General
FG, IEA to Hold Energy Transition Workshop September 10
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government and the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global energy authority, will host stakeholders in the oil and gas sector on Friday, September 10, as part of Nigeria’s efforts at facilitating its energy transition through carbon capture, utilisation, and storage, (CCUS) development.
This was disclosed by the technical adviser on gas business and policy implementation to the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Mr Justice Derefaka, in a statement.
He noted that the workshop was geared towards meeting Nigeria’s global energy and climate goals and would have local and international experts on CCUS and also help Nigeria meet its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (17-SDGs) by transitioning to a cleaner and lower-carbon energy system.
“As you may all know; humanity is currently confronted with one of the greatest problems it has ever faced. The dilemma is how Nigeria and the rest of the world can meet rising energy demand while also attempting to transition to a cleaner, lower-carbon energy system in order to combat climate change and air pollution.
“Each of us has a responsibility to our country, and we must all do our share. We need to deliver greater and cleaner energy as a government. So, how can the oil and gas industry and other sectors prosper during this period of energy transition? It is, first and foremost, a projection of the future.
“It was on this topic that the United Nations convened two historic sessions in 2015. At that session, world leaders agreed on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in New York, USA.
“They range from eradicating hunger to ensuring clean water is available for everyone whilst spotting energy as a ‘critical’ common link for achieving these ambitious goals.
“Later that year, in Paris, world leaders, including Nigeria’s president, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, pledged to strive toward keeping global warming far below 2°C over pre-industrial levels, in order to prevent the more serious consequences of climate change,” the statement read in part.
According to him, the use of energy products, like oil and gas and coal – for power, heating, cooling, industry, transport – cause majority of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, therefore, changing the mix of energy products in the energy system is essential to address climate change.
He stressed that the United Nations 17-SDGs must be implemented in order to create a sustainable and just future for all humankind and our planet.
“The 17-SDGs are worldwide objectives. However, their implementation necessitates the participation of a wide range of government, industry, and civil society actors.
“As a result, policymaking and industry innovation activities must be geared to aid rather than hinder the achievement of the 17-SDGs. It is critical to guarantee that the potential environmental, economic, and societal implications of technological breakthroughs pursuing public support and funding in research, development, and market implementation are in line with the 17-SDGs’ respective goals.
“Applications for carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) are an example of such developments. They hope to have a good impact on the economy, society, and environment by capturing and utilizing CO2. Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) are now financed by governments in various countries, and this financing is projected to increase, in addition to industry initiatives to promote such technology. As a result, a review of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) technologies’ compliance with the 17-SDGs is both required and long needed.
“To put the global energy system on pace for net-zero emissions in the next decade, a significant increase in CCUS deployment is required. Governments play a vital role in establishing a sustained and successful market for CCUS through policies. Industry, on the other hand, must seize the chance. Clean energy transitions will influence every business, and the importance of CCUS is unavoidable for some, such as heavy industries.
“We at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, we know that oil and gas businesses have the engineering know-how, project management skills, and financial resources to push CCUS development and implementation forward,” the statement added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its development partnership with Kano and Jigawa States, as part of its long-term commitment to development and reform in northern Nigeria.
The Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission Abuja, Ms Cynthia Rowe, recently completed high-level engagements with governors of both states as well as senior government officials and civil society leaders.
The discussions underscored the UK’s modern approach to development as a genuine partnership with Nigeria, which prioritises state-led ownership and sustainable development that delivers lasting impact through strengthening systems and partnerships grounded in investment, trade, climate financing, technical expertise and joint accountability.
According to a statement, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, via the British High Commission, said Nigeria remains one of the UK’s most significant development partners, adding that the engagements underlined the strength and ambition of the bilateral relationship reaffirmed during the recent UK-Nigeria State Visit.
In Kano, Ms Rowe met with Deputy Governor Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo and senior officials, including the newly confirmed Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the State Government. The visit recognised Kano’s progress on climate finance, health system reform and private sector investment supported through UK technical assistance.
In Jigawa, she met with Governor Umar Namadi and heads of key ministries, departments and agencies. The meeting celebrated more than 25 years of UK-Jigawa partnership, one of the most longstanding bilateral development relationships at the subnational level in Nigeria. Discussions covered the state’s continued progress on health systems reform, agriculture, and governance and the path forward under UK technical assistance.
Since 2022, PLANE has supported Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa to strengthen state-led education delivery systems, working through Ministries of Education, SUBEB and key agencies. Its RANA+ foundational learning packages have reached 1.4 million pupils across the three states, alongside wider system strengthening.
Speaking on this, Ms Rowe said, “For more than 25 years, we have worked side by side with state governments, including Jigawa and Kano states, their communities, and civil society to build stronger health systems, improve learning outcomes for millions of children, support farmers to grow their businesses, and help states attract the investment they need to thrive.
These visits have reinforced our confidence in what this partnership can achieve. We are working together to deliver lasting change, and deepening a relationship built on genuine mutual respect and shared ambition for Nigeria’s growth and development.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on data sharing to enhance economic productivity.
This was done at a meeting at CBN Head Office in Abuja, where the weather body led by its Director General, Mr Charles Anosike, on Wednesday, highlighted the importance of integrating weather and climate data into economic research, especially in sectors such as agriculture, energy, and transportation.
He noted that extreme weather events can reduce agricultural productivity and threaten food security.
He added that the collaboration aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises food security through major agricultural investment, including the cultivation of 10 million hectares of land and the distribution of mechanised equipment.
Mr Anosike cited a 2026 World Bank report that showed that extreme weather driven by climate change is significantly affecting global food security, with more than 87 million people facing hunger in East and Southern Africa and 52 million in West and Central Africa.
He also referenced the latest Berkeley Earth Report, which projects that 2026 is likely to be the fourth warmest year on record, a trend that continues to shape agricultural and energy market projections.
In his remarks, Mr Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate of the CBN, said the signing of the MoU marked an important step in strengthening the partnership between two key national institutions whose mandates intersect in data, research, and policy support.
He emphasised that, in an increasingly complex and dynamic economic environment, timely and reliable data remain essential for effective policy decisions.
According to him, the Economic Policy Directorate relies heavily on timely and credible statistical information from NiMet, saying that such data are critical for inflation monitoring, agricultural sector assessment, and broader economic policy advisory functions.
He described the initiative as both timely and important, adding that strong institutional partnerships are essential for strengthening evidence-based policymaking and improving the robustness of national data systems.
At the close of the event, Mr Anosike and Mr Sani Abdullahi signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Tunji Disu, has ordered an immediate nationwide ban prohibiting Point-of-Sale (POS) operators from running their businesses within a 200-metre radius of any police station, divisional headquarters, or police formation across Nigeria.
This directive, released via an internal police wireless message, addresses critical systemic challenges regarding extortion and corrupt financial practices within law enforcement facilities.
The order is to be strictly enforced nationwide, with senior officers overseeing various formations to be held accountable for any breach of the directive.
The Nigeria Police Force stated that the measure is intended to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the policing system.
The decision comes after an alarming proliferation of POS businesses near police facilities, with investigations and public complaints revealing that some operators were actively complicit in facilitating extortion, bribery, and illegal cash transfers forced upon civilians or suspects during police encounters.
Under the directive, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), State Commissioners of Police (CPs), and heads of formations will be held vicariously liable for any breach within their jurisdictions.
The IGP’s order states: “Any officer or POS merchant found flouting the 200-metre operational boundary or colluding in illicit transactions will face immediate disciplinary and criminal actions under extant laws.
“If you are a POS agent or looking into regulatory compliance for financial services in Nigeria, let me know. I can provide details on current Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) radius registration guidelines or share methods to report officer misconduct directly to the Force Headquarters.”
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