Environment

Climate activists ‘occupy’ Science Museum over fossil fuel sponsorship

Youth climate activists have “occupied” London’s Science Museum in protest at its sponsorship deals with fossil fuel companies.

Members of the London branch of the UK Student Climate Network (UKSCN London) said they were holding a candlelight vigil at the famous landmark on Tuesday evening for “the victims of the museum’s fossil fuel sponsors: Shell, BP, Equinor and Adani”.

The group planned to stay overnight, sharing photos on Twitter showing sleeping bags rolled out in the museum’s Kensington building.

The Metropolitan police said officers were in attendance and that no arrests had been made.

The demonstration comes after the Science Museum last week announced a new gallery, called Energy Revolution: The Adani Green Energy Gallery, which is supported by a subsidiary of the Adani Group.

Adani is a multinational conglomerate involved in coal extraction and coal-fired power stations.

Biologist Dr Alexander Penson, who took part in the sit-in, said it was “appalling” that the museum was persisting in fossil fuel sponsorship and starting a new relationship with Adani.

In an Instagram Live video by UKSCN London from inside the museum, he said: “The way that they tell it is that they are working with the green energy arm of the company and they then just forget about the coal.

Candles on the floor of the museum
Candlelit vigil at the Science Museum. The group said they planned to stay overnight at the museum. Photograph: UKSCN/Twitter
“We can all agree that we need new green infrastructure, that we need green jobs … but you can’t just then forget about the dirty infrastructure that we need to retire.”

The museum has also faced criticism for partnering with Shell to fund its Our Future Planet exhibition about carbon capture and storage, and nature-based solutions to the climate crisis.

The agreement with the fossil fuel company included a gagging clause, committing the museum not to say anything that could damage Shell’s reputation.

UKSCN activists attempted to spend the night in the museum in June in protest at the Shell sponsorship, but abandoned the move when they were threatened with arrest by police officers.

The group also previously staged demonstrations outside the Science Museum, alongside activists from the environmental movement Extinction Rebellion.

Ines, 17, a member of UKSCN London, said: “We are less than a week away from the start of Cop26. Now is the time to abolish fossil fuel companies, not collaborate with them or invite them into our cultural spaces.

“The Science Museum’s senior management and board have shut down any attempt at a conversation with young activists and scientists.

“Meanwhile, they are welcoming some of the worst perpetrators of the climate crisis with open arms … The Science Museum needs to seriously rethink its sponsorship deals before it loses its remaining credibility and legitimacy as a scientific institution.”

The occupiers negotiated with museum staff to be moved from the second floor of the building to the Energy Hall near the main entrance so that they would have access to toilets for the whole night, they said in a video posted to Twitter.

UKSCN London had earlier tweeted that the institution was “denying us access to basic safety and hygiene by locking the toilets and refusing to give us safe, sanitary and dignified toilet facilities”.

The Science Museum has been approached for comment.

In a press release announcing the new Energy Revolution gallery, due to open in 2023, the museum said it will examine “how the world can undergo the fastest energy transition in history to curb climate change”.

Dame Mary Archer, chair of the Science Museum Group, said: “We’re hugely grateful to Adani Green Energy for the significant financial support they are providing for this gallery.”

A spokesperson for the Met said: “At approximately 17:40hrs on Tuesday, 26 October, police were made aware of a protest inside and outside a museum on Exhibition Road, SW7.

“Officers remain in attendance and are engaging with the protesters. There have been no arrests.”

Environment

Ogun Govt warns residents in floodplain areas to relocate

The Ogun State Government has warned of imminent flooding and asked residents of flood-prone areas to relocate to safer grounds.

In a news conference in Abeokuta on Thursday, the Ogun State Commissioner for Environment Ola Oresanya said the warning became necessary to raise the consciousness of the residents over flooding and mitigate its impact.

“This year, NIMET in its predictions highlights the likelihood of a downpour with intensity ranging from 965mm to 1805mm which raises concern for communities nationwide that are already vulnerable to flooding and its possible impact,” the commissioner said.

“In continuation of the efforts of the government to minimize the occurrence of flood in the State, residents of Ijebu-Ode, Ota, Owode, Abeokuta, Onihale in Ifo, Sagamu, Iperu, and Ilishan are advised to be wary of flash flood expected between March and July,” Oresanya added.

“Meanwhile, those living on floodplains of Isheri, Akute, Warewa, Oke-Afa, Owa and Yemule River banks in Ijebu-Ode, Ifaara, Ebute-Oni, Ayede-Ayila, Makun, Iwopin and Igele in Ogun Waterside, Ebute-Imobi in Ijebu East, Sokori, Arakanga and Onikoko River all in Abeokuta, Eruwuru, Eri, Ibu, Majopa, Odan and Sensen in Sagamu, and Ijamido, Ilo, Erukomu, Isakale, in Ado Odo/Ota Local Government Area among others are advised to relocate to safer grounds before the coastal flood between September and November.”

The commissioner said the Ogun State Government has taken several measures to address the predicted flooding.

These include the de-silting of 988.3km of rivers/streams and drainage channels; and the construction of 698m in length of concrete drainages and culverts of various cross-sections.

“Presently, de-silting of rivers/streams and drainage channels, and construction of drainages and culverts are ongoing in various parts of the State to further reiterate the State Government’s determination to reduce the impact of flood in the State.

“The execution of the projects will commence in April, and this cut across three senatorial districts of the State,” Oresanya said.

Environment

Nigeria to witness first lunar crescent Feb. 28 -NASRDA

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), said that Nigeria would likely witness its first astronomical lunar crescent on Feb.28.

Dr Felix Ale, Director of Media and Corporate Communications of NASRDA, said this in a statement on Saturday.

He said that the lunar crescent had been calculated to occur at 1:45 A.M. West African Time (WAT).

Ale said the predicted time of 1:45 A.M time, also known as the Crescent Zero hour, would be when the crescent could be seen under perfect atmospheric conditions with the aid of optical instruments like binoculars or telescopes.

“The crescent will become visible to the naked eye in the evening of Friday 28th 2025 between 6:17 PM and 7:35 PM across different locations in Nigeria.

“Maiduguri will be the first city to witness the young lunar crescent from 6:17 PM to 6:48 PM, followed by Yola,Adamawa State, from 6:21 PM to 6:51 PM.

“Damaturu, Yobe, will follow from 6:22 PM to 6:53 PM, Kano, Kastina, Jos and Kaduna will experience the first lunar crescent between 6:38pm and 7:12pm.

“The sunset and moon set will occur between 6:35pm and 7:12pm, 6:38pm and 7:15pm, 6:35pm and 7:11pm, 6:40pm and 7:17pm respectively.

“Enugu will experience the lunar crescent between 6:42pm and 7:32pm with sunset and moonset at about 6:42pm and 7:18pm,’’ he said.

He predicted that in the FCT, the first lunar crescent would appear between 6:44pm and 7:15 pm, with sunset and moonset at about 6:44pm and 7:20pm.

The last cities to experience the lunar crescent, he said would be Lagos and Abeokuta between the hours of 6:59pm to 7:30pm.

Ale said that other cities across the federation will experience the lunar crescent at different times within the estimated visibility window of 6:17pm and 7:35pm on same day.

He said “for a clear sighting of the first lunar crescent, observers are to use optical aids where necessary, observe under clear atmospheric conditions.

“Observers are to position themselves in locations with an unobstructed view of the western horizon after sunset,’’

He added that the scientific report provided precise predictions on the lunar crescent across locations of the country.

According to him, the report ensured accuracy for those who relied on lunar observations for religious, cultural, and scientific purposes.

The space agency encouraged researchers, scholars, and religious groups to utilise the findings, adding that anyone requiring additional data for further analyses could visit the official office website on www.nasrda.gov.ng.

Dr Bonaventure Okere, Director, Centre for Basic Space Science and Astronomy, (CBSSA), an activity centre of NASRDA, said it was regarded as the first stage of the moon, hence the new crescent.

“The Islamic religion use moon phases for their Islamic rites but astronomers study the cycle of the rising and setting of the moon to determine moon days which is usually 28 days.

“Astronomers use the moon cycle to generate Lunar calendar, understand the part of the moon you can see daily,’’ he said. (NAN)

Environment

NiMET predicts haziness across the country from Sunday

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, has predicted haziness from Sunday to Tuesday across the country.

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Saturday in Abuja, envisaged moderate dust haze on Sunday with a horizontal visibility range of 2km to 5km over the northern region of the country.

It expected localised visibilities of less than or equal to 1km over parts of Yobe, Kano, Katsina, Gombe, Bauchi, Kaduna, Jigawa and Niger.

It added that parts of Kogi, Kwara and Benue will experience a few clouds in a hazy atmosphere.

According to it, in the southern parts of the country, cloudy skies with spells of sunshine are expected over the entire region with prospects of afternoon or evening.

The agency said that thunderstorms are expected over parts of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Ondo, Edo and Delta.

It predicted moderate dust haze on Monday with a horizontal visibility range of 2km to 5km over the northern and North Central region of the country.

However, parts of Kogi, Kwara and Benue will experience a few clouds in a hazy atmosphere.

In the southern region, cloudy skies with spells of sunshine are expected over the entire region with prospects of afternoon or evening thunderstorms are expected over parts of Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta

NiMet said moderate dust haze with horizontal visibility range of 2km to 5km is anticipated over the northern and North Central region of the country on Tuesday.

The agency forecast spells of sunshine over the entire region with prospects of afternoon or evening thunderstorms over parts of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Ondo, Edo and Delta.

It further said that dust particles are in suspension, urging the public to take necessary precautions.

It advised people with asthmatic health conditions and other respiratory issues to be cautious of the present weather conditions.

The agency also urged airline operators to get airport-specific weather reports from NiMet’s office for effective planning of their operations.