In a groundbreaking move to enhance climate awareness and support smallholder farmers who rely on predictable weather patterns in Nigeria, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Fresh FM Osogbo. This strategic partnership aims to deliver accurate and timely climate information to the public, foster climate education, and promote climate-smart agricultural practices. Through this collaboration, Fresh (104.9) FM Osogbo will leverage its wide reach across Osun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, and parts of Kwara to disseminate vital climate updates. HEDA’s Executive Secretary, Sulaimon Arigbabu, highlighted the importance of the partnership, stating, “This initiative is part of our commitment to providing farmers with essential resources like the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA). We also envision this program evolving into an accountability platform where state actors are held responsible for advancing climate justice. We are excited about its potential impact.” Abiodun Opasina, Lead Agriculture Desk at Fresh FM, praised HEDA’s efforts, describing the collaboration as timely. He emphasized the alignment between the project and Fresh FM’s farming-focused weekly program, Sa’agbe Do Ola (Turns Farming to Wealth), which has a strong following among listeners. “This partnership reflects our commitment to food security by ensuring local farmers are equipped with actionable information about climate change,” Opasina added. The MOU, set to commence in January 2025, will span an initial 12 months. Under the agreement, HEDA will provide weekly climate updates, including news, tips, and other valuable content, while Fresh FM will broadcast these updates during its programs. Additionally, Fresh FM will subtly promote HEDA’s mission and activities through its radio programming and social media channels. This partnership between HEDA Resource Centre and Fresh FM Osogbo is poised to be a significant step forward in promoting sustainable agriculture and empowering farmers with the knowledge needed to adapt to changing climate conditions.

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has applauded the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for its recent strides in combating corruption. The anti-corruption group described the ICPC’s recent recoveries as commendable milestones that reaffirm the commission’s dedication to upholding integrity in public service. In a statement signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the commendation follows the ICPC’s announcement that it recovered N29.7 billion in cash and $966,900.83 in foreign currency within the past year. ICPC also revealed that the commission blocked the diversion of N10 billion in COVID-19 vaccine funds and prevented the misappropriation of N5.882 billion in public funds. Additionally, the ICPC successfully recovered N10.986 billion in Value-Added Tax (VAT), which has been remitted to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). According to Suraju, these achievements highlight the importance of ICPC’s strategic initiatives, such as the Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard, which assessed 323 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). He also acknowledged the establishment of 80 Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units across government bodies as crucial steps toward fostering a culture of accountability and ethical governance. While commending the ICPC’s efforts, HEDA urged the commission to strengthen collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs), other anti-corruption agencies, and relevant stakeholders. “A unified front is critical to effectively dismantling corruption networks and promoting transparency in Nigeria,” Suraju noted. He further emphasized that the fight against corruption requires collective effort, urging Nigerians to support and cooperate with anti-corruption bodies. “Together, we can create a Nigeria where public resources are used for the benefit of all, and accountability becomes a norm in every sector,” he concluded. HEDA’s call for stronger collaboration reinforces the importance of synergy in sustaining Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts, offering hope for a more transparent and accountable public sector. He further demands the commission’s diligent and special monitoring of revenue generating agencies such as FIRS, NNPC, CBN, CAC, FCT, NIMASA, NPA, NAFDAC, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the embassies in its corruption prevention and investigation activities.

A coalition of local and International Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for an immediate and comprehensive halt to all divestment requests from International Oil Corporations in the Niger Delta including Shell, Total, ENI and other IOCs with similar plans, until significant environmental and social liabilities associated with operations in the Niger Delta are adequately addressed.   The formation group further charged President Tinubu to sustain the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s (NUPRC) rejection of Shell’s request to sell its remaining shares in the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to the Renaissance consortium. The call is also urged to be extended to other international oil corporations including TotalEnergies who are also attempting to sell their stakes in SPDC and other Nigerian onshore oil assets. The pivotal and urgency demand were made in a statement jointly signed by 120 representative of CSOs across the world including 12 Diaries – Diaspora Climate Platform (Belgium), 350Hawaii (USA), AbibiNsroma Foundation (Ghana), Activists for climate Justice Initiative Uganda (Uganda), ADDEA,  African Center for Climate, Energy and Sustainable Development (Burkina Faso), African Initiative on Food Security and Environment (Uganda), Aksil for gender, social and ecological justice (Indonesia), Alabama Interfaith Power & Light (USA), Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Amnesty International Nigeria (Nigeria), Animals Are Sentient Beings, Inc (USA), Bank Climate Advocates (USA), Better Path Coalition, Biowatch South Africa (South Africa), Blackfins (Germany), Blue Planet Project (International), Both ENDS (Netherlands), Breathe Easy Susquehanna County (USA), Centre for Citizens Conserving Environment & Mgt (CECIC) Uganda, Centre for Social Change (South Africa), Christian Aid Ireland (Ireland), Citizens Advocacy Centre (Nigeria), Climate Action for Lifelong Learners (Canada), Climate Action Network (CAN) Zambia, Climate Reality Lehigh Valley PA Chapter (USA), Coalition to Protect New York (USA), Committee for Peace arid Development Advocacy, COPDA (Liberia), COMPPART Foundation for Justice and Peacebuilding (Nigeria), Concerned Health Professionals of Pennsylvania (USA), Corner House (United Kingdom), Corporate Accountability Lab (USA), Daraja Press (Canada ), Davos Worldwide (USA), Diálogo 2000-Jubileo Sur Argentina (Argentina), Earth Action, Inc. (USA), Earthlite Africa (South Africa), Earthlife Africa Durban (South Africa) East African Crude Oil Pipeline Host Communities (Uganda). EG Justice (Equatorial Guinea), EKOenergy ecolabel (Finland/Global), Environment and Language Education Trust (ELET) (South Africa), Equal Right (United Kingdom), ESJI Namibia (Namibia), Focus Association for Sustainable Development (Slovenia), Fossielvrij NL (Netherlands), Foundation for the Conservation of the Earth FOGONE (Nigeria), Fox Valley Citizens for Peace & Justice (Illinois) (USA), Friends of the Earth Canada (Canada), Fundación Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (FARN) (Argentina), Global Justice Ecology Project, Greenfire Coaltion Writers’ Forum (USA), Guyana Oiland Gas Change (Guyana), Hawkmoth, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (Nigeria), IGSE (South Africa), INF (Nigeria), Innovation pour le Développement et la Protection de l’Environneme (Democratic Republic of Congo), Institutional and Sustainable Development Foundation (Nigeria), International Analog Forestry Network (Costa Rica), International Rights Advocates, Law, Development and Conflict Research Group (United Kingdom, Lawyers Are Responsible (United Kingdom), Leave it in the Ground Initiative LINGO (Germany), Legislative Media and Citizens Advocacy Initiative LeMCA (Nigeria), MARBE SA, (Costa Rica), Mazingira Network Tanzania (MANET), Milieudefensie (Netherlands), Misère Option Zéro (MOZ), Mothers Rise Up (United Kingdom), Move Past Plastic MPP (USA), New Energy Economy (USA), NGO Echo (Kazakhstan), No Business With Genocide (USA), No False Climate Solutions PA (USA), Notre Affaire A lous (France), Nuclear Information and Resource Service (USA), Oil & Gas Governance Network(USA), Oil Change International, Ombudsman Energía México (Mexico), ONG ACOMB (Togo). Our sacred earth, Oyu Tolgoi Watch (Mongolia), Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (Pakistan), Peace Point Development Foundation-PPDF (Nigeria), Peace, Justice, Sustainability NOW!, Publish What You Pay (United Kingdom), Quest I or Growth and Development Foundation, R Anthony and Co. (Nigeria), Rapid Transition Alliance (United Kingdom), Razom We Stand (Ukraine), ReCommon (Italy), Red Thread Women’s Organiztion (Guyana), Rettel den Regenwald (Germany), Rights and Accountability in Development RAID (United Kingdom), Rivers without Boundanes (Mongolia), Social Action Nigeria (Nigeria), SOMO (Netherlands), South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (South Africa), Sustainable Holistic Development Foundation SUHODE (Tanzania), The Freedom Fund (United Kingdom), The Future We need, The Lebanese Oil and Gas Initiative (Lebanon), The People’s Justice Council (USA), Transnational Institute (Netherlands), Transparency International Ireland (Ireland), Unite North Metro Denver (USA), Uplift (United Kingdom), Urgewald (Germany), Vessel Project of Louisiana (USA), Vote Climate (USA), Weka Afri Sustainable Biodiversity and Food Security Foundation (Uganda), Widows for Peace through Democracy (United Kingdom), Youth for Green Communities YGC (Uganda), Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC Nigeria), Zukunftsrat Hamburg (Germany). According to the coalition, any approval of Shell and Total’s requests would weaken Nigeria’s regulatory independence, ignore the interests of the Niger Delta communities, jeopardize the environmental and social well-being of the region for generations to come, and undermine Nigeria’s including sovereignty. The statement reads in part, “It is critical to emphasize that the Nigerian Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the NUPRC’s responsibility to uphold this law were clearly outlined when Shell’s divestment request was initially rejected. NUPRC’s refusal was based on legitimate concerns, including Shell’s failure to adequately address the significant environmental and social liabilities associated with its operations in the Niger Delta, as was independently assessed and recommended by international assessors contracted by the country.”. “We ask Mr. President to ensure that the immediate financial interests of a few multinational corporations and local profiteers do not outweigh the health, future, and survival of millions of Nigerians who have suffered for decades. President Tinubu must safeguard the future of Nigeria, ensuring that all its people, especially those in the Niger Delta, are not sacrificed for the benefit of global capital and a few local profiteers.” “We want to make it absolutely clear: approving Shell’s or TotalEnergies’ divestment in its current form without addressing the profound environmental and social costs would be a grave injustice to the people of the Niger Delta and could lead to significant unrest in the region. It would be an affront to the generations of Niger Deltans who have fought and died for environmental justice, their homes, and their livelihoods.” “Approving Shell’s SPDC share sale would send a dangerous message to all multinational corporations operating in Nigeria that they

A coalition of Civil Society Organizations operating in the Niger-Delta region is calling on President Bola Tinubu to halt any further plans for International Oil Companies (IOCs) to divest operations from the region until their demands are met. The group made this known in Port Harcourt during a protest march to the Government House, displaying placards and registering their displeasure with the IOCs’ actions in the region. Recall that on Monday, December 16, 2024, HEDA Resource Centre, along with other CSOs, including Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF); Social Action Nigeria; Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre; Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA); League of Queens International Empowerment; Policy Alert; We the People; Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria; Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ); Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED); Accountability Lab; International Peace and Civic Responsibility Centre (IPCRC); Civil Rights Council; Keen and Care Initiative, called on President Bola Tinubu to sustain the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s (NUPRC) rejection of Shell’s request to sell its remaining shares in the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to the Renaissance consortium. Others CSOs include: Healthy Life Development initiative; Gbolekekro Women Empowerment And Development Organization (GWEDO); Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC); Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD); Peace Point Development Foundation; Lekeh Development Foundation; Society for Women and Youths Affairs (SWAYA); Lokiaka Community Development Centre; People’s Advancement Centre; Ogoni Solidarity Forum; Africa Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL). Other international oil corporations, such as TotalEnergies, are also attempting to sell their stakes in SPDC and other Nigerian onshore oil assets. The group noted that any approval of Shell’s and Total’s requests would weaken regulatory independence, ignore the interests of the Niger Delta communities, jeopardize the environmental and social well-being of the region for generations to come, and undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.

By Nurudeen Salako AS we commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day 2024, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect: What does your 2024 (anti) corruption diary look like? Is it filled with stories of accountability, where justice was served, or is it overshadowed by unchecked impunity, where corruption scandals quietly disappeared? For us at HEDA Resource Centre, a leading anti-corruption civil society organization with 23 years of unwavering impact, this question is not just a thought exercise. Each year, we compile our Annual Compendium of 100 High-Profile Corruption Cases in Nigeria, a stark reminder of the realities we face. This year, as we unveil the 8th Edition of our compendium on this significant day, we hold up a mirror to our society’s ongoing struggle —or reluctance—to confront corruption. A Year of Paradoxes 2024 has been a year defined by contradictions. On one hand, we saw courageous investigative journalists and whistleblowers exposing corruption in the highest places. Take, for example, the case of Wale Adedayo, the embattled Ijebu East Local Government Chairman, who accused Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun of withholding local government funds. Or consider Fisayo Soyombo’s revealing exposé on systemic corruption within the Nigeria Customs Service at the borders. The media was awash with reports of embezzlement, procurement fraud, and abuse of power. The case involving the former Governor of Kogi State and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was just one of many that caught public attention. Across various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), stories of misappropriated funds and betrayal of public trust continued to surface, undermining Nigeria’s progress and development. These cases, and many others, are documented in detail in HEDA’s compendium. Yet, despite these revelations, justice often feels out of reach. Prosecutions drag on indefinitely, convictions are rare, and cases seem to disappear into the labyrinth of adjournments and delays. Public trust in the judiciary continues to erode. How do we ensure that our 2024 diary doesn’t close with yet another chapter of impunity? HEDA Compendium: More Than Just Documentation At HEDA, we know that the fight against corruption requires more than just recording these cases. It demands relentless advocacy, institutional reform, and active public participation. Our compendium isn’t merely a catalogue of wrongdoing; it’s a call to action. Each case represents a chance for the judiciary to affirm its commitment to integrity and for society to demand accountability. When justice is served, it sets a powerful precedent. When it isn’t, it sets a dangerous norm. As we unveil the 8th Edition of our compendium, available on HEDA’s website, we hope it serves as a rallying cry for all Nigerians. These cases must not be left to gather dust on courtroom shelves. Civil society groups, the media, and citizens must unite to ensure that investigations lead to convictions and that stolen resources are recovered and returned for the public good. A Future We Can Rewrite As we look forward to 2025, the power to change this narrative lies within us. Imagine a diary where corruption cases conclude with swift and fair justice. Imagine a society where whistleblowers are protected, not punished or silenced—as happened to Wale Adedayo in his clash with Governor Dapo Abiodun. Picture public officials thinking twice before betraying the trust placed in them. This vision isn’t utopian. It is achievable if we all commit to playing our part. At HEDA Resource Centre, we remain steadfast in our mission to hold power to account and ensure that the fight against corruption yields tangible results. Our compendium is more than a book of cases, it’s a testament that corruption can be challenged and that justice, though delayed, should never be denied. As you reflect on your 2024 diary, ask yourself: What did I do to fight corruption this year? More importantly, what will I do differently in 2025? Let’s ensure that next year’s diary is one we can look back on with pride and a diary filled with accountability, integrity, and justice. Nurudeen Salako is a Communication Officer at HEDA Resource Centre and a Development Advocate. He can be reached at nurudeensalako96@gmail.com.