Climate change directly affects our communities, health, and livelihoods. Yet, media coverage often prioritises politics and business over climate-related stories, leaving crucial environmental news under-reported.
Climate Watch seeks to bridge this information gap, ensuring that important climate change stories and mitigation efforts stay on your radar.
Here is a round-up of last week’s climate stories:
- The World Bank says it has disbursed N5 billion to 140 communities across the 17 LGAs of Plateau state to tackle climate change. Ndiame Diop, country director of World Bank in Nigeria, spoke on January 16 during the disbursement of the funds in Jos.Diop said the project would initially pilot in 10 communities as part of the community revolving fund (CRF) initiative. He said the funds are being allocated through the bank’s Agro Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.The country director said the initiative aims to combat poverty and enhance food security in Plateau. Diop added that the World Bank has provided 20 tractors and other farming inputs to the state as part of the project.“As you know, desertification and climate change are already threatening agriculture, which is a key source of livelihood of the people of Plateau,” he said.“This investment is part of ACReSAL complements, a range of investments around land and water management within the comprehensive framework around a 10-year watershed management plan.“So, this is complementary between these interventions and activities led by the communities and those investments to improve land and water around the communities.“Now, unlike grant, the CRF will operate as a loan programme designed to support community groups in implementing community climate resilient initiatives.
“This financial support is specifically targeted toward ACReSAL registered community interest groups across the state in targeted watershed.”
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Shoprite Nigeria, a supermarket chain, has discontinued the use of nylon bags in its Lagos outlets. The developments which commenced on January 1, follows the Lagos state government’s ban on single-use plastics and styrofoams to reduce environmental pollution in the state. During a visit to the Shoprite outlet in Surulere on January 13, a public notice was seen at the entrance of the mall, informing customers of the new development. The notice explained that the supermarket would no longer provide plastic straws, cutleries, or styrofoam packs in an effort to reduce plastic waste. Customers were encouraged to bring their reusable bags to support the initiative. Find out more here.
Advertisement - President Bola Tinubu says his administration recognises the importance of reducing carbon emissions for sustainable development. Tinubu spoke last week at the 2025 Abu Dhabi sustainability week. The president said the fight against climate change is not just an environmental necessity but a global economic opportunity to reshape the trajectory of Africa. Tinubu said Nigeria is developing infrastructure for the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles — while harnessing the potential in solid minerals to support the green energy transition. Read more here.
- Odey Oyama, an environmental and climate activist, has been arrested for reportedly protesting the exploitation of Olulumo Effi rainforest in Cross River state. Oyama and six others were apprehended on January 14 in the Okuni area of Ikom LGA. The arrests reportedly followed their “peaceful resistance” to deforestation activities by Chinese and local collaborators in the forest. Find out more here.
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