The Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA) has launched a nationwide campaign to plant 1,000 trees within one hour across Nigeria, in what organisers describe as a bold push for environmental action and community participation.

The initiative, scheduled for Thursday, 30 April 2026 between 7:00am and 8:00am, will take place simultaneously in multiple locations under its “Green Borders” sustainability programme.

Organisers say the campaign is designed to tackle environmental threats such as deforestation, climate change and land degradation, while encouraging grassroots involvement.

Why it matters

Nigeria continues to face growing environmental challenges, including desertification in the north and flooding in coastal regions.

Tree planting is widely seen by environmental experts as a simple but effective way to absorb carbon emissions, improve air quality and restore degraded land.

COWA says its one-hour target is both symbolic and practical—demonstrating what coordinated citizen action can achieve in a short time.

“Planting hope for future generations”

Speaking on the initiative, COWA National President, Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, described the campaign as a call for collective responsibility.

“If we are to secure a healthier and more sustainable future for our communities, we must all recognise that environmental stewardship is a shared duty,” she said.

“This initiative is not simply about planting trees; it is about planting hope, restoring our environment and inspiring a culture of responsibility that can endure for generations.”

She added that the campaign aligns with the association’s broader goal of linking environmental action with community development.

“The ‘1,000 Trees in One Hour’ campaign shows what can be achieved when people come together with purpose,” Mrs Adeniyi said.

“While the trees we plant today will contribute to environmental restoration, the awareness we are creating will help nurture environmentally conscious citizens, especially among younger generations.”

Industry and public perspectives

Environmental advocates say initiatives like this can drive awareness, but long-term impact depends on sustained efforts.

Community-led programmes, they note, are critical in ensuring trees are maintained after planting—often a major challenge in similar campaigns.

The involvement of volunteers, local stakeholders and environmental groups in the COWA campaign could strengthen accountability and long-term success.

What happens next

COWA says the campaign is intended to go beyond a one-day event and evolve into a nationwide sustainability movement.

“Our vision is to make environmental consciousness a way of life in our communities,” Mrs Adeniyi said.

“Through the Green Borders initiative, we want to encourage partnerships, inspire local ownership and build a nationwide movement where sustainability is driven not only by policy, but by people.”

Organisers also expect the exercise to strengthen collaboration with environmental partners and expand future sustainability programmes.

Impact on communities

The campaign places a strong focus on citizen participation, particularly among women and young people.

By involving communities directly, organisers hope to build long-term environmental awareness and responsibility at the grassroots level.

If sustained, such efforts could contribute to Nigeria’s broader climate goals and ecosystem restoration strategies.

Sterling Bank and its partners have launched a nationwide environmental campaign, The Great Nigeria Cleanup, set to take place on 25 April 2026 across multiple states, as concerns grow over pollution and waste management in Nigeria.

The initiative, organised in collaboration with Sterling One Foundation, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Sunbeth, and community volunteers, will span all six geopolitical zones.

Why it matters

Nigeria faces mounting environmental challenges, particularly plastic pollution and poor waste disposal systems in urban areas.

Cities such as Lagos generate thousands of tonnes of waste daily, putting pressure on infrastructure and public health systems.

The organisers say the cleanup aligns with the United Nations Decade of Action and is designed to encourage long-term behavioural change among citizens.

Nationwide mobilisation

The campaign will run simultaneously across states including Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Osun, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Abia, Enugu, Imo, Sokoto, Kano, Benue, Plateau, Kogi, and Katsina.

It aims to mobilise citizens, businesses, and government agencies to take part in coordinated cleanups and environmental awareness activities.

What organisers are saying

Temitayo Adegoke, Chief Operating Officer of Sterling Bank, said the initiative is about collective responsibility.

“At Sterling, we believe that real impact happens when institutions and individuals come together with a shared purpose. The Great Nigeria Cleanup is our collective opportunity to not only clean our surroundings but to redefine how we care for our environment,” he said.

“This is about building a culture of responsibility and pride that will outlive this moment.”

Olapeju Ibekwe, Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, described the campaign as a broader social movement.

“The future we want for Nigeria depends on the actions we take today. The Great Nigeria Cleanup is about more than sanitation, it is about dignity, wellbeing, and shared responsibility,” she said.

“We are proud to be part of a movement that empowers people across the country to take ownership of their environment.”

Industry and public perspective

Environmental experts say large-scale cleanups can help raise awareness but must be backed by consistent policies and infrastructure investment.

Waste management stakeholders have also called for improved recycling systems, stronger enforcement of environmental laws, and increased public education.

Community groups involved in the campaign say citizen participation will be key to its success.

Impact on communities

Organisers believe the initiative could:

Reduce plastic waste in public spaces

Improve sanitation and public health

Encourage civic responsibility

Strengthen collaboration between public and private sectors

For many residents, especially in densely populated cities, cleaner environments could also reduce flooding caused by blocked drainage systems.

What’s next

Participants are encouraged to join cleanup efforts in their communities on 25 April.

Organisers say the campaign is intended to become an annual movement, with long-term sustainability programmes expected to follow.

About the organisations

Sterling Bank is a Nigerian commercial bank with over 60 years of operations, focusing on sectors such as health, education, agriculture, renewable energy, and transportation.

Sterling One Foundation is a non-profit organisation working on poverty reduction through programmes in health, education, and climate action, with a focus on partnerships to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

An environmental group has urged the Nigerian government to impose a total ban on gas flaring, warning that oil companies are choosing to pay penalties rather than reduce emissions.

The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) said the surge in payments shows existing sanctions are ineffective.

This follows new data from the Nigerian Oil Spill Monitor, which shows oil firms paid an estimated $646 million in gas flaring penalties in 2025, the highest in five years.

Why it matters

Gas flaring, burning off excess natural gas during oil extraction releases harmful emissions that affect public health and contribute to climate change.

Communities in the Niger Delta have long complained about pollution, poor crop yields, and health risks linked to flare sites.

Nigeria has pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2060, but critics say continued flaring undermines that goal.

Rising penalties, rising emissions

The data reveals a complex trend.

While flaring volumes fell between 2020 and 2022, they have risen again in recent years:

2020: 349.3 million SCF

2021: 264.6 million SCF

2022: 230.1 million SCF

2023: 278.3 million SCF

2024: 301.3 million SCF

The highest penalties on record were in 2018, when companies paid $934 million after flaring gas worth $1.6 billion.

“Not a cause for celebration”

RDI Executive Director, Philip Jakpor said the government should not treat the payments as revenue success.

“The increase in payment of the penalties should not be viewed in terms of revenue as the Nigerian government wants us to see it. It should not be a cause for celebration. What it shows is that the oil companies are very comfortable paying what the government portrays as humungous sums rather than saving our environment and people from the toxic emissions”.

He added that the current penalty rate, about $2 per 1,000 SCF remains too low to deter companies.

“For the polluting oil companies the penalties at $2.00 for 1,000 scf still remains a pat on the back… the government has capitulated to a position of financialization of pollution”.

Impact on communities

Jakpor said the real cost is borne by residents living near flare sites.

“Communities living side by side these polluting facilities carry the biggest burdens in form of constant heat, acid rain, poor farm yields, and the health impacts of inhaling methane and other toxic chemicals from the flare sites. That should be the biggest worry of our government instead of so-called revenue”.

Environmental experts have long linked gas flaring to respiratory illnesses, environmental degradation, and reduced agricultural productivity.

Climate targets under scrutin

RDI questioned Nigeria’s commitment to its climate goals, arguing that continued flaring contradicts its emissions targets.

“A genuine and just energy transition must be built on cutting emission at source rather than encouraging the fossil fuels industry to continue business as usual. An end to gas flaring is what we want to celebrate, not increased revenue from penalties”.

Industry and policy perspective

Oil companies typically argue that flaring is sometimes unavoidable due to infrastructure limitations, though regulators have set deadlines to end the practice dating back to 1984.

Government agencies have also defended penalties as part of a broader transition strategy, but critics say enforcement remains weak.

What’s next

Campaigners are calling for stricter enforcement, higher penalties, and investment in gas capture technologies.

Some analysts suggest that without stronger regulation and infrastructure, flaring may persist despite financial sanctions.