Environment
Oxfam, partners celebrate 5 years of climate governance programmes in Nigeria
Oxfam in Nigeria has marked the close-out of its five-year Power of Voices, Fair for All (F4A) and African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) programmes in Nigeria.
Oxfam Country Director, John Makina, at the occasion on Thursday in Abuja, described the programmes as “a journey of courage, partnership and transformation.”
Makina said that the initiatives demonstrated the power of communities, when equipped, to “speak, act and lead” in governance, climate justice and economic accountability.
He said that the journey had been more than a development intervention.
“It has been a collective effort to shift power, amplify voices and place citizens where they rightfully belong—at the centre of governance, climate justice and economic accountability in Nigeria,” he said.
Makina highlighted key achievements of the programmes to include: cultivation of 15,500 seedlings through community nurseries and distribution of 3,500 clean cooking stoves in Bauchi State to reduce emissions and improve health.
He stated that 256 community volunteers, including persons with disabilities (PWDs) were also trained in briquette production and other nature-based solutions.
“Oxfam also supported the development of new climate laws, unlocked ?15.5 billion in local climate financing and expanded climate-smart livelihoods, such as beekeeping, briquette production and tree planting.
“Women beneficiaries reportedly earned between ?150,000 and ?300,000 through climate-friendly enterprises.
“The programmes reached more than 10 million Nigerians through the “Follow the Money” media platforms, while civic participation was strengthened through Freedom of Information coalitions, youth civic clubs and improved security commitments from the police,” he said.
Makina added that the initiative also trained 500 journalists in climate reporting, mobilised 664 citizens through the Africa Climate Caravan and empowered PWDs to participate independently in agriculture and community governance.
He expressed appreciation to some implementing partners, such as Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Connected Development (CODE) and BudgIT Foundation, among others, saying that their support and dedication contributed to the success of the initiatives.
The country director also commended the Government of The Netherlands for funding the project.
Speaking on behalf of the partners, CISLAC’s Executive Director, Auwal Rafsanjani, said the programmes delivered ‘transformative reforms, bold advocacy and unprecedented community-led impact’ across Nigeria.
Rafsanjani noted that the projects strengthened tax justice campaigns, boosted transparency in the extractive sector, improved compliance with beneficial ownership rules and expanded state-level advocacy platforms.
He said that sustained civil advocacy also helped in shaping the passage of four new tax laws and contributing to government’s approval of over 1 billion dollar for the upgrade of major ports.
Rafsanjani stressed that although donor funding had ended, the responsibility to sustain the gains now rests with Nigerians.
“The work must continue because inequalities, corruption and climate challenges remain,” he said.
While giving an overview of the project, the Programme Manager of Oxfam, Henry Ushie, said it built regulatory frameworks that mobilised communities to be proactive in demanding for the three per cent meant for them by companies.
“They were also empowered to access the money and demand for accountability and transparency on how the money was deployed, ensuring that it was ploughed back into the communities,” Ushie said.
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The Lagos State Government on Saturday refuted an online media report claiming that the state had resumed the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said no categorical statement had been made regarding the commencement date of the exercise.
Wahab explained that what he told newsmen after a project inspection tour last Sunday was that engagements with relevant stakeholders were still ongoing.
He said the state government had planned to begin with a sensitisation programme last week, but was constrained by logistics issues.
“The truth is, we were meant to start with a sensitisation programme last week, but we had a logistics issue. We need to find a day that is acceptable to all stakeholders,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the exercise might return very soon, adding that the official date would be communicated by the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The commissioner urged law-abiding residents to continue their lawful activities without hindrance, assuring them that adequate notice would be given before the exercise was reintroduced.
The monthly environmental sanitation, previously held on the last Saturday of every month between 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m., was suspended in November 2016 following a legal pronouncement restricting movement during the exercise.
However, renewed waste management challenges, including clogged drainage channels and indiscriminate refuse disposal, have sparked calls from residents for its reinstatement.
The Managing Director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, says sweeping reforms and infrastructure upgrades have significantly improved waste collection efficiency across the state.
Gbadegesin disclosed this to newdmen last week in Lagos state.
He said LAWMA expanded night cleaning operations and increased street sweeping coverage to 1,000 routes statewide.
He disclosed that 16,000 street sweepers were currently engaged across Lagos, supported by improved logistics and operational systems.
He said LAWMA acquired new equipment three years ago to complement Private Sector Participants (PSP) compactors and rehabilitated old trucks to strengthen fleet capacity.
He added that additional compactor trucks were expected in the coming months.
“Heavy-duty equipment is now deployed to clear legacy illegal dumpsites across communities,” he said.
Gbadegesin said LAWMA strengthened human capacity by expanding its advocacy department and deepening collaboration with Community Development Associations (CDAs) and local councils.
He revealed that each local government now operates a waste management task force, supported by LAWMA integration desks.
On waste-to-wealth initiatives, he disclosed that the Lagos State House of Assembly had ratified a concession agreement with ZoomLion to construct transfer loading stations and material recovery facilities.
The facilities, he said, would enable closure of the Olusosun and Solous landfills and process 4,000 tonnes of waste daily.
He said organic waste, which constitutes about 50 per cent of Lagos waste, would be converted into compost, while plastics would be recycled into waste bins.
Gbadegesin also disclosed plans for a 1,500-tonnes-per-day waste-to-energy plant in partnership with a Dutch firm, Harvest Waste.
He said the project was expected to generate 60 megawatts of electricity to support emerging industrial zones.
He further highlighted a pilot biogas plant at the Epe Food Market, which processes 500kg of organic waste daily to generate electricity for market operations.
He called for stronger media collaboration to enhance public awareness and behavioral change.
“Waste management is not just about equipment; it is about human behaviour, enforcement and strong regulatory systems,” he said.
He urged residents to utilise LAWMA’s toll-free lines and digital platforms to report service gaps instead of resorting to illegal dumping.
The Federal Ministry of Environment last Thursday convened key stakeholders in Abuja to validate a landmark policy brief aimed at tackling marine litter to advance Nigeria’s transition to a circular economy.
Mrs Falmata Bukar-Kolo, the Deputy Director, Solid Waste Management and Technology Division in the ministry, warned that plastic pollution poses serious risks to aquatic ecosystems and public health.
She stated that microplastics have already entered the food chain through fish consumption, while clogged waterways, soil contamination, and greenhouse gas emissions from burning plastics are worsening the environmental crisis.
Bukar-Kolo said that plastics, though widely used, are non-biodegradable and persist in the environment for years.
She called for improved waste management systems, stronger enforcement of environmental regulations, and behavioural change amongst citizens and businesses.
Mr Clem Ugorji, Regional Coordinator of PROTEGO, emphasised on the urgency of action, saying Nigeria’s marine litter crisis carries environmental, economic, and reputational costs.
He expressed optimism that the 2025 to 2040 roadmap endorsed at the workshop would shift the country from prolonged dialogue to concrete implementation.
The event was organised in collaboration with PROTEGO (Prevention of Marine Litter in the Gulf of Guinea).
Discussions centred on a draft policy input paper titled “Policies, Institutional Set-up and Financing of Marine Litter Prevention in Nigeria,”.
These seeks to present insightful analysis and a set of recommendations to address the structural and financing gaps that have long hindered effective waste management, particularly plastic leakage from inland communities and waterways into the Atlantic Ocean.
The PROTEGO initiative is supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection and led by adelphi, with implementation in Nigeria by WASTE Africa and the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC).
The policy brief is a key delivery for one of the programme’s four impact areas – building capacities of public stakeholders.
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