery to the people of Lagos.
“The redeployment, which takes immediate effect, will not only guide against redundancy but promote a viable public image of LASPPPA and the Lagos State Government as our services become more accessible and responsive to the needs of Lagos residents,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of Physical Planning, Oluwole Sotire, urged the officers to see their new postings as a positive development and hit the ground running in their respective districts.
The General Manager, LASPPPA, Kehinde Osinaike, added that the agency would increase its monitoring mechanism and collate performance reports on a regular basis as the Commissioner promised to commence unscheduled visits to the various District Offices
Meanwhile, the Commissioner commended Isiaka Arimi-Sule, an Assistant Director and head LASPPA Kosofe District, for being dutiful and maintaining high integrity in his work.
His words: “The feedback reaching us is that the officer places service and integrity before material gains, and he has been representing the State Government very well.”
Olumide urged other officers to emulate him by giving their all to the service of the State and helping in realising the vision of a sustainable Lagos physical environment as envisaged in the T.H.E.M.E.S.+ agenda of government, adding that the government in return would always throw its weight behind dutiful officers.
Magistrate Court 7, sitting in Calabar judicial division, has adjoined cases involving Odey Oyama and four others to February 14 and 27, 2025, respectively.
Odey Oyama
Adjoining the matter, Magistrate Okoho Bassey Otu asked the Prosecutor to provide evidence in case No MC/ 20C/2025 and MC/21C/2025 before the next court hearings.
The embattled activist was arrested alongside four others at his hometown in Ikom on January 14, 2025, by the Police on the charge of what they described as promoting “native war” in Effi community in Ikom, which though has not been proven.
The court had on January 23, 2025, granted bail to the defendant and the four others, namely, Alobi Ofuka, Ogbeshi Opene, Samuel Agbor and Konye Eka.
It will be recalled that, in recent times, 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.
Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, OU Ubi, had pleaded with the court to transfer the casefile to Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), citing section 372 of Cross River State Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
In his argument, the Defense Counsel, Ntufam Sunny Mgbe, pleaded that the matter should be struck out giving that the case lacks merit for lack of evidence against the accused persons.
This speech, delivered on Thursday, February 6, 2025, by UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, at the Instituto Rio Branco in Brasília – Brazil’s diplomatic academy, provides an update on the state-of-play on global climate action, in this 10th year since the Paris Agreement. The remarks also outline top policy priorities for this year and for COP30 in the Amazon region, and beyond
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell speaking at the Instituto Rio Branco in Brasília
Let me start by thanking my friend Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago for the warm welcome to Brasília, and to the Institute and Itamaraty for hosting me here today.
André – the vast experience, commitment and skill that you – and the government of Brazil under President Lula – bring to the COP30 Presidency will be crucial in the world’s climate fight this year.
You’re also an expert on the great Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer.
I am no such expert, but I’m told that Niemeyer broke the mould, in part by moving away from rigid, straight lines to embrace curves and fluidity. Lines that remain purposeful and highly functional, while also reflecting our humanity.
His work also reminds us that progress is not always a straight line.
When Niemeyer was drawing his plans, he wasn’t shaping the future, but rather, he was shaping the present.
He, like climate action, had arrived to fundamentally change the system as we knew it.
So how far have we come, since 195 Parties convened to adopt the UN Paris Agreement ten years ago?
In a world that has become much more divided, our process has managed to buck the trend.
Indeed, without UN-convened global climate cooperation – with its origins right here in Brazil in 1992 – we would be headed towards up to 5 degrees of global heating – a death sentence for humanity as we know it.
We’re currently on course for around 3 degrees, which is still dangerously high.
But thankfully we’ve already entered a new era.
The limitless force of human agency is coming together with the determined forces of self-interest.
Countries – like their citizens – want agency. The means to secure and grow their economies, and lift living standards for their citizens, so they can choose the lives that they want.
Let me also recount the words of a wise old friend back in my home country of Grenada who told me once that betting on the better angels of our nature is important, but it only gets us so far.
In the great horserace of life, he said, “always back self-interest….what’s in it for me.”
This – above all other factors – is why the clean energy shift is now unstoppable: because of the colossal scale of economic opportunity it presents.
Because when $2 trillion flow into clean energy and infrastructure in just one year, as they did last year, you can be sure it’s not because of virtue signaling.
That’s twice as much as was invested in fossil fuels last year. Investors know that clean energy makes far more sense. The money-making opportunity is simply too big to ignore.
A country may step back – but others are already stepping into their place to seize that opportunity…
And to reap the massive rewards: stronger economic growth, more jobs, less pollution and far lower health costs, and more secure and affordable energy.
It would be remiss of me not to highlight that this boom is moving at very different speeds: massive influxes of capital in major economies, driving economic growth.
But many smaller economies not yet able to fully share in the boom and its vast benefits.
To that I would say this: we got from nearly nothing to $2 trillion in little more than a decade, and that’s with over two-thirds of the world’s countries still struggling for the financial agency to take climate action at scale.
Imagine if we could get finance right; as a start, deliver on the Baku to Belém Roadmap to $1.3 trillion – so that every nation can begin reaching its full potential.
The current boom could go from 2 trillion to many multiples of that, and fast.
That’s a lot of investment in the agency of eight billion global citizens.
And not just on cutting fossil fuel pollution and shifting to renewables, which commands the lion’s share of current climate flows.
Imagine the transformative power of adaptation unleashed by – and upon – every country and every community.
I’m here to tell you: we don’t need to imagine, we are already headed in the right direction. We just have to implement, and implement more and implement faster.
National climate plans – Nationally Determined Contributions in our climate lingo – are crucial.
Already we’ve seen several major economies – including Brazil and the UK among others – send clear signals they are stepping up climate action by submitting bold new climate action plans, because it’s entirely in the interests of their economies and their citizens.
These plans are blueprints for stronger economies and societies – so they cover every sector of the economy and every greenhouse gas.
They must work for workers, give clear signals to markets, and ensure that money flows to build clean and resilient infrastructure.
Harnessing the power of cheaper, cleaner energy, they can ensure every citizen benefits materially.
In India alone, estimates suggest increasing clean energy investment by 2 percent of GDP every year for 20 years will generate an average net increase of about 13 million jobs per year.
Because these national plans are among the most important policy documents governments will produce this century, their quality should be the paramount consideration.
The vast majority of countries have indicated they will submit new plans this year.
From the conversations I’ve been having, countries are taking this extremely seriously, which isn’t surprising given these plans will be key to how much of the $2 trillion boom governments can secure for their citizens and their firms.
So taking a bit more time to ensure these plans are first-rate makes sense, properly outlining how they will contribute to this effort and therefore what rewards they will reap.
At the latest though, the Secretariat team needs to have them on their desks by September to include them in the NDC Synthesis Report, which will come out before the COP in Belem.
We’ll also get a better picture of countries’ progress in implementing their initial plans, as they continue to submit Biennial Transparency Reports throughout the course of this year.
And in Brazil later this year the world will decide on the specific targets we want to use, to measure how protected we are from spiraling climate impacts.
From water and health, to infrastructure and food. We are setting out how we judge our efforts to ensure all global citizens, and the building blocks of life we rely on, are kept out of harm’s way.
Every dollar invested in adaptation is worth six in loss and damage bills avoided.
Farmers know better than most what is happening on the ground, as crop yields dwindle or are wiped out completely.
Instead of just regulating agriculture, we need to invest in small and medium producers and learn from these experts.
It’s just one example of why National Adaptation Plans are so important.
To holistically lay out the measures needed to avoid large-scale loss of life, property, and massive chunks of GDP.
To harness the incredible power of nature to provide climate solutions, by protecting and restoring the ecosystems that all human life and the global economy depend on.
As Brazil prepares to host COP30, the Amazon rainforest and its Indigenous Peoples take center stage in global climate action.
They represent both the urgent need for protection and the powerful role of nature and collective stewardship in building a sustainable future.
We fully appreciate of course that many developing countries face capacity challenges in developing their climate plans, be they NDCs or NAPs.
So, the UN system is here to support, and I encourage every government that is yet to do so, that needs assistance to get in touch.
At the heart of all potential action, the question of whether you can finance it reigns supreme.
And let’s be clear, climate finance is not charity.
It is crucial to protecting global supply chains from spiraling climate disasters which are fueling inflationary pressures.
It’s one of the many ways in which climate action is increasingly a kitchen table issue. Just take rising food prices, which have the fingerprints of climate-driven droughts, floods, and wildfires all over them.
Most of all, climate finance saves lives, on a massive scale.
Clearly it is the vulnerable who are almost always hardest hit.
The IPCC tells us almost half of humanity live in climate impact hotspots – all in developing and vulnerable countries – where people are 15 times more likely to die of climate impacts.
What a desecration of human dignity, solidarity and justice this is. It cannot stand.
But make no mistake: no-one is safe, in any country or any part of the income spectrum.
Just ask the wealthy investor in Los Angeles who turned to social media, pleading for private fire fighters to save his property, offering to pay any amount of money.
His house burned down anyway.
And another example, just think of the firms that lost hundreds of billions of dollars in lost labor hours last year because of extreme heat.
Or the pollution of choking mega-cities.
The new global climate finance goal we agreed in Baku was an important step forward.
It will clearly not initially meet every need. But 300 billion dollars is a baseline not an endline.
It is essential that more finance flows to developing countries, as they struggle under colossal debt servicing costs and sky-high costs of capital.
Ten years ago in Paris, we agreed to move the money. We agreed that all finance flows should be consistent with our climate commitments.
Reorienting the international financial system is no easy feat. But this year we have set ourselves the goal to set out, step by step, how we unleash $1.3 trillion under the Roadmap.
I’m interested here, in practicalities – who needs to do what, when, and with which levers.
This year, let’s reaffirm our shared commitment to do this.
I’m delighted to be working with Brazil, who under President Lula, has made reforming the global financial system, and ensuring more people benefit, so central to their diplomacy and their G20 Presidency.
In every country, getting everyone on board – ensuring everyone has fair access to the massive benefits of climate action – is a prerequisite for success.
As are strong steps to ensure gender equality and climate action rise together to realise their full transformative force.
So in 2025 it’s time for the Just Transition to go from the margins to the mainstream.
Ten years ago, in Paris, all countries signed up to both implement and accelerate climate action, reaffirming that it was in their national interests to do so.
Over the next 10 years, our process will lean into that drive for agency and rising living standards, for the many, not just the few.
The negotiations have evolved, as time has passed.
Throughout my tenure, I’m interested in making it ever more efficient. Iterate and reform where necessary.
No single COP delivers everything every Party wants.
That is the nature of reaching agreements among nearly 200 countries with very different priorities, in a process that requires unanimous consent on every single word.
Ten years on from Paris, we won’t have delivered on all our commitments.
But that is exactly why we need to look at how we are engaging our highest-level participants.
How we make space for leaders to do concrete deals that deliver for their citizens and economies now.
With fewer high-level speeches repackaging old pledges already made but nowhere near fulfilled.
With less confection, and more conviction to do the hard work of getting real progress done – a Leaders’ caucus, if you will.
The next ten years are the crucial timeline in which coalitions will form to deliver, as countries keep striving to be among the front-runners, to reap the greatest rewards.
As I hear of coalitions of do-ers strategically mobilizing behind the scenes,
…be they from the rainforest or the trading floors,
…be they citizens demanding their fair share of the benefits, or leaders holding firm in their commitments and finding ways forward for their sectors …
I am buoyed that we are not only here to stay, but we’re here to benefit from this unstoppable transition.
Brazil’s deep experience and skill is cause for real confidence that this year will translate that into the right series of real-world deals across sectors that can take us forward.
Brazil has a track record of keeping kitchen-table issues front and center.
And a real commitment to embrace the powerful knowledge and perspectives of local and Indigenous Peoples, of civil society, and of young people.
So inspired by my surroundings, I’ll end by quoting a Brazilian proverb which says: “soft water on hard stone hits enough until it breaks through”.
We have broken through, so now let’s mobilise, and pick up the pace, so everyone is brought along with us.
Toxic watchdog BAN Toxics urges content creators and online sellers to remove social media content, advertisements, and listings promoting prohibited and banned skin-lightening beauty products containing hazardous mercury.
Mercury-added skin lightening products (SLPs)
The group said social media monitoring it conducted recently revealed that illegal skin-lightening products continue to be widely advertised and sold online through platforms like TikTok and Facebook Reels, as well as e-commerce sites such as Lazada and Shopee. Many of these products contain hazardous mercury, posing serious risks to consumer health, it added.
Last year, the group purchased 50 skin-whitening beauty products online and screened them using a Vanta C Series XRF Handheld Chemical Analyzer. Forty-four tested positive for mercury, with levels ranging from 7 parts per million (ppm) to an alarming 67,400 ppm – far exceeding the 1 ppm limit set by the ASEAN Cosmetics Directive. Thirty-three of these products have existing public health advisories issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from 2013 to 2024 due to their mercury content.
According to the World Health Organisation, mercury is among the top 10 chemicals of major public health concern. Even small amounts of exposure can cause serious health problems, posing risks to fetal development and early childhood. Mercury can also have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, as well as on the lungs, kidneys, skin, and eyes.
“We are dismayed that some content creators and online sellers continue to use social media platforms to advertise and sell prohibited beauty products despite existing chemical regulations in the country,” said Thony Dizon, Advocacy and Campaign Officer of BAN Toxics. “The sale and promotion of mercury-laden beauty products must stop.”
Following the House probe on the spread of fake news on social media, BAN Toxics is calling attention to the rampant misinformation surrounding these toxic products. Despite being illegal due to their mercury content, they continue to be marketed with misleading claims that put consumers at risk.
Meta’s decision to remove fact-checking labels from Facebook and Instagram has further worsened the problem, allowing misinformation to spread unchecked. Without stronger enforcement, deceptive marketing will persist at the cost of public health.
BAN Toxics urges social media platforms, online sellers, and content creators to stop spreading misinformation and take responsibility for consumer safety.
The group also calls on regulatory agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Trade and Industry to investigate and immediately take enforcement action against social media platforms and online shopping sites that violate existing health and safety regulations and e-commerce laws.
The Kano State Government has procured 10 new heavy-duty refuse evacuation trucks and three excavators to enhance waste management and environmental sanitation in the state.
Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State
This is contained in a statement issued by Sunusi Tofa, media aide to Gov. Abba Yusuf, in Kano on Friday, February 7, 2025.
Yusuf said that the new equipment aims to improve the efficiency of refuse collection and disposal across the state, addressing long-standing challenges in waste management.
He reiterated his administration’s dedication to sustainable environmental practices, urging residents to support government efforts through proper waste disposal culture.
“The new machines will be deployed immediately to key areas facing waste management challenges in the metropolitan local government areas,” he said.
Also, Dr. Dahir Hashim, the state Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring a cleaner and healthier environment.
Hashim noted that the new equipment would strengthen the state’s capacity to manage waste, reduce environmental pollution and mitigate the effects of climate change.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has said that the new 120KVA Mini-Grid at the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Idu Centre, will enhance the productivity of Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.
Ms. Elsie Attafuah, Resident Representative in Nigeria of the United Nations Development Programme
Ms. Elsie Attafuah, Resident Representative in Nigeria of the United Nations Development Programme, said this in an interview on Friday, February 7, 2025, in Abuja.
The UNDP in collaboration with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), recently installed a 120KVA solar-powered mini-grid and state-of-the-art makerspace to enhance energy access for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria.
Attafuah said that the mini-grid and the makerspace facility were initiatives aimed to provide uninterrupted, sustainable, and affordable power, addressing one of the most critical challenges faced by entrepreneurs and small businesses in the country.
“This cutting-edge facility will equip MSMEs particularly those in the fashion, leather, circular economy, and creative industries with modern digital tools, machinery, shared production spaces, and business support services.
“It would enable them to scale operations, improve quality, and compete in local and global markets.
“The twin initiatives – sustainable energy access and advanced skills development infrastructure – reflect UNDP’s commitment to fostering a thriving MSME ecosystem, promoting economic resilience, and driving inclusive industrialisation in Nigeria,” she said.
The UNDP representative said that facilities provided offered a new chapter for MSMEs especially those in Abuja to thrive in today’s competitive economy.
According to her, the initiative not only supports local innovation but also links Nigerian businesses to regional and continental trade opportunities.
She said that the refurbishment of the facility was part of UNDP’s broader commitment to strengthening the MSMEs ecosystem in the country and to drive trade within Nigeria and Africa at large.
Attafuah said that by supporting MSMEs and promoting sustainable practices, UNDP and SMEDAN were contributing to Nigeria’s economic growth and its integration into regional and global value chains.
She noted that the initiative aligned with UNDP’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and empowering communities.
“Recent interventions at SMEDAN, Idu centre, such as the solarisation of the garment-making section with a 120 KVA Hybrid Mini-grid inverter system with 240 KWH Lithium Battery have significantly improved energy reliability, enabling the fashion hub to thrive.
“Access to renewable energy will enhance productivity while reducing costs, making it easier for fashion entrepreneurs to meet the rising demand for Nigerian-made products, both locally and across African markets under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA),” Attafuah said.
In a separate interview, Mr Charles Odii, Director General of SMEDAN, commended the collaboration of the UNDP in provision of the mini-grid and the state of the art markerspace power supply facility.
He said that the facilities marked a critical milestone in SMEDAN’s vision to transform all its centres into one-stop shops for MSMEs in the country.
“These centers will provide entrepreneurs with seamless access to critical resources, including innovative facilities, regulatory support, and capacity-building opportunities.
“Our commitment remains unwavering in creating an enabling environment for MSMEs to thrive, and we will continue to pursue strategic partnerships, like this collaboration with UNDP, to ensure this vision becomes a reality,” he said.
Odii said that the facility had further proven the UNDP’s commitment to supporting innovative solutions and fostering sustainable development, collaborative workspaces equipped with advanced technology and facilities for the benefits of MSMES.
He urged MSMEs within and around Abuja to optimise the facilities provided and available at the SMEDAN Idu center to boost productivity and grow the nation’s economy.
According to him, “we expect MSMEs to fully utilise these facilities, it will help them in prototype design and manufacture products, thereby boosting their productivity and competitiveness”.
Odii added that the makerspace would serve as a hub where entrepreneurs could access support from SMEDAN and other regulatory agencies, providing a solid foundation for MSMEs to scale their businesses and increase their competitiveness.
The Bayelsa Electricity Company Ltd, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, commenced the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed 60-Megawatt (MW) power plant on Friday, February 7, 2025.
Bayelsa State Government and Federal Ministry of Environment officials during the site visit
The power plant project, led by the Bayelsa State Government, is located in Elebele, a suburb on the outskirts of the state capital.
Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa had announced plans to establish an independent power project to end the state’s reliance on the national grid and provide uninterrupted power supply across Bayelsa.
Steve Bubagha Jnr., Director of Operations at the Bayelsa Electricity Company Ltd., conducted the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, and his team around the project site.
Bubagha explained that the company planned to install a 60MW “plug and play” gas-fired turbine that would receive gas feed from the Oando gas manifold in Elebele.
He added that the total land area for the project is approximately 5.8 hectares, with 2.1 hectares currently being used.
“The Independent Power Plant is officially known as the ‘Yenagoa Power Project’.
“This is a ‘Plug and Play’ Gas Turbine.
“What we mean by ‘plug and play’ is that the turbine is already set to be installed upon arrival from the manufacturers.
“We are only working on other components, so the turbine should be running in less than two years, or at most, in two years’ time,” Bubagha explained.
Following the site visit, the Minister of Environment, represented by Mr Adimchinobi Okereke, emphasised that the purpose of the visit was to ensure the EIA process adhered to standard guidelines before granting final approval to the project.
He lauded the state government for initiating the project, noting that once completed, it would benefit Bayelsa and contribute to solving Nigeria’s power supply challenges.
Prof. Azibola Inegite, EIA Consultant for the project and Dean of the Faculty of Science at Niger Delta University, assured that international best practices would be followed in conducting the EIA.
He emphasised that the EIA was essential for the successful execution of impactful land and environment-related projects.
Wisdom Ikuli, Technical Adviser to the Governor on Print Media/Public Affairs, commended Diri for his vision in executing the project.
He highlighted that the 60MW power plant would help reduce the frequent power outages in the state and boost business growth, thereby accelerating industrialisation.
A key part of the Minister’s visit was the “Stakeholders Engagement Scoping Workshop for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Proposed Gas Powered Plant and Gas Delivery Pipeline in Bayelsa State.”
The workshop brought together stakeholders from Elebele, the host community, and Kpansia, an impacted community in Yenagoa Local Government Area, among others.
The Federal Government of Nigeria and key petroleum product marketers have proposed new measures to address the rising number of road accidents involving petrol tankers.
Petrol tanker accident
They shared their views during a webinar organised by the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) in Lagos on Thursday, February 6, 2025, with the theme “Improving Safe Transportation of Petroleum Products.”
The stakeholders expressed concern over the recent tanker accidents which had led to loss of lives and extensive property damage, and were at the centre of the discussion.
The webinar attracted government officials, regulators, and other industry stakeholders, all of whom shared valuable insights on improving safety in petroleum logistics.
In his address, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, expressed concern over the increasing number of casualties from tanker accidents in the country.
He emphasised the need for improved training of tanker drivers and the installation of leak detection systems, as well as other safety measures to support drivers.
Lokpobiri also urged petroleum marketers and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to enhance collaboration, particularly in the area of driver training.
Also, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpo Ekpo, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for the safe transportation of petroleum products.
Ekpo, represented by Mr Abel Nse, said that alternative, safer transportation methods such as through pipelines and railways should be considered.
He also supported initiatives for better driver training and stricter enforcement of safety regulations within the sector.
Earlier in the forum, MEMAN Chairman, Mr. Huub Stokman, revealed that the association had developed a comprehensive training manual for its members’ truck drivers.
Stokman stressed that continuous training and strict adherence to safety measures are essential to reducing tanker-related accidents.
Alhaji Yusuf Othman, National President of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), called for increased support for marketers and the association’s efforts to phase out aging, unsafe petrol tankers.
Othman identified old vehicles as a significant factor in accidents and highlighted the association’s involvement in the Federal Government’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, which offered a safer and more cost-effective alternative for transporting petroleum products.
Othman reiterated the importance of ongoing driver training and adherence to safety policies.
Mr. Femi Adewole, Executive Secretary of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketing Association of Nigeria (DAPPMA), emphasised that his association ensured high standards of truck maintenance and driver education.
However, Adewole pointed out that many smaller transporters, who operated with limited resources, struggled with truck maintenance and adequate driver training, which could increase safety risks.
He called on the government to provide financial assistance, such as loans, to help such transporters upgrade their fleets with modern and safe tankers.
He added that the collaborative efforts outlined by the government and industry stakeholders were designed to improve safety in petroleum products transportation and prevent further tragic incidents on the roads.
Three UN agencies say they have concluded plans to strengthen alliances and build movements to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The UN agencies say they are building movements to end female genital mutilation (FGM)
The UNFPA Executive Director, Dr Natalia Kanem; UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell; and WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, made this known on Thursday, February 6, 2025, in a statement.
According to the statement, FGM is a violation of human rights that inflicts deep and lifelong physical, emotional and psychological scars on girls and women.
It said that the harmful practice affected more than 230 million girls and women and an estimated 27 million more girls could endure the violation of their rights and dignity by 2030.
The UNFPA, UNICEF and WHO noted that Feb. 6 was the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation with the theme, “Stepping Up The Pace: Strengthening Alliances and Building Movements to End Female Genital Mutilation.”
“We reaffirm our commitment to work together with countries and communities to end this harmful practice once and for all.
“There is hope. Many countries have seen a decline in the prevalence of female genital mutilation.
“We are witnessing progress in countries like Kenya and Uganda, where collaborative action and community-led initiatives are proving that by strengthening alliances and building movements, we can accelerate change,” it said.
It added that since the launch of the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation in 2008, and in collaboration with the WHO, close to seven million girls and women had accessed prevention and protection services.
It said that, additionally, 48 million people had made public declarations to abandon the practice, and 220 million individuals had been reached by mass media messaging on the issue.
“In the last two years, close to 12,000 grassroots organisations and 112,000 community and frontline workers had been galvanised to effect change at this critical juncture.
“Yet the fragility of progress made has also become starkly evident.
“In the Gambia, for example, attempts to repeal the ban on FGM persists, even after an initial proposal to do so was rejected by its parliament last year,” it said
According to the statement, such efforts could gravely undermine the rights, health and dignity of future generations of girls and women, jeopardising the tireless work of decades to change attitudes and mobilise communities.
“Of the 31 countries in which data on prevalence are collected nationally, only seven countries are on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goal of ending FGM by or before 2030.
“The current rate of progress must accelerate urgently to meet this target.
“This requires strengthened alliances among leaders, grassroots organisations, and across sectors spanning health, education and social protection, sustained advocacy and expanded social movements with girls and survivors at the centre,” it said.
The UN agencies demanded greater accountability at all levels to ensure commitments to human rights are upheld, and policies and strategies are implemented to protect girls at risk and provide care, including justice, for survivors.
The report said it also required increased investment in scaling up proven interventions.
“We are indebted to generous donors and partners who are supporting this life-changing work and call on others to join them.
“We all have a role to play to ensure that every girl is protected and can live free from harm. Let’s step up the pace and act with urgency.
“The time to end female genital mutilation is now,” it said.
