Category: Nigerian Tribune

The Lagos State government says it is implementing a pound 410 million Omi-Eko project to establish a modern, integrated public inland waterways transportation system.

Special Adviser on Blue Economy to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, disclosed this recently at the 2026 Transport Correspondents Association of Nigeria (TCAN) summit, in Lagos.

Emmanuel said the project was designed to complement the state’s urban mobility system, improve connectivity for waterfront communities and expand access to economic opportunities.

He said more than 540,000 people currently lived in waterfront communities, with many depending on water transport for mobility, livelihoods and economic activities.

According to him, congestion, rising transport costs, limited road space, environmental concerns and inadequate connectivity informed the state’s decision to strengthen water transportation.

‘Water transport can provide alternative corridors and reduce journey times, citing the Ikorodu-Falomo route as an example.

‘The journey from Ikorodu to Falomo, which can take more than one hour by road, could be completed in about 25 to 30 minutes by water,” he stated.

He said the state was strengthening regulation, safety oversight, ferry terminal development, navigation, professional standards and stakeholder engagement to support the sector.

The special adviser added that public awareness was important, as some residents remained reluctant to use water transportation because of fear and limited familiarity with waterways.

He said the Omi-Eko project followed a two-year pre-feasibility study conducted with support from the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

‘The pound 410 million project involves the European Investment Bank, AFD, European Union and Lagos State Government, with financing comprising loans, grants and counterpart funding.

‘The European Investment Bank will provide pound 170 million, AFD pound 130 million, the European Union pound 60 million grant and Lagos State Government pound 40 million.

‘The remaining pound 10 million is expected from private-sector participation, particularly investment in the ticketing system,” he said.

He said the five-year project would establish 15 structured ferry routes, dredge about 140 kilometres of waterways, upgrade 25 ferry terminals and provide 78 modern electric ferries.

Emmanuel said the vessels would carry up to 440 passengers, while the project would provide passenger facilities, fleet maintenance infrastructure, improved navigation channels and climate-resilient infrastructure.

He said a Vessel Industry Transition Programme was being developed to integrate informal-sector operators into the emerging formal water transportation system through integration or buyout arrangements.

The special adviser stressed that safety remained the foundation of the programme, with emphasis on regulatory enforcement, crew competence, vessel standards and emergency preparedness.

The dispute between a domestic carrier, Xejet, and the Aviation Ground Handlers Association of Nigeria (AGHAN) has entered a critical stage as the latter has withdrawn ground handling services from the airline.

AGHAN said it directed its members to withdraw ground handling services from XeJet Airlines over outstanding debts of about N300 million.

The association said the decision was necessitated by the airline’s alleged failure to honour agreed payment plans, despite repeated efforts by its members to recover the outstanding debts.

Consequently, the withdrawal of handling service adversely affected Xejet, forcing the airline to divert some of the check-in luggage of its passengers on another domestic airline.

A statement jointly signed by AGHAN president Olaniyi Adigun and vice President, Bashir Ahmed, claimed that while several domestic airlines had complied with payment arrangements reached with ground handling companies, XEJet, on the other hand, remained ‘recalcitrant’.

AGHAN threatened that its members would continue to deny services to the airline until its outstanding obligations were settled.

The association added that XEJet’s management had also allegedly failed to engage its members in negotiations over the debts as at Wednesday this week.

‘We decided to direct our members to withdraw services from XEJet Airlines because it has, over time, failed to meet up with its payment plans. Our members have made every effort to ensure that the airline complied, but its management has been recalcitrant,’ it alleged.

‘We can’t continue to operate like this. Why are some companies not willing to pay for services rendered to them? This is intentional. It is affecting our members at all cadres. We need to increase our equipment, while also boosting the welfare of our staff, but we can’t do this when some organisations are not willing to pay for services rendered to them.’

‘As it stands, the company owes our members about N300 million. Hence, we have instructed our members to withdraw services from the airline and this has been complied with 100 per cent, the statement read in part.

The handlers warned that they would take similar action against any other airline that failed to honour agreed payment plans for services rendered.

The group, however, regretted the operational and financial challenges confronting businesses in the aviation sector, but said ground handling companies were also exposed to the same economy.

The latest development followed an earlier seven-day ultimatum issued by the association to some domestic airlines with outstanding debts.

Recall that the association had earlier directed affected airlines to settle at least 75 per cent of their outstanding obligations or risk suspension of ground handling services.

According to the association, the ultimatum followed an executive meeting with its members to address the growing indebtedness of airlines to ground handling companies.

The group said that it suspended the three after some of the affected airlines presented payment plans and commenced steps towards settling their obligations.

XEJet, the association said, failed to comply with the agreed arrangements, leading to the latest directive by AGHAN for its members to withdraw services from the airline

The National Universities Commission [NUC] has called for stronger feedback from employers and industry to ensure that university curricula remain responsive to labour-market needs and equip graduates with relevant entrepreneurial and practical skills.

Executive Secretary of the NUC, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, made the call in Abuja, at a two-day Entrepreneurship Institutional Readiness Workshop, organised by the commission in collaboration with the British Council.

Ribadu, who was represented at the workshop by the Director, Research, Innovation and Information Technology, Mal. Lawal Mohammed Faruk, also urged universities to increase investment in innovation hubs and adopt data-driven assessments to guide curriculum review and improve entrepreneurship education.

He stressed that entrepreneurship should not be treated as an isolated course or activity, but as a holistic enterprise embedded across university systems.

He said the commission has established benchmarks for monitoring Entrepreneurship Development Centres in universities, with emphasis on quality control, effective mentorship, sustainable funding and stronger university-industry partnerships.[EDCs]

Ribadu recalled that entrepreneurship education received a major boost following the Federal Government’s directive for universities to establish functional EDCs, leading to a significant expansion of entrepreneurship education across the Nigerian University System.

He said that whereas only about seven institutions had standardised entrepreneurship courses at the time, the sector had since evolved with a clearer operational framework for quality assurance.

The NUC boss said the commission had continued to support universities through funding, capacity building, infrastructure and staffing interventions.

He added that recent curriculum reforms under the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards [CCMAS] had provided universities with greater flexibility to respond to emerging skills needs.

Ribadu noted that 30 per cent of the CCMAS curriculum content was left to the discretion of individual universities, allowing them to introduce high-demand practical skills such as software engineering, data analytics and sustainable business models.

He said assessment was also moving beyond conventional theoretical examinations to practical outcomes, including prototyping, pitching and business-plan execution.

The Executive Secretary reaffirmed the NUC’s commitment to compliance and assessment visits to ensure that entrepreneurship programmes remained relevant to industry and capable of helping graduates transition from job seekers to job creators.

He further emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among universities, employers and industry in shaping entrepreneurship education and ensuring that graduates acquire competencies required in the world of work.

Speaking at the workshop, the facilitator, Mr Daniel Emenahor, who supports international partnerships between British and Nigerian universities, said the programme was designed to facilitate practical solutions for strengthening entrepreneurship education in Nigerian universities.

The British Council Nigeria representative, Ms Donna McGowan, commended the NUC for its leadership in advancing entrepreneurship education and sustaining its partnership with the council.

She urged universities to use the opportunity to strengthen entrepreneurship education and make it an integral component of institutional development.

McGowan said universities had an important role not only in preparing young people for employment but also in enabling them to develop innovative solutions to societal challenges and create opportunities for others.

She said the major challenge was to move entrepreneurship beyond being merely a centre, course, competition or annual event to becoming an integral part of university operations.

She disclosed that the framework being explored at the workshop focused on six interconnected dimensions: Strategy, Environment, Partnerships, Pedagogy, Implementation and Impact.

According to her, a university could have a renowned entrepreneurship centre, but without institutional support, meaningful partnerships, appropriate teaching approaches and measurable outcomes, its impact would remain limited.

She therefore urged participants to examine existing practices, identify what works and the barriers confronting their institutions, and develop practical actions that could be implemented.

A major highlight of the workshop was the presentation and validation of the new Operational Guidelines for Entrepreneurship Development Centres in Nigerian Universities by the lead resource person and Professor at the University of Ibadan, Prof. Gbemisola Oke.

Oke said the guidelines had undergone several reviews and consultations involving the NUC and the British Council, resulting in what she described as a more streamlined framework.

She said the document provided guidance on the definition and functions of EDCs, staffing, infrastructure, funding sources, monitoring and evaluation.

The professor said the guidelines positioned EDCs within a university-wide entrepreneurship ecosystem rather than as standalone units, with every part of the university expected to contribute to entrepreneurial learning and development.

She said the objectives of the guidelines included providing a uniform national framework for EDCs, embedding entrepreneurial competencies across academic programmes in line with the CCMAS and global frameworks, strengthening university-community and university-industry linkages, and institutionalising a culture of innovation, monitoring and evaluation.

Oke said the framework drew from global best practices, including the European Entrepreneurship Competence Framework and the Triple Helix Model of University-Industry-Government collaboration, while being adapted to Nigeria’s Agenda 2050, the National Development Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals.

She explained that the new approach represented a shift from a centrally taught, standalone entrepreneurship course to a cross-cutting capability integrated across disciplines.

The framework, she said, would cover the full cycle from research and invention through intellectual property protection, licensing, commercialisation and revenue generation.

She added that assessment under the new guidelines would increasingly focus on practical outcomes such as patents, prototypes and business creation, supported by appropriate intellectual property policies, infrastructure and incentive mechanisms.

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has been honoured with the ‘Workers Minister of the Decade Award’ for his outstanding leadership and commitment to workers’ issues.

The award was presented to the minister during the 2026 National Pre-Retirement Summit (NPS 2026), held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

The presentation was led by veteran labour leader Comrade Chief Godwin Abumisi, president of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, alongside Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Presenting the award, the organisers described the recognition as a reward for ‘outstanding leadership and commitment to workers’ issues,’ acknowledging the minister’s contributions to matters affecting workers and pensioners.

The recognition formed part of activities at the two-day summit, which brought together representatives of more than 100 public and private sector organisations to deliberate on retirement planning, financial preparedness and post-service wellbeing.

The summit, convened by XEM Consultants Limited, was held under the theme: ‘Own Your Retirement: From Planning to Action’.

The event provided a platform for stakeholders from government, organised labour, the private sector and other institutions to examine strategies for preparing workers for a secure and productive retirement.

The ‘Workers Minister of the Decade Award’ adds to the growing recognition of Keyamo’s engagement with labour and workers’ concerns in the course of his public service.

The minister, who received the award in the presence of labour leaders and other stakeholders, expressed appreciation for the recognition and reaffirmed the importance of protecting the dignity, welfare and rights of workers, both during their active service and in retirement

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 9,324,349 young Nigerians were newly registered during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercises, as it unveiled nine returning and new Youth Ambassadors to deepen youth engagement ahead of the 2027 general election.

Chairman of the Commission, Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the disclosure at the investiture ceremony of newly appointed Youth Ambassadors in Abuja on Wednesday, 30 September 2026. He was represented by National Commissioner, Prof Rhoda Gumus.

Amupitan said the figure underscored the growing importance of youth participation, stressing that the active involvement of young Nigerians was vital to strengthening democracy.

‘This figure reinforces the critical role of active youth participation in Nigeria’s electoral process, which also helps in shaping electoral outcomes and strengthening public confidence in the democratic process,’ he said.

He said the appointment of Youth Ambassadors was a deliberate step to strengthen the connection between the Commission and the youth population.

‘We believe that youths are more likely to engage with electoral information when it is communicated through credible, relatable and influential voices within their communities and social networks,’ he said.

He urged the ambassadors to use their influence to raise voter awareness, promote peaceful participation, counter misinformation and uphold integrity and impartiality.

In his welcome address, National Commissioner and Chairman, Outreach and Partnership Committee, Prof Kunle Ajayi, called on the ambassadors to speak against electoral violence and manipulation and promote accurate information.

Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, represented by Deputy Director, Network and Social Mobilisation, Mrs Lami Bature, urged the ambassadors to promote electoral awareness and peaceful participation and join the fight against misinformation and electoral violence.

Director-General, National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, represented by Director, Civic Values and Democracy Education, Dr Olukemi Afolayan, also urged the ambassadors to promote civic responsibility and electoral integrity.

Director, Gender and Inclusivity Department, Mrs Lakunuya Dorothy Bello, said the Youth Ambassadors Initiative, established in 2014, connects the Commission with young Nigerians through credible youth figures to promote voter education and responsible digital engagement.

Deputy Director, Inclusivity, Haj Habiba Abdulkareem Jatto, said the initiative would strengthen partnership with influential young Nigerians and promote greater participation.

The nine ambassadors, drawn from the movie, music and comedy industries, are Amal Umar, Christopher Yohanna (Uncle CY), Alex Kool Ibeh (Mr Kool), Mike Godson, Emmanuel Ikubese, Seun Ajayi, Ibrahim Tukur Bello (Disability Is Not Inability), Sunday Agbaji and Thompson Ukeki.

Highlights included the presentation of certificates, plaques and ambassadorial mufflers, and the administration of the Oath of Commitment.

In a related development, INEC presented a Certificate of Return to the winner of the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency bye-election held on 19 September 2026.

The Certificate was presented to the Member-elect, Hon Kallamu MaiJama’a, by the National Commissioner supervising Gombe State, Rear Adm Jamila Abubakar Sadiq Malafa (rtd), at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

MaiJama’a commended the Commission, describing the exercise as free, fair and credible.

The Presidential Campaign Organisation of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate, Mr Seyi Makinde, and his running mate, Mr Lawal Daura, has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s 66th Independence Day address, describing it as ‘rhetorical’ and bereft of concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic hardship, poverty and insecurity.

The campaign organisation said the address failed to present specific, measurable and binding economic and security policy commitments for which Nigerians could hold the administration accountable.

The Director of Strategic Communications of the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr Richard Ihediwa, gave the campaign body’s position in Abuja on Thursday while reacting to the President’s address.

Ihediwa stated: ‘It is indeed disappointing that the President’s address failed to present specific, measurable and binding economic and security policy commitments for which Nigerians can hold him accountable.

‘Instead, the speech remained vague and failed to provide concrete answers or direction on major national issues.

‘This lack of binding policy commitment shows that the All Progressives Congress administration has no solution to the challenges facing our nation.’

The organisation said the four consecutive Independence Day speeches delivered by Tinubu since assuming office in 2023 had contained promises of a better future without delivering the expected improvements to Nigerians.

It also faulted the President’s claim that his administration’s reforms had not weakened the economy, arguing that the removal of the petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira had triggered severe economic disruptions.

The organisation claimed that the reforms had contributed to a sharp increase in the price of petrol and a significant weakening of the naira, with consequences for businesses and households across the country.

According to Ihediwa, the impact of the reforms included the weakening of the productive sector, closure of businesses, increased transportation and food costs, reduced purchasing power and rising poverty.

The campaign organisation also alleged that the departure of several multinational companies from Nigeria reflected the difficult operating environment created by the government’s economic policies.

Ihediwa said the President’s promise of prosperity was not matched by decisive plans to address the country’s infrastructure deficit, estimated at $2.3 trillion, or clear commitments on agriculture, industrialisation and local manufacturing.

He also questioned the government’s borrowing plans, citing the country’s rising debt and the reported request for a $1.5 billion World Bank loan.

On insecurity, the organisation said the address failed to provide sufficient reassurance to families and communities affected by killings, abductions and other violent attacks.

Ihediwa added that the campaign organisation believed Nigerians deserved ‘a new leadership’ that would listen to citizens, understand their challenges, take responsibility and deliver results.

He declared that the organisation was confident that voters would support the APM presidential candidate, Engr. Seyi Makinde, whom he described as possessing the capacity, commitment and blueprint required to ‘Reset Nigeria’ and guarantee the security and wellbeing of citizens.

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, exercising the progressive power of mercy as enshrined in section 212(1)(d) of the Nigerian Constitution, has set free nine inmates serving various jail terms to mark Nigeria’s 66th anniversary.

The inmates are serving various jail terms in correctional centres across Adamawa and one is serving in Plateau State.

In a statement signed by the chief press secretary to the governor, Mr. Humuashi Wonosiko said the pardon granted to the convicts was to give all of them a second chance.

The Governor also commuted the death sentence of a tenth inmate to life imprisonment.

‘This pardon was part of activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, adding that the decision takes immediate effect.’

Those pardoned are Abubakar Dajo, held at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Jos; and Zabadi Ayuba and Salvation Nyamso, both at the Numan Custodial Centre. Six others, namely Amir Idris, Mohammed Saidu, Yaro Sambo, Buhari Salisu, Urube Samuel and Bamaiyi Amos, were ordered discharged from custodial centres in Jimeta, Ganye, Guyuk, Yola Old and Kojoli.

According to the statement, the Governor acted on the recommendation of the State Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy,

The state government has concluded all necessary legal and administrative formalities with the Nigerian Correctional Service, clearing the way for the immediate release of the beneficiaries and their smooth reintegration into society.

The gesture, the statement said, underscores the principle that correctional justice is not only about punishment, but also about rehabilitation, reform and the possibility of a second chance. It is also expected to help ease congestion in correctional facilities while strengthening the return of reformed inmates to their communities.

For the families of the nine pardoned inmates, the Governor’s decision is far more than an official pronouncement. It means the return of loved ones, renewed hope and a fresh beginning on Nigeria’s Independence Day.

As Adamawa joins the nation in celebrating 66 years of independence, the Governor’s gesture adds a humanitarian dimension to the occasion, with a message centred on mercy, rehabilitation and second chances.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on Nigerians not to despair but to keep hope alive for a better Nigeria.

It admitted that while the country had yet to be where it wished to be on the global map, it must still continue to hope to reach there.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, stated this on Thursday in commemoration of Nigeria’s 66th independence anniversary.

‘The PDP acknowledges that, as a nation and as a people, we are not yet where we aspire to be. However, we must not despair.

‘The future of Nigeria remains bright, and our collective hope must remain stronger than our present challenges.

‘Nigeria is a blessed nation, endowed with enormous human and natural resources. Let us harness these resources, alongside our rich ethnic, cultural and religious diversity into an instrument of unity, creativity and national progress’, the National Publicity Secretary, Honourable Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, stated in Abuja on Thursday.

The PDP called on all Nigerians to continue to preach peace, unity and national cohesion, adding, ‘Our leaders and followers alike must remain patriotic, reject violence and corruption, and always place the interests of Nigeria above personal and sectional considerations.’

On its part, the Interim National Working Committee (INWC) of the PDP chaired by Dr Tanimu Turaki, urged Nigerians to borrow from the example of the country’s founding fathers who were resilient in the struggle for independence by shunning inducement and confronting intimidation.

‘Worthy of note is that when the moment for self-rule came, they rejected inducements and resisted threats designed to defeat their aim. They did not delay, and they did not miss their moment’, Turaki said on Thursday in a message he personally signed.

He said as Nigeria turned 66, it was now the turn of the citizens to rise in unison to ‘shun inducement and stand firm against intimidation.’

Turaki added, ‘Now, more than ever, we must be determined, at the earliest opportunity, to elect a government that will build a Nigeria that works for all, not just some: a nation of security, economic opportunity, unity and justice.

‘That responsibility now rests on us at the ballot box. This is our own time, and we must not let it pass.’

NILDS advocates unity, inclusivity in nation-building

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, has called on Nigerians to strengthen national unity, embrace inclusivity and remain committed to the collective task of nation-building as the country marks its 66th independence anniversary.

Sulaiman made the call in a goodwill message he issued on Thursday in which he congratulated Nigerians on the anniversary and reflected on the country’s journey since independence on October 1, 1960.

He described Nigeria’s 66 years of independence as a testament to the resilience of its people and the efforts of successive administrations to advance the vision and aspirations of the nation’s founding fathers.

The DG, while aligning with the theme of this year’s celebration, ‘From Reforms to Stability: Consolidating Nigeria’s Renewed Hope for Shared Prosperity,’ noted that the country’s diversity should be harnessed as an asset for national development rather than allowed to become a source of division.

‘Our diversity across gender, ethnicity, region and religion should remain a source of strength rather than division,’ he said.

Sulaiman stressed the need for greater collective participation in nation-building, urging citizens to contribute actively to addressing the country’s security and developmental challenges.

According to him, issues of national cohesion, gender inclusivity, unity, economic development and legislative governance remain central to NILDS’ mandate of strengthening democratic institutions, promoting good governance and advancing sustainable national development.

Sulaiman, a former Minister of National Planning, also felicitated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the President of the Senate, Godswill Obot Akpabio; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Abbas Tajudeen.

He acknowledged that Nigeria had yet to achieve all its aspirations but noted that the country had continued to evolve and strengthen its democratic institutions.

The NILDS boss consequently urged Nigerians to sustain their faith in the country and uphold the values of patriotism and collective responsibility.

‘Let us remain actively engaged in building a peaceful, inclusive, prosperous and united Nigeria,’ he urged.

He called on citizens to uphold national unity and play their part in overcoming the challenges confronting the nation, stressing the importance of collective action in consolidating Nigeria’s democratic and developmental gains.

Sulaiman wished Nigerians a peaceful and restful Independence Day celebration and prayed for continued peace, stability and progress for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

NIGERIA’s oil industry has generated enormous revenue for the country, but it has also left behind a difficult environmental question: what happens when an oil well or petroleum facility reaches the end of its productive life? The answer should not be that the well is simply abandoned and forgotten. Proper decommissioning is an essential part of responsible petroleum production. When an oil well, pipeline, installation or associated facility is no longer economically viable, it must be safely closed, the site properly restored and measures put in place to prevent pollution long after production has stopped. Where this is poorly done, the consequences can extend far beyond the immediate oilfield. Contaminants can enter surrounding soil, groundwater, creeks, rivers and wetlands. In oil-producing communities, where freshwater systems are closely connected to fishing, farming and everyday life, the consequences can be particularly severe. A threat to aquatic life, flora and fauna.

The environmental consequences of poor decommissioning are not merely theoretical. An inadequately plugged or abandoned well can create pathways through which hydrocarbons and other contaminants migrate into the environment. Improperly dismantled infrastructure can leave contaminated materials, pipelines, tanks and equipment behind. Disturbed and polluted land can also affect vegetation and wildlife habitats. Once pollutants reach waterways, the damage can move through the ecosystem. Fish and other aquatic organisms may be exposed to harmful substances. Vegetation along riverbanks and wetlands may be degraded, while contamination of breeding and feeding grounds can affect aquatic populations. The result is a chain of environmental harm: *polluted soil can affect groundwater; groundwater can feed streams and wetlands; waterways can carry contaminants downstream; and those contaminants can eventually reach coastal and marine ecosystems.*

For communities whose livelihoods depend on fishing and agriculture, environmental degradation can therefore become an economic and social crisis as well. There is an important international-law dimension that Nigeria cannot afford to overlook. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) places significant obligations on states concerning protection of the marine environment. Article 192 provides that states have an obligation to protect and preserve the marine environment. Article 194 requires states to take measures to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment from various sources. Most importantly for the issue of abandoned petroleum infrastructure, Article 207 addresses pollution from land-based sources. It requires states to adopt laws and regulations to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the marine environment from land-based sources, including pollution that can enter the marine environment through rivers and other pathways.

Article 208 is also relevant where pollution arises from seabed activities under national jurisdiction and from installations and structures associated with those activities. Therefore, where poor decommissioning of petroleum facilities results in pollution that reaches the marine environment, the issue is no longer merely a local environmental-management failure. It can raise questions concerning Nigeria’s obligations under international law. That does not mean that every instance of poor decommissioning automatically constitutes a proven violation of UNCLOS. The facts, source of pollution, environmental pathway, applicable Nigerian law and nature of the resulting harm would have to be established. But the obligations under UNCLOS provide a clear international environmental framework within which Nigeria’s decommissioning practices must be assessed.

Nigeria is not without laws and institutions to address the problem. The Petroleum Industry Act 2021 contains provisions dealing with decommissioning and abandonment. Among other things, the Act provides for decommissioning and abandonment plans and establishes a financial mechanism intended to meet decommissioning costs. It also provides mechanisms for addressing unfulfilled decommissioning obligations. Nigeria subsequently issued the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Decommissioning and Abandonment Regulations 2023, which provide a regulatory framework covering issues such as decommissioning plans, permanent plugging and abandonment of wells, decommissioning of installations, public consultation, post-completion activities and decommissioning funds. The framework has since been updated. The Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Decommissioning and Abandonment Regulations 2026 provide that decommissioning and abandonment of upstream petroleum wells, installations, structures, utilities, plants and pipelines on land and offshore are to be conducted in accordance with good international petroleum industry practice.

The Federal Ministry of Environment also identifies monitoring and certification of facility decommissioning and oil-well closure among the functions of its Oil and Gas Division. The challenge, therefore, is not simply the absence of legislation. The real question is enforcement. The danger of treating abandonment as an afterthought. For decades, Nigeria’s petroleum debate has concentrated heavily on exploration, production and revenue. Decommissioning has often received far less public attention.

Indeed, the period after production may be one of the most environmentally sensitive stages in the life of a petroleum asset.

A responsible decommissioning programme should establish, among other things, how wells will be permanently plugged, how contaminated soil and materials will be managed, how infrastructure will be removed or safely retained, how affected ecosystems will be restored, and how the site will be monitored after closure. There must also be transparency about who bears the cost.

The Petroleum Industry Act provides for decommissioning and abandonment funds, including circumstances in which the regulator may access the fund to have outstanding obligations performed where a licensee fails to comply with its decommissioning plan.

This principle is important: the environmental cost of petroleum production should not ultimately be transferred to taxpayers and host communities.

Host communities must not be left behind. There is another dimension that deserves urgent attention: the people who live around these facilities.

Host communities should not learn about the closure of an oil facility only after the operator has left. Meaningful consultation, disclosure of decommissioning plans, environmental monitoring and access to information should be central to the process. Communities should know what is being removed, what is being left behind, what risks remain and who is responsible for remediation.

Where contamination has occurred, affected communities should have accessible mechanisms for reporting pollution and seeking remediation.

Environmental restoration should also be measurable. It is not enough for an operator to declare that a site has been restored. Independent monitoring should determine whether water quality, soil quality, vegetation and ecological conditions have actually recovered to legally and scientifically acceptable standards.

Nigeria cannot continue to measure the success of its petroleum industry only by barrels produced and revenues generated.

The true measure of a responsible petroleum industry must also include what happens after the last barrel has been extracted.

If an oil well is properly decommissioned, it can mark the beginning of environmental recovery. If it is abandoned carelessly, it can become a permanent source of pollution.

Nigeria must enforce its decommissioning laws and regulations, require adequate financial provisioning, strengthen environmental monitoring, involve host communities, ensure transparent reporting of abandoned petroleum assets and hold operators accountable for environmental liabilities.

The country must also ensure that its petroleum policies and practices remain consistent with its international obligations, including its duty under UNCLOS to protect and preserve the marine environment.

Oil may have an end date. Environmental responsibility does not.

When an oil well dies, Nigeria must ensure that the environment does not die with it.

Dr. Oyeleke is Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties, Oyo State.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday commenced preparations for the 2026 basic training programme for new recruits with a retreat for trainers drawn from various training disciplines.

The retreat, held in Lagos, brought together trainers responsible for areas including drill, medicals, security, sports and other aspects of the Service’s training programme.

Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, represented by the Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Human Resource Development, Frank Onyeka, said the initiative was part of the innovations introduced by the Service to bring trainers together under one platform rather than having them operate in separate segments.

Adeniyi urged the trainers to work as a team and review the training modules with a view to producing officers the Service and the society would be proud of.

He said working in silos could undermine the desired results, stressing the need for collaboration and knowledge sharing among the trainers.

‘If you don’t work like a team, you will not get the desired results. Working in silos will not give us what we want, but if you come together as a team, it is a natural answer,’ he said.

The Customs boss also urged heads of the various training units to take full responsibility for their areas while remaining open to contributions from others.

He said nobody had a monopoly of knowledge and advised the trainers not to dismiss or condemn the views of their colleagues.

‘To deliver this process and to get the desired results, all of us must work as one,’ Adeniyi said.

He recalled his experience as a trainer in 2008 and 2009, saying the officers trained during that period had risen through the ranks, with some serving as Assistant Controllers.

According to him, the success recorded by those trainees was partly attributable to the collaborative efforts of the trainers at the time.

Explaining the rationale behind the retreat, Adeniyi said the Service had previously trained its trainers in segments, with different resource persons and instructors meeting them at different times.

He said the new approach was designed to bring all the trainers under one roof to promote a common understanding and ensure that everyone worked towards the same objective.

‘You bring a resource person, talk to them. You bring the drill instructors, talk to them. It was taking time. So, instead of breaking these segments, we brought everybody under one roof for the same purpose, to get the same results and drive towards the same purpose,’ he said.

He added that the approach would save time and promote greater coordination among the trainers ahead of the commencement of the basic training programme.

On what he expects from the new recruits, Adeniyi urged them to demonstrate discipline, perseverance, and calmness throughout their training.

‘They should be calm, they should be gentle, they should have perseverance, and they should exhibit a very high level of discipline,’ he said.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Commandant of the Ikeja Training College, Deputy Comptroller Precious Atah, described the retreat as the first of its kind.

Atah said the retreat was important to set the pace for the training programme and urged the trainers to approach the exercise with an open mind.

The Coordinator of the retreat, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs Greg Itotoh (rtd.), also addressed participants at he event.

He charged the trainers to be free to discuss anything without holding back, noting that in such a way, grey areas will be exposed and solutions will not be far-fetched.