Environment
Environmentalists Back FG’s Proposed Policy On Lower Sulphur
Some environmentalists recently supported the Federal Government’s plans to lower permissible sulphur levels in imported fuels.
Two renowned environmentalists, Rev. Nnommo Bassey and Alagoa Morris, declared their support in separate interviews with The Tide in Yenagoa.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had on March 13 announced that starting from July it will cut down sulphur levels in imported petrol and diesel.
Mr Anibor Kragha, the NNPC’s chief operating officer of refineries and petrochemicals announced the development during a presentation to the African Refiners Association Conference.
The experts noted that the proposed regulation would reduce the emission of sulphur, a toxic element into the environment.
Bassey however, said that there was an urgent need for the country to speed up in the global race for cleaner fuels.
According to the environmentalist, the proposed sulphur content cut in fuels is coming behind a July 2017 target by the country as part of a United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) campaign.
“It is sad that we are lagging behind other countries and regions in producing or importing cleaner petroleum product.
“It has been clear over time that producers and importers would go for the cheapest products available in order to maximize profits.
“The lack of policy coherence between government agencies make this sort of situation inescapable, there should be collaboration and synergy among government agencies for the overall good of the country,” Bassey said.
He noted that the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) had set the fuel emission standards in 2017 but the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR) failed to update its own specifications.
“When this type of lapse happens, the marketers and racketeers will take the cheap route and wouldn’t give a damn about the impact on the health of the people.
“It is regrettable that while the world is moving to cleaner energy, including shifting to electric cars, in Nigeria we are showing scant urgency in even making dirty energy a little bit less dirty.
“Unfortunately, even this little step may offer a platform for an increase in pump price of the products,” Bassey said.
Morris, Head of Field Operations at Environmental Rights Action and Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), noted that it was time to increase local refining capacity as Nigerian crude grades had very low sulphur content.
According to him, Nigeria crude is sought after by foreign refineries who refer to Nigerian crude streams as ‘sweet and light’ due to its ease of refining and very low sulphur content.
He said that it was an irony that Nigeria is exporting the fine, sweet crude to other countries and importing heavy, bitter products.
“Yes, if ours is sweet and light due to the low sulphur content, definitely, the imported one with so much sulphur should be seen as bitter and heavy product.
“And, even when the world is moving away from fossil fuels, we can still see that within the fossil fuel sources, the experts still recognise that the heavier crude oil products are more injurious to our health and the Climate Change phenomenon.
“Nigeria is still holding on tenaciously to this more harmful source of fossil fuel.
“It is, however, interesting to note that Ghana met up with the 2017 deadline and, very sad to know even in this; Nigeria is shifting the goal post as is the case with ending gas flaring in Nigeria.
“This is, despite all the efforts the Civil Society has put into advocacy in spite of scarce resources. Nigeria is like the custodian of the so-called `African Time,” Morris said.
He called on government to give more attention to renewable, cleaner energy and less to crude oil that has brought the country, especially the Niger Delta so much violent conflicts and environmental degradation.
“It would even be better to fix our refineries and stop importation of refined products as this makes more economic sense than what is currently obtainable due to the aggregate of negative consequences.
“And, as the Environmental Rights Action and Friends of the Earth would say, leave the oil in the soil, protect the environment because the environment is our life,” Morris said.
The Federal Government has signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to remove tariffs on selected products.
Rep. Sam Onuigbo a member of the Governing Board of the North-East Development Commission, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
Onuigbo said that the agreement signed in Abu Dhabi from Jan. 11 to 15, marked a major breakthrough for Nigeria-UAE economic relations.
NAN reports that Onuigbo, a member of the House of Representatives of Nigeria who represented Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency, served as Chairman, Committee of Climate Change during the 8th Assembly.
“Under the CEPA signed in January 2026, UAE will eliminate tariffs on 7,315 Nigerian products. This includes immediate duty-free access for 2,805 products (38.3 per cent).
” The rest will phase out over three to five years, covering agricultural and industrial goods.
“Similarly, under the Nigeria/UAE CEPA also signed in January 2026, Nigeria has eliminated tariffs on 6,243 products imported from UAE. That agreement creates these wonderful opportunities between Nigerians and the Emirates,” he said.
Onuigbo said that the agreement was massive as it would facilitate an environment for business owners in Nigeria.
He said the pact would enable verified Nigerian business owners to establish offices in UAE, operate for up to three months and return home with expanded commercial networks.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for the agreement, saying it aimed at repositioning the country while also creating an enabling environment for employment opportunities.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness for business, noting that the country also unveiled its carbon market framework policy to attract climate-focused investments
”Nigeria is a nation of nearly 250 million people and has had, over the years, the challenge of enough energy or power to be able to attain its economic and industrialisation targets.
“And because of that, Nigeria has been engaging in different activities, for instance, the Energy Transition Plan, enactment of the Climate Change Act, and the Electricity Act which the President signed barely eight days after he assumed office in 2023.
“This shows the importance of addressing the energy gap having enough energy. Electricity is a fundamental point to developing industrially which Nigeria deems necessary,” he said.
Onuigbo lauded Nigeria’s participation at the Abu Dhabi summit saying that the summit would strengthen global economic opportunity for people.
He added that the President’s collaboration would address the challenges and devastating effects of climate change as well as boost economic growth in 2026
Environment
Over Six Million Benue Residents Exposed To Neglected Tropical Diseases – State Government
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, disclosed this during a press conference to mark the 2026 World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, organised in collaboration with Sightsavers and themed “Unite, Act, Eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).”
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Beatrice Tsavmbu, the commissioner announced the successful elimination of blinding trachoma in Gwer East, Gwer West and Ukum Local Government Areas, attributing the feat to years of targeted interventions, strong community participation and sustained implementation of the state’s NTDs Control and Elimination Programme.
“I am proud to announce the elimination of blinding trachoma in three of our most affected areas—Gwer East, Gwer West and Ukum. No longer will these communities face the blindness that trachoma has long inflicted,” she said.
However, Dr. Tsavmbu noted that Benue State remains highly endemic for several NTDs, with all 23 local government areas experiencing overlapping disease burdens. She listed the diseases to include onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), schistosomiasis (bilharziasis), soil-transmitted helminth infections (intestinal worms), leprosy, buruli ulcer and snakebite envenoming.
“These conditions collectively put over six million people in Benue State at risk,” she stated.
She revealed that the state had treated an average of more than five million people over the past five years through preventive chemotherapy, morbidity management and disability prevention, supported by Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives and integrated vector control.
Dr. Tsavmbu also announced a major breakthrough in the fight against river blindness, noting that onchocerciasis endemicity in the state had been reclassified from ongoing transmission to suspected interruption of transmission.
On lymphatic filariasis, she disclosed that 1,064 hydrocele cases had been successfully managed through free surgeries, while 442 lymphoedema patients received free management kits to prevent disease progression. She added that 44 trachoma trichiasis cases were also treated through free surgical interventions.
According to her, Ukum, Logo and Konshisha LGAs have passed Transmission Assessment Survey 1 for lymphatic filariasis, allowing for the cessation of mass drug administration in those areas. In addition, seven other LGAs—Ado, Apa, Kwande, Obi, Ohimini, Oju and Tarka—successfully passed epidemiological monitoring surveys in 2025.
She attributed the progress recorded to strong inter-sectoral collaboration involving agencies such as the Benue Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (BERWASSA), the State Universal Basic Education Board, the Ministry of Education, civil society organisations and security agencies. She also cited the inauguration of the State NTDs Advisory Committee and improvements in supply chain and logistics management systems.
In a related remark, Prof. Edward Omudu of the Department of Biological Sciences, Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, revealed that the National Universities Commission had recently approved Nigerian universities to offer degree programmes in Water, Sanitation and Health, describing the move as a critical step toward strengthening disease prevention and public health capacity in the country.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday, launched an awareness campaign, aimed at educating residents on the increasing impact of climate change.
The campaign also seeks to enlighten residents on the urgent need for personal and community protection measures.
During the launch in Uyo on Thursday, the Akwa Ibom Director of NOA, Mr Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, said that the campaign aims at enlightening residents, about the changes in weather patterns.
He said that this includes unpredictable rise in temperatures, and how these changes threaten public health across the state.
Mkpoutom noted that the current weather was not harmattan, but an extreme form of air pollution, which is harmful to health as it could cause oxidative stress which affects body balance.
“Our environment is changing rapidly, and the effects are evident in the disruptions faced by our communities.
“It is paramount that every citizen of Akwa Ibom understands these changes and take necessary steps to protect themselves, their families, and their livelihoods,” he said.
He appealed to citizens to take the following precautions which include wearing of nose mask, drinking sufficient water, covering of food and water to keep away dust, washing fruits thoroughly before eating, among others.
He directed all NOA structures within the state to engage with local communities through town hall meetings and collaboration.
He also urged engagement with schools and community leaders, to disseminate vital information on early warning signs, as well as safety protocols during extreme weather conditions.
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