Climate Beyond Borders Caravan Begins in Abuja, Targets Youth-Led Climate Action Across Africa

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has thrown its weight behind the Climate Beyond Borders Caravan, a continental climate advocacy initiative aimed at mobilising young Africans to champion grassroots climate solutions and sustainable development across 17 African countries.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the caravan in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, represented through a goodwill message, described Nigerian youths as “resourceful but underutilised,” stressing that they possess the creativity, resilience and innovative capacity required to tackle the growing climate crisis.

The initiative, organised by the People, Planet and Peace Foundation, is themed: “From Awareness to Action: Mobilizing Resourceful Nigerian Youth for Grassroots Climate Solutions.”

According to the minister, the Climate Beyond Borders Caravan will traverse 17 countries across West, East, Central and Southern Africa to promote climate advocacy, eco-tourism and community-driven environmental action.

He commended the organisers for choosing Nigeria as the starting point of the campaign, noting that climate change has evolved from being a distant environmental issue into a daily reality affecting millions of Nigerians.

“The North is experiencing desertification and drought, while the South is grappling with flooding and coastal erosion. Food prices continue to rise as changing weather patterns disrupt agriculture. The effects of climate change are now present in our homes, markets and communities,” the minister stated.

He, however, maintained that climate change also presents economic opportunities, particularly for young people, through green entrepreneurship, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, waste management and climate-smart innovation.

The minister highlighted ongoing government interventions under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including the establishment of the Youth Migration and Climate Action Resilience Department within the ministry.

He also referenced the ministry’s Circular Economy Youth Empowerment Initiative, popularly known as Waste to Wealth, which aims to create employment opportunities for 37,000 youths by converting waste into eco-friendly products and valuable resources.

Emphasising the importance of collective responsibility, the minister said practical actions such as planting trees, clearing drainage systems, recycling plastic waste and community participation remain critical in mitigating climate change.

He expressed optimism that the caravan’s activities, including the Abuja capacity-building programme, engagements in Ogun State and a climate walk in Lagos themed “Keep It Clean, Keep It Green: Our Environment, Our Responsibility,” would inspire grassroots mobilisation and long-term environmental consciousness.

“As this caravan journeys across Africa, it sends a powerful message that young Africans are not waiting for others to solve our problems. We are taking ownership of our future,” the minister added.

Also speaking at the event, Dr. Joseph Omoniyi of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology described the caravan as a strategic continental tour designed to identify local technologies capable of addressing climate-related challenges in different African countries.

According to him, the initiative seeks to build a database of indigenous technologies and lifestyle innovations that can be adapted by youths across participating countries to address environmental problems and support national climate commitments.

“The attempt is to find technologies that are peculiar to those countries and create a library of local solutions that can be harnessed by the youth,” he said.

Dr. Omoniyi further expressed hope that the exercise would culminate in a broader African climate summit where findings from the caravan would be harmonised to strengthen Africa’s contribution at global climate negotiations, particularly the United Nations climate conferences.

A Kenyan climate advocate and founder of Roots of Hope, Mariam Abdreshi, said the caravan was necessary because climate change continues to affect communities across Africa, especially women.

She noted that women remain central to community development and are often disproportionately impacted by environmental crises.

“As youth, we know we are responsible for building a better generation, but elders also have knowledge to guide us. This caravan is important because it connects communities and helps us grow a greener Africa,” she said.

The co-organiser and caravan leader, Olatunji Olayiton-Francisco, said the capacity-building sessions were specifically designed to equip young people with practical knowledge and advocacy skills needed to confront climate-related challenges in their local environments.

He explained that after Nigeria, the team would continue to countries including Benin Republic and Togo, alongside other selected African nations where climate champions have already been mobilised.

“Our expectation is that after empowering the youth, they will return to their communities and champion climate advocacy and environmental responsibility wherever they are,” he said.

Private sector stakeholders also pledged stronger support for climate action during the event.

Founder of Artuno and CarbonScope360, Ayo Ogunlowo, stressed the need for sustained advocacy, incentives and government-backed policies to drive youth participation in climate action.

He argued that climate interventions must go beyond awareness campaigns and produce tangible economic and social benefits for communities.

“We need advocacy, commercialization and governance working together. Climate action should not just be about ticking boxes; people must benefit from it,” Ogunlowo said.

He further advocated for locally developed innovations tailored to African realities instead of overdependence on imported solutions.

Ogunlowo revealed that Artuno recently launched a N100 million climate innovation fund to support environmentally sustainable businesses.

According to him, the first phase of the intervention had already supported three businesses involved in reusable sanitary pads production, alternative energy solutions and paper recycling initiatives aimed at reducing open burning.

He added that his organisation is also sponsoring more than 200 schoolchildren while supporting women-focused environmental empowerment programmes across communities.

Climate Beyond Borders Caravan Begins in Abuja, Targets Youth-Led Climate Action Across Africa

Fresh Crisis Rocks Osun APC as Aspirants Reject Ife Primary, Allege Imposition, Delegate Exclusion

By: Michael Mike

A fresh political crisis has erupted within the All Progressives Congress in Osun State following allegations of widespread manipulation, delegate exclusion, intimidation, and candidate imposition during the party’s House of Representatives primary election in Ife Federal Constituency.

The disputed primary, held on Saturday, May 16, has triggered outrage among aspirants and party stakeholders, who accused influential figures within the party hierarchy of hijacking the exercise and undermining internal democracy.

The aggrieved aspirants alleged that the credibility of the primary process was compromised by desperate political interests allegedly operating under the influence of Osun APC Chairman, Tajudeen Lawal, popularly known as “Sooko.”

According to multiple accounts from wards and local government areas across the constituency, many recognised party members and delegates were allegedly prevented from participating in the exercise despite expectations that the primary would be transparent, inclusive, and democratic.

The dissatisfied aspirants described the process as a “scam,” alleging that figures and results were arbitrarily allocated to favoured candidates even before voting was concluded in some areas.

They further claimed that the exercise was characterised by intimidation, violence, and acts of thuggery, developments they said have deepened divisions within the party and raised serious concerns over the future of internal democracy in the Osun APC.

“The entire process was manipulated from the beginning. Genuine delegates were sidelined while party leaders imposed their preferred outcome,” one of the aggrieved stakeholders alleged.

The controversy is the latest sign of intensifying internal tensions within the Osun APC ahead of future electoral contests, as rival blocs continue to battle for control of the party structure in the state.

Political observers say the latest crisis could further weaken the opposition party in Osun, where it has struggled to regain political stability following its defeat in the 2022 governorship election.

The allegations have also revived memories of the controversial APC primary election conducted in the constituency on May 27, 2022, which similarly generated accusations of irregularities, manipulation, and exclusion among party members.

Several stakeholders claimed that the same pattern of political interference and delegate suppression witnessed during the 2022 exercise resurfaced during Saturday’s primary.

The aggrieved aspirants insisted that the disputed outcome has not yet received official recognition from the national leadership of the APC, noting that petitions and formal complaints have already been submitted to the party’s national secretariat.

They also argued that the legitimacy of the process remains uncertain because the Independent National Electoral Commission has yet to validate the conduct of the primary.

The development has heightened anxiety among party loyalists in the constituency, with fears that unresolved grievances could trigger defections, parallel structures, or prolonged legal battles capable of weakening the party ahead of future elections.

Analysts say the growing disputes within the Osun APC reflect wider internal struggles currently confronting major political parties across Nigeria, where accusations of imposition, delegate manipulation, and lack of transparency have continued to threaten party cohesion and democratic processes.

In recent years, party primaries across the country have increasingly become flashpoints for litigation and internal rebellion, with dissatisfied aspirants often challenging outcomes in court or defecting to rival platforms.

For many observers, the unfolding crisis in Ife Federal Constituency is another test of the APC leadership’s ability to manage internal disputes and restore confidence among party members in Osun State.

As of the time of filing this report, the Osun APC leadership had yet to officially respond to the allegations surrounding the conduct of the primary election.

Fresh Crisis Rocks Osun APC as Aspirants Reject Ife Primary, Allege Imposition, Delegate Exclusion

NHRC Raises Alarm Over Rising Rights Violations, Records 266,787 Complaints in One Month

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised fresh concerns over worsening human rights conditions in Nigeria, revealing that it received a staggering 266,787 complaints nationwide in April 2026 amid rising insecurity, extra-judicial killings, economic hardship, communal violence, and growing threats to civic freedoms.

The alarming figures were disclosed on Monday in Abuja by the Executive Secretary of the commission, Tony Ojukwu, during the presentation of the April 2026 Human Rights Situation Dashboard and the signing of an Advisory on Protecting Civic Space and Human Rights.

The development comes as Nigeria continues to grapple with escalating security challenges, increasing reports of civilian casualties during military operations, kidnappings, mob violence, gender-based abuse, and persistent allegations of misconduct by law enforcement agencies.

Addressing diplomats, civil society groups, government representatives, development partners, and media stakeholders at the event, Ojukwu said the scale of complaints received by the commission reflects the harsh realities confronting millions of Nigerians daily.

According to him, the complaints cut across issues of discrimination, abuse of authority, insecurity, economic deprivation, and lack of access to justice.

“These complaints reflect the everyday realities faced by Nigerians and underscore the persistence of challenges relating to discrimination, insecurity, abuse of authority, economic hardship, and access to justice,” he said.

Beyond formal complaints lodged at NHRC offices nationwide, Ojukwu noted that the commission’s Human Rights Observatory also tracked broader patterns of abuse and rights violations during the period under review.

He said April 2026 witnessed continued incidents of violent attacks, kidnappings, communal clashes, displacement, gender-based violence, mob actions, and alleged human rights violations linked to security operations.

Of particular concern, according to the NHRC boss, was the recent military airstrike incident in Borno State which reportedly resulted in civilian casualties.

Although he did not specify the exact location of the incident, Ojukwu said the commission had already called for a “thorough, transparent, and independent investigation” in line with Nigeria’s constitutional and international human rights obligations.

The incident has triggered growing national debate over civilian protection during counter-insurgency operations in the North-East, where Nigerian security forces continue to battle insurgent groups and armed criminal networks.

“While recognizing the difficult security environment within which security agencies operate, the protection of civilian lives must remain paramount at all times,” Ojukwu stated.

“Respect for human rights and adherence to international humanitarian principles are essential components of effective security operations and democratic governance.”

The NHRC also expressed deep concern over what it described as a rising trend of extra-judicial killings allegedly involving law enforcement and security agencies.

According to Ojukwu, the commission’s observatory documented more than five cases of extra-judicial killings in April alone.

“Human life is sacred and cannot be taken away by trigger-happy officers of our law enforcement and security agencies,” he declared.

The commission, however, acknowledged recent steps taken by the Nigeria Police Force leadership, while calling for swift prosecution of implicated officers and compensation for affected families.

The presentation of the Human Rights Situation Dashboard formed part of the NHRC’s broader effort to institutionalise evidence-based monitoring and accountability since the initiative was introduced in 2024.

Analysts say the dashboard has increasingly become an important national accountability mechanism for identifying trends, monitoring rights abuses, and drawing attention to emerging threats across the country.

Alongside the dashboard presentation, the commission also signed an Advisory on Protecting Civic Space and Human Rights, a move stakeholders described as significant amid rising concerns over shrinking civic freedoms globally and within Nigeria.

Ojukwu warned that civic spaces around the world are coming under increasing pressure through restrictions on freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, media operations, association, and citizen participation.

He explained that the advisory, developed through consultations with civil society groups and development partners, provides practical guidance for safeguarding constitutional freedoms and democratic participation.

“A vibrant civic space remains essential to democracy, accountability, peace-building, and national development,” he said.

The commission specifically acknowledged the contributions of the Nigerian Network of Non-Governmental Organizations and the Heinrich Böll Foundation in supporting the initiative.

Human rights observers say the NHRC’s latest report underscores growing concerns over the intersection of insecurity, economic pressures, weak law enforcement accountability, and democratic tensions in Nigeria.

Over the past decade, rights groups have repeatedly raised alarm over allegations of unlawful killings, arbitrary arrests, torture, restrictions on protests, and abuses linked to counter-terrorism operations.

The NHRC boss stressed that every complaint received by the commission represents a citizen seeking dignity, justice, and protection, insisting that the commission would continue to strengthen accountability mechanisms, expand access to justice, and deepen civic engagement through collaboration with stakeholders.

“We remain committed to strengthening accountability, expanding access to justice, deepening civic engagement, and advancing evidence-based human rights interventions,” Ojukwu said.

He called on government institutions, security agencies, civil society organisations, and development partners to intensify support for the protection of human dignity and democratic values across the country.

NHRC Raises Alarm Over Rising Rights Violations, Records 266,787 Complaints in One Month