News
Speaker Abbas Urges Caution Over Planned Single-Use Plastic Ban
By Gloria Ikibah
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has called for a careful and well-planned approach to any move aimed at banning single-use plastics in Nigeria, warning that rushed policies could harm businesses and threaten jobs.
Abbas made the appeal in Abuja while declaring open a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Preparedness for the Single-Use Plastic Ban in Nigeria at the National Assembly Complex.
The Speaker acknowledged the growing concern over plastic pollution in the country and the need for decisive action to address the environmental challenge. However, he emphasised that efforts to phase out single-use plastics must take into account the economic realities facing many Nigerians.
He explained that plastic products remain deeply integrated into Nigeria’s commercial system, supporting thousands of businesses across manufacturing, packaging, distribution and the informal waste-recycling sector.
According to him, a sudden ban introduced without adequate preparation could disrupt supply chains, undermine investments and affect the livelihoods of many people who depend on the plastic value chain for their daily income.
Abbas also noted that Nigeria continues to struggle with increasing plastic waste, which has become a serious environmental concern in many parts of the country. He stressed the importance of finding practical and balanced solutions that address pollution while safeguarding economic stability.
“Our nation is grappling with a severe plastic waste menace that chokes our drainages, degrades our soil quality, threatens marine life in the Niger Delta and the Atlantic coastline, and ultimately infiltrates our food chain,” he said.
Speaker Abbas explained that the visible spread of plastic waste across cities, waterways and dumpsites shows the scale of the environmental challenge confronting the country.
He stressed that while Nigeria must take decisive action to reduce plastic pollution, the transition must be orderly, inclusive and evidence-driven, ensuring that environmental reforms do not come at the cost of economic stability.
Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Rep. Terseer Ugbor, said the committee intends to develop a comprehensive legislative framework that will “balance environmental protection with the economic implications of phasing out plastics”.
Ugbor explained that the committee’s work is to designing a practical and sustainable roadmap that will guide Nigeria’s transition away from problematic plastics.
“We are not here to debate whether a transition away from problematic plastics should happen.
“The real question is how that transition can occur in an orderly, efficient and equitable manner that protects both our environment and our economy”, he stated.
According to him, the committee “aims to develop a uniquely Nigerian solution capable of moving the country away from the traditional linear take-make-dispose economic model toward a circular system that promotes reuse, recycling and sustainable innovation”.
At the hearing, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations under the auspices of Community Action Against Plastic Waste and Young Female Journalists Network threw their weight behind the proposed ban on single-use plastics.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Ariit Effanga urged the Federal Government to align Nigeria’s environmental policies with global standards in addressing plastic pollution.
She noted that global plastic production has increased more than 200-fold since 1950, with over 11 million tonnes of plastic waste entering aquatic ecosystems every year.
Effanga also warned that plastics contain thousands of chemical additives linked to serious health risks, including endocrine disruption, cancer and reproductive harm.
According to her, more than 130 countries around the world have already introduced bans or restrictions on single-use plastics, with evidence showing that well-designed policies can reduce plastic pollution by between 30 and 80 per cent within a few years.
However, representatives of manufacturers and businesses that rely heavily on plastic packaging cautioned against an immediate ban, warning of serious economic consequences.
The Executive Director of the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance, Onaghise, said the industry recognises the environmental dangers associated with plastic waste but stressed that abrupt restrictions could negatively impact businesses and investments.
She disclosed that companies within the alliance have already invested over ₦1.3 billion in plastic waste collection infrastructure, while the broader industry has committed more than ₦3 trillion to recycling facilities.
Onaghise noted that although alternatives such as glass, paper and aluminium packaging exist, they present their own environmental and logistical challenges, including higher energy consumption, increased transportation costs and greater resource demands.
She also pointed out that for sachet water popularly known as “pure water” there is currently no widely applicable alternative to single-use plastic packaging.
She noted that the transition to biodegradable or sustainable packaging options will require significant government support and a transition period of up to 14 years to allow industries to adapt without major economic disruptions.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which on October 31, 2025 restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from recognizing the outcome of the 2025 National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The National Convention was conducted between November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.
Delivering judgment in an appeal against the Federal High Court decision, Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam held that PDP violated Constitutional provisions required before such convention can become valid.
Among others, Justice Onyemenam said no valid convention notice was served on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as required by law.
The appellate Court also held that valid congresses were not held in more than 14 states as provideded by law before 2025 convention was put in place.
Justice Onyemenam held that the case of the aggrieved PDP members who instituted the case against the party was not an internal affairs of the party as erroneously held but the desire to force INEC to comply with its statutory functions in relation to party conventions.
Having failed to comply with the relevant laws, the Court of Appeal held that the Federal High Court was right in assuming jurisdiction and granting restraining order against INEC from accepting or recognising the outcome of the PDP 2025 national convention.
“Non compliance with the 1999 Constitution, Electoral Act 2022 and party Constitution and Guidelines are at the hearts of democratic governance and compliance must be strictly enforced in the interest of democracy”
Justice James Omotosho had on October 31, 2025 issued the order that restrained INEC from recognizing the outcome of the Ibadan convention until all provisions of the laws are complied with.
The judge predicated the decision on the grounds that the PDP failed to comply with relevant conditions and laws for the conduct of such conventions.
The judge had held that evidence provided by the electoral umpire and some of the aggrieved PDP members showed that congresses were not held in some states of the federation in breach of the law.
In addition, the lower court had also held that the signing of notices and correspondence of the PDP by its National Chairman without the National Secretary violated the law and consequently made such notices and correspondences a nullity.
Besides, Justice Omotosho held that the PDP failed to issue the mandatory 21 days notice of meetings and congresses to enable INEC carry out its mandatory duty of monitoring such meetings and congresses.
Justice Omotosho held that the failure of the PDP to comply with the law has put the then planned convention in jeopardy, and subsequently advised the PDP to do the necessary before going ahead with the election.
He therefore restrained INEC from receiving, publishing or recognizing the outcome of the convention slated for Ibadan, until the law has been complied with.
Three aggrieved members of the party who instituted the case are Austin Nwachukwu (Imo PDP chairman), Amah Abraham Nnanna (Abia PDP chairman) and Turnah Alabh George (PDP Secretary, South-South).
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/2025 was instituted on their behalf by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Joseph Daudu.
The plaintiffs had asked the court to stop the planned November 15 and 16, 2025 National Convention of PDP, scheduled for Ibadan in Oyo State, where new national officers are expected to be elected.
The nine defendants are Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, Samuel Anyanwu, National Secretary of the party, Umar Baturrle, National Organizing Secretary of the party, NWC and NEC of the party, Ambassador Umar Iliya Damagum, Ali Odefa and Emmanuel Ogidi.
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The price of crude oil has risen above $110 (£82) a barrel as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed and Iranian fuel depots are battered
Iran launched a fresh wave of missile and drone strikes, targeting Israel and several Gulf states, overnight. The Israeli military says it has launched strikes on central Iran
An Iranian drone strike in Bahrain has injured 32 civilians including four children, a state news agency says, the highest number of casualties in a single strike on the Gulf states since the war began
Meanwhile, Mojtaba Khamenei has been named as Iran’s new supreme leader, state media report
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Ex-Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Kingsley Moghalu, has criticised an interview involving President Bola Tinubu’s media aide, Daniel Bwala on Al Jazeera’s programme, Head to Head.
Moghalu described Bwala’s interview as damaging to Nigeria, Tinubu’s administration and a disaster to the country.
In a statement, Moghalu said the interview conducted by journalist Mehdi Hasan was “a disaster of gargantuan proportions for Nigeria as a country, for President Tinubu’s administration, and for Bwala himself.”
He added that among the three, Bwala’s personal reputation was the least significant, noting that “Bwala’s track record speaks for itself.”
According to Moghalu, the interview portrayed Nigeria poorly on the global stage, given the international reach of the programme and the presence of a live global audience.
The interview made a spectacle of Nigeria, not just because of the reach of the program globally, but also the format in which there was a global audience in the room itself,” he said.
He questioned the impression the audience might have formed about Nigeria after what he described as “such a fact-based shredding of the country’s leadership and its performance.”
Moghalu said the episode reflected deeper issues within Nigeria’s political culture, which he argued is driven largely by opportunism and power struggles rather than ideology or clear policy direction.
“It was a sad commentary on Nigeria’s political culture in which there are no beliefs, no policies, no ideology, just crass opportunism and the battle for political power. Turn-coatism is ‘it’,” he said.
The former CBN deputy governor also criticised the government’s choice of spokespersons, suggesting that competence often takes a back seat to loyalty in political appointments.
“Second, the fact that Bwala, given his record, is sent out to speak for the President of Nigeria on the international stage says much about the standards by which the government in Nigeria recruits people for specific roles,” he said, adding that in such circumstances “loyalty”,
however temporary, appears to matter more than competence.
He further questioned the practice of appointing former critics of the administration as government spokespersons or representatives after they defect politically.
“Thirdly, why appoint former attack dogs of the political opposition as spokespersons and Ambassadors for the administration simply because they have ‘defected?” He asked.
According to him, such individuals often carry political baggage that undermines their credibility in public-facing roles.
“Bwala was left trying to eat his words with bare-faced lies!” He said.
Moghalu argued that there are more credible individuals who could represent the Nigerian government, even amid criticisms of its performance.
“I think there are people who could be far more credible spokesmen and women for Nigeria’s government, even with all its underperformance in governance,” he said.
Reflecting on reactions from the international community, Moghalu said several friends from different countries had contacted him after watching the interview.
“It was a sad day for our country. I’ve received several calls from friends from various countries around the world. All were in shock and felt sorry for our country to be put in such a spot,” he said.
He added that despite Nigeria’s challenges, many people around the world still hope the country will eventually fulfil its potential.
“So many people are waiting and hoping for when Nigeria will ‘wake up’ and take its rightful place under the sun,” he said, adding that Nigerians remain “brilliant, hardworking and respected all over the world,” even as governance by political leaders continues to draw criticism.
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