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COP26: UK commits to supporting Lagos and other developing cities, regions transit to Net Zero by 2050

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COP26: UK commits to supporting Lagos and other developing cities, regions transit to Net Zero by 2050

COP26: UK commits to supporting Lagos and other developing cities, regions transit to Net Zero by 2050

By: Michael Mike, Abuja

The United Kingdom government has committed to support Lagos and other developing cities and regions most impacted by climate change to accelerate their transition to net zero

This commitment was made on Thursday at the Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day at the ongoing COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Urban Climate Action Programme will work with cities including: Africa: Addis Ababa, Accra, Nairobi, Lagos, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Dar es Salaam; Asia: Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Quezon City; and Latin America: Bogotá, Medellín, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Lima

The commitment was made at a new multi-million UK Urban Climate Action Programme launched on Thursday to help developing cities reduce their emissions and grow sustainably.

UK as COP26 Presidency calls on cities and regions across the world to commit to net zero emissions by 2050 and the decarbonizing of the world’s urban buildings, which are responsible for around 40% of global emissions, crucial in combating climate change

A statement issued by the UK High Commission in Nigeria on Thursday said the UK government has launched the new Urban Climate Action programme (UCAP) to support the cities and regions in developing countries most impacted by climate change to accelerate their transition to net zero.

The statement said backed with £27.5 million of new UK government funding as part of the UK’s International Climate Finance commitment, the programme will support cities across Africa, Asia and Latin America to take action to tackle climate change and create a sustainable future, by helping them to become carbon neutral by 2050 and prepare low-carbon infrastructure projects.

The statement said the programme will help cities like Lagos, Nairobi, Kuala Lumpar, and Bogotá develop low-emission public transport systems, renewable energy generation, sustainable waste management, new climate-smart buildings codes and climate risk planning.

The statement noted that to date over 1,000 cities and regions across the world-over a fifth of the global urban population – have committed to slashing their emissions to net zero by 2050 and Lagos is one of them.

It said with a growing population and as one of the most vulnerable coastal cities, Lagos will receive support to implement its low-carbon, inclusive and climate resilient urban development plans through UCAP.

The statement read: “Today, as part of the UN COP26 climate summit’s Cities, Regions and Built Environment Day in Glasgow, the UK has called on cities yet to make commitments to step up and set a net zero target that will help protect the places where people live and work, future proofing the world for future generations.

The UK Business and Energy Minister Lord Callanan, was quoted to have said: “From our homes and workplaces to our towns and cities, the buildings we live in are a fundamental part of our daily lives, but also a significant source of global emissions.

“That’s why at COP26 today we are calling on cities, regions, governments and businesses to seize the moment and set bold net-zero targets as we work together as a global community to end our contribution to climate change.” 

The statement recalled that the world’s urban buildings, including homes, workplaces, schools and hospitals, are responsible for around 40% of global carbon emissions, raising the alarm that by 2050, 1.6 billion people living in cities will be regularly exposed to extremely high temperatures and over 800 million people living in cities across the world will be vulnerable to sea level rises and coastal flooding, while emphasizing that accelerating the transition to net zero emissions for the world’s cities will therefore be vital to achieving the goal of keeping global warming to close to 1.5º.

The UK’s Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Ben Llewellyn-Jones on his part, said: “The population of Lagos is projected to double by 2050, and the speed and scale of urbanisation may lock in high-carbon infrastructure and inequality if we do not act now.

“Lagos has continued to drive action at scale to tackle climate change and protect people’s livelihoods. And, I am glad that the UK’s new programme will provide invaluable support to the state for sustainable growth, enhance resilience to climate risks, and secure a greener future for generations to come.”

The UCAP is expected to follow on from the flagship Climate Leadership in Cities programme, which was funded by the UK and has successfully supported megacities in Latin America and Asia to develop ambitious climate action plans consistent with the Paris Agreement – including developing pathways to net zero by 2050 and committing to ambitious interim targets by 2030 to keep 1.5 degrees within reach.

The statement added that as the first major economy to legislate to reach net zero emissions by 2050, the UK is already taking action to tackle emissions from the built environment sector, as heating for homes and workspaces makes up almost a third of all UK carbon emissions, reducing these emissions is key to achieving the goal of net zero by 2050. 

It noted that through the recent Heat and Buildings and Net Zero Strategies, the UK government has set out how the UK will deploy the low-carbon technology needed to decarbonise homes, workplaces and public spaces.

To address emissions from the wider built environment, the UK government is investing £3.9 billion through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, the Home Upgrade Grant scheme, Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Boiler Upgrade Scheme and Heat Network Transformation Programme.

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) Minister Eddie Hughes said: “Net zero provides a real opportunity as we level up across the UK – delivering new green jobs and skills and boosting local economic growth.

Also Read: POLICE TELLS IIP- SARS HOW OGAGA DIED IN DETENTION  

“Many local areas are already taking action and we continue to work very closely with them to meet our climate change commitments.

“We are also taking action to cut the CO2 emissions of all new build homes by at least 75% from 2025 under the Future Homes Standard, and by 31% through an improvement in building standards later this year.”

The transition to net zero will drive levelling up across the country while supporting communities towards a greener future – providing opportunities for economic growth and delivering new green jobs for local people. 

Recognising the urgency to tackle climate change by quickly reducing Carbon Dioxide emissions, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on behalf of Lagos State had signed up to the Zero Emission Vehicles Joint Statement.

He said: “Lagos State considers Net Zero an imperative and commits to converting public transport vehicles to electric as well as embracing solar and other clean energy sources. We must go faster.”

The UK Government, through its Financial Sector Deepening Africa development Programme and FMDQ, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lagos State Government in September, 2021, to mobilise green financing via the capital markets to support the State Government’s initiative to build a sustainable and resilient megacity. The UK is also currently working with the State Government to build a pipeline of green infrastructure projects through our portfolio of programmes.   The announcement complements existing technical assistance to promote safe, affordable and sustainable mass transport in Lagos, notably our Future Cities Nigeria programme.

COP26: UK commits to supporting Lagos and other developing cities, regions transit to Net Zero by 2050

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PRESIDENT TINUBU CHANGES SERVICE CHIEFS

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PRESIDENT TINUBU CHANGES SERVICE CHIEFS

By: Our Reporter

President Bola Tinubu has made changes in the hierarchy of the Service Chiefs in furtherance of the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria to strengthen the national security architecture.

The President appointed General Olufemi Oluyede to replace General Christopher Musa as the new Chief of Defence Staff. The new Chief of Army Staff is Major-General W. Shaibu. Air Vice Marshall S.K Aneke is Chief of Air Staff while Rear Admiral I. Abbas is the new Chief of Naval Staff.

Chief of Defence Intelligence Major-General E.A.P Undiendeye retains his position.

The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expresses most profound appreciation to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and the other Service Chiefs for their patriotic service, and dedicated leadership.

The President charges the newly appointed Service Chiefs to justify the confidence reposed in them to further enhance the professionalism, vigilance and comradeship that define the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

All appointments take immediate effect.

PRESIDENT TINUBU CHANGES SERVICE CHIEFS

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Nigeria-Germany Trade Volume Hits €3 billion – Envoy

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Nigeria-Germany Trade Volume Hits €3 billion – Envoy

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria-Germany trade volume has hit an all-time high of €3 billion, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Annett Gunther said on Thursday

The envoy who addressed a press conference in Abuja said the 30% increase could be attributed to Nigeria’s economic recovery.

Gunther who called the press conference ahead of the joint Nigerian-German binational commission scheduled for Berlin, in German, noted that Nigeria remains “Germany’s second biggest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa with a total trade volume of 3 billion Euros,” adding that: “Trade volumes have increased this year by 30% due to Nigeria’s economic recovery.”

The envoy equally revealed that more than 90 German companies are active in the country, “indirectly creating about 17.000 jobs in Nigeria.”

Gunther also told journalists that good times between both countries were not over, promising Nigerians that more investments are on the way, especially in the energy and the pharmaceutical sectors.

She revealed that in the energy sector, the Presidential Power initiative is now in the second phase.

She said: “This cooperation with the German energy giant Siemens will add about 7 Gigawatts to Nigeria’s Energy Grid. Secondly, the German –Nigerian cooperation in the Gas sector, eliminating gas flaring and improving Nigeria´s CO2 footprint.”

The envoy revealed that the relationship has also improved in the area of Visa and Migration as no fewer than 7,600 visas were issued to both students and short term stay, adding that plans were already in place to increase the number.

Gunther said: “All the common goals and projects would not work if they were not supported by travels on all levels between our two countries, plus legal migration. Last year alone, the German Embassy here in Abuja and the German Consulate General in Lagos granted around 1400 long-term visas for purposes such as study in Germany, family reunion and employment as well as around 6200 visas for short-term stays such as business and tourism.

She revealed that: “This year, we are well on track to raise those numbers,” stating that:
“The German missions remain committed to furthering the bilateral relations by granting visas to properly documented applications.”

She also assured that in the area of military cooperation, Germany will continue to stand by Nigeria.

She said: “This year marked a new chapter: the launch of our first Bilateral Annual Programme, bringing military experts from both countries together for in-depth exchanges and joint planning.

“Through the Bundeswehr Advisory Group, Germany has been a reliable partner — supporting Nigeria with field medical expertise and counter-IED operations, car mechanical training and other interventions.

“And we’re not stopping here. Germany will continue to stand with Nigeria in the fight against terrorism.

“Next month, we’ll take this cooperation to the next level: for the first time, high-level military staff talks will take place in Abuja, opening the door to even closer collaboration in the future.”

She also revealed other areas of cooperation which includes support for the Nigeria police force and the drug enforcement agency amongst others.

In the area of stabilization efforts at containing impacts of terrorism and climate change, the envoy said: “Germany is supporting the development of resilient state institutions and the strengthening of local communities.”

She said focus are on the North East (Borno, Adamawa, Yobe) and the North West (Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina), “where initiatives such as the reconstruction of schools, health centres, markets, housing, and police stations are improving both security and daily life for local people.”

Nigeria-Germany Trade Volume Hits €3 billion – Envoy

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NEC Endorses President Tinubu’s Proposal To Revamp Training Institutions For Security Agencies Nationwide

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NEC Endorses President Tinubu’s Proposal To Revamp Training Institutions For Security Agencies Nationwide

*Constitute committee to oversee overhaul of training facilities

*Okays anticipatory action framework to prevent riverine flooding across 36 states

*As VP Shettima urges states to align with President’s growth targets

By: Our Reporter

The National Economic Council (NEC) has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposal for the overhaul and revamp of training institutions for security agencies nationwide.
The President’s proposal followed a presentation made to Council by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, on the realisation of President Tinubu’s vision for a trillion-dollar economy, which also highlighted the necessity of investing more in security by the three tiers of government.

At its 152nd meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, NEC constituted a committee chaired by Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, to oversee the process of overhaul of training institutions for security agencies across the country.

The committee has a one month period to produce a blueprint for the renovation of training institutions for the Nigeria Police Force and sister agencies nationwide.
Addressing members of the Council, President Tinubu highlighted the need for government to fix training institutions and facilities for security agencies across the country, assuring that his administration would make concerted efforts to reverse the dilapidation in police training facilities nationwide.

“We have to make the conditions of the training facilities more conducive for both the trainers and trainees,” he said.
Other members of the NEC committee are Governors Uba Sani of Kaduna, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Kefas Agbu of Taraba, Umoh Eno of Akwa Ibom, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, with former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Baba Usman, as secretary.

Also, President Tinubu urged state governors to also pay attention to issues that affect the wellbeing of the people particularly from the grassroot.

Earlier, Chairman of NEC, Vice President Kashim called on state governments to translate the optimism of the streets into real prosperity in homes and communities.

In his opening address, the Vice President Shettima reminded state governors that the measure of governance lies in the tangible improvement of citizens’ lives rather than rhetoric.

“The measure of government is not in speeches delivered; it is in the lives improved,” the Vice President said.

Highlighting one of the day’s major presentations, including the Anticipatory Action Framework for Riverine Flooding by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), VP Shettima reiterated the administration’s shift from reactive crisis management to proactive planning.

“It is no longer in doubt that rivers that once sustained our farmlands and livelihoods have also been the source of recurring tragedy for many of our citizens.

“Entire communities have watched their dreams drown in waters that could have been tamed through foresight and planning. True leadership anticipates danger and builds systems to prevent loss before it happens,” he said.

He commended the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, for leading the charge toward disaster preparedness across the federation, noting that the framework will strengthen early warning systems, coordination mechanisms, and subnational response capacities.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu presented a NEC memorandum outlining Nigeria’s trajectory toward a $1 trillion economy by 2033, describing the target as a test of coordination and clarity.

According to the Vice President, “This ambition requires coordination across the federation. It is our duty as a Council to interrogate the pathways, to assign responsibilities, and to ensure that our targets are realistic, time-bound, and transparent to the citizens who expect results.”

He emphasised that the roadmap aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises macroeconomic stability, job creation, food security, and subnational competitiveness as anchors of national prosperity.

Senator Shettima also commended the Katsina Sustainable Platform for Agriculture (KASPA), a state-driven digital agriculture model designed to modernise service delivery and improve farmers’ access to data, markets, and climate information.

“Earlier this week, at the invitation of His Excellency, Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, I was in Katsina State. One of the progressive projects we launched is the Katsina Sustainable Platform for Agriculture, known as KASPA. It is a scalable framework for digital governance, farmer inclusion, and climate-smart productivity ready for sub-national adoption,” the Vice President said.

The platform, he noted, reflects the Council’s broader commitment to technology-enabled governance and inclusive agricultural growth that cuts across the thirty-six states and the FCT.

“The story of Nigeria’s recovery will not be written by chance but by choice—by the deliberate actions we take to protect our economy, safeguard our environment, and uphold the welfare of our citizens,” he said.

VP Shettima commended governors, ministers, and members of the Council for sustaining the NEC as a platform of trust, cooperation, and policy innovation.

Other highlights of the meeting are as follows:

NEC (6TH IN 2025) 153RD MEETING, THURSDAY, 23RD OCTOBER, 2025.

PRESS BRIEFING:

UPDATE ON ACCOUNT BALANCES AS AT OCTOBER, 2025

EXCESS CRUDE ACCOUNT – $535,823.39

STABILIZATION ACCOUNT – N87,665,172,169.67

NATURAL RESOURCES ACCOUNT – N141,585,815,908.16

UPDATE ON NEC AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON POLIO ERADICATION BY THE CHAIRMAN, ALH. MUHAMMAD INUWA YAHAYA, EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF GOMBE STATE

Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee briefed Council that since its inauguration, the Committee has convened four times (June–October 2025), strengthening political commitment and coordination.

That Epidemiological data show continued progress, with cVPV2 cases dropping by 44% from 109 in 2024 to 61 in 2025. Kano and Katsina achieved major reductions (89% and 88% respectively). However, Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi reported new cases (8, 4, and 2), highlighting the need for ongoing vigilance. Gombe remains free of new cases.

That recent In-Between Round Activities (IBRA) led to significant gains:
i. Settlements reached rose from 77% in August to 97% in September.

ii. Vaccine coverage in insecure areas reached 90% across key states.

iii. The first phase of the National Integrated Campaign (launched by the First Lady on 6 Oct 2025) was conducted in five high-burden states, reaching 60% of settlements and vaccinating 73% (Polio) and 57% (Measles-Rubella) of targeted children as of 12 October 2025.

iv. The second phase began on 18 Oct 2025 in Gombe, continuing integrated vaccination efforts.

Current activities and next steps

  1. The nationwide Integrated Campaign commenced on 6th October 2025 is ongoing across five states — Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
  2. The Integrated Campaign delivers a comprehensive health package, including Measles-Rubella and Polio vaccines, Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC), and Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) interventions.

Council Resolution:
i. Council urged state governments to ensure release of funds to their structures to improve statewide immunization exercise.

ii. The NEC urged sustenance of momentum to reduce polio infection and spread thereby safeguarding every Nigerian child.

PRESENTATION ON KATSINA SUSTAINABLE PLATFORM FOR AGRICULTURE (KASPA) BY SSAP INNOVATION NASIR YAMMAMA

The National Economic Council received a presentation on the Sustainable Platform for Agriculture by the SSA to the President on Innovation, Nasir Yammama. The presentation was on the Katsina Sustainable Platform for Agriculture (KASPA) as a model for adoption by sub-nationals and part of solutions to challenges militating against improved agricultural productivity and sustainability in Nigeria.

The SSAP said the model which focuses on empowering smallholder farmers and developing the agribusiness value chain leverages technology to provide farmers with integrated agriculture assistance, including extension services and market linkages.

Council Resolution:

Council commended the innovation to deploy technology in addressing challenges faced by farmers across Nigeria and urged state governments to replicate the model in the bid to unlock the full potential of agricultural production regions across the country.

Council also directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to capture in its 2026 budget, the establish of the agriculture data and control centre in the 6 geopolitical zones of the country.

UPDATE ON THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON CRUDE OIL THEFT PREVENTION AND CONTROL PRESENTED BY THE CHAIRMAN, SEN. HOPE ODIDIKA UZODINMA, GOVERNOR OF IMO STATE.

The Committee updated Council that it has met several times and Members have formed a common front to fight Oil Theft in Nigeria. Some Critical Stakeholders in the Industry were invited for discussions to extract very important information that will further the assignment of the Committee. The Committee also met with the Regulator NNPC, and some operators in the industry. Our determination to raise oil production is informed by the Nation’s quest for a One Trillion US Dollar Economy by the year 2030.

NEXT STEPS
Below are the next steps the Committee intends to undertake:

A. Obtain and analyze some important information/data from critical stakeholders to further assist its assignment.

B. Resolved to provide logistics support to outstanding States, Security Agencies and relevant Agencies in securing National Oil and Gas Assets.

C. Embark on physical visits by the Committee to all the Crude Oil Export Terminals

D. Carry out further Forensic Investigation

E. Periodically monitor the implementation of activities outlined in the workplan

Council Resolution:

Council commended the committee for a job well done and urged concerted efforts to improve crude production beyond the 1.72 million barrel per day and directed the committee to expand the scope of its work to cover illegal mining activities and theft of mineral resources across the country.

Council also noted that Nigeria is on course to hit 2.5 million barrels day by end of 2025.
End

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