Today, World Environment Day,  in Baku, Azerbaijan, world leaders are gathering under a beautiful theme: “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.” They will take photos. They will give speeches, and then they will fly home on private jets.

Meanwhile, in Nigeria, the rain is coming. And we already know what that means.

We鈥檝e been behind for a long time. We Just Didn’t Know It Yet

In 2015, Nigeria had a government that made a lot of promises about the environment. said we would reach 23% clean electricity by 2025. The target for electricity access was ambitious: move from 40% of the population having power to 75% by 2020. The forests, though already devastated, between 2000 and 2005, Nigeria had lost 55.7% of its primary forest, giving it the highest deforestation rate in the world over that period, were supposed to be protected and restored.

In reality, most of us were just trying to manage NEPA (electricity). You would know, you were also managing.

The warning signs were already there. . Floods, drought, and desertification were already degrading the environment, especially in the semi-arid north. Nearly three-quarters of Nigerian households were using wood fuel for cooking. The land was tired, the air was dirty and polluted, and the government’s plan for all of it was mostly a PDF.

Today, June 5, 2026: Are We Any Closer To An Environmentally Safe Country?

Here is the current state of the country you live in

On electricity: Every single target from 2015 has been missed. Only 21 megawatts of renewable capacity were added between 2015 and 2022. In 2024, fossil gas still supplied about 80% of electricity generation. The share of renewables in Nigeria’s overall power mix has barely changed over the last five years. Over still lack reliable electricity. We did not solve the generator problem. We just started buying solar.

On floods: Flooding is no longer a disaster in Nigeria. It is a yearly subscription, one Nigerian can鈥檛 remember subscribing to. , flooding killed over 1,200 people, injured at least 2,712, and displaced 1.2 million across 31 states. Then 2025 came, and one single flood in Mokwa, Niger State, killed over 500 people, left 600 missing, destroyed more than 4,000 homes, collapsed two bridges, and swept away two roads. The cause? Heavy rainfall, yes. But also: poor drainage and deforestation.

We are not just victims of climate change. We are contributors to our own suffering.

On plastic: Nigeria generates more than , with over 70% ending up in landfills, drainage channels, and water bodies. Lagos alone generates between 50 million and 60 million discarded sachet water nylons every single day. Every. Single. Day. Those nylons are not disappearing. They are sitting in your drainage. And when the rain comes, they are the reason your street becomes a river.

On forests: hectares of tree cover, at a rate of 163,000 hectares per year, the 15th fastest deforestation rate among all nations. The trees are not growing back fast enough. The desert is not waiting.

The maths is not mathing, and that鈥檚 because nothing has changed

If Nigeria continues on its current path, the floods will get worse and more frequent because deforestation keeps removing the natural buffers that absorb rainfall. Food prices will keep rising because northern farmlands will keep shrinking as the Sahara moves south. More people will die in their homes during rainy seasons, not from bad luck, but from policy failure dressed up as an act of God. 

Nigeria has , but there is a major funding gap, and experts criticise the continuing lack of grid access for millions of citizens, pointing to funding problems, energy loss, corruption, and poor maintenance as the core drivers of the crisis.

by Climate Analytics and the New Climate Institute currently rates Nigeria’s climate targets and policies as “Almost sufficient”, which sounds polite until you realise that “almost” is doing a lot of heavy lifting in a country where . 

The trajectory for 2036, without mincing words, does not look promising, especially if the current pace holds. More sachet water is blocking more drains. More families will rebuild from flood damage they cannot afford. More generators, more fuel costs, more carbon in the air. It鈥檚 a natural disaster armageddon.

So Who Is Actually Responsible Here?

Let us be clear about this, because too many people want to make this a “we all have a role to play” conversation and then go home feeling good about themselves.

The government owes you big time

The Federal Ministry of Environment exists. NESREA (the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency) exists. The National Emergency Management Agency exists. These are not volunteer organisations. They are funded by your taxes to protect you from exactly what is happening right now.

The government is responsible for building and maintaining drainage infrastructure. For enforcing the laws against illegal dumping. For holding oil companies accountable for the decades of devastation in the Niger Delta. For funding the Great Green Wall reforestation effort properly, not just on paper. They are responsible for ensuring that Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 climate commitments, including the pledge announced by Vice President Kashim Shettima to r,  actually happen on the ground and not just in a UNGA speech.

Hold them to it. Ask your local government rep why your drainage is blocked. Ask your state government why the environmental impact of that new development was not assessed. Ask the federal government why the National Gas Expansion Programme, designed to convert over 30 million homes from wood fuel to LPG, has seen no significant developments.

You owe yourself and your neighbours

Stop throwing sachets on the ground. That is not a moral lecture; what it is is a direct line between your behaviour and your street flooding in July. Those 50 to 60 million sachet bags Lagos produces every day? They come from hands. Our Hands. 

Here is what you can actually do, starting today

Sort your waste: Many estates and local waste collectors now accept separated plastics. Apps like Wecyclers and Pakam connect Lagos and Abuja residents to recyclers who will pay them for their sorted waste. Turning your rubbish into money is the most Nigerian solution to an environmental problem that has ever existed. 

Stop burning: Open burning of household waste releases toxic fumes and contributes to the very air quality crisis that is quietly damaging lungs across the country. If your estate burns waste in a corner, push back and report it to your state environmental protection agency or your local government.

Go outside and plant something: The Nigerian Conservation Foundation runs community tree-planting programmes you can join or support. The Great Green Wall Nigeria initiative is actively looking for partners at the local government level. One tree does not fix a forest, but 200 million Nigerians planting one tree each absolutely does.

Use your voice as a citizen and consumer. We cannot ask for change and not play our part in bringing that change to fruition.

The Bottom Line

World Environment Day is not a day to feel inspired and then go back to normal. It is a day to look at the numbers: , , the 50 million sachet bags Lagos throws away before lunch, according to , and decide that “normal” is not acceptable.

The floods are not a coincidence, the dying forests are not a coincidence, the food inflation people are complaining about at the market is directly connected to soil degradation and drought in the north.

The government must do its job, and while it is busy deciding on how to do it,  we must do ours.

Happy World Environment Day. Now go sort your waste.

We don鈥檛 always recognise ripple effects, and oftentimes never know who is touched by them. For Elizabeth Afadzwana Ivase, that moment came at just nine years old, at a political rally where she heard figures like Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti speak on independence and the role of women. It would go on to define the trajectory of her life and ignite her lifelong passion for equality and public service.

Elizabeth Ivase hails from Gboko, Benue State. At 18 years old while a student at Sacred Heart Teachers’ College in Kaduna, she testified before the Willink Commission, a body appointed by the colonial government to investigate the concerns of minority groups and recommend safeguards. Chaired by British lawyer Sir Henry Willink, the commission intended to address the anxieties of ethnic minorities ahead of Nigeria’s 1960 independence. 

Ivase’s testimony in Kaduna boldly advocated for Northern women鈥檚 civic rights, including the vote, which they lacked due to regional customs. In doing so, she challenged Northern leaders such as the NPC鈥檚 legal adviser, Abdul Ganiyu Abdul Razaq, despite discouragement from peers like Ladi Kwali. Her intervention contributed to the broader momentum that would secure women鈥檚 franchise nationwide by the 1979 elections.

An astute educator,  Elizabeth鈥檚 career began in 1957, the year she testified before Willink, as a teacher. She rose and became the first Tiv woman appointed Chief Education Officer. She made significant contributions on the Board of Governors for Women Teachers College in Kabba, where she served from 1959 to 1961, and the Tiv Local Education Authority, where she championed the establishment of day secondary schools to expand access to education in rural Benue, particularly for girls. 

Her dedication earned her a Bachelor of Education and Master of Education, which further solidified her as a leading proponent of education for the girl child during Nigeria’s second republic. She supported institutions like Katsina Ala College of Education and facilitated policies to reduce barriers for female students in the North.

Before joining politics at the federal level, she served as a Gboko Town Council member in 1971 and was involved in the Benue-Plateau State administration as the first female member of the Benue Plateau Scholarship Board and the first and only female member of the Benue-Plateau Leaders of Thought group from 1973 to 1974.  She eventually rose from grassroots activism, formally entering politics during the Second Republic when she was appointed by Benue State Governor Aper Aku as the first woman in the state’s Executive Council in 1979. 

She went on to serve as Commissioner for Special Duties between 1979 and 1982.  In this role, she initiated infrastructure projects like the Taraku Soya Mill and the Ahungwa Earth Dam, which boosted local agriculture and economy. 

She also broke national barriers in February 1982 when President Shehu Shagari named her Federal Minister of State for Education, a role she held until 1983 and a historic first for any woman from Northern Nigeria. In this position, she focused on educational reforms and women鈥檚 inclusion.

Following the 1983 military coup that ended civilian rule, Elizabeth transitioned from core politics to community and civil society leadership. She served as chair of the Benue Women’s Commission for two years in 1991, a role that enabled her to further empower women economically and socially. 

Afterwards, she served as chair of the Nigerian Association of Women Entrepreneurs Board of Trustees. She also led the Mzough U Kase Tiv Wives Association worldwide, promoting cultural preservation and support for Tiv women and culture. 

Elizabeth鈥檚 legacy lives on as the first woman in Northern Nigeria to serve in several political roles and the first woman from the region to be appointed a federal minister. 

Every year, on the  25th of May, the African Union (AU) celebrates the diversity of the continent through the Africa Day commemoration. The celebration is also always accompanied by accountability and reflections regarding the welfare of the continent.

This year, the African Union wants its member states to focus on Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063. It is an ambitious theme for a continent where millions still cannot access the most basic of things. In Nigeria, the distance between that continental vision and daily reality is disappointing.

According to the 2021 carried out by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 鈥�90% of approximately two hundred and forty million Nigerians lack access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene services.鈥�

This lack of basic WASH resources bears dire consequences for Nigerians, who can鈥檛 afford to escape it. In June 2025, for instance, Nigeria recorded across 34 states, making it the second-worst-affected country in West and Central Africa, according to UNICEF.

Behind these numbers is a person with a life, a plan, a future, and a government that has, for decades, failed to deliver the most basic of things.

But this article isn鈥檛 just centred on government failures. It highlights six Nigerians who decided to step in when the government failed.

Meet Elizabeth Korolo & Abdulsalam Ajara

In 2023, what started off as an idea while boiling water in the kitchen ended with two 16-year-old girls inventing a Bi-thermal water distillation device built with sand, gravel, charcoal, and fibre. This device turned contaminated water into safe drinkable water for  Makoko, a largely impoverished community in Lagos mainland built around a waterfront and plagued by extreme pollution and open sewage.

As residents of the Makoko community themselves, Elizabeth and Abdulsalam鈥檚 motivation, amongst other things, included the danger of going far distances to fetch water.  A reality that left them and other young girls at the mercy of street urchins, and exposed them to cholera and typhoid, their community faced due to being surrounded by undrinkable water.

This invention meant that inhabitants of rural and riverine communities could access water at minimum cost using solar energy, making it economically viable. Elizabeth and Abdulsalam made history, winning the Stockholm Junior Water Prize in Nigeria and gaining global attention.

Joshua Ichor

鈥淔or the first time in months, we don鈥檛 have to worry about whether the water is safe. We can drink it, cook with it and trust it鈥�, said Kwatri Mnana, a visually impaired student of the University of Jos. 

Joshua Ichor made this possible. After suffering for hours waiting for people to pump water and falling severely ill with Typhoid fever, such that doctors found it terrifying to attend to him due to his peeling skin, he knew that something had to be done.

And so, he set out to build water solution, a startup centred on using smart underground sensors and a mobile app to find clean water, catch natural energy, and instantly alert people if a pump breaks.

This dream has led him to communities in northern Nigeria where he has consumable water because, according to him, if he doesn’t go there, then it鈥檚 not just insecurity that kills people, but waterborne diseases as well. A 22-year-old man decided to lend a hand in fixing his country, a decision that has seen children in underserved areas have access to clean water.

Emeka Nelson

Water and energy are more connected than most people think. Without power, pumps don’t run. Without pumps, boreholes sit idle. Without boreholes, communities walk miles. It is a cycle that keeps water out of reach for millions of Nigerians, and it is the cycle that Emeka Nelson decided to break.

Emeka was twelve years old when he lost a close friend to a generator fume incident. That loss sent him on an endless search for a cleaner, safer alternative. By 26, he found it: a generator that runs on water. Too good to be true, but Emeka tested this in his two-bedroom apartment in Awka, Anambra state, and it worked.

With no formal engineering education, his personal savings, chippings from friends and family and ninety-five per cent of locally sourced materials, he did what many would have termed impossible.
For rural and riverine communities where water exists but power doesn’t, this kind of innovation is a lifeline. A water-powered generator means pumps can run and boreholes become viable in off-grid communities.

In 2026, with electricity and fuel as luxury goods for the average Nigerian, Emeka’s invention speaks directly to that gap and is proof that technological advancement and water security are not separate conversations.

Chibuzor Mirian Azubike

In 2011, Chibuzor was posted to Bigi Tudun Wada, a town in Bauchi state, Nigeria, for her mandatory one-year  National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).  She didn鈥檛 know it at the time, but that posting would be the catalyst for helping over 6,000 people access clean and drinkable water.

At the time of her posting, Chibuzor recounts experiencing violence and unrest in Bauchi State, brought on by the 2011 presidential election that saw Goodluck Jonathan sworn in and the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency.
Despite these, she decided to stay back and very quickly found out that the lack of water in the state not only increased the potential of widespread waterborne diseases, but also caused the death of many children and kept young girls out of school, due to the long distances they trekked to fetch water for their families.

By October 2011, Chibuzor had constructed the first borehole in Bigi Tudun Wada, providing potable water for a community that had lost all hope for potable water. This act was followed by many more acts of community service that earned her the name 鈥淟ady Haske,鈥� meaning Lady of Light, and a chieftaincy title in the community.

Years later, she founded Haske Water Aid and Empowerment Foundation. An initiative that has gone on to provide clean water for over 12,000 people in rural communities across Nigeria. In a 2025 interview with  Guardian News, Chibuzor says, 鈥淚n many communities in Nigeria, trust for potable water has been eroded by years of broken promises and failed systems鈥�. 

Wilson Atumeyi

As an 11-year-old child, Wilson and his friends knew that the only way to access water was to walk miles away to fetch water from wells dug by farmers.  To scoop the water, one person in the group would have to go down into the well and pass up the pail of water to others.

As he grew older, it didn鈥檛 make any sense to him that his community, especially children, had to go through dangerous hoops to access water.  So in 2019, he founded , a non-profit that tracks government spending and international aid for water, sanitation and hygiene

Within a year, Wilson had already led an investigation in Tika town in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The organisation was tipped off about the dire situation caused by a lack of water. Wilson and his team of volunteers reached out to the Chairman of the local government area council, all to no avail. Undeterred, he probed the Minister of State of the FCT while sharing the story of the community online, which garnered reactions, enough to facilitate the drilling of a borehole in the community within a week.
This relentless activism allowed over 2,000 inhabitants of Tika town to have access to potable water. Today, Waterwide has gone on to win international grants that have made it possible to expand its operations and help keep track of governmental projects worth millions of Naira.

Why these efforts matter

The African Union asks its member states to ensure sustainable water availability and safe sanitation for their people. The question this Africa Day is not whether Nigeria has the vision for a water-secure future. The vision exists. The question is whether the institutions meant to carry it will finally show up or whether they will continue to leave that work to the Elizabeths, the Wilsons, the Chibuzors, who were never supposed to be doing it alone.

When citizens become the last line of defence against cholera, against darkness, against thirst, it is worth asking plainly: For how long will Citizens perform the job of the government?

We want to hear about your personal experiences that reflect how politics or public systems affect daily life in Nigeria. Share your story with us 鈥攚e鈥檇 love to hear from you!

Lagos, Nigeria – Jameson Nigeria is proud to announce Kazeem Adefuye and Akilla Micheal Adebisi as regional winners of the global Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series, a competition that celebrates creativity and craftsmanship within the bartender community.

The Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series invites bartenders from across the world to create original cocktails inspired by Jameson Black Barrel, using locally sourced ingredients while showcasing their cocktail-making skills through video submissions.

From entries submitted globally, 26 regional winners were selected based on creativity, cocktail concept, video quality, and brand knowledge.

Representing Nigeria among these global winners are Kazeem Adefuye and Akilla Micheal Adebisi, two bartenders whose innovative cocktails reflect the character of the Jameson Black Barrel brand.

As regional winners, both bartenders will travel to Ireland in September for the Jameson Host Summit, an all-expenses-paid experience bringing together bartenders from around the world for mentorship, collaboration, and the global finals of the competition.

During the summit, the Top 10 finalists will be selected to present their cocktails live to an international panel of judges. From there, three global champions will each receive a prize of 鈧�5,000.

Speaking on the achievement, Evane Chenuet, Marketing Director, Pernod Ricard, said: 鈥淲e are incredibly proud of Kazeem and Akilla for representing Nigeria on a global stage. The Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series celebrates creativity and the craft of bartending, and these two bartenders embody that spirit. We look forward to supporting them as they head to Ireland and continue to showcase Nigerian talent to the world.鈥�

The Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series continues Jameson鈥檚 commitment to supporting and elevating the bartender community by providing a platform for talent and innovation.

As the competition progresses toward the global finals, Nigeria proudly stands behind Kazeem Adefuye and Akilla Micheal Adebisi as they represent the country and the local cocktail culture on the world stage.

For more information about the Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series, visit:

About Pernod Ricard Nigeria

Pernod Ricard Nigeria is the local affiliate of Pernod Ricard, a global leader in wines and spirits.

Pernod Ricard holds a comprehensive portfolio of premium and luxury brands, with 16 out of the top 100 spirit brands in the world, including Jameson Irish Whiskey, Beefeater Gin, Martell Cognac, Seagram鈥檚 Imperial Blue Whisky, Absolut Vodka, Ballantine鈥檚, Chivas Regal, The Glenlivet Scotch Whisky, Inverroche, Olmeca Tequila, Malibu Liqueur, Imperial Black, and G.H. Mumm Champagne.

About Jameson Irish Whiskey

Founded in 1780 by John Jameson, Jameson is the best-selling Irish whiskey in the world. Produced in the distillery in Midleton, County Cork, from malted and unmalted Irish barley, Jameson鈥檚 blended whiskeys are triple-distilled, resulting in exceptional smoothness.

鈥楯apa鈥�, the pattern of young Nigerians leaving home, has become a part of our collective condition and culture as Nigerians. In 2021, the year after the EndSARS protests shook the country, Nigeria recorded its highest net migration figure in recent history, . Before that, the number of Nigerians living outside Nigeria almost tripled between 1990 and 2020, . The statistics can, however, never capture what comes after the flight lands: the grief of building a life from scratch, and opening the door of a perfectly decorated apartment every evening and still feeling nothing. These raw emotions are what this anthology is about. In Here and There, six writers share what leaving really costs in joy and community, and what it sometimes unexpectedly gives back.

The first thing leaving takes is your community. Nigerian lawyer-turned-editor, Abeke Bello, writes about how she watched her family of seventeen disappear, until childhood weekends became occasional Instagram likes. She arrived in London and discovered that the community she had always taken for granted had never been a given at all.  鈥業鈥檓 not sure when next all seventeen of us will be gathered in the same place again,’ she writes. Most people who leave never are. When she does find the joy of rebuilding her community, she recognises the intentionality and work that goes into it. . 

Abeke was not alone in rebuilding. For Lade, it was more about getting a full grasp of what home has become. Her experience showed home was everywhere: in what and who she has and what and who she鈥檚 left behind. It鈥檚 where you鈥檙e from and where you鈥檙e going.

Survival also emerged as a key theme in these stories. For Chika, leaving Nigeria only changed what danger looked like. In 2021, he and his wife left Nigeria after the EndSARS protests when it dawned on them that they were not getting justice for lives lost during the brutality. What they did not realise was that on the other side, another kind of violence waited. ‘We are building a home in an English country,’ he writes, ‘or we are disappearing.’ He is still figuring it out. .

Daniel, similarly, after leaving due to EndSARs, spent months in London shrinking himself, hesitant about taking up space in his new world. It was only through a shared moment of grief with a friend that he realised home was about the people who hold the door open for you.

鈥婰eaving can also help you to rebuild your identity and take root somewhere. Adenike always had a feeling of rootlessness and had spent years learning how to make a space feel like hers in Lagos. London was quiet in a way Lagos never prepared her for. Grounded in faith, she began a new life by taking up hobbies like baking bread, riding a bike and reading.

Ona, meanwhile, writes about the frustration of not feeling at home in her new apartment in a new country. She had the perfect Houston apartment, decorated to her taste, but it didn’t feel like hers until she addressed her own internal unrest. She just had to feel at home in herself first. ‘I am learning that home starts with me and everything else follows,’ she writes. . 

Here and There sits with six people, as with candour, they try to find out what joy, home and community have become to them.

You know the type. Loud events. Celebrity lineups. Endless parties. Traffic that tests your patience.

So when we heard about Techmas Village in Lekki Phase 1, we weren鈥檛 expecting it to compete with the chaos that is Detty December.

Over two weeks, nearly 4,000 people visited Techmas Village by Enzo. Families, tourists, and fun seekers looking for different things to do in Lagos in December.

At first glance, it was all about tech. Virtual reality arenas. Augmented challenges. Competitive games.

But the real story wasn鈥檛 the gadgets, it was the parents getting unexpectedly competitive during Family-vs-Family games. The teenagers forgetting their phones. The laughter when someone failed spectacularly in VR.

From December 25th through early January, the space felt less like an event and more like a community square.

For visitors searching for family activities in Lagos during the festive season, Techmas Village offered something refreshingly participatory.

Powered by NSIA Insurance, it didn鈥檛 try to outshine the city. It just gave people a place to gather.

And with a larger Lekki Phase 1 space on the way, this Christmas experience in Lagos might quietly become a year-round staple.

Not every Detty December memory needs a headline act.

Sometimes it just needs somewhere to belong.

Curious about what comes next, Enzo Reality continues to host immersive experiences and community-driven events in Lekki Phase 1. 

Details on upcoming activities can be found at , with regular updates shared across , , , and .听

Visitors can also reach out directly via WhatsApp or find directions easily on Google Maps to plan their next visit.

The colourful ceremony brought together customers, transporters, and key stakeholders including the Honourable Commissioner for Housing Lagos State, Hon Moruf, Akinderu Fatai, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs, Cross Rivers State, members of the Board of Lafarge Africa Plc 鈥� Mrs. Adenike Ogunlesi, Mrs. Olusola Oworu and Mrs. Elenda Osima-Dokubo, and management and staff of the company; to honour exceptional performance and reinforce the strong partnerships that continue to drive the company鈥檚 growth across Nigeria.

The annual awards ceremony, regarded as the apex of Lafarge Africa鈥檚 commercial success, recognizes the invaluable contributions of customers and transporters who ensure the company鈥檚 products reach every part of the country. The 2025 edition celebrated partners whose dedication, integrity, and resilience have strengthened the company鈥檚 market leadership despite evolving economic realities.

Elder Ubong Bassey Obot of Ubotex Nigeria Limited emerged the National Volume Champion. Igwe Cosmas Ezeumeh Chizoba of C.C. Umeh and Sons Limited and Chief Etim Effiong Okon of Batoframoje Enterprises secured the titles of first and second runners-up, respectively. As the champion, Ubong Obot received a 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser. C.C. Umeh and Sons Limited and Batoframoje Enterprises were awarded a 2026 Toyota Prado and a 2026 Toyota Fortuner, respectively.听

Additionally, B.I.G MultiQuest Nigeria Limited was recognized as the National Winner- Best Transporter category and was awarded a 2026 Toyota Hilux.  Two customers who emerged as National Growth Champions received 15KVA Generating Sets, while 4 regional champions were rewarded with a Toyota RAV 4 cars each. Other winners received prizes including a Changan CS55, GAC S3, Hyndai Creta cars, 13KVA solar inverters, 80-inch Hisense TVs, deep freezers among others.

Welcoming guests to the event, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Lafarge Africa Plc, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, expressed deep appreciation to the partners for their loyalty and commitment to the business. 

Lolu Alade-Akinyemi noted that Lafarge Africa鈥檚 growth story would be incomplete without its partners鈥� market insights, trust, and consistent support. He emphasized that the company would continue to push boundaries in quality, innovation, and high performance, inspired by the strength of its partnerships.

鈥淲e are here to honour partnership. We want to thank our customers for partnering with us in 2025. In 2025, we expanded our retail presence and focused on customer experience. We strengthened our ready-mix business, launched new products including Ecoplanet Elephant and  Ecocrete, our low-carbon cement and concrete solutions, and walked the talk on innovation, using technology as a competitive advantage. We could not have done this without our customers and partners,鈥� he said.

In his remarks, the Commercial Director of Lafarge Africa Plc, Gbenga Onimowo, described customers and transporters as 鈥渢rade champions鈥� whose excellence and unwavering belief in the company鈥檚 products have sustained the company’s strong position in the market.

Onimowo stated that their shared values and commitment to growth have created a mutually beneficial relationship built on trust, loyalty, and integrity.

鈥淵ou are a vital part of our business, ensuring our products are visible and accessible across the country. Your contribution merits daily appreciation. Tonight鈥檚 expression of thanks is special because it gives us the opportunity to celebrate our wins together, in person. While we celebrate tonight鈥檚 winners, we acknowledge that every partner here has contributed meaningfully to our success. We believe this recognition will inspire even greater achievements in the year ahead,鈥� he added.

Also speaking, the Logistics Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, Osaze Aghatise, acknowledged the transporters as the critical bridge between the company and its customers, ensuring efficient distribution and nationwide availability of its innovative building solutions. According to him, the awards serve as both recognition and motivation, encouraging partners to continue raising the bar.

The ceremony featured the announcement of various award o as categories, with top-performing partners receiving special recognition for their outstanding contributions. The evening was marked by celebration, networking with celebrities and notable artists, and camaraderie, reflecting the enduring spirit of collaboration that defines Lafarge Africa鈥檚 relationship with its trade partners.

At the just concluded Citizen Townhall 2026, experts strongly challenged the existence of 鈥榯he good old days鈥� in Nigeria鈥檚 history, emphasising critical thinking and active citizenship in creating what many thought had existed.

The Citizen Townhall, organised by 91大神 Citizen on 28th February 2026, saw over 200 Nigerians gather at the Four Points by Sheraton in Lagos to engage with the theme “Who Shapes The Nigerian Life?”

During the panel session titled The Nigerian Life鈥揟hen, Now, and What Changed, historians, data analysts, and policy experts dissected the structural failings that have led to a perennial sense of crisis. Moderated by BBC Africa Broadcast journalist Chiamaka Dike, the conversation quickly moved beyond simple nostalgia, identifying the 1970s as a pivotal era that established many of the country鈥檚 current institutional weaknesses.

senior analyst, Joachim MacEbong, opened the dialogue by identifying the 1970s as the closest approximation to a golden era, though he noted it was a product of circumstance rather than sustainable planning. 

“For me, I think that as far as Nigeria is concerned, the closest thing that Nigeria has to the good old days is the 1970s,” MacEbong remarked, attributing this sentiment to sky-high oil prices and a smaller population. 

However, he noted that this period also sowed the seeds of future instability. “The biggest problem is the human capital development crisis… that cycle began in the 70s with the purge of the civil service.”

Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, an anchor and national correspondent on Arise News, challenged the very concept of a “golden age,” suggesting that the perception of a better past is merely a reflection of a deteriorating present. 

“There is no such thing as the good old days,” she said. “It鈥檚 been consistently getting worse.” She posited that the issues facing Nigeria today鈥攃orruption and lack of maintenance鈥攁re not new but are “bad behaviour recreating itself and building on itself over the last couple of years.” 

Giwa-Osagie further urged citizens to stop personalising institutional failures and start holding local authorities accountable.

Ayomide Akinbode, Founder of HistoryVille, provided a historical breakdown of how policy shifts fundamentally altered the trajectory of the Nigerian youth. 

He contrasted the early post-independence era, where “politicians improve the youth [and] see them as the future,” with the subsequent military era. “The military men came and said, ‘you are our boys now,'” Akinbode explained, noting that programmes like the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) were designed to “discipline” rather than empower. He argued that this shift led to a modern era in which “present politicians manage” the youth to prevent unrest rather than fostering growth. 

Akinbode attributed the failure of various government interventions to the lack of institutional permanence. “Institutions should not be based on the mood of the president or the mood of the political party,” he stated, adding that “our policies are good on paper, but to implement them is so hard or maybe impossible.”

Speaking further, Akinbode called for systemic change through consistent civic participation, as it鈥檚 the people, not 鈥渓ucky technocrats,鈥� who will ultimately ensure the success of policies.

The panel ended with a direct appeal from MacEbong, who warned that the status quo would remain without sustained engagement over multiple election cycles. “If you guys don鈥檛 go out to the polls in 2027, nothing is going to change here,” he said. 

The consensus among the speakers was that while the “good old days” may be a ghost of high oil prices and lower populations, the path to a functional future requires moving away from the “hustle” of managing crises toward the hard work of building institutions that can survive the whims of any single leader.

More than a health intervention, family planning is a , economic opportunity, and societal wellbeing. Yet Nigeria鈥檚 modern contraceptive prevalence . The country鈥檚 modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) , one of the lowest globally and far below of 60%, or 80% to 90% in some high-income countries. These figures represent millions of women whose reproductive choices are constrained by misinformation, systemic barriers, and socio-cultural norms.

The roots of misconceptions

Traditional practices often shared through family and peer networks remain common in many Nigerian communities. are sometimes seen as 鈥渟afer鈥� or 鈥渕ore natural鈥� than modern contraceptive methods, shaped by cultural norms, community trust, and distrust of formal health services., family planning services can be distant, costly once transport and time are counted, and surrounded by stigma for women who try to use them. It also helps to separate myths from such as , which require accurate information and consistent use to be effective.

Even when services are available, , worries about future fertility, and poor counselling can deter women from choosing medically approved options.  These practices are not simply about ignorance. They reflect trust in tradition, social reinforcement, and limited access to accurate information. As Nafisa (not her real name), a resident of Wassa IDP camp in Abuja explained, 鈥渨omen here want to space their children, but we fear pills and injections. We rely on what our mothers and neighbours taught us.鈥� This highlights that contraceptive uptake is intertwined with empowerment, trust, and informed decision-making.

Health workers warn that many of these home practices have no scientific basis for preventing pregnancy and may carry health risks. Dr Farida Adeyemo, a medical doctor at Deda Hospital, said: 鈥淪alt water and herbal mixtures do not prevent pregnancy. Some practices can also irritate or injure the reproductive tract.鈥� She further noted that myths about contraceptives, particularly fears of infertility, contribute significantly to low uptake. She explained that side effects vary by method and that counselling changes everything. 鈥淔or example, some women experience heavier bleeding with a copper IUD, especially at first. If women know what to expect and when to return for support, they are more likely to continue or switch safely.鈥� She emphasised that follow-up is critical because, 鈥渨e may not get it right the first time. That鈥檚 why method switching is common if side effects are not tolerable.鈥�

Expanding proven models in Nigeria

Evidence from Nigeria and across Africa demonstrates that well-supported contraceptive programmes can overcome mistrust. A in two rural communities in Ebonyi State implemented community mobilisation activities, engaging local leaders and distributing Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials. Awareness of family planning among women increased from , and uptake of family planning rose from over the intervention period. This shows how culturally grounded, community鈥憀ed engagement can shift both knowledge and behaviour around contraception, helping to dismantle myths.

In Kano State, engaged both men and women in discussions about child spacing and contraceptive use, raising awareness and increasing access to family planning services across communities. led to higher awareness, greater adoption of contraceptives, and more informed, joint reproductive decisions. A in Lagos assessed whether pharmacies and patent and proprietary medicine vendors (PPMVs) followed the Ministry of Health guidance when dispensing the (DMPA鈥慡C) for self-injection.

The findings revealed that many vendors, particularly in private outlets, did not provide clients with proper instructions or counselling. This highlights the need for stronger quality assurance measures in pharmacies and PPMVs, ensuring women receive safe and accurate guidance, an essential step for building trust and supporting the successful adoption of self-care contraceptive methods. While self鈥慶are has strong potential, safe scale-up depends on consistent, client-centred counselling, clear referral pathways, and follow-up support.

Improving family planning in Nigeria is not only about supplying modern contraceptive commodities. It is about trust, accurate information, respectful care, and women鈥檚 ability to choose freely. When counselling is weak and services feel judgemental or unreliable, myths fill the gap. The next step for policymakers and key decision makers to fund and implement , invest in community-led demand generation, strengthen commodity security, train providers to offer non-judgemental counselling, including for adolescents, and regulate and support PPMVs to deliver quality guidance, especially as self-care expands.

Lawmakers in the House of Representatives are trying to use their oversight powers to override a law which protects Nigerian users from exploitative digital lending platforms, and it鈥檚 as alarming as it鈥檚 embarrassing.

What鈥檚 going on?

Over the years, digital lending platforms in Nigeria have generally operated without regulation, and their users have suffered for it. In Nigeria, it is not uncommon to have a loan app threaten your life, post your photo on the internet with embarrassing captions about the debt you owe or spam your contacts with messages warning you to pay up. From data privacy violations, threats, to dubious interest rates, digital lenders have violated Nigerian users in so many ways.

In July 2025, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) enacted the (DEON Regulations), to keep digital lenders in check.

The enactment of the DEON regulation meant that digital lending companies (loan apps and the like) have to comply and register with the FCCPC in order to avoid sanctions. The commission duly gave a January 5 deadline for this.

But on December 18, 2025, the Chairman of the Special Ad-Hoc Committee on Overlapping Jurisdictions, Procedural Gaps and Investor Concerns wrote a letter telling stakeholders and regulators to ignore the DEON Regulations in the meantime. The House of Representatives is doing this under the cover of its oversight privileges, but this is not what oversight entails. The House, in addition to lawmaking, is saddled with the responsibility of safeguarding the rule of law through principled, impartial oversight. But nothing about this its recent conduct signals that.

In addition to encouraging stakeholders in the digital lending industry to ignore the DEON regulations, the House of Representatives refused the FCCPC an opportunity to be heard during an investigative session held on December 15, 2025. This implies that the House had already drawn its own conclusions and was going ahead with it.

The House must understand that oversight is not a licence to substitute opinion for law. It is not a mechanism for suspending valid regulations by committee correspondence, and it is certainly not a platform for conferring informal exemptions on powerful market actors.

Why is this wrong?

Presently, . By disregarding the law and telling the industry that the DEON Regulations could be ignored, the House inadvertently handed undue advantage to dominant telecommunications companies and their lending partners. Smaller operators who have invested in compliance were left exposed, while powerful incumbents gained regulatory cover to continue business as usual. This is not market fairness; it is distortion sanctioned by silence.

When Parliament appears to side鈥攊ntentionally or otherwise鈥攚ith entrenched market power, it weakens Nigeria鈥檚 competition framework and undermines consumer protection. It also sends a chilling signal to regulators tasked with enforcing the law: that their authority is provisional, subject to political pressure rather than statutory mandate. No serious regulatory system can survive under such conditions.

Where do we go from here?

Members of the House must ask themselves a hard question. Is oversight being exercised in the public interest, or has it drifted into accommodation of influence? Is Parliament protecting consumers and the integrity of the market, or enabling regulatory arbitrage by the most powerful actors in the economy? History is unkind to legislatures that blur this line.

Nigeria鈥檚 digital economy depends on strong institutions that respect boundaries. Regulators must regulate. Courts must adjudicate. Legislators must legislate and oversee鈥攚ithout usurping executive or judicial functions. When these roles are confused, the rule of law becomes negotiable, and governance loses credibility.

What now?

The House of Representatives still has an opportunity to correct course. By reaffirming the enforceability of duly issued regulations, clarifying the limits of committee authority, and recommitting to fair, neutral oversight, it can restore confidence in parliamentary governance. Doing so would not weaken the House; it would strengthen it.

The alternative鈥攁llowing informal actions to erode lawful regulation while powerful corporations benefit鈥攔isks turning oversight into complicity. That is a legacy no responsible legislature should accept.

While it will be noble for the House of Reps to do the right thing, it will be sumptuous for Nigerians to do nothing. We owe it as a duty to ourselves to call lawmakers to order when they鈥檙e defaulting on the law and their responsibilities. With one voice, we must call them to order now and demand that they not interfere with the enforcement of the DEON regulations.

Young voices, big ideas, and the future of Nigeria all in one room. The Citizen Townhall is a flagship event by 91大神 where changemakers, experts, and everyday Nigerians will gather in Lagos to ask the hard questions: Who really decides our lives? What happens when we stay silent? And how powerful is our vote?

Don鈥檛 just read about politics when you can be part of it. Stay tuned for how to register.

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