By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The decision by a leading impact investment company focused on expanding clean energy access, All On, to support over 50 clean energy businesses and provide grants and technical assistance to more than 80 enterprises in Nigeria is already yielding positive results.

This is because the organisation’s Impact Evaluation Report indicated that more than one million lives have been transformed through clean energy access.

The report covered from 2018 t0 2024 and it was discovered that the interventions of All On enabled the connection of over 230,000 households, businesses, and public facilities to reliable energy solutions, while strengthening the operational capacity of energy providers and improving affordability and service reliability for end users.

Prior to the commencement of All On’s operations in 2016, nearly half of Nigeria’s population lacked access to electricity, and the sector faced an estimated 92 per cent annual funding gap.

In response, the group adopted a bold, risk-tolerant strategy—deploying catalytic capital, innovative financing instruments, and ecosystem-building initiatives to unlock private sector participation and drive progress toward universal energy access.

Central to these achievements is All On’s holistic support model, which combines rigorous, tailored due diligence, deep sector expertise, and active ecosystem engagement.

This approach has positioned All On as a trusted partner capable of delivering both commercial viability and systemic impact.

Flagship initiatives such as the Demand Aggregation for Renewable Technology (DART) programme have further amplified results by reducing procurement costs for supported businesses by up to 50 per cent, enabling developers to scale faster and pass cost savings on to consumers due to access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions.

In the report, it was revealed that half of supported households reported improved air quality, enhanced safety, and reduced noise pollution, contributing to better health outcomes and improved quality of life, alongside measurable environmental benefits.

“This report confirms that our approach is delivering real results. By combining patient capital, technical assistance, and ecosystem support, we are enabling scalable and sustainable energy solutions for Nigeria’s unserved and underserved communities,” the chief executive of All On, Ms Caroline Eboumbou.

The company plans plans to scale proven models, strengthen local capacity, and expand its reach—particularly in underserved regions such as the Niger Delta.

“While the progress to date is encouraging, our work is far from done. As we look toward 2030, we remain committed to deepening our impact and creating even more meaningful connections across Nigeria,” Ms Eboumbou added.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A Federal High Court in Lagos has been urged to stop the federal government from further extending the moratorium on the ban on sachet alcohol in the country.

This request came from the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which asked the court for injunctive orders restraining the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Attorney-General of the Federation who represents the Federal Government, including the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), from further extending the deadline and interfering with the statutory powers of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce the ban.

The federal government intends to prohibit the production, distribution, and sale of alcohol in sachet format but manufacturers are lobbying to alter this.

A few days ago, the federal government suspended the policy due to concerns raised by the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drugs Administration and Control.

This action was applauded by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), which noted that the sachet and PET segment of the alcoholic beverage industry accounts for a significant portion of the estimated N800 billion invested in the sector and supports thousands of direct and indirect jobs in manufacturing, packaging, logistics, wholesale and retail.

But SERAP seems not to be impressed with this as it, in a suit marked FHC/L/CS/2568/25, prayed for a perpetual injunction restraining the government from directing, preventing, blocking, or stopping NAFDAC from enforcing the prohibition, in line with its statutory functions under Sections 5 and 30(c) of the NAFDAC Act, the Spirits Drink Regulation, and the Memorandum of Resolution executed on December 19, 2018.

The civil rights group argues that the continued delay by the relevant federal authorities in enforcing the ban amounts to a failure to implement long-standing public health regulations designed to curb alcohol abuse, protect public safety, and safeguard citizens’ well-being.

In an originating summons dated December 15, 2025, SERAP contends that the ongoing circulation of sachet alcohol violates the National Health Act, 2014, the NAFDAC Act, the Spirits Drink Regulation, 2021, and the Memorandum of Resolution of December 19, 2018, which collectively mandate a nationwide ban on sachet alcohol.

The organisation wants the court to determine whether the Minister of Health can lawfully refuse or fail to enforce the prohibition, and whether any federal authority has the power to interfere with or delay NAFDAC’s statutory duty to enforce the ban.

It also wants the court to decide whether, given the acknowledged dangers of alcohol abuse, judicial intervention is required in the interest of public health, public safety, and public order.

According to SERAP, sachet alcohol, often cheap, highly potent, and widely accessible, has been linked to rising cases of alcohol abuse, particularly among young people and low-income communities. It argues that the 2018 Memorandum of Resolution and subsequent regulations were adopted precisely to address these risks.

Among the reliefs sought are declarations that the sachet alcohol ban is a valid regulation under the NAFDAC Act; that the Minister of Health has no legal authority to grant or extend any moratorium on its enforcement; and that it is unlawful for any federal authority to interfere with NAFDAC’s enforcement responsibilities.

SERAP is also asking the court, in the suit filed on its behalf by Mofesomo Tayo-Oyetibo (SAN), alongside a team of lawyers from Tayo Oyetibo LP, to affirm that the defendants have a duty to ensure the full implementation of the ban nationwide.

The court is expected to fix a hearing date in a few days time.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC), under Governor Charles Soludo, has taken a bold step to address the pressing issue of erosion in the state, while also recovering government lands and awarding strategic projects aimed at boosting the state’s economy and improving the quality of life of its citizens.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr Law Mefor, made this known after the 25th ANSEC meeting held recently at the Lighthouse, Awka.

He revealed that the meeting noted with grave concern the existential threat posed by erosion in Anambra, citing the careless actions of communities and regulatory bodies that have disregarded environmental regulations.

“The council has decided to step up enforcement measures to force individuals to build and manage storm waters from their houses and for communities to follow specific guidelines, such as building erosion barriers and excavating sand only in designated locations,” Mr Mefor stated.

He emphasised that the government will not hesitate to take stern action against individuals and communities that fail to comply with environmental regulations.

To address the issue, the government will enforce strict adherence to environmental regulations, mandate the construction of erosion barriers and proper sand excavation practices, and collaborate with relevant agencies to hold those responsible for the erosion menace.

It is also confident that with the support of the people, it will overcome the challenges posed by erosion and achieve its vision of making Anambra State a destination where economic and business activities thrive.

Furthermore, the council has resolved to form a committee to reclaim government lands in and around Anambra State that have been intruded upon and built upon without permission.

“The government will not stand idly by while its lands are being grabbed and misused. We will take all necessary steps to recover these lands and ensure that they are used for the benefit of the people of Anambra State,” Mr Mefor said.

ANSEC has also awarded several strategic projects aimed at enhancing the state’s infrastructure development.

The projects include the provision of a water supply to the Ekwulobia Flyover Bridge Fountain and the ornamental garden for Double NC Construction & Logistics Ltd; the installation of a 3-way traffic light, including pedestrian lights, at the Ifite-Amenyi intersection within the Awka metropolis to S.N.U. Ventures, and the supply and installation of two 10 kVA inverters with 15 kW lithium batteries at the Anambra State Civil Service Commission Building in Awka to Kennolly Enterprises.

Others include the supply and installation of transformer substations at Nnewi and Umueze-Anam communities for Aries and Gold Ventures Limited, and Aljovic Construction Limited; and the landscaping of the car park for the Trauma Centre at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Amaku, Awka, for Triseconds Resources Limited.