Attacks on schools in conflict zones around the world have increased by a “staggering 44 per cent” over the past year. Nigeria ranked fourth in the number of grave violations verified.
Countries with the highest numbers of grave violations were verified in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (8,554), the Democratic Republic of Congo (4,043), Somalia (2,568), Nigeria (2,436), and Haiti (2,269).
UN secretary-general António Guterres stated this in a message to mark the International Day to Protect Education, commemorated annually on September 9.
According to the UN, Nigeria was among the countries that recorded the highest numbers of grave violations, with 2,436 incidents.
Mr Guterres, in his message, said that “each violation carries profound consequences, not only for teachers and young learners, but for the future of entire communities and countries”.
The UN chief added that “no child should risk death to learn”.
More than 41,000 incidents of violence against school-age children were reported by the UN in 2024.
According to the UN, the attacks resulted in the death, abduction, and trauma of thousands of teachers and students.
The UN chief’s Annual Report on Children and Armed Conflict for 2024 highlights not only an upsurge in attacks on schools.
The report also highlighted a 34 per cent increase in rape and other forms of sexual violence perpetrated against children.
In addition, the number of child victims of what the UN calls grave violations increased by 17 per cent as a result of abduction, recruitment, and other types of violence, characterised by the UN as “an alarming escalation in brutality.”
With many schools on the front lines either closed or operating remotely, over 420,000 children attend school fully online, while one million use a hybrid model.
Between January and July 2025, the UN and its humanitarian partners supported 370,000 children and teachers, primarily in frontline and host communities.
Parties to conflict anywhere in the world are obliged under international law to respect schools as places of safety and hold accountable those responsible for attacks.
“The pen, the book, and the classroom are all mightier than the sword. Let’s keep it that way and protect the fundamental right of every child to learn in safety and peace,” Mr Guterres stated.
With NAN report
NNPC targets global markets with $60 billion gas expansion plan
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited states that the country aims to attract $ 60 billion in new investments over the next five to seven years to expand its gas infrastructure.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited states that the country aims to attract $ 60 billion in new investments over the next five to seven years to expand its gas infrastructure.
Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, disclosed this while addressing a global audience from 150 countries at the opening of the Gastech Exhibition and Conference in Milan, Italy.
He further stated that the Federal Government was seeking the investment to boost industrialisation and reinforce the country’s position in the global energy market.
According to him, the planned investment aimed to scale up Nigeria’s natural gas production to 12 billion cubic feet per day and expand the refinery capacity to meet growing global energy demand.
“We are seeking at least 60 billion dollars in investment over the next five to seven years, which for our oil and gas industry is just the tip of the iceberg. We are seeking investors to grow production,” he said.
Mr Ojulari said the Petroleum Industry Act, signed into law in 2021, transformed NNPC into a limited liability company, enabling it to access direct funding and forge global partnerships.
He stated that the company was currently producing approximately 1.6 million barrels of crude oil per day (bpd), with a mandate to increase output to 2 million bpd by 2027 and 3 million bpd by 2030.
He highlighted the ongoing projects, including the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano pipeline, the extension of the West African Gas Pipeline to Morocco and Europe, as well as the expansion of the Nigeria LNG project.
According to him, Nigeria already supplies 60 per cent of LNG to Portugal and Spain, and is currently on Train 6, with plans to construct Train 7, which is expected to be completed in 2026, followed by Trains 8 and 9.
“Nigeria has one of the best-run LNG businesses globally. We want to take advantage of the current high energy demand, which is also expected to go even higher,” he said.
On clean energy, Mr Ojulari said the government is driving LPG adoption and has launched a program to deliver two million cylinders nationwide, while also rolling out a Compressed Natural Gas transition scheme for vehicles and machinery.
On Nigeria’s role in global energy security, he added that geopolitical shifts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, had accelerated regional pipeline projects aimed at strengthening energy security.
The NNPCL boss said Nigeria has over 200 undeveloped oil and gas fields, describing them as greenfield opportunities for international investors.
Regarding how foreign policy shifts affect Nigeria’s energy sector, Mr Ojulari stated that the country has been attracting investments from diverse global players, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, Agip, and Total.
“Nigeria is a global market. While foreign policies do impact us, our focus is on creating a stable market and building the right partnerships,” he said.
Additionally, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging its vast reserves to drive industrialization, regional integration, and global energy security.
He said that natural gas remained central to Nigeria’s energy strategy, powering industries, clean cooking, agriculture, job creation, and public health.
“Nigeria as a gas nation is committed to using our natural gas to serve our economy, our continent, and other parts of the world,” he assured.
Mr Ekpo noted that the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas project was set to increase production capacity from 22 million metric tonnes per annum to 30 MTPA with the addition of Train 7.
He stated that the country was also promoting regional pipeline diplomacy through the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, a 5,000-kilometer transcontinental project designed to connect West Africa to Europe.
He said that the government was also engaging with Algeria and Equatorial Guinea on the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline to expand regional energy interconnectivity.
With an estimated 210 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves, the minister said Nigeria was open to investors and had introduced regulatory reforms and executive orders under President Bola Tinubu to create an investor-friendly environment.
“Our natural gas is the bridge to renewables, and the anchor point for developing countries like Nigeria to ensure we are not left behind in the global energy transition,” he stated.
Nigeria’s participation at the global summit underscores its ambition to become a key player in the evolving energy landscape.
With NAN report
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