Beijing phased out more than 4,450 coal-fired stoves in 2017, reducing its coal consumption by almost three million tonnes, local authorities said on Friday, December 29, 2017. “The move also reduced emission of 5,500 tonnes of smoke and 6,600 tonnes of sulphur dioxide,’’ the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau said. As part of a campaign launched in 2013, Beijing has ...

The Federal Government is targeting about 5,000 men, women and children in its free medical outreach aimed at preventing, detecting and treating victims of hydrocarbon pollution in Ogoniland, Rivers State. Dr Marvin Dekil, the Project Coordinator, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), flagged-off the second phase of the exercise on Friday, December 29, 2017 in Kpite-Tai community, Tai Local Government Area ...

On Nov. 7, 2017, President Muhammadu Buhari told the National Assembly that the Federal Government would launch the first African Sovereign Green Bond in December 2017 to finance renewable energy projects. Buhari, while presenting the 2018 Budget Proposal, said: “I am pleased to inform this distinguished assembly that the Federal Government will be launching the first African Sovereign Green Bond ...

The World Health Organisation (WHO) observes that out of more than 56 million cases of abortions that take place globally each year, almost half of the cases are done through unsafe procedures. It notes further that. between 2010 and 2014, there were 55.7 million abortion cases every year and, out of these, 17.1 million cases were unsafe. Similarly, some concerned ...

Early Childhood Development (ECD), from conception to pre-primary education age, has been globally recognised as foundation for adult health, productivity, learning and social cohesion. ECD includes health of mother and unborn child, nutrition, responsive care, early learning, security, safety to ensure improved care and support for growing child, thereby giving him a good head-start in life. Analysts, therefore, note that ...

Nigeria’s oil and gas revenues plunged from $54.5 billion in 2014 to $24.8 billion in 2015, while the country’s oil production fell from 798 million barrels in 2014 to 776 million barrels in 2015, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has disclosed. According to the NEITI 2015 Oil and Gas Industry Audit Report, the total outstanding revenue from the ...

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has declined to sign into law a bill on the development and application of genetically modified organisms (GMO) technology in the country. The National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill, 2012 seeks to provide a regulatory framework that facilitates the safe development and application of biotechnology, research, development and release of GMOs. In his December 21 letter ...

Stakeholders in health sector note that the recent decision by the National Assembly to implement the 2014 National Health Act is an indication that healthcare delivery in the country, particularly at primary level, is inefficient. President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, said the Senate would implement the act, including the one per cent consolidated fund to enhance funding of the ...

A new hydrogen fuel cell bus was unveiled in Central Chinese City of Wuhan on Thursday, December 28, 2017. The 8.5-meter vehicle can carry 56 passengers and can run more than 450 kilometers on single refuel of hydrogen, which takes three to five minutes, said its developer, Wuhan Tiger Fuel Cell Vehicle Co. Ltd. The vehicle is able to start ...

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday, December 28, 2017 moved to increase the state government revenue by reviewing the current Land Use Charge in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the House read for the second time “A Bill for A Law To Repeal The Land Use Charge Law 2001 and Enact Land Use ...