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Behind Closed Doors, Deep‑Sea Mining Summit Crumbles Under US Push and Global Dissent
After two weeks of tense negotiations, the International Seabed Authority (ISA) remains far from finalizing a comprehensive framework for deep‑sea mining, despite mounting pressure sparked by U.S. moves to fast‑track the controversial industry.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
At the close of its latest session in Jamaica, the ISA’s 36‑member council on Thursday completed a painstaking, line‑by‑line review of the draft “mining code,” which currently contains 107 proposed regulations governing the extraction of minerals such as cobalt, nickel, and manganese — metals crucial for electric vehicles and other green technologies.
“This marks a significant milestone,” council president Duncan Muhumuza Laki declared to applause.
Yet, more than a decade into discussions, key provisions — particularly those meant to safeguard the marine environment — remain deeply contested. Several delegations openly pushed back against Laki’s call to accelerate talks and adopt the rules this year, as outlined in a 2023 roadmap.
“The exploitation activities cannot begin as long as we do not have a solid, equitable framework,” Chilean delegate Salvador Vega Telias said, reiterating his country’s support for a moratorium on deep‑sea mining until scientific research can fully gauge potential environmental impacts.
ISA Secretary‑General Leticia Carvalho echoed the need for caution, noting that “the deep sea needs rules,” but emphasizing that success depends on “robust science, inclusive dialogue, and the wisdom to act with precaution.”
The stakes have been raised since April, when U.S. President Donald Trump ordered his administration to fast‑track permits for mining in U.S. and international waters, bypassing the ISA process by invoking a little‑known 1980 U.S. law. The United States is not a party to the ISA or to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, under which the ISA was established in 1994.
Canada’s The Metals Company (TMC) swiftly seized the opportunity, applying to Washington for a high‑seas mining license — a move that bypassed the ISA’s framework and drew condemnation from NGOs and several member states. Nori (Nauru Ocean Resources Inc.), a TMC subsidiary, already holds an exploration contract in the Pacific’s Clarion‑Clipperton Zone that expires next year.
A draft resolution circulating among delegates calls on the ISA’s legal and technical commission to investigate “possible issues of non‑compliance” linked to actions that attempt to exploit seabed resources outside the agreed multilateral framework, and to recommend penalties if necessary.
The atmosphere in Kingston has grown increasingly charged, with some member states critical of council president Laki’s decision to hold portions of the negotiations behind closed doors.
“What the council is discussing right now is the common heritage of humankind,” said Emma Watson of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, warning against what she described as a troubling “shift” in procedure.
Environmental advocates insist that deep‑sea mining threatens fragile ecosystems that remain largely unexplored, and they argue that any rush toward commercial exploitation could carry irreversible consequences for the planet’s oceans.
According to Nivo News, the General Overseer of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, has declared what he described as divine judgment on bandits and their alleged sponsors responsible for insecurity across parts of Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking on Sunday at the church’s headquarters in Ota, Ogun State, during a sermon themed “Covenant Day of Vengeance,” Oyedepo stated that those behind killings, kidnappings, and violent attacks would face divine retribution. He further claimed that within the next seven days, consequences would begin to manifest against those he accused of fueling unrest in the country, assuring worshippers that the coming week would be marked by “testimonies of vengeance.”
He was quoted as saying that judgment had been pronounced on individuals responsible for such acts and their supporters, adding that the outcome he referenced would unfold within a week.
In a related remark during a recent midweek service, Oyedepo also acknowledged the presence of fraudsters within and outside religious spaces, warning that his identity and images were being exploited for fraudulent schemes. He urged members of his congregation to remain vigilant and committed to truth to avoid falling victim to scams involving impersonation.
He recounted a case where an individual allegedly posed as him in an attempt to defraud unsuspecting victims, noting that such incidents highlight the growing sophistication of fraudulent activities.
A political disagreement has emerged within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nasarawa State following Governor Abdullahi Sule’s reported endorsement of Senator Aliyu Wadada as his preferred successor ahead of the 2027 governorship election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the move has sparked tension between the governor and his predecessor, Umar Tanko Al-Makura, who faulted the decision, describing it as premature and not properly consulted within party structures.
Al-Makura, a prominent figure in the state’s political landscape, expressed displeasure that he only became aware of the endorsement through media reports. He argued that the decision should have involved wider consultation, warning that such early endorsements could undermine internal party processes.
He further noted that the APC had not begun its formal nomination process, insisting that declaring support for a candidate at this stage was inappropriate and ahead of schedule.
The controversy was further heightened by former Inspector-General of Police, Muhammad Adamu, who is also aspiring for the APC governorship ticket. He rejected the endorsement, stating that no individual has the authority to impose a candidate, and reaffirmed his intention to contest in the party primaries.
In response, Governor Sule, through his media aide, defended the endorsement, stating that it was consistent with political traditions in the state. He referenced past succession arrangements, including Al-Makura’s own endorsement of him, arguing that the current process was in line with established practice but being conducted more transparently.
The governor’s camp clarified that Senator Wadada remains a preferred aspirant and not the party’s official candidate.
Senator Wadada, reacting to the development, called for calm among party members, describing the situation as part of normal political competition. He also downplayed tensions with other aspirants, noting that the contest should be seen as a democratic process.
Meanwhile, support for Adamu continues to grow in parts of Nasarawa South, where youths, women, and stakeholders have openly backed his ambition, alongside broader endorsements for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
Adamu, however, maintained that he remains firmly in the race, accusing some political actors of inconsistency in the unfolding succession dynamics.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has described as unnecessary the denial issued by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) regarding an invitation allegedly extended to him for the groundbreaking ceremony of an ecumenical chapel at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
According to Nivo News, the Sultan’s media team maintained that an official invitation was duly sent to His Eminence requesting his attendance as Royal Father of the Day. The statement explained that the event also listed key dignitaries, including the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, as Distinguished Guest of Honour, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu as Mother of the Day.
The Sultan’s office emphasised that his participation in the proposed Christian event would promote interfaith harmony, noting his role as Co-Chairman of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC). It added that globally, religious leaders often engage in events outside their faith traditions as part of efforts to encourage unity and peaceful coexistence.
The response follows an earlier clarification from CAN, which denied issuing any invitation to the Sultan and stated that the document circulating in public was not from the association. CAN further explained that the communication in question originated from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and insisted that it had no involvement in inviting the Sultan to the event.
While acknowledging that the SGF’s office was linked to the invitation process, the Sultan’s media team expressed concern over CAN’s denial, describing it as unnecessary and capable of creating misunderstanding, especially since the Sultan did not request to attend the ceremony.
The statement also urged religious bodies to focus on messages that strengthen unity and promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds.
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