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World Environment Day: AEPB, AWAMN, HYPPADEC, LASEPA, Chevron, others commit to sustainable development – EnviroNews
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Nigeria was not an exception as nations observed the 2026 World Environment Day on Friday, June 5. Themed: “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future”, it focuses on climate action and the urgent need to address environmental challenges.
Officially celebrated in Baku, Azerbaijan, WED aims to raise awareness about climate change and promote sustainable practices globally.
For example, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability by improving waste management infrastructure and enforcing public health sanitation standards in the FCT.
Mrs. Kate Ogbonna, the Director of AEPB, said this at the 2026 FCT World Environment Day Commemoration Symposium on Friday in Abuja.
“As the custodian of the FCT environment, AEPB remains committed to promoting environmental sustainability through effective environmental monitoring, pollution control and waste management amongst others.
“Today, we join millions of people across the globe in commemorating World Environment Day, the United Nations’ foremost platform for promoting environmental awareness and action.
“The theme for this year’s commemoration,: Climate Change and Urbanisation – Building Resilient Cities”, is particularly relevant to our rapidly changing world,” Ogbonna said.
She said that while cities remained centres of economic growth, innovation, and human development, they are also increasingly exposed to climate-related challenges such as flooding, pollution and environmental amongst others.
“Under the leadership of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, the FCTA has continued to implement transformative initiatives that support sustainable urban development and improve the quality of life of residents.
“These include the introduction of the Electric Bus (E-Bus) Project, deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, and the revitalisation of the Abuja Light Rail system to promote cleaner transportation and reduce traffic congestion.
“We engaged of 54 waste management service contractors has further strengthened environmental sanitation across the city.
“Ongoing infrastructural development in satellite towns and suburban communities is improving connectivity and reducing development pressure on the city centre,” the AEPB director said.
She explained that these interventions aligns closely with the objectives of 2026 theme and demonstrates practical steps towards building resilient and sustainable cities.
She stated that the participation of schools in this annual commemoration remained a vital component of the environmental education efforts.
“By engaging young people in environmental conversations and activities, we are helping to nurture a generation that is better equipped to champion sustainable development and environmental stewardship,” Ogbonna said.
Also speaking, Chief Felix Obuah, Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, said that climate change is no longer a distant concern, also, Abuja, as Nigeria’s capital city, is not insulated from these realities.
“World Environment Day provides an important opportunity for governments, institutions, communities, and citizens to reflect on environmental challenges and recommit themselves to sustainable solutions that will safeguard our common future.
“While urbanisation has brought significant economic opportunities, technological advancement, and improved access to services, it has also placed unprecedented pressure on natural resources, infrastructure, and the environment.
“Across the world, cities are experiencing rising temperatures, more frequent flooding, extreme weather events, declining biodiversity, and growing pressure on public infrastructure.
Obuah stated that these impacts threaten livelihoods, public health, economic productivity, and overall quality of life.
“The rapid expansion of residential communities, commercial activities, transportation networks, and supporting infrastructure has increased the demand for land, water, energy, and environmental services.
“At the same time, changing weather patterns have heightened concerns relating to flooding, erosion, and pressure on drainage infrastructure, while rapid urban growth continues to place additional demands on waste management systems and green spaces.
“The choices we make today in urban planning, environmental management, and climate adaptation will not only shape the future of the FCT but can also serve as a model for other cities across the country.
He urged residents to build cities that are not only economically vibrant and socially inclusive but also environmentally sustainable and resilient to climate-related shocks.
“Resilient cities are cities that can anticipate risks, withstand disruptions, adapt to changing conditions, and recover quickly while maintaining essential services and protecting their citizens.
“The FCT Administration under the leadership of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, remains committed to creating a modern, functional, and environmentally sustainable capital city.
“Through strategic investments in infrastructure, environmental sanitation, urban planning, drainage improvement, landscape enhancement, and regulatory enforcement, the Administration continues to strengthen Abuja’s capacity to respond to emerging environmental challenges.
The coordinator assured that AMMC is working through its departments and agencies, AEPB to implement programmes aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and improving the quality of life of residents.
He urged the media to educate and mobilise the public adding that communities and residents must adopt environmentally responsible behaviours and actively participate in protecting their surroundings.
“As we deliberate during this symposium, I encourage all participants to engage constructively, share innovative ideas, and explore practical pathways for strengthening climate resilience within the FCT.
“Let this symposium serve as a catalyst for practical actions, stronger partnerships, and innovative solutions towards building a more resilient FCT.
“Together, we can build an Abuja that remains a model capital city for Nigeria, Africa, and the world; a city that balances development with environmental responsibility and leaves a lasting legacy for future generations,”Obuah said.
In a message to the symposium, Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, said climate change has brought great harm to the ecosystem.
Guterres, who was represented by Mrs. Bolanle Elumekor, a Management Assistant at the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Lagos, said that it is pertinent to fulfill climate financing promises to the developing countries.
Similarly, the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria (AWAMN) advocated converting plastic waste into affordable housing materials and other economic resources through circular economy practices.
Its National President, Dr Olugbenga Adebola, made the call at the Centre for Housing and Environmental Studies, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun state, during activities marking the 2026 World Environment Day.
Adebola said Nigeria could address both waste management and housing challenges by transforming plastic waste into valuable construction materials.
He described waste as a resource that could generate jobs, wealth and environmental sustainability when properly managed.
“Waste is not a waste until it is wasted. We do not have a waste problem; we have a resource misplaced in the wrong place,” he said.
Adebola urged Nigerians to embrace waste segregation at source and discourage indiscriminate disposal of refuse.
According to him, waste can be grouped into recyclables, combustibles and compostables.
He said recyclable materials, including plastics, paper, glass, aluminium and textiles, could be processed into new products.
The AWAMN president identified plastic pollution as a major environmental challenge, especially in urban centres.
He noted that plastic waste often blocks drainage channels and waterways, contributing to flooding and environmental degradation.
Adebola said efficient waste management would support environmental sustainability, public health and climate resilience.
He described proper waste collection and recycling as preventive healthcare capable of reducing sanitation-related diseases.
According to him, blocked drains create mosquito breeding sites, while unmanaged waste attracts rodents and disease-causing organisms.
“Effective and efficient waste management is free healthcare service because it prevents diseases before they occur,” he said.
Adebola said plastic waste could also be converted into biofuels and other alternative energy products.
He noted that Nigeria generates more than 60,000 tonnes of waste daily, with plastics accounting for a significant share.
The AWAMN president showcased prototype structures built from recycled plastics and described them as durable and environmentally friendly.
He explained that recycled plastics could be processed through thermoplastic technology or cement-based composite systems.
According to him, thermoplastic materials can contain up to 70 per cent recycled plastic mixed with sand.
Adebola said wider adoption of recycled construction materials would help reduce pollution and address Nigeria’s housing deficit.
He commended Covenant University for promoting innovative solutions linking housing development with environmental sustainability.
The AWAMN president said Nigeria already had policy frameworks supporting sustainable waste management and circular economy practices.
He listed them as the National Environmental Policy on Solid Waste Management, the Extended Producer Responsibility framework and the Nigerian Circular Economy Roadmap.
Adebola, however, expressed concern over weak implementation of existing policies.
“Nigeria has many good policies, but implementation remains a challenge,” he said.
He called for stronger enforcement, improved standards and updated building regulations to support recycled materials in construction.
Adebola also advocated increased investment in recycling infrastructure and processing facilities.
According to him, plastic recycling remains capital-intensive due to transportation and logistics costs.
He urged the government to provide incentives for recycling companies and developers investing in sustainable housing.
The AWAMN president also advocated policies encouraging green buildings and circular housing systems.
He suggested mandating the use of recycled materials in selected housing and infrastructure projects.
Adebola urged private developers to collaborate with waste collectors and recyclers in producing building components.
He disclosed that AWAMN had partnered with the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre on recycling and waste management training programmes.
According to him, the initiative equips retiring military personnel with skills in environmental entrepreneurship.
Adebola challenged universities and research institutions to intensify studies on recycled construction materials.
He stressed the need for stronger collaboration among researchers, industry operators and policymakers.
According to him, Nigeria must bridge the gap between academic research and practical implementation.
The AWAMN president also advocated environmental education to promote responsible waste management among young people.
He proposed a long-term national vision centred on sustainable housing and circular economic development.
According to him, increased recycling could reduce pollution, create jobs and improve access to affordable housing.
Adebola projected that millions of jobs could emerge across waste collection, recycling, manufacturing and construction sectors.
He said Nigeria had the potential to become a leading African model in integrating waste management with housing development.
“The time to transition from conventional housing to modular sustainable housing is now. Let us turn plastic waste into plastic purposes,” he said.
The AWAMN president cited international examples of products made from recycled materials to demonstrate recycling’s economic value.
He urged governments, businesses, researchers and citizens to collaborate in building a circular economy.
The event featured the presentation of an environmental stewardship award to Adebola.
In a related development, the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has intensified interventions aimed at addressing environmental challenges and protecting vulnerable communities across its member states.
The Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Dr Abubakar Yelwa, stated this on Friday in Kaduna during activities marking the 2026 World Environment Day.
Yelwa reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to environmental sustainability, climate resilience and flood mitigation, noting that climate change continued to pose serious threats to communities.
According to him, the effects of climate change, including flooding, desertification, biodiversity loss, land degradation and extreme weather events, require sustained action from governments and stakeholders.
He said HYPPADEC had implemented several environmental projects, including the construction of flood and erosion control structures in member states, establishment of seedling nurseries and expansion of solar-powered water supply systems.
“These interventions are designed to enhance environmental sustainability and strengthen the resilience of communities against climate-related challenges,” he said.
Yelwa disclosed that the commission carried out desilting and evacuation of blocked drainages and culverts covering more than 348,000 linear metres across its member states in 2025.
He said the exercise was aimed at reducing flood risks and improving water flow in vulnerable communities.
The managing director also announced the commissioning and handover of a seedling nursery facility in Kaduna State to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources to support afforestation, reforestation and ecosystem restoration efforts.
He said the commission’s interventions were in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the areas of environmental sustainability, climate adaptation, food security and economic empowerment.
“As we commemorate this year’s World Environment Day, I urge Nigerians to adopt environmentally responsible practices by planting and nurturing trees, protecting forests and waterways, and supporting policies that safeguard our environment and livelihoods,” he said.
Also speaking, the Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Suleiman Mohammed, said the agency remained committed to disaster risk reduction through proactive environmental management and community engagement.
Mohammed stressed the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to mitigate the impact of environmental hazards and climate-related disasters.
The District Head of Gabasawa, Alhaji Ibrahim Shittu, who represented traditional institutions, described environmental protection as a collective responsibility and pledged continued support for initiatives aimed at preserving the environment.
Also, the Co-Chair of the Kaduna State Climate Change Accountability Mechanism (KADCCAM), Ibrahima Yakubu, called for stronger collective action to tackle environmental degradation.
Yakubu emphasised the need for shared responsibility in addressing climate change, desertification, deforestation and other environmental challenges affecting communities.
The event attracted government officials, development partners, traditional rulers, civil society organisations and environmental stakeholders from within and outside Kaduna State.
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) warned that rapid population growth is increasing pollution pressures in the state, while advocating wider adoption of cleaner energy and recycling systems to address environmental challenges.
The General Manager of LASEPA, Dr Babatunde Ajayi, made the call in an interview on Friday in Lagos to commemorate the 2026 World Environment Day.
Ajayi identified population growth as one of the major environmental challenges confronting Lagos.
“With population comes pollution,” he said.
According to him, increasing population figures result in higher waste generation, emissions and noise pollution across the state.
He said government was expanding waste management strategies to cope with rising waste volumes and tightening environmental standards for new religious, commercial and entertainment facilities.
“We’re ensuring that these new facilities coming up are soundproof,” Ajayi said.
He stressed the need for compliance with environmental regulations from the planning stage of projects to minimise environmental degradation.
Ajayi said changing public behaviour remained critical to achieving long-term environmental sustainability, noting that environmental compliance had improved across regulated sectors.
“The change of culture doesn’t come overnight; it takes a while,” he said.
According to him, enforcement remains one of the agency’s most effective tools for encouraging compliance and discouraging environmental violations.
“We’re not going to get everybody to comply immediately,” he said.
Ajayi said LASEPA had intensified public awareness campaigns alongside enforcement measures to promote environmental responsibility among residents and businesses.
“Ultimately, people will change with the deepening enforcement and the extensive advocacy we are doing,” he said.
The LASEPA boss also identified cleaner energy adoption as a practical way of reducing pollution in Lagos.
“One easy thing to improve upon is the adoption of green power,” he said.
Ajayi encouraged residents and small business owners to embrace solar energy and inverter systems as alternatives to fuel-powered generators, noting that such a shift would significantly reduce air and noise pollution.
Also speaking, the President of the Association of Scraps and Waste Pickers of Lagos, Comrade Friday Oku, said expanding recycling systems could create jobs for youths and women while helping to address environmental challenges.
Oku said waste pickers played a critical role in Nigeria’s recycling value chain by recovering recyclable materials from streets, drainage channels and dumpsites, thereby reducing pollution and improving urban sanitation.
“We are the strength of recycling because without us there is no circular economy,” he said.
He said strengthening recycling systems would generate more economic opportunities, particularly for youths and women, adding that participation in the sector was increasing.
“Even now, a lot of youth and women are coming into the sector,” he said.
Oku urged governments at all levels to formally integrate informal waste workers into environmental planning and strengthen implementation of waste management policies to improve resource recovery and reduce pollution.
Founder of Bridge That Gap Initiative, Ms. Gloria Bulus, called for urgent and collective action to protect the environment and tackle climate change through nature-based solutions and community-driven interventions.
Bulus made the call in a statement issued on Friday in Kaduna to commemorate the World Environment Day 2026, themed “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.”
She said the theme underscores the critical role of nature in combating climate change and securing a sustainable future for generations to come.
According to her, communities across Nigeria and other parts of the world are already experiencing the devastating impacts of climate change through rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, flooding, droughts, desertification, and biodiversity loss.
Bulus noted that these environmental challenges continue to threaten livelihoods, food systems, public health, and economic development, particularly among women, children, and other vulnerable groups whose lives depend heavily on natural resources.
She stressed that nature remains one of humanity’s greatest allies in addressing the climate crisis through forests, wetlands, healthy soils, and other ecosystems that support climate resilience and sustainable development.
Bulus explained that forests absorb carbon emissions, regulate rainfall, and preserve biodiversity, while wetlands help reduce flooding and sustain livelihoods.
She added that healthy soils strengthen food security and agricultural productivity, while trees cool communities and restore degraded landscapes.
The Bridge That Gap Initiative founder said the organisation’s work in climate advocacy, women’s empowerment, and community development has demonstrated the transformative impact of nature-based solutions on livelihoods and environmental sustainability.
According to her, women are increasingly embracing clean energy technologies that reduce pressure on forests while improving household incomes, while young people are taking active roles in environmental restoration efforts.
Bulus said these experiences have reinforced the understanding that climate action and environmental protection are inseparable and must be pursued simultaneously.
She reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to promoting inclusive climate action rooted in environmental stewardship and community participation.
Bulus urged governments, development partners, civil society organisations, private sector actors, traditional institutions, and citizens to invest in ecosystem restoration, protect forests and wetlands, accelerate renewable energy adoption, and promote climate-smart agriculture.
She also called for greater support for women and young people as leaders of environmental action, alongside strengthened environmental education and policies that prioritise vulnerable communities.
Bulus encouraged citizens to embrace environmental responsibility through tree planting, waste reduction, protection of natural habitats, responsible resource use, and support for sustainable practices.
She maintained that the future depends on actions taken today, stressing that allowing nature to thrive will enable it to continue sustaining communities and protecting future generations.
Bulus called on Nigerians to draw inspiration from nature’s resilience and regenerative capacity as the world commemorates World Environment Day 2026, insisting that collective action remains essential to securing a sustainable future.
The Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD) expressed concern about the continuing ecological crisis in the Niger Delta region, where decades of oil exploration and exploitation have left a legacy of environmental destruction.
Persistent oil spills, gas flaring, contamination of rivers and groundwater, destruction of mangrove ecosystems, and loss of biodiversity are said to have severely affected the livelihoods, health, and wellbeing of millions of residents.
In a statement endorsed by Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, the Executive Director, the group lamented that, despite numerous commitments by government authorities and multinational oil companies, many communities in the Niger Delta continue to suffer from inadequate remediation, poor environmental governance, weak regulatory enforcement, and limited access to environmental justice.
“The situation remains a stark reminder of the urgent need to place environmental rights at the center of development and governance,” submitted FENRAD, adding that climate change is further intensifying these challenges.
“Rising sea levels, coastal erosion, increased flooding, saltwater intrusion into freshwater sources, and unpredictable rainfall patterns are threatening communities across the region. Without urgent intervention, these impacts could deepen poverty, displacement, food insecurity, and social instability.”
FENRAD then called on:
- The Federal Government of Nigeria to strengthen climate adaptation and mitigation policies and ensure their effective implementation.
- Relevant ministries, departments, and agencies to enforce environmental regulations without fear or favour and hold polluters accountable.
- Oil and gas companies operating in the Niger Delta to immediately address environmental pollution, end gas flaring, and commit to responsible environmental stewardship.
- State governments to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure, erosion control, flood management systems, afforestation programmes, and renewable energy initiatives.
- The National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly to enact and strengthen legislation that protects the environment and guarantees environmental justice.
- Development partners and international institutions to support community-led climate adaptation and ecosystem restoration programmes.
- Citizens, especially young people, to actively participate in environmental protection, climate advocacy, waste reduction, and sustainable development efforts.
UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, called for protection of forests, land, and seas to ensure the conservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems.
Guterres made the call in his message to mark the 2026 World Environment Day, globally marked on June 5
He urged countries to help communities adapt to the devastating impacts of drought and desertification, which according to him, “is already here.”
“And it means fulfilling climate finance promises to developing countries – to save lives, protect livelihoods, and strengthen economies.
“This is the moment to act – for our environment and for our future,’’ he said.
According to him, in this World Environment Day, warning signals are everywhere.
Guterres said the past eleven years had been the eleven hottest on record.
“And the damage goes far beyond rising temperatures – from polluted air to degraded land, collapsing ecosystems, and vanishing biodiversity.
“Harming health, destroying homes and deepening hunger.
“The world is heading for a temporary overshoot above 1.5 degrees. Every fraction of a degree brings greater harm – especially to the most vulnerable,’’ he said.
The UN chief emphasised the need to keep the world temperature within the normal 1.5 degrees.
“Our task is to make that overshoot as small, as short, and as safe as possible, and rapidly bring temperatures back down.
“That means slashing emissions and accelerating a just transition away from fossil fuels towards renewables as the only sustainable path to lower costs and to real energy security.
“Cutting methane, one of the fastest, is also one of the cheapest ways to limit near-term warming,” he said.
Chevron Nigeria and Mid Africa (NMA) expressed committed to protecting the environment while providing affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner energy that enables human progress.
Jim Swartz, Chairman and Managing Director, Chevron NMA, notes that this year’s focus on climate action is consistent with Chevron’s environmental principles, including considering environmental impacts in decision-making, minimising carbon footprint, operating responsibly, and stewarding sites appropriately.
“Guided by our commitment to environmental protection and awareness of the challenges posed by climate change, we continue to integrate responsible business practices across the lifecycle of our assets, from design and development to operations and retirement,” he said.
Jim stated that Chevron’s climate actions are anchored on clear operational priorities, including:
- Carbon-intensity reduction: Chevron pursues improved operational efficiency and disciplined energy-use practices through projects and initiatives that support lower emissions intensity across our operations.
- Flares reduction and gas monetisation: Chevron evaluates and implements opportunities to reduce routine flaring in our operations, consistent with applicable operating, technical and regulatory considerations, while advancing gas development initiatives.
- Methane and venting management: Chevron manages methane emissions and vented gases through measures such as leak detection and repair programmes, the use of detection technologies, and vent-gas capture initiatives, as appropriate to our operations.
- Emissions measurement: Chevron supports emissions measurement and reporting processes designed to promote transparency, accountability and compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, including the use of third-party verification processes where required or appropriate.”
As part of its efforts in environmental conservation, Chevron, in partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), established the Lekki Conservation Centre in 1992. The 78-hectare facility, a centre of excellence in environmental research and education, is reserved as a sanctuary for the rich flora and fauna of the Lekki Peninsula.
Since 2005, Chevron began supporting an annual postgraduate research scholarship for PhD students in environment and conservation instituted by the NCF. Chevron also supports initiatives that promote environmental management awareness, including the annual S. L. Edu Memorial Lecture, and the annual Walk for Nature event organised by the Lagos State Government and NCF.
Jim emphasised that Chevron NMA region recognises the importance of protecting and conserving biodiversity.
“We have a long history of collaborating with governments, communities, industry groups, regulators, and conservation groups on biodiversity initiatives in areas where we operate,” he stated.
“As attention remains focused on climate action, Chevron NMA region will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders to support environmental awareness and encourage practical steps that contribute to a more sustainable future.”
By Abigael Joshua, Fabian Ekeruche, Uchechi Afonne, Sani Idris Abdulrahman and Cecilia Ologunagba
