Wildlife Conservation Win: Nigerian conservationist Rachel Ikemeh has been named a 2026 Rolex Awards laureate for community-led protection of the Niger Delta’s ecology, including helping bring the critically endangered Niger Delta red colobus monkey back from near extinction. Oil & Gas Pollution Pressure: In Rivers State’s Okrika, residents and activists call the long-burning Alakiri wellhead fire “genocidal,” warning of toxic fumes harming fishing and farming communities, while CAPPA reports another dangerous gas explosion in Bille. Accountability in Oil Spills: A UK court ruling allows allegations that Shell misled courts in a Niger Delta oil pollution case to be examined ahead of a full trial scheduled for May 2027. Climate & Health: UNICEF reports climate hazards disrupted schooling for about 1 in 10 Kenyan learners in 2025, with drought the main driver; Niger recorded millions of affected students too. Gas Flaring Regulation: Nigeria’s gas flare commercialisation programme faces tougher enforcement, with threats to revoke licences for investors that fail to make meaningful progress. Blue Economy & Ports: Delta State backs EU-supported plans to develop Burutu Port and expand maritime transport as part of a wider coastal corridor vision. Roads & Coastal Access: Ilaje lawyers in Ondo State demand restoration of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to its original coastal alignment. Regional Trade Modernisation: Nigeria and Cameroon launch the Mfum-Ekok border modernisation push to cut trade bottlenecks and support AfCFTA. Security on Waterways: The Nigerian Navy intercepted a boat carrying 71kg of suspected cannabis on the River Niger in Kogi and handed suspects to NDLEA.