From Muhammad Gambo, Damaturu

North East Development Commission in Yobe State, has flagged off the distribution of Building Materials to people of 13 Local Government Areas affected by Flood and Conflicts.The Distribution exercise which took place at the Store of the Commission in Damaturu, also featured the handing over of Search and Rescue Equipment to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

The House of Representatives on Thursday, said that there was a fifty percent unmet need in the Renewable Energy skilled labour sector.Chairman, House committee on Renewable Energy, Rep. Afam Ogene, said this during the Africa Policy Dialogue (APD) workshop with the theme: Green jobs and low carbon transition,” in Abuja.

Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen said that the dialogue was in accordance with the role of the 10th Assembly which aligned directly with the broader oversight and legislative responsibility.Abbas, represented by the Deputy Minority Whip, Rep. George Ozodinobi, affirmed the 10th Assembly’s commitment to investigate policy gaps and propose solutions that were meaningful, realistic and impactful in addressing the challenge.”Let me sincerely thank the Chairman and Members of the Committee on Renewable Energy for their diligence, foresight, and relentless effort in championing this important cause.”As a responsible People’s House, we are fully aware of the strategic importance of green energy, not just because of its environmental significance but also due to its immense economic potential.”Abbas said that the loud and urgent call for a just energy transition in Nigeria was a reflection of a dual reality.According to him, our vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and our untapped renewable energy potential.The Speaker restated the determination of the parliament to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in creating jobs to improve energy access, from preserving our ecosystems to reducing dependency on fossil fuels.He expressed the imperatives of the legislative agenda as placing a strong emphasis on energy transition as a key pillar in tackling unemployment and environmental degradation.He said that Nigeria was at a critical juncture where bold and deliberate policy choices could determine expected leap ahead into a sustainable future or remain stalled by outdated systems.He called for urgent action to tap into renewable energy as a way forward in tackling youth unemployment and under-employment.Also speaking, a representative of INCLUDE Knowledge platform, Ms Victoria Manya expressed the platform ‘s belief in not just transition but increasing renewable energy skills in Africa.Manya warned that the low-carbon transition risked becoming the handmaiden of fossil fuel interests—delivering decarbonization targets on paper.”What we must do is reclaim the transition—not only as a climate imperative—but as a generational opportunity to rewrite our social contract.”In Nigeria, the data is clear: too many young people are unemployed or underemployed, and too many women are shut out of emerging green sectors.”She explained that “a just transition must not only ask how we reduce emissions—but who gets the new jobs, who trains the workforce, and who shapes the policies.”Manya said that Nigeria stood at the same global threshold with bigger renewable energy nations, with a unique opportunity to lead Africa in embedding labour justice into climate action.

By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry have objected to a proposed establishment of a new regulatory agency for the decommissioning and abandonment of oil production facilities, insisting that existing structures were already adequately equipped for the task.

Despite the Chairman’s optimistic framing, the proposal faced strong opposition from industry regulators and stakeholders, who insisted that Nigeria already has an effective framework under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and other regulatory instruments to handle decommissioning and abandonment.The Director of Production and Development of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mark Emmanuel argued that the obligations for decommissioning are embedded in current licensing frameworks and are strictly enforced under the supervision of the commission.“The PIA under Sections 232 and 3 already makes elaborate arrangements for decommissioning and abandonment,” he said. “It is the legal obligation of the licensee or lessee to fund, plan, and carry out decommissioning at the end of an oil field’s life cycle. The funds set aside for this purpose are not government revenue but are controlled by the operators under the NUPRC’s supervision.”He further warned that setting up a new agency would be premature and wasteful, noting that most oil fields in Nigeria are still productive and far from their decommissioning phase.The Director, environmental assessment department, Ministry of Environment Rofikat Odetoro, echoed the sentiments, warning against creating redundant structures. “This is already embedded in the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and current regulations. Instead of creating a new agency, let’s empower NOSDRA and the relevant existing institutions,” she said.As discussions unfolded, emphasis was placed on the need to differentiate between what exists on paper and the realities on the ground, particularly in the Niger Delta, where host communities have long suffered the consequences of environmental degradation from abandoned oil infrastructure.Doguwa concluded the meeting by reaffirming the committee’s commitment to inclusive and informed decision-making.