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Total’s divestment from Nigeria: Four organizations demand transparency

Following Total’s announcement that it is selling part of its oil assets in the Niger Delta, Friends of the Earth France, Hawkmoth, HEDA Resource Centre and Social Action, supported by Corner House and ReCommon, are taking legal action against the parent company of the group. The organizations are seeking to obtain documents that will shed light on the terms of the proposed transaction, as the provisions of the agreement are currently unclear. Whilst the Niger Delta is known to have been ravaged by oil exploitation, no information has been made public regarding the guarantees provided concerning the management of environmental damage and compensation for those affected. The documents, requested under pre-trial summary proceedings, would enable the organizations to verify whether Total has complied with its Duty of Vigilance under French law. The Niger Delta ravaged by decades of oil extraction The Niger Delta is now considered one of the “most polluted places on Earth”[1]. Water is unfit for consumption; fisheries have been destroyed; and land has been rendered uncultivable. The volume of hydrocarbons spilled in the area by all oil companies between 1958 and 2010 is estimated at approximately “9 to 13 million barrels”. This is equivalent to approximately 35 to 50 times the volume of oil spilled during the Exxon Valdez tanker disaster in Alaska.  This case is about people, not just oil assets. It is about children growing up with poisoned water, families breathing polluted air, and communities losing their health and livelihoods while international oil companies walk away with decades of profits. These communities must not be treated as corporate sacrifice zones. France’s Duty of Vigilance Law requires Total to demonstrate that its divestment does not further infringe the human rights of people in its oil and gas extraction sites by ensuring adequate remediation. Dr. Isaac ‘Asume’ Osuoka, Director, Social Action A gradual withdrawal that risks jeopardizing clean-up efforts The oil companies Total, Shell and ENI – which have historically operated in the region – are withdrawing one after the other, leaving the affected communities in uncertainty about their future. In March 2025, Shell sold its subsidiary, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), to Renaissance Africa Energy. SPDC was the operator of the onshore oil and gas assets owned by the SPDC joint venture (now renamed “JV Renaissance”), which has contributed significantly to the massive oil pollution in the Niger Delta over the last thirty years. The joint venture, in which Total has a 10 per cent share is now operated by Renaissance African Energy. In January 2026, TotalEnergies EP Nigeria signed an agreement to sell its stake in the Renaissance JV to a Nigerian consortium, Vaaris. In May 2026, ENI also announced the sale of its stake. This withdrawal by the major European oil companies, carried out with a complete lack of transparency, is a cause of serious concern for those most directly affected, as well as for local and international organizations: no information has been provided regarding the existence of guarantees concerning the remediation of polluted areas and compensation for those affected. The clean-up of the region could be jeopardized as a result. ”Total served on the international board of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI).  So it can’t say it doesn’t understand the public interest, and its own obligation to be transparent about such transactions.  We asked Patrick Pouyanné about the deal at this year’s AGM, but all we got back were smoke and mirror claims – just what has Total got to hide?” Simon Taylor, co-founder of Hawkmoth “The UN working groups and Mandate holders have categorized the 2024-2025 divestment shenanigans as experiments in divestment without clean-up. The lack of financial capacity to take over assets of SPDC without loan from Shell by Renaissance and inability of Chappal to consummate the take of Total share of SPDC after several extensions of deadlines goes to lack of capacity for liabilities take over by the new buyers”. Olanrewaju Suraju, Chair of HEDA Resource Centre Fossil fuel companies must ensure responsible divestment from their operations Whilst fossil fuel companies reap considerable profits from their activities, they all too often refuse to take responsibility for the legacy of pollution they leave behind. After they have left, local communities remain exposed to long-term health risks and the loss of their livelihoods, with no prospect of redress. Today, Friends of the Earth France, Hawkmoth, HEDA Resource Centre and Social Action are taking Total to court in France to seek clarification on the terms of its intended divestment from the Renaissance JV. Under the French Duty of Vigilance Law, Total is required to take the necessary measures to identify risks and prevent serious breaches of human rights and environmental damage resulting from Renaissance JV’s operation and the proposed divestment of Total’s share. The documents requested would enable us to verify whether the company has in fact complied with this obligation. Oil companies are organizing their divestment with a complete lack of transparency. Following Shell’s withdrawal in 2025, Total’s departure is heightening uncertainty amongst the affected communities: who will fund the clean-up once the major European oil companies have left, taking years of profits with them? CAMILLE GRANDPERRINlitigation officer at Friends of theEarth France

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ITALIAN SUPREME COURT QUASHES CONVICTIONS OF PROSECUTORS IN OPL 245 CASE AS UNLAWFUL

NEW CHAPTER IN OPL 245 SAGA OPENS AS OECD TELLS NGOS IT WILL NOW INVESTIGATE POLITICAL INTERFERENCE BY ITALIAN STATE IN THE TRIAL AGAINST ENI AND SHELL We welcome and celebrate the decision by the Italian Supreme Court on 18 June 2026 decisively to overturn the conviction of Fabio de Pasquale and Sergio Spadaro, the two lead prosecutors in the Milan trial of oil multinationals Eni and Shell and others for alleged bribery in the acquisition of the OPL 245 oil field in Nigeria. The prosecutors had wrongly been accused and sentenced by lower courts for refusing to perform an official act,” based on alleged failure to file documents by a deadline – even though, the cited documents were never actually in the possession of the two prosecutors The Court wholly rejected the allegations, ruling that “the facts do not exist”. In effect, the Supreme Court found that the prosecutors had no case whatsoever to answer and the convictions were wholly unlawful. The ruling vindicates the prosecutors who had always defended their innocence; and shames those, such as former Nigerian Attorney General Mohamed Adoke and associates of Shell and Eni, who have sought to argue that the prosecutors’ convictions bolstered their case that no bribes were paid in the OPL 245 deal. We call on those who have made such statements to issue an immediate apology and retraction. The prosecution of the prosecutors has all the hallmarks of a politically-motivated witch hunt. The disciplining and criminal conviction of the prosecutors (on charges that an independent judicial expert long prior to the Supreme Court ruling described as “questionable conjectures”) effectively dismantled prosecutorial discretion in anti-corruption cases, making their prosecution harder. Far from bringing an end to the OPL 245 case, as some news reports have suggested, the Supreme Court ruling now opens a new chapter. In response to a dossier documenting 60 red flags in Italy’s handling of the OPL 245 case, the OECD Working Group on Bribery (which acts as guardian of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention) has given an undertaking to non-governmental organisations that it would investigate concerns over political interference in the OPL 245 case once the case against de Pasquale and Spadero had reached its conclusion. The Working Group has already ruled that the acquittal of Eni, Shell and other defendants in the OPL 245 trial did not accord with the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. Any finding that there was political interference in the OPL 245 trial would place Italy in breach of Article 5 of the Convention. The prima facie evidence for such a breach is considerable. Associates of Eni have already been convicted for conspiring with state officials to “pollute” the prosecutors’ investigation into OPL 245 deal, and a former senior legal counsel for the company, is currently being prosecuted for the same offence. One of those convicted has alleged that the aim of the “pollution” scheme was explicitly intended to terminate the OPL 245 prosecutions; to discredit and discipline the trial prosecutors; and to reduce the effectiveness of the specialist anti-corruption unit within the Milan Prosecutors’ Office – outcomes that have all come to pass but which the Supreme Court ruling will (hopefully) now reverse. The public record also shows that Italy’s handling of the OPL 245 prosecutions was characterised by departures from applicable procedural rules that would appear to have been necessary precursors to decisions that resulted in or that are alleged to have resulted in the selection of trial judges favourable to Eni: the termination of the OPL 245 prosecutions on grounds that were overtly political and which, in one instance, failed to take account of new jurisprudence favourable to the prosecution: the prevention of the two lead prosecutors at the Court of First Instance from joining the team leading the State’s appeal against the acquittal of the defendants, which they had filed, thereby sabotaging the appeal: and the evisceration of the specialist anti-corruption unit at the Milan Prosecutors’ Office, lauded for its performance prior to these events, in the WG’s Phase IV review of Italy. We will now hold the Working Group to its undertaking. The OPL 245 saga is far from over. For further commentaries on the prosecution of the prosecutors and the OPL 245 case, we would refer readers to the following links: Corner House, UK Hawkmoth, The Netherlands HEDA, Nigeria ReCommon, Italy 23 June 2026

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HEDA Commends EFCC’s Prosecution of Ngige, Urges Judiciary to Ensure Justice is Served

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its continued commitment to investigating and prosecuting corruption cases involving public officials, following proceedings in the ongoing trial of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, over alleged procurement irregularities involving the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF). In a statement signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the organisation described the prosecution as another important demonstration of the EFCC’s resolve to pursue accountability irrespective of the status of those involved. According to reports presented before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, an EFCC witness challenged claims that the former minister acted under a presidential directive in overseeing procurement activities at the NSITF. Documentary evidence, including correspondence from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), procurement records and contract award documents, was also tendered before the court as the trial continues. Mr. Ngige while serving as the minister of Labour defied the authority of the President in the appointment of renowned labour union leader, late Chief Frank Kokori and ensure the late activist never assumed office as the appointed Chairman of NSITF. Subsequent developments and revelations emerging from the EFCC investigations and prosecution have exposed the personal interest and mismanagement plan of the minister in that position which the presence of Kokori as chairman would have made difficult. The civil society group noted that corruption allegations involving the mismanagement of public resources deserve thorough judicial scrutiny. It maintained that public confidence in Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts depends not only on diligent investigations but also on fair, transparent and timely judicial processes that allow the facts to be fully examined. “We commend the EFCC for remaining steadfast in the discharge of its statutory mandate. The Commission’s willingness to prosecute high-profile corruption cases sends a strong message that public office must never become a licence for impunity,” Suraju said. HEDA emphasised that every defendant is entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a competent court. However, the organisation stressed that the seriousness of the allegations makes it imperative for the judicial process to proceed without undue delay or interference. The organisation therefore urged the judiciary to continue to uphold its independence by ensuring that justice is served strictly in accordance with the law and the evidence presented before the court. “The Nigerian judiciary occupies a critical position in the fight against corruption. This case presents another opportunity to reinforce public confidence in the administration of justice. Nigerians are closely monitoring the proceedings and expect a process that is impartial, transparent and guided solely by the rule of law,” Suraju added. HEDA reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and integrity in public institutions. The organisation pledged to continue monitoring corruption-related cases and advocating for stronger institutional reforms that promote good governance and safeguard public resources.

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Sowore: HEDA Condemns DSS Intimidation at Federal High Court, Warns Against Threats to Civic Space and Rule of Law

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has strongly condemned the reported conduct of operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Federal High Court during proceedings involving activist and presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore. In a statement released and signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the civil society organisation described the incident as unfortunate, noting that it raises serious concerns about respect for the rule of law, judicial independence and fundamental human rights in Nigeria. Recall that on Wednesday, DSS operatives reportedly blocked lawyers, supporters and members of the public from accessing the courtroom, intimidated citizens within the court premises and restricted movement around the venue. Suraju said the development was particularly troubling given reports that Sowore was forcefully handled by DSS operatives on Monday while similar acts of intimidation and harassment were again reported during Wednesday’s proceedings. According to him, the reported actions, if established, represent a dangerous departure from the standards expected of security agencies in a constitutional democracy and risk undermining public confidence in the administration of justice. “Courts are public institutions established to uphold justice and fairness and should remain accessible to litigants, lawyers, journalists, observers and members of the public. Any action that creates fear or restricts lawful access to court proceedings threatens the openness and transparency that are essential to the judicial process.” He maintained. The group further stressed that the rights to a fair hearing, freedom of expression, freedom of association and access to justice are guaranteed under the Nigerian Constitution and protected by international human rights instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory. HEDA also warned that the recurring use of intimidation, excessive force and arbitrary restrictions within civic and judicial spaces contributes to the shrinking of civic space in Nigeria, discourages public participation and weakens democratic accountability. “We call on the leadership of the DSS to investigate the reported incidents and ensure accountability where misconduct is established. The agency must guarantee that lawyers, journalists, civil society actors, political associates and members of the public are not subjected to intimidation or unlawful restrictions while attending court proceedings.” The organisation further maintained that Nigeria’s democracy can only flourish where courts remain open, accessible and free from intimidation, stressing that courtrooms must remain sanctuaries of justice, fairness and constitutional order rather than theatres of fear.

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OPL 245: HEDA Hails Acquittal of Italian Prosecutors, Says Judgment Strengthens Global Anti-Corruption Efforts

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has welcomed the decision of Italy’s highest court, the Court of Cassation, acquitting Milan prosecutors Fabio De Pasquale and Sergio Spadaro of all allegations relating to their handling of the OPL 245 corruption trial.  The civil society organisation in a statement signed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, described the judgment as a victory for the global anti-corruption movement and a strong affirmation of the need to protect prosecutors and anti-corruption institutions from intimidation, harassment, and politically motivated reprisals. Reacting to the ruling, Suraju maintained that the acquittal reinforces the principle that prosecutors pursuing complex corruption cases involving powerful corporate and political interests must be allowed to carry out their responsibilities without fear of persecution. “The decision of the Court of Cassation is a welcome development and a vindication of the prosecutors who dedicated years of their professional lives to pursuing one of the world’s most significant corruption cases. The judgment sends a powerful message that anti-corruption efforts must not be undermined through actions capable of discouraging investigators and prosecutors from carrying out their lawful duties,” Suraju added. According to HEDA, the OPL 245 scandal remains a defining symbol of the challenges confronting international efforts to combat illicit financial flows, grand corruption, and the abuse of public resources. The organisation noted that while legal proceedings may produce different outcomes across jurisdictions, the pursuit of accountability in matters of public interest must never be criminalised. The group further stressed that the acquittal should serve as a wake-up call to governments across the world to strengthen the independence of anti-corruption agencies, prosecutorial authorities, and judicial institutions. “No country can win the fight against corruption if its anti-corruption agencies are subjected to political interference, intimidation, or institutional capture. Effective anti-corruption enforcement depends on independent institutions that are adequately protected and empowered to investigate and prosecute wrongdoing wherever the evidence leads,” Suraju added. The organisation warned that attempts to weaken anti-corruption institutions, whether through political pressure, budgetary constraints, or legal harassment of investigators and prosecutors, ultimately benefit corrupt actors and undermine public confidence in democratic governance. HEDA therefore called on governments, international organisations, and development partners to recommit themselves to safeguarding the operational independence of anti-corruption bodies and ensuring accountability mechanisms that promote integrity without compromising institutional autonomy. The organisation reiterated its commitment to promoting transparency, accountability, and international cooperation in the fight against corruption and urged stakeholders across the globe to draw lessons from the judgment in strengthening democratic institutions and the rule of law.

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Explosive new documents reveal how Shell executives mismanaged environmental failings in Nigeria

LONDON – Newly released emails from oil giant Shell reveal how its senior executives tried to shift blame and avoid responsibility from devastating oil spills that caused widespread environmental damage in Nigeria. Newly released documents raise serious questions about Shell’s legal liability, after its lawyers have spent a decade arguing in court that oil spills and environmental damage caused by operations in Nigeria were the sole responsibility of its subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC). The documents – including email correspondence, internal memos, presentations and reports – show that not only were senior executives of then parent company Royal Dutch Shell aware of the environmental damage, but were directing subsidiary management how to respond. This included knowingly leaving illegal pipeline connections in place to keep production running and mounting a public relations campaign to deflect public scrutiny. The company has faced widespread criticism over its operations in Nigeria, including a 2023 commission describing an “environmental genocide” that has been “devastating for the health, livelihoods, way of life and wellbeing of individuals and local communities”. A large spill in the Billeand Ogale communities of the Niger Delta is currently the subject of a class action filed by lawyers Leigh Day in the English High Courts. The explosive documents were brought to light when a group of campaigners noted their existence during these legal proceedings and requested their release. The not-for-profit organisations who sought the release of the sensitive documents from the company included Nigerian human rights organisation HEDA (Human & Environmental Development Agenda) and Hawkmoth. Executives named in the recent documents include Shell’s then Executive Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa Ann Pickard, who is now a Director of Australia’s Woodside Energy; Royal Dutch Shell Board Member Malcolm Brinded, Shell International E&P Donald Jacobsen; and, Vice Shell International’s President of Corporate Security, James Hall. Revelations from the documents include: In a 2016 witness statement filed at the start of ongoing legal proceedings, Royal Dutch Shell’s then company secretary Michiel Brandjes stated that: “Royal Dutch Shell is a holding company, not an operating company” and that, “neither [RDS’s] Board nor its Executives ever intended to or acted in a manner which would suggest RDS has “assumed responsibility” for those matters at operating company level. RDS does not exercise operational “control over (Health, Safety, Security & Environment) practices of SPDC’s operations in Nigeria”. Reacting to the document release Olanrewaju Suraju, Chair of HEDA Resource Centre, said: “These documents confirm what our communities have known for decades, that Shell knowingly misled communities and courts while the Niger Delta was left to suffer. “For ten years they hid behind legal fiction and now their own emails and internal documents prove it: they knew environmental damage would occur and they chose to keep polluting. “Every day Shell escapes accountability is another day our people pay with their health, their land, and their lives. Divestment from onshore operations is not an excuse to abdicate liabilities with these revelations.” Hawkmoth and HEDA Resource Centre

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HEDA Calls for Peaceful, Issue-Based Campaigns Ahead of 2027 Elections, Urges Politicians to Uphold June 12 Democratic Ideals

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has called on political parties, aspirants, candidates, supporters, and other stakeholders to ensure that preparations for the 2027 general elections are guided by the democratic values exemplified by the June 12 struggle and its enduring legacy of credible electoral participation, national unity, and respect for the will of the people. In a statement issued and signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the civil society organisation emphasised that the sacrifices made by pro-democracy activists and millions of Nigerians in the struggle for democratic governance must not be undermined by violence, hate speech, vote buying, voter intimidation, or other practices capable of eroding public confidence in the electoral process. The group noted that as political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 polls, the focus should remain on issue-based campaigns that address the pressing concerns of Nigerians, including economic recovery, security, education, healthcare, anti-corruption reforms, youth development, environmental sustainability, and institutional accountability. “The essence of democracy is to provide citizens with informed choices based on ideas, competence, and vision not fear, coercion, or financial inducement. The 2027 elections should reflect the highest standards of electoral integrity and serve as another milestone in Nigeria’s democratic journey.” Suraju stated. The anti-corruption organisation strongly condemned the culture of vote buying and vote selling, warning that the monetisation of elections weakens democratic institutions, compromises governance, and perpetuates corruption by encouraging elected officials to recover illicit campaign expenditures at the expense of public welfare. HEDA also expressed concern over the recurring incidents of political violence and electoral bloodshed witnessed in previous election cycles, urging political actors to reject inflammatory rhetoric, the recruitment of thugs, and all forms of intimidation capable of disrupting peaceful participation by voters. The organisation called on security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), civil society organisations, traditional institutions, religious leaders, and the media to intensify voter education and strengthen mechanisms that deter electoral offences while ensuring a level playing field for all contestants. “As the nation reflects on the significance of June 12, Nigerians must collectively insist that the 2027 elections are conducted in an atmosphere free from violence, manipulation, and corruption. Democracy thrives when campaigns are based on ideas and elections reflect the genuine choice of the people,” he added. HEDA reaffirmed its commitment to promoting electoral integrity, transparency, accountability, and citizen participation, stressing that peaceful, credible, and issue-driven elections remain indispensable to Nigeria’s democratic consolidation and sustainable development.

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HEDA Applauds Olukoyede’s Anti-Corruption Reforms Within EFCC

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has commended the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Olanipekun Olukoyede, for demonstrating a commitment to institutional integrity through the disciplinary actions taken against officials found culpable of misconduct and corrupt practices. In a statement signed by HEDA Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the civil society organisation described the decision to dismissed one of its top prosecutors Samuel Chime and others after an investigative panel found them guilty of receiving bribes to sabotage cases as a bold and commendable step towards strengthening public confidence in the nation’s foremost anti-corruption agency. “Holding public officers accountable, regardless of their position, is essential to preserving the credibility of anti-corruption institutions. The action taken by the EFCC leadership sends a strong signal that misconduct and abuse of office will not be tolerated within the Commission,” the statement said. “We are also calling on the EFCC chairman to ensure that Mr. Chime and other corrupt officers who were sacked are brought to book to face the full wrath of the law. The anti-corruption agencies must continually uphold the highest standards of professionalism, transparency, and accountability in order to maintain public trust and effectively discharge their mandates.” According to Suraju, the fight against corruption must begin within institutions entrusted with enforcing accountability, stressing that internal cleansing and institutional discipline are necessary for building a credible and effective anti-corruption framework. The organisation also called for the protection of citizens against abuse of power, selective enforcement, and unethical conduct by public officials, noting that fairness, transparency, and respect for the rule of law remain fundamental principles of effective anti-corruption governance. HEDA reaffirmed its support for efforts aimed at strengthening accountability institutions and promoting integrity, transparency, and justice in Nigeria’s public sector.

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GFIIA 2026: HEDA Calls for Nominations for the 9th Edition of Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards

GFIIA 2026: HEDA Calls for Nominations for the 9th Edition of Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), a prominent non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting good governance, transparency, and accountability in Nigeria, announces the call for nominations for the 9th Edition of the Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards (GFIIA 2026). Named in honor of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, a distinguished human rights activist and legal luminary, the Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards aim to recognize individuals who demonstrate exceptional integrity and contribute significantly to societal improvement. The awards’ board, chaired by Professor Itse Sagay and co-chaired by Professor Ayo Atsenua, includes esteemed members such as Mr. Femi Falana SAN, Comrade Femi Aborisade, Professor Nsogorua Udombana, Dr. Abiola Akiode-Afolabi, Comrade Achike Achude, and Mr. Olarenwaju Suraju. They are committed to honoring those who exemplify integrity and make remarkable contributions to society. According to a statement from HEDA’s Chairman, the GFIIA 2026 nomination period officially begins on Monday, May 25, 2026, and will remain open until Sunday, July 19, 2026. The subsequent two-week phase will involve collation, shortlisting, and board feedback, concluding these processes on August 3, 2026. Voting will take place from Monday, August 24 to Friday, October 16, 2026. The awards presentation is scheduled for December 10, 2026. HEDA’s Chairman, Olarenwaju Suraju, reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to celebrating individuals who embody the values championed by Chief Gani Fawehinmi. The awards seek to honor those who, despite the temptations of corruption and unethical practices, choose a path of transparency, honesty, and integrity. These individuals serve as role models, inspiring others to follow suit. The Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards feature four distinct categories to encourage public participation: the Outstanding Integrity Award, Outstanding Impact Award, Valuable Whistle-blower Award, and Nigerians in Diaspora Integrity Ambassador Award. To nominate deserving individuals for GFIIA 2026, the public is encouraged to visit the official nomination portal at www.gfa.hedang.org. HEDA Resource Centre remains committed to upholding the legacy of Chief Gani Fawehinmi by promoting integrity, transparency, and accountability in Nigeria. The Gani Fawehinmi Impact and Integrity Awards continue to be a platform for recognizing and celebrating those who make a significant positive impact on society.

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HEDA, NIHSA Launch Nationwide Dissemination, Training and Sensitisation on 2026 Annual Flood Outlook Across Nigeria’s Six Geopolitical Zones

HEDA Resource Centre, in collaboration with Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, has announced a nationwide dissemination, training, and sensitisation programme on the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) aimed at strengthening public understanding of flood risks, improving preparedness, and supporting early action across vulnerable communities in Nigeria. The two-day virtual programme will bring together participants from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, including farmers, agricultural cooperatives, community leaders, media professionals, civil society organisations, researchers, humanitarian actors, and personnel from Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Water Resources, and Emergency Management Agencies. The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts to simplify and disseminate flood forecast information in ways that are practical, accessible, and useful to communities most affected by recurring floods and climate-related disasters. According to HEDA Resource Centre, improving public understanding of flood risks is critical not only for disaster preparedness, but also for protecting agriculture, rural livelihoods, and food security across Nigeria. The organisation noted that farmers remain among the groups most affected by annual flooding, with repeated losses to farmlands, fisheries, livestock, storage facilities, and transportation routes contributing significantly to food insecurity and economic hardship. The dissemination and sensitisation programme is therefore designed to help participants understand flood-prone areas, likely impacts within their regions, and practical preparedness measures that can reduce losses before and during the rainy season. Speaking on the programme, HEDA’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Sulaimon Arigbabu, stressed the need to move flood information beyond technical reports into practical community knowledge. “Every year, flood predictions are released, but many communities still do not receive the information in ways they can understand or act upon. This programme is about simplifying the Annual Flood Outlook and ensuring that farmers, local institutions, media organisations, and communities are better prepared ahead of the peak rainfall period,” he said. The sessions will be delivered in Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Pidgin, and English to ensure wider participation and understanding across different regions of the country. HEDA further called on media organisations, particularly radio stations and community broadcasters, to actively participate in the programme. According to the organisation, the media plays a major role in translating and disseminating flood information to local communities, especially rural populations with limited access to digital platforms and official reports. The organisation maintained that journalists, broadcasters, and media practitioners must understand the Annual Flood Outlook well enough to communicate flood risks responsibly, accurately, and consistently to the public before disasters occur. The programme will cover practical areas including interpretation of the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook, flood risk communication, early warning dissemination, protection of farmlands and livelihoods, community preparedness measures, and coordinated response planning at community and institutional levels. HEDA also encouraged State Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Water Resources, Emergency Management Agencies, local governments, civil society groups, and community-based organisations to participate actively and support wider dissemination of the flood outlook within their states and communities. The programme is scheduled to hold virtually on May 19 and 20, 2026, with separate regional sessions for participants across Northern and Southern Nigeria.

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