General
Dow Partners Nigerian Firms to Tackle Plastic Waste
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
An initiative called Project ReflexNG, which aims to collect and recycle plastic waste in Lagos, Nigeria, has been launched by Dow in partnership with some local firms.
The Nigeria-based firms involved in this scheme include Omnik, RecylePoints and the Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre.
The parties will specifically recycle water sachets through a pilot program, designed to show that they can be collected and recycled to be utilised in new, quality packaging applications.
A statement from Dow disclosed that the project aims to divert 600 MT of sachet water pouches (approximately 300 million sachets) which otherwise would have ended up in the environment or landfill, into recycling applications, while promoting education to engrain sustainability into a select group of small and medium waste entrepreneurs.
The pilot is set up to enable a viable business case for the use of recyclate (resins made from recycled plastics) in non-food primary packaging applications.
According to Dow, this initiative aligns with its global Stop The Waste sustainability target which will enable the collection, reuse or recycling of one million metric tons of plastic globally by 2030.
An estimated 19 per cent of the Nigerian population still does not have access to clean, safe drinking water.
Though access to clean water has improved significantly over the last decade, it is crucial that everyone has access to it.
For many years, water sachets have provided an affordable and readily available source of drinking water for the masses, particularly in heavily populated urban environments like Lagos.
These pouches have become a fundamental part of life for millions of Nigerians every day.
However, their widespread consumption has led to the unintended consequence of environmental pollution due to inadequate waste management infrastructure and poor waste disposal behaviour.
As in many developing countries, there is an informal waste collection economy, but this favours rigid plastic in Nigeria and disregards low weight water sachets because waste pickers are paid by weight.
The water sachets will be collected by RecyclePoints, a waste management company, which uses kiosks, a phone app and employs waste pickers in order to collect waste that can be recycled.
The kiosks act as a bring-back focal point for the community to return waste in exchange for groceries, mobile phone credits, cash and other useful items. The app can coordinate pick-ups from several points around the city.
The collection part of the project is being funded by Dow’s Impact Fund and will expand to include additional collection partners in a later phase.
Once the waste is collected, it will be taken to Omnik, where it will be processed into PCR (post-consumer recyclate).
Currently, the first few batches have been collected and sent to Dow’s Pack Studios in Tarragona, Spain, where they will be analysed and tested.
Based on this assessment, Dow and Omnik will collaborate to enhance the properties of the recyclates so they can adequately be used again.
Additionally, as part of this project, Omnik has funded a stationary buy-back centre, operated by RecyclePoints, at premises of Lagos State Ministry of Environment to create long-term infrastructure for recovering plastic waste.
The project aims to create an end-use for the waste stream of water sachets, while employing over 200 registered waste pickers through RecyclePoints, for this new waste stream. The pilot will potentially increase the income of 8,000 RecyclePoints app subscribers.
Lagos Business School’s Sustainability Centre (LBS sustainability Centre) will act as an educational partner to enable small and medium waste enterprises to learn sustainability principles to enhance their businesses.
Currently, LBS sustainability Centre runs a Circular Economy series and are partnering with Dow to train a selected group of 40 social entrepreneurs who currently have businesses in the waste management space.
The goal is to ensure that the education and materials these entrepreneurs receive through the process will result in long term sustainable collection for flexible packaging, specifically water sachets.
“Currently, more than 90 per cent of waste generated in Africa is disposed at uncontrolled dumpsites and landfills.
“Through our partnerships with Nigerian enterprises, academic institutions and local industry associations, we are making significant strides in addressing the crises of plastic waste and proving that the material does have intrinsic value,” said Adwoa Coleman, Dow’s Africa Sustainability and Advocacy Manager for Packaging and Specialty Plastics. “Together with our industry partners and in alignment with Nigeria’s vision for plastic waste management, we are creating new opportunities for local business entrepreneurs and their surrounding communities.”
“Plastic is a man-made solution to a pre-existing problem. Rather than turning it into the problem, we should continue to find sustainable environmentally friendly ways to ensure it continues to serve its purpose as the most affordable and hygienic form of packaging,” said Alkesh Thavrani, Managing Director, Omnik Ltd.
Mazi Ukonu of RecyclePoints adds, “Circular Economy can only thrive if players at the different stages of the waste recovery value chain run viable activities, especially the waste pickers who are the unsung heroes of waste recycling in frontier markets like ours.”
By collaborating with individuals and organizations that are already supporting waste management infrastructure and recycling, Project ReflexNG is driving local, sustainable solutions for Nigeria. Beyond the pilot phase which runs to February 2021, Dow will scale up Project ReflexNG to recover even more quantities of flexible packaging with potential for replication across the region.
**Tasks Board to Prioritise Improving Livelihoods of Nigerians
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The newly inaugurated board of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has been advised to prioritise the well-being and economic progress of ordinary Nigerians in every decision it makes.
This charge was given by the Minister of Power, Mr Joseph Tegbe, when he inaugurated the board, which has the former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, as chairman, and Mr Abba Aliyu as its chief executive.
Mr Tegbe described the board’s constitution as consistent with President Bola Tinubu’s drive to strengthen governance and accountability across public institutions.
He further described the agency as an institution for expanding opportunity, noting that every mini-grid, solar home system and electrified market, school, health centre or farm represents an investment in human capital and economic inclusion.
He pointed to REA’s existing programmes, the Energising Education, Economies and Agriculture Programmes and the Africa Mini-Grids Programme, as evidence of that strategy at work, and noted that the Board, constituted under Section 130 of the Electricity Act, takes office at a defining moment for the organisation.
On governance, the Minister drew a clear line between the board’s non-executive role of strategic direction and oversight and management’s responsibility for day-to-day execution.
He noted that the board meets quarterly to review performance while management retains operational latitude between meetings, subject to full accountability.
Mr Tegbe commended Mr Fayose’s record as a former Governor of Ekiti State, assuring of the Ministry’s continued partnership and a description of electricity as an instrument of inclusion, opportunity and prosperity.
In his remarks, the board chairman described President Tinubu’s decision to appoint Mr Tegbe as a statement of seriousness rather than a routine appointment, a signal that the administration would settle for nothing less than a lasting solution to Nigeria’s power problem.
He called the Minister a technocrat whose technical depth and managerial competence have already produced a positive turning point for the sector, affirming that REA’s leadership was proud to work with him on that effort.
Airport sustainability is no longer a separate environmental project. It is becoming part of daily operational planning, procurement, infrastructure development, and airline partnership discussions. For many airports, the main pressure is to reduce emissions on the ground, improve airside efficiency, and prepare for stricter environmental expectations, while continuing to support aircraft reliably every day.
The challenge is that infrastructure does not change overnight.
Full electrification remains an important direction for aviation ground operations. Fixed 400 Hz power, electric ground support equipment, charging infrastructure, energy management systems, and cleaner stand concepts are all part of the future airport. But in practical terms, many airports are still working through phased investment plans. Grid capacity may be limited. Charging points may not yet cover all operational areas. Remote stands, maintenance zones, cargo aprons, and temporary operating areas may still depend on mobile equipment.
This is where the sustainability conversation needs to become more realistic.
Airports do not have to wait for a complete infrastructure transformation before reducing emissions. There are practical steps that can be taken now, especially in aircraft ground power. The key is to look at emissions reduction as a staged process, not a single final destination.
One of the first areas to assess is the age and efficiency of existing diesel ground power units. In many operations, older GPUs continue to provide essential support because they are mobile, familiar, and independent from fixed power systems. But older diesel platforms may no longer fit the expectations of modern airport sustainability strategies. They can become harder to justify in procurement discussions, environmental reporting, and long-term fleet planning.
Replacing outdated diesel equipment with lower-emission alternatives can be a meaningful step. A modern diesel GPU with Stage V / Tier 4 Final engine technology, for example, can help operators reduce the environmental impact of ground power while keeping the operational independence that many stands and service areas still require. This does not replace the need for electrification. It helps bridge the gap while infrastructure continues to develop.
That bridge matters because airside operations are rarely uniform.
A major hub may have fixed power at many contact stands, but still rely on mobile GPUs for remote aircraft positions, maintenance activities, irregular operations, or construction phases. A regional airport may not yet have the capital or grid capacity for large-scale electrification. An MRO facility may need mobile power that can move between aircraft, hangars, and outdoor working areas. A ground handler may need equipment that supports mixed aircraft types under high turnaround pressure.
For these environments, sustainability must work in real conditions. A solution that looks good in a strategy document but does not support the daily operating model will not last.
Decision-makers should therefore evaluate aircraft ground power through several practical questions. Where is fixed power available today? Where is it planned next? Which stands still require mobile equipment? How many hours do diesel GPUs operate per day? Which aircraft types are supported? Are units oversized, outdated, or difficult to position? Is the equipment aligned with current emissions standards? Can it support cleaner operation where grid power is available?
These questions often reveal that the best path is not a single equipment choice, but a balanced fleet strategy.
Fixed power should be used where infrastructure is mature and operationally reliable. Battery-powered equipment can be introduced where duty cycles, charging plans, and climate conditions are suitable. Lower-emission diesel and plug-in hybrid ground power units can support areas where independence, runtime, and flexibility remain critical. Together, these solutions allow airports to reduce emissions without weakening operational resilience.
Plug-in hybrid utility power functionality is especially relevant in this transition phase. When external utility power is available, the unit can operate with reduced fuel use. When it is not available, the same equipment can continue supporting aircraft independently. This gives airports and operators more flexibility as infrastructure develops stand by stand, rather than forcing a complete change before the airside environment is ready.
Compact design also plays a role in sustainable operations. Airports often focus on emissions, but space efficiency is part of the same discussion. Crowded aprons create movement challenges, increase operational friction, and affect safety. A compact mobile GPU that provides the required output without adding unnecessary equipment bulk can support cleaner, more organized, and more efficient aircraft servicing.
This is why modern ground power procurement should not be based only on output figures. Power rating matters, but so do emissions performance, footprint, maneuverability, serviceability, spare parts strategy, operating environment, and fit with future infrastructure plans. Airports need equipment that can serve today’s operation while remaining relevant as sustainability expectations continue to rise.
For a deeper look at how this transition applies to aircraft ground power, ElectroAir has outlined its view on lower-emission ground power and the practical role of modern mobile GPUs in supporting airport sustainability before full electrification is possible. The company’s ElectroAir APA-100 is one example of this approach, combining compact mobile design, Stage V / Tier 4 Final engine technology, and optional plug-in hybrid utility power for operators that need both reliability and a more future-conscious path.
The next stage of airport sustainability will be built through practical progress. Some changes will come from major infrastructure investment. Others will come from better equipment decisions, smarter fleet planning, and the replacement of outdated assets with more efficient alternatives.
For airports, the priority is not to choose between today’s operation and tomorrow’s goals. The priority is to connect them. Ground power is one of the places where that connection can already begin.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has submitted an interim report to President Bola Tinubu on its investigation into the alleged fictitious Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC), recommending the prosecution of its alleged Director-General, Mr Adeniyi Adeyemi.
ICPC’s Chairman, Mr Musa Aliyu, disclosed this after meeting President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, exactly 30 days after his agency was directed to conduct a thorough investigation into the PFIPC.
According to Mr Aliyu, preliminary findings revealed that the federal government never appointed Adeyemi and that the purported appointment letter, gazette and other documents used to establish the agency were forged.
The case centres on an alleged corruption and forgery scandal involving the disputed government entity, PFIPC, which was not approved.
Speaking at the State House, Mr Aliyu said the commission’s investigation established that Mr Adeyemi was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the documents used to legitimise the agency were forged.
The ICPC boss said the investigation also revealed significant weaknesses in government verification and oversight processes, which were exploited to create the impression that the PFIPC was a legitimate government agency.
“Our interim report found that there are weaknesses in verification, inter-agency oversight and government processes. We discovered that those weaknesses were exploited by Adeniyi, with some level of negligence.
“Our investigation found that no Federal Government funds were approved or disbursed to the fake PFIPC/PEAC,” the ICPC chairman stated.
According to him, investigators also uncovered two additional agencies allegedly created by Adeyemi, the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (FIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership (PIPA-PPP).
Mr Aliyu said the disputed DG “used forged legislative instruments styled as enabling acts, and used them to support opening of bank accounts.”
The ICPC chairman said the commission recommended Adeyemi’s prosecution, administrative sanctions against public officers whose negligence enabled the operation of the fake agency, and institutional reforms to strengthen internal controls across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
“Our recommendation is that Mr Adeniyi Adeyemi should be prosecuted. Administrative sanctions should also be imposed on public officers whose acts of omission and negligence facilitated the illegal operation of PFIPC/PEAC.
“There is also a need for institutional reforms so that the internal controls of MDAs can be strengthened to prevent this kind of illegal activity,” he stated.
The chief investigator noted that the report submitted to the President is only an interim one, adding that investigations are continuing to identify other collaborators and build a stronger criminal case.
“We have continued with the investigation of the activities of Mr Adeniyi Adeyemi and his collaborators so that we can unravel more facts and file criminal charges that can stand the test of time before a court of competent jurisdiction,” he said.
The PFIPC scandal came to light after the Presidency disowned the council, describing it as a non-existent government agency despite its appearance in the 2026 Appropriation Act with a N1.3 billion budget allocation.
The federal government has since filed criminal charges against Mr Adeyemi over allegations including forgery, impersonation and fraudulent misrepresentation, while separate investigations by the House of Representatives and the ICPC continue into how the fake agency operated within government institutions.
