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ECOWAS Countries Need to Rally Together on Biodiversity, Climate Change to Ward Off Environmental Disaster, Insists Nigeria

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ECOWAS Countries Need to Rally Together on Biodiversity, Climate Change to Ward Off Environmental Disaster, Insists Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria has called all other members of Economic Community Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to rally behind her to find solution to biodiversity and climate change to ward off environmental disaster that is not only threatening the region but the entire planet.

The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salami made the call on Monday while giving his opening remarks at the coordination meeting held in Abuja of ECOWAS Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ).

He said: “Our oceans require strong protection that can only be achieved through a new treaty for the conservation and management of marine life in the high seas. This treaty must ensure that human activities are managed to prevent significant adverse impacts, with vigorous oversight mechanisms and provisions to establish fully and highly protected MPAs in the high seas.”

He admitted that: “With the adoption of the high-seas treaty last June, we are one step closer to achieving our goals. In September this year, at the High Ambition for the High Seas event on the sideline of UNGA, Nigeria joined other 22 countries to symbolically sign a commitment to ratify the BBNJ treaty. We must now rally to ratify the new high-seas treaty promptly so it can come into force.”

Salako added that: “We are proud that through Nigeria’s rallying efforts, the 55 member States of the African Union have reached a consensus to support ratifying at the earliest feasible date, the new high-seas treaty, as enshrined in Addis Ababa Declaration adopted at the 19th ordinary session of Africa Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN). Three months since the 19th AMCEN, we should move from saying earliest feasible date to a more specific period for Africa to ratify the BBNJ treaty. ECOWAS can lead the way in this direction.”

He said: “I’m honored to welcome you all to Nigeria as we once again gather to find solutions to the biodiversity and climate crisis that is gripping our planet, our subregion not exempted.

“They are part of the same crisis, and we cannot solve one without solving the other.”

The status of the world’s oceans today is a clear indication of this dire interaction, he stressed, noting that: “Our oceans are under threat today more than ever before with sea level rise, temperature increases, acidification, pollution, biodiversity loss, unsustainable exploitation of marine resources, depletion of fish stocks, the near disappearance of coral reefs, and the destruction of fragile ecosystems.

“The urgent need to address this threat has led Nigeria and its sister ECOWAS member nations to unite and call on the international community to be more ambitious in its response.

“Our appeal for an ambitious global response to the biodiversity crisis is urgent and focused.

“Through the urgent appeal, we had identified several measures as essential, including the global designation of 30% of land and oceans areas as protected by 2030, the conclusion of a robust new high-seas treaty, the establishment of highly and fully protected areas covering 30% of the global ocean which prohibit environmentally damaging activities, and a global commitment towards immediately halting human-induced extinction of wild species, among others.”

The Minister acknowledged that today, only 7% of the world’s oceans are protected, adding that there are no comprehensive legal mechanisms in place to protect the high seas and the deep seabed areas, the shared international areas of oceans that lie beyond national jurisdictions and that include almost 70% of the global ocean.

Salako said: “The meeting you are attending today provides a pathway to support ECOWAS countries in reaching this important goal. Prompt ratification of the high-seas treaty and effective engagement in its implementation is an urgent priority for the preservation of our oceans.

“We have a shared responsibility to act and protect the oceans because we all share in the benefits provided by our oceans and because we all share in the harm that comes when degraded coastal and marine ecosystems threaten the physical, economic, food security of local communities, and multinational businesses. Failing to protect our oceans would be catastrophic.”

Salako, reiterated that if the challenge is not addressed, the impacts for people will be profound, while expressing optimism, he said: “It is my sincere hope that you can work together in the next few days to make swift, real progress towards setting a path for prompt ratification of the high-seas treaty in our region and on our continent.

“We must act to protect our oceans now, and we must be bold if we have any hope of preserving our planet for our people and our future generation.”

The Minister advocated that member states should lead the way together for nature, adding that government through the Ministry is committed to ratifying BBNJ treaty in line with the focus of President Bola Tinubu to pursue development by unlocking the energy and natural resources of the nation in a sustainable manner.

Earlier, Director, Environment Department, ECOWAS, Moussa Leko, noted that the meeting is a natural follow-up to other coordination meetings organized by ECOWAS to support its members states in their joint efforts promoting ambition for the world’s response to the biodiversity crisis at CITES and at CBD.

He said: “Having carefully reviewed the outcomes of both the CBD CoP15 meeting, and the CITES CoP19 meeting, I can directly see that West Africa is a leading voice for biodiversity protection globally. Not only that, but our region is demonstrating collaboration, expertise, and strength in its advocacy for our natural heritage.”

He noted that: “The ambition of ECOWAS countries has been instrumental in securing positive outcomes from the CITES and CBD meetings and we see our positions clearly reflected in the decisions adopted by the global community. For this, the ECOWAS Commission owes you a sincere debt of gratitude. You are worthy biodiversity ambassadors for our wonderful West African region.”

He however added that: “The task upon us today is to ensure that the vital ECOWAS Appeal to the Global community, calling for an Ambitious Global Response to the Biodiversity Crisis continues to be heard loud and clear. This appeal represents a fundamental truth, which is that we must take robust action now, to protect our planet.

“We must urgently protect biodiversity in order to preserve ecosystem services vital to human well-being, and the livelihood of our local communities. Losing these services or standing idle while our communities go impoverished and hungry would result in an unimaginable future. It cannot be considered an option.
I encourage you to continue expanding your coordination to ensure our region is provided all the tools it needs to implement an ambitious Global Biodiversity Framework and an ambitious CITES agenda.

“We are ready to strengthen and expand our protected areas, we are ready to protect and recover our wild species. We are ready to act to protect our biodiversity, our ecosystem services, our magical and unique environments.”

ECOWAS Countries Need to Rally Together on Biodiversity, Climate Change to Ward Off Environmental Disaster, Insists Nigeria

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Nigeria Unveils National Waste Marketplace Programme to Drive Circular Economy and Green Innovation

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Nigeria Unveils National Waste Marketplace Programme to Drive Circular Economy and Green Innovation

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has officially launched the National Waste Marketplace Programme (NWMP), a groundbreaking digital platform designed to revolutionise waste management, promote recycling, and stimulate green enterprise across the country.

The unveiling ceremony, which was held in Abuja on Thursday, brought together representatives from government, the private sector, academia, civil society organisations, and international development partners, including the European Union (EU), German Development Cooperation (GIZ), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The event was marked by addresses from key figures in Nigeria’s environmental sector, including Prof. Innocent Barikor, representative of the Legal Business School Sustainability Centre, and the Honourable Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, who served as the guest of honour.

Barikor described the National Waste Marketplace Programme as an innovative step by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to bridge environmental sustainability with economic opportunity through digital technology.

He said: “The National Waste Marketplace Programme represents our national resolve to harness innovation and partnership for sustainable waste management and a thriving circular economy.

“It embodies the idea that waste, when properly managed, can drive growth, enterprise, and inclusion across society.”

The programme, he explained, aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which emphasises economic diversification, innovation, and effective governance. By connecting waste generators, recyclers, aggregators, and end-users in a transparent, traceable system, the initiative aims to transform waste from an environmental burden into an economic asset.

Delivering the keynote address, Balarabe Lawal hailed the initiative as a “landmark innovation” that formalises Nigeria’s waste value chain.

“The National Waste Marketplace is an opportunity to close the gap in our waste management system by modernising operations and advancing the principles of the circular economy,” the Minister stated.

He highlighted that millions of tonnes of recyclable materials are lost annually due to poor disposal practices a challenge that the NWMP seeks to address by creating economic linkages across the recycling ecosystem.

The Minister noted that the initiative aligns with several national and international frameworks, including the National Policy on Solid Waste Management, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programme, National Circular Economy Roadmap, and global agreements such as the Basel Convention and the Paris Agreement.

“This programme will not only promote responsible production and consumption but also contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — particularly Goals 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, and 15,” he said.

The Minister also acknowledged the Recycle Start Nigeria Limited, NESREA’s technology partner, for its role in developing the digital infrastructure behind the platform.

“The success of this programme demonstrates how regulatory reform, private sector participation, and technological innovation can converge to deliver environmental and economic benefits,” Lawal said.

He urged all stakeholders government agencies, private sector players, recyclers, investors, and civil society to take ownership of the National Waste Marketplace Programme.

He said: “By working together, we can build a more organised waste management system that promotes accountability, creates jobs, and safeguards our environment.”

Through the NWMP, waste will no longer be seen as refuse but as a resource for value creation. The platform enables efficient trading of recyclable materials while ensuring traceability and accountability across the waste management chain.

Barikor emphasised that the system will empower youth and small businesses, stimulate investment, and expand livelihood opportunities in local communities.

“This initiative gives practical expression to our collective aspiration for a cleaner, more prosperous Nigeria where waste management becomes a driver of innovation and employment,” he said.

Both speakers expressed gratitude to Nigeria’s development partners including GIZ, UNDP, UNIDO, and the European Union for their continued collaboration and technical support in promoting circular economy initiatives.

The launch of the National Waste Marketplace Programme marks a defining step in Nigeria’s transition toward a circular economy, one that prioritises innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth turning the nation’s waste challenge into a powerful engine for green development.

Nigeria Unveils National Waste Marketplace Programme to Drive Circular Economy and Green Innovation

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VP SHETTIMA TO ACF: Stand In Solidarity With President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda

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VP SHETTIMA TO ACF: Stand In Solidarity With President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda

*Says all groups, communities, faiths, have a say in national conversation under Tinubu’s watch

*Urges resistance against mischief makers to divide Nigeria

By: Our Reporter

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has charged the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to stand in solidarity with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to him, “there is no better time than now for the leaders of the North to stand together as one” in support of efforts by the Tinubu administration to wriggle the nation out of the economic and social morass it was hitherto enmeshed in.

The Vice President made the call on Wednesday during an audience with a delegation from the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) led by its Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Senator Shettima told members of the region’s apex socio-cultural organisation to resist the antics of a few mischief makers to fragment the unity of Nigeria.

He drew the distinction between greed and grievance as propounded by those he described as “architects of modern conflict,” observing that, “while some agitations arise from genuine grievances seeking justice and fairness, others are fuelled by greed—by the quest to exploit disorder for selfish gain.”

He said the task before the Tinubu administration is to spot the difference between genuine grievance and greed, with a view to embracing “legitimate calls for equity and inclusion, and to isolate the forces that seek to profit from chaos.”

“We have proven, time and again, that our diversity is our strength, that our differences in tribe, faith, and geography are the very bricks that make this house of destiny we live in. This is why we must continue to resist all attempts to divide us or stir mischief among us. Our future depends on unity, and unity must remain our creed,” he stated.

Dispelling claims of ethnic and religious slant by peddlers of marginalisation, VP Shettima stated categorically that every group, faith, and tribe has a voice in national issues under the Tinubu administration, and that no group will marginalized.

His words: “What we do as a government is to ensure that every group, every community, every faith, and every voice finds its place in the national conversation. We will never accommodate the marginalisation of any group. Our policies are designed to create opportunities for all—to lift every community through inclusion, education, and enterprise.”

The Vice President assured the northern leaders that they are an integral part of the Tinubu-led federal government, and that the administration is ready to partner with the ACF in advancing the cause of the region and the nation as a whole.

He said, “The trajectory of the North, however, has been a sobering one. We began as a region defined by stability, vision, and a deep commitment to building bridges across ethnic, religious, and geographic divides. But what we have inherited today is a geography scarred by insecurity, mistrust, and economic decline.

“We cannot afford to allow this chaos to fester. We owe our people not only the burden of ending the cycle of killings and destruction that have crippled our communities, but also the duty of ensuring justice for victims of violence and deprivation.

“This government is yours. Your interests shall always find representation here, for I am one of you. And where there is a shortcoming, I assure you that you have direct access to me. We exist to serve you, to represent you, and to uphold the values that make the North an equal stakeholder in Nigeria’s identity.”

Senator Shettima outlined what he described as deliberate steps being taken by the administration to reposition the fortunes of the North, saying the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu “prioritises education, agriculture, industrialisation, and security as the pillars of northern revival.”

He continued: “We are strengthening the foundations of education through reforms that empower local governments and promote fiscal autonomy at the grassroots. Through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), millions of northern students now have access to tertiary education without the financial barriers that once held them back.

“We are expanding vocational and technical training centres to prepare our youth for roles in agriculture, manufacturing, and technology.”

The VP explained that under the current administration, Nigeria has moved beyond subsistence farming to large-scale commercial ventures that is transforming the vast arable land in the North into the nation’s food and industrial backbone.

“We are building agro-processing industries to create jobs and value chains, investing in microfinance systems to support smallholder farmers and MSMEs, and establishing industrial zones in key states such as Kano, Kaduna, and Sokoto to attract textile, leather, and food-processing industries,” he added.

On security, VP Shettima said national security remains the administration’s topmost priority. “Through coordinated security operations, we have neutralised notorious bandit leaders and restored relative stability to once-besieged communities. This is the foundation upon which we intend to rebuild the North—through peace, through justice, and through economic empowerment,” he noted.

Earlier, Chairman of the BoT of ACF, Alhaji Dalhatu, commended the Tinubu administration for its bold reforms, applauding the commitment and support of the Vice President for the achievements recorded so far.

The BoT Chair said, “We are proud of what you are doing as Vice President as well as the work and achievements of this administration. You are doing a good job of assisting the President in running the affairs of the country in difficult times. We are always happy to identify with you”.

He explained that the group was at the Presidential Villa to express solidarity with the government, and formally invite the Vice President to the forthcoming 25th anniversary celebration of the ACF as well as deliberations on the development of the region.

Alhaji Dalhatu said among other things, the ACF intends to launch an endowment fund to drive the socio-economic development of the northern region, especially in building models across different sectors that would be emulated by state governments in the region.

He added that the 25th anniversary celebration would also provide a platform for ACF to interact with other socio-cultural organisations across the country for the future and development of Nigeria.

For his part, Chairman of the National Executive Committee of ACF, Mamman Mike Osuman, said the socio-cultural organisation will use the 25th anniversary to showcase the potentials of the northern region and make a bold statement about its commitment to a one, prosperous, united country.

He pledged the ACF’s support for the actualization of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the realisation of targets of the Tinubu administration.

Also present at the meeting were the ACF Vice Chairman, Sen Ibrahim Ida; Secretary General, Murtala Aliyu, and BoT Vice Chairman, Amb Ibrahim Mai-Sule.

Others include, Alh Nasiru Danu; Ibrahim Sidi Bamalli; former IGP, M.D. Abubakar (rtd); Amb. Baba Ahmed Jidda; Mahmud Yayale Ahmed; Lt. Gen. Abdurahman Bello Danbazau (rtd); Nasiru Sani Isa (Wamban Kebbi); Hon. Beni Lar; Maimuna Yaya Abubakar; Aishatu M.S. Ismail; H.E. Muktar Lamara Yero; DIG Habila Joshak (rtd), and Mrs Christine Gadzama.

VP SHETTIMA TO ACF: Stand In Solidarity With President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda

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IJAP Affirms INEC Chairman’s Call for End to Courtroom Elections, Reiterates Urgent Reform Agenda

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IJAP Affirms INEC Chairman’s Call for End to Courtroom Elections, Reiterates Urgent Reform Agenda

By: Michael Mike

The Independent Judicial Accountability Panel (IJAP), led by Hon. Justice Adekunle Owoade (Rtd) has commendsed the recent proactive statements made by the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, regarding the need to end the era of endless court battles over election results.

IJAP noted that Professor Amupitan’s emphasis on the necessity for robust legal frameworks, genuine internal democracy within political parties, and his challenge that “Elections must be won at the polling units, not in the courtroom,” is a welcome and highly encouraging statement, stressing that this commitment perfectly aligns with the extensive recommendations developed through its rigorous analysis of post-election justice delivery in Nigeria.

A statement on Wednesday said IJAP’s position, articulated during its 3rd session (September 30 – October 3, 2025), is clear: the current fragility of our electoral process is deeply rooted in the lack of consistency with legal principles of fairness, equity, and compliance with the electoral legal framework.

“We strongly urge the new INEC leadership to immediately prioritise the following critical recommendations made by the Technical Working Group of the Citizens’ Led Engagement on Judicial Accountability in Post-Election Justice Delivery in Nigeria (CLEAP – Justice):

“Pre-election matters should be determined before the election to ensure fairness, prevent multiplicity of actions and enhance election administration.

“The levels of redress for pre-election matters should be reviewed as follows: House of Representatives, Senate, and Governorship elections should have two steps/levels ending at the Court of Appeal, while Presidential pre-election matters should start from Court of Appeal and end at the Supreme Court.

“Primaries not conducted in adherence to INEC regulations & guidelines should be invalidated. Stringent rules and sanctions should determine elevated electoral crimes, and parties should be prohibited from holding public office for five years in case of disqualification.

“INEC Regulations should be separated from the guidelines and gazetted.

“The punishment for electoral offences in the Electoral Act, 2022 (Electoral Act) should be revised to elevate serious offences to a level that disqualifies the political parties and/or candidates from elections.”

IJAP also acknowledged that several bills currently before the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review align with the panel’s reform objectives, demonstrating legislative interest in addressing electoral flaws.

It added that notably, while some progress is reflected in the proposed Electoral Bill 2025, specifically the increase in fines for certain electoral offences, IJAP maintained that this measure is insufficient. The panel strongly reiterated its demand that any revised laws must include the automatic disqualification of candidates and political parties found guilty of serious electoral offences. IJAP emphasized that mere fines are inadequate as a deterrent, especially against deep-pocketed political actors, and that only the threat of direct exclusion can restore integrity to the electoral process.”

IJAP, also in the statement signed by Hon. Justice Adekunle Owoade (rtd), said: “Our independent assessment shows that one key to ending courtroom elections is that INEC should not be a statutory party in election petitions. Professor Amupitan has the unique opportunity to leverage the judiciary’s expertise, as envisioned by IJAP, to institutionalize these reforms. This is the moment for INEC to act decisively and cement its position as a truly independent umpire, safeguarding the will of the people expressed at the polling unit, not the whims of lawyers in the courtroom.”

IJAP Affirms INEC Chairman’s Call for End to Courtroom Elections, Reiterates Urgent Reform Agenda

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