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Ugandans, Tanzanians flay reports indicating that Chinese may finance EACOP

Michael Simire
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Ugandans, Tanzanians flay reports indicating that Chinese may finance EACOP

On Sunday, December 8, 2024, East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP)-impacted communities gathered in Kikuube district in Uganda to hold a press conference and peaceful demonstration in response to the recent claim by the Government of Uganda indicating that financing for the controversial East African Crude Oil Pipeline would come through from numerous Chinese state-owned entities by the end of December 2024.

Since September 2023, the Government of Uganda has repeatedly stated that Chinese financial institutions, including Sinosure and China Exim Bank, are expected to finance the project.

StopEACOP protesters

However, the anticipated support from China appears to have been delayed, prompting EACOP shareholders to increase their equity stake from 40% to 52%.

However, the silence from the Chinese stakeholders regarding the claims by the Government of Uganda has raised serious concerns among the affected communities and civil society in Uganda and Tanzania.

These concerns are further compounded by the significant role already played by the Chinese National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and various Chinese contractors in the operation and development of EACOP and its associated projects.

During the press conference, community leaders and impacted persons put forward clear demands for the Chinese financial and insurance actors, including Sinosure, China Exim Bank and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to decline any and all support for EACOP, emphasising the immense environmental and socio-economic harm caused by the pipeline and its associated projects.

Impacted communities have also put out clear calls for Chinese commercial and political decision-makers to prioritise mutually beneficial developmental partnerships with their communities, with their country and with the continent as a whole – stressing the potential role that the Chinese state and its entities could play in spurring meaningful growth through the provision of support for decentralised renewable energy infrastructure and other green economic and social development initiatives.

On Thursday December 11, 2024, activists in Kampala and Dar Es Salaam marched to the embassies of China in Uganda and Tanzania respectively to ensure that the demands, testimony and aspirations of EACOP-impacted communities are heard and treated seriously by Chinese stakeholders who continue to consider throwing their weight behind EACOP and its associated projects.

The campaign calls on Chinese financial institutions to respect the decision of affected people and to publicly commit to not funding the project or the associated oil fields.

“We urgently call upon the Chinese government and its financial institutions to publicly refute these claims about funding this controversial pipeline, address outstanding human rights violation allegations against CNOOC Uganda, engage meaningfully with local communities living in the Albertine region where CNOOC operates, and explore renewable energy investments,” said Balach Bakundane, Coordinator of EACOP Host Communities Organisation (EACOP-HC), Uganda.

“The oil and gas sector in Uganda has been characterised by human rights violations, environmental and biodiversity destruction, and widespread land grabbing that disrupts household livelihoods. The CNOOC-led Kingfisher project has further exacerbated these issues, with reports of destroyed fishing equipment, the arrests and assaults of community members protesting these injustices, and a troubling rise in sexual and gender-based violence. These violations are unacceptable in any society.

“We urge Chinese financial institutions and insurance companies to demonstrate leadership and solidarity by rejecting financing for projects that harm our communities, do not make sound economic sense, destroy the environment, and contribute to the climate crisis,” Samuel Okulony, Executive Director of Environmental Governance Institute (EGI), Uganda, said.

“The choice is clear: Chinese entities must not replicate the exploitative and destructive agenda of the West. We marched to the embassy in Dar Es Salaam today because, like our brothers and sisters in Uganda, our communities are suffering- displaced from their lands and stripped of their livelihoods.

“We demand that Chinese decision makers engage with us, listen to our voices, and pursue real alternatives that prioritise people over profit,” said Richard Senkondo, Executive Director of the Organisation for Community Engagement (OCE), Tanzania.

“Chinese state-owned institutions are at a critical crossroads: they must decide whether to back destruction, exploitation, and neo-colonial plundering, or align themselves with the growing global consensus rejecting the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP). The tide is turning against projects like EACOP, with 42 major banks and 28 (re)insurance companies already distancing themselves from its devastating environmental and social impacts.

“Communities affected by EACOP have been vocal and resolute in their demands for justice and an alternative developmental path. It would be both careless and reckless for Chinese decision-makers to dismiss these calls. Doing so risks not only significant reputational damage across the African continent, where trust and cooperation are essential, but also potential financial fallout from a project rife with controversy and opposition,” declared Zaki Mamdoo, StopEACOP Campaign Coordinator.

NDCs: Council engages stakeholders in carbon market regulation

Michael Simire
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NDCs: Council engages stakeholders in carbon market regulation

The National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) has trained a host of stakeholders on the concept of carbon market policy and manual procedure as part of efforts to help increase the nation’s capacity to execute its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) effectively.

Nigeria demonstrated that it was even more ready to reduce and explore the carbon market in 2024 when it proposed a draft of Articles 6.2 and 6.4 of the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) of the Paris Agreement.

Participants during the three-day workshop held by NCCC in Abuja to strengthen stakeholders’ capacity for NDCs implementation

The country’s long-term goal is to participate in the compliance market and carry out the required assessments on the various dynamics.This gesture provides Nigeria with a unique and twofold opportunity to achieve this goal.

The first involves the opportunity to create transactions and choose which nation to work with, and the second comprises a credit mechanism that encourages a marketplace for nations to exchange carbon credits.

Given the foregoing, the socialisation and knowledge-building programme that was held in Abuja from Wednesday, December 11, to Friday, December 13, 2024, brought to light a number of gaps that Nigeria must fill, including putting in place a suitable institutional framework, increasing the level of operations and bilateral agreements, and securing important private sector participation.

Speaking at the ceremony, NCCC director-general, Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe, said Nigeria has shown conditional commitment and is executing a number of climate action projects.

She, however, expressed concern that the issue of tracking the results of these projects still exists.

She slammed the idea of asking countries to adopt lofty NDC targets without providing a clear roadmap for how to attain such objectives.

“How do we socialise and deconstruct the NDCs on where we want to be, looking at the past and how we get there?”

These are some of the questions the NCCC boss hopes to have answered in order to strengthen the formation and implementation of NDCs.

The workshop, according to her, was organised to create the platform for stakeholders to brainstorm on how to provide answers to the above-mentioned issues.

Dr. Maduekwe concluded her speech by hailing the attendees and drawing their attention to the fact that their participation in the exercise reveals their intentions and commitment to contribute to solving the country’s climate challenges.

In the same vein, Mrs. Lolalade Awogbade, the head of sustainability at the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), emphasised the importance of correcting misconceptions about access to climate and development finance.

According to her, it is only when commercially valued projects and concept notes are submitted and other processes followed by Nigerian entities are openly vetted by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) that such money will be released to the DBN for disbursement and implementation.

“So far, there’s no money that has been given by the GCF to DBN. It reads zero in the account,” Awogbade revealed.

By Nsikak Emmanuel Ekere, Abuja

Nigeria launches second phase of climate action transparency initiative

Michael Simire
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Nigeria launches second phase of climate action transparency initiative

Nigeria has announced the second phase of its Initiative for Climate Action Transparency (ICAT) project to encourage more openness in the pursuit of the nation’s climate efforts.

As a signatory to the Paris Climate Agreement, Nigeria is obligated to implement the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), one of the key pillars of the accord, which provides for accurate and reliable reporting of Parties’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Dr Henning Wuester, Director of ICAT in Bonn, Germany, speaking at the podium during his opening remarks at the project launch in Abuja

In order to guarantee the achievement of this objective, ICAT is supporting the country in developing and operating the Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) process of the Agreement.

A few ICAT phase I project milestones

For that reason, the first phase of this scheme witnesses the establishment of a strong institutional arrangement across three priority sectors of the NDCs: oil and gas, Agriculture, and Forest and Other Land Use (AFOLU); and also the transport sector, which includes roads, water, and air.

Assessment of policies and measures to develop indicators for tracking the implementation of the NDC was also carried out during this phase of the exercise.

Developing institutional arrangements entails identifying sub-sectors, building capacity, and defining the roles and responsibilities of individuals who will execute the MRV system. This necessitated widespread engagement and the use of stakeholder mapping to identify all of the persons in charge of implementing this assignment and the development of a document that will guide them in their reporting method, all of which were accomplished throughout the pilot stage of this significant venture.

External support, challenges, next steps

The European Union is also helping Nigeria in establishing a robust MRV structure in the power and waste sectors, which are under ICAT’s purview. Nonetheless, one important sector, Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU), continues to lack this institutional framework on the ground.

“So, ICAT is graciously supporting Nigeria in phase II of this project to create institutional arrangements in the industry sector, which completes the five priority sectors,” Dr. Bala Bappa, the ICAT in-country facilitator and coordinating consultant, stated during the project launch and inception workshop organised by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) in Abuja on Wednesday, December 11, 2024.

He went on to explain that now that Nigeria has this institutional setup in place, the next step to be taken in the second part of the project is to develop guidelines that will support the implementation of the MRV.

These guidelines, the in-country consultant continued, would specify the exact roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder, including the MDAs, private sector, and sub-national.

Another essential component of this phase of the strategy, according to Dr Bappa, is addressing how to begin operationalising the Greenhouse Gas Management Inventory System, “because that is where you will receive the data, analyse it, and then archive it.”

Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe, director general of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), stated in her remarks at the event that “this is a very important process for Nigeria, which is why you are here, so we ask you to take ownership of it.”

As she stormed the premises with hard copies of the CCA 2021 and distributed them to the participants in the hall, the council chieftain underlined the importance of understanding the Act, which will allow them to carry out their numerous obligations and support the overall attainment of the programme’s purpose by asking the appropriate questions when necessary.

Wrapping up her comments, she assured the audience that the NCCC, in keeping with her role in the collaboration, will continue to interact with stakeholders at every stage of the project’s life cycle to assure its successful completion.

MDAs, international development partners, private sector players, NGOs, and academia all held technical sessions during the meeting to evaluate key priorities in the Nigeria ICAT project phase II work plan, such as the implementation strategy, stakeholder consultations, report analysis, and presentation.

By Etta Michael Bisong, Abuja

Stakeholders demand urgent climate accountability, flood preparedness post-COP29

Michael Simire
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Stakeholders demand urgent climate accountability, flood preparedness post-COP29

Stakeholders have called for immediate action to address climate-related disasters and improve accountability mechanisms in Nigeria.

This call was made during a one-day workshop on Climate Accountability, Report Validation, and Post-COP29 Assessment organised by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) under the Africa Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) Project held in Abuja.

Participants at the HEDA Resource Centre Post-COP29 workshop

The workshop brought together representatives from government agencies, traditional institutions, local governments, civil society organisations (CSOs), and the media.

Discussions centered on HEDA’s survey findings on flood early warning systems, climate accountability and Nigeria’s commitments made at the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.

HEDA’s Executive Secretary, Mr. Sulaimon Arigbabu, emphasised the need for effective early warning systems in flood-prone areas, citing recent flooding in Maiduguri as evidence of governance gaps.

HEDA’s report revealed significant shortcomings in flood preparedness, with many communities lacking timely access to flood warnings. The workshop resolutions emphasised targeted interventions for high-risk states, urging the allocation of resources, training, and infrastructure to reduce flood impacts.

Inclusive climate accountability was also highlighted, stressing the importance of ensuring climate action plans and early warning systems are accessible to vulnerable groups, such as women and people with disabilities.

Additionally, the need for community-led solutions was underscored, advocating for the use of local knowledge and bottom-up approaches in flood management and climate adaptation.

To enhance accountability, participants called for strict enforcement of transparency laws, like the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, and legal action against lapses in climate governance.

Capacity building was identified as crucial, with recommendations to train media, civil society organisations (CSOs), and local communities to demand climate accountability and improve disaster preparedness.

The workshop also addressed challenges related to the $300 billion annual climate finance commitment from COP29. Stakeholders noted that complex funding requirements hinder access for countries like Nigeria. The need for robust frameworks and local capacity to secure and use these funds effectively was highlighted.

HEDA further stressed the importance of reducing reliance on imported technologies by developing local solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation.

The event concluded with a call for greater public awareness, punitive measures for negligence, and stronger collaboration between communities and government agencies.

HEDA urged stakeholders to transform COP29 commitments into concrete actions to protect lives, livelihoods, and the environment.

African scientists need to domesticate models to address continental problems – AAS

Michael Simire
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African scientists need to domesticate models to address continental problems – AAS

The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) on Thursday, December 12, 2024, called on scientists across the continent to defend African science, deploy and domesticate realistic models to address problems within the region.

Lise Korsten
President of the AAS, Prof Lise Korsten

Some members of the academy made the call in an interview on the sidelines of its on-going 15th Biannual Scientific Conference and General Assembly, in Abuja.

The conference has “Empowering and Advancing African Scientific Enterprise” as its theme.

President of the AAS, Prof Lise Korsten, said African science was at a critical point in the history of the continent’s development and needed commitment to thrive.

Korsten stated that scientists had the role of shaping its future, adopting innovation and technological development to address the unique African problems.

“We must play in the future, which is not only enhance innovation but also technological development to address the critical challenges we face.

“These challenges are quite clear around health, environment, food security, climate change and we must play a more prominent role in policy dialogues and also science communication.

“This is important to reach out to communities but also to engage with governments and help direct future policies and strategies.

“We must make a difference as scientists, we can no longer sit in our laboratories, in our safe zones, we must make an impact, we must have a voice and we need to stand up for science,’’ she said.

Korsten further said that borders were created as an aftermath of colonialism, hence science growth was being affected.

“Colonisation had so many negative effects on the continent, it caused to a great extent stagnation in terms of natural evolution of development of people.

“If we want to integrate science, if we want a united voice and address global challenges, very importantly addressing challenges we have unique to Africa, we must ensure mobility, we must rethink the strategy around visa requirements,’’ she said.

On the continent achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of 2030, the president said that Africa was lagging, but the delays were not peculiar to the continent.

She blamed COVID-19 as a major contributor to the delayed achievement of SDGs, as Africa may not also had shown serious commitment from the beginning.

“I think we may not have been committed enough from the beginning, but we are working towards the African future that we want, the 2063 Agenda.

“We need to have a future vision, we need to be quite clear on the goals that we never got close to achieving and prioritise,’’ Korsten said.

Prof Oyewale Tomori, a renowned Virologist and panelist at the conference, said African scientists needed to prove the relevance of their research to solving continental problems.

Tomori acknowledged that science could achieve so much, but awareness was low.

“The science we are deploying has no relevance to our people and that is why we need to know our people, so to tailor our science to meet the needs in the society.

“Our science has been esoteric and even when we do good things, we don’t even know how to explain it to the people.

“We also don’t talk to our people, and so we don’t know their problem, when we interact with our people, we can find out their problems and use our science to solve the problem,” Tomori said.

He further said it was the responsibility of scientists to educate the public and government on the benefits in science for the benefit of all.

Prof Martins Emeje, Director-General, Nigerian Natural Medicines Development Agency (NNMDA), said that science was described as a systematic body of knowledge and anything done systematically to achieve result was science.

“We know that there should be a global standard for science, but nobody should make it look like what our people do in the villages systematically to get answers is not science.

“The fact that they do not use enema, UV and those analytical equipment does not mean they are not doing science,”Emeje said.

The D-G stated that it was time for Africans to do self-evaluation on its level of science, research and application so to solve our unique problems.

The 15th Biannual Scientific Conference and General Assembly of the AAS is the first to be hosted in Nigeria since its inception in 1985.

By Ijeoma Olorunfemi

Visiting FCDO adviser reiterates UK’s commitment to strengthening partnerships in innovation, research

Michael Simire
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Visiting FCDO adviser reiterates UK’s commitment to strengthening partnerships in innovation, research

The UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office’s Chief Scientific Adviser and Director for Research and Evidence, Professor Charlotte Watts, arrived in Nigeria this week to see, firsthand, UK supported projects that are helping to strengthen Nigeria’s science, tech, and innovation ecosystem.

UK FCDO Chief Scientific Adviser
(L-R) Knowledge Transfer Manager, KTN Business Connect, Chidubem Ejezie; CEO Hinckley Recycling, Adrian Clews; UK’s FCDO Technology and Innovation Adviser, West Africa, Chisom Udemezue; UK’s FCDO Chief Scientific Adviser, Prof. Charlotte Watts; Assistant Private Secretary, Thomas King; Countey Lead, KTN business connect, Joshua Adedeji; Knowledge Transfer Manager, KTN Business Connect, Sharon Rehoboth; and UK’s FCDO Research and Innovation Adviser, West Africa, Oluwasegun Adetunde, in Lagos

During her visit, Professor Watts met with project stakeholders, innovators, and partners in Lagos and Abuja, to explore the transformative impact of these projects on economic growth, job creation, and societal challenges in Nigeria. 

In Lagos, she visited the University of Lagos and Hinckley Recycling, beneficiaries of the UK-Africa Technology and Innovation Partnerships (ATIP) programme, funded by the Research and Evidence Directorate. Hinckley Recycling, a UK e-waste recycling facility that developed second-life solutions for lithium-ion batteries.

While on site, Professor Watts reiterated the UK’s commitment to delivering on net zero in the UK and to work with Nigeria through companies such as the Hickley Recycling to save the environment while empowering livelihoods with clean energy to power their businesses.    

She also met with creative ecosystem stakeholders cutting across music, film and movies, content creation to discuss an ongoing study on Nigeria’s creatives landscape commissioned with Evidence Fund by the West Africa Research and Innovation Hub (WARIH).    

In Abuja, she met with Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Technology & Innovation, Uche Nnaji, to hear about the Nigeria Government’s plans to develop a domestically funded Science Granting Council and met with Dr Abdu Mukhtar, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value chain (PVAC). 

Professor Watts’ visit highlights the UK’s commitment to strengthening partnerships in innovation, research, and development to deliver shared prosperity and tackle global issues and underscores the importance of the UK’s collaboration with Nigeria to promote innovation and research as drivers of sustainable development and economic growth.

Professor Watts is the most senior scientist in the UK’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, providing strategic scientific advice to the Foreign Secretary, Ministers, and senior officials on key global challenges. She also leads the Research and Evidence Directorate, which oversees the UK’s significant research and technology investments and supports the overseas science and innovation diplomatic network.

UNEP’s 2024 Champions of the Earth recognises six outstanding environmental leaders

Michael Simire
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UNEP’s 2024 Champions of the Earth recognises six outstanding environmental leaders

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) on Tuesday, December 10, announced recipients of the 2024 Champions of the Earth, honoured for their outstanding leadership, brave actions and sustainable solutions to tackle land degradation, drought and desertification.

Sonia Guajajara
Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples honoured in the Policy Leadership category

This year’s laureates include a minister of Indigenous Peoples, an environmental defender, a sustainable agriculture initiative, an Indigenous rights advocate, a scientist focused on afforestation and a pioneering ecologist.

The annual Champions of the Earth award, the UN’s highest environmental honour, recognises trailblazers at the forefront of efforts to protect people and planet. Since 2005, the award has recognised 122 laureates for outstanding and inspirational environmental leadership.

“Almost 40 per cent of the world’s land is already degraded, desertification is on the rise and devastating droughts are becoming more regular. The good news is that solutions already exist today, and around the world, extraordinary individuals and organisations are demonstrating that it is possible to defend and heal our planet,” said Inger Andersen, Executive Director of UNEP.

“The efforts of the 2024 Champions of the Earth stand tall as a reminder that the fight to protect our land, our rivers and our oceans is a fight we can win. With the right policies, scientific breakthroughs, system reforms, activism, as well as the vital leadership and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples, we can restore our ecosystems.”

UNEP’s 2024 Champions of the Earth are:

  • Sonia Guajajara, Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples honoured in the Policy Leadership category, has been advocating for Indigenous rights for more than two decades. Guajajara became Brazil’s first Minister of Indigenous Peoples and the country’s first female Indigenous minister in 2023. Under her leadership, 13 territories have been recognized as Indigenous land to ward off deforestation, illegal logging, and drug traffickers. 
     
  • Amy Bowers Cordalis, an Indigenous rights advocate honoured in the Inspiration and Action category, is using her legal expertise and passion for restoration to secure a better future for the Yurok tribe and the Klamath River in the United States. Cordalis’ work to restore the river ecosystem and encourage the adoption of sustainable fishing practices demonstrate how bold environmental action can bring significant positive change, while upholding Indigenous Peoples’ rights and livelihoods.
     
  • Gabriel Paun, a Romanian environmental defender honoured in the Inspiration and Action category, is the founder of NGO Agent Green, which has been helping save thousands of hectares of precious biodiversity in the Carpathians since 2009 by exposing the destruction and illegal logging of Europe’s last old growth forest. Paun has received death threats and been physically attacked for his work in documenting deforestation in an area that is vital for the ecosystem and supports unique biodiversity such as lynx and wolves. 
     
  • Lu Qi, a Chinese scientist honoured in the Science and Innovation category, has worked in science and policy sectors for three decades helping China reverse degradation and shrink its deserts. As Chief Scientist of the Chinese Academy of Forestry and founding President of the Institute of Great Green Wall, Lu has played a key role in implementing the world’s largest afforestation project, establishing expert research networks and partnerships, and boosting multilateral cooperation to stem desertification, land degradation and drought. 
     
  • Madhav Gadgil, an Indian ecologist honoured in the Lifetime Achievement category, has spent decades protecting people and the planet through research and community engagement. From landmark environmental impact assessments of state and national policies to grassroots environmental engagement, Gadgil’s work has greatly influenced public opinion and official policies on the protection of natural resources. He is renowned for his seminal work in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats region of India, which is a unique global biodiversity hotspot. 
     
  • SEKEM, a sustainable agriculture initiative honoured in the Entrepreneurial Vision category, is helping farmers in Egypt transition to more sustainable agriculture. Its promotion of biodynamic agriculture plus afforestation and reforestation work has been transforming large swathes of desert into thriving agricultural business, advancing sustainable development across the country. 

An estimated 3.2 billion people worldwide are impacted by desertification. By 2050, more than three-quarters of the world’s population is expected to be affected by droughts.   

In March 2019, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring 2021–2030 the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. UNEP’s #GenerationRestoration campaign aims to support accelerated progress on these commitments by rallying support for the 2030 Agenda to carry out vital ecosystem restoration work to protect 30 per cent of nature on land and sea and rehabilitate 30 per cent of planetary degradation. Globally, countries have pledged to restore 1 billion hectares of land by 2030, while current trends suggest 1.5 billion hectares would need to be restored to meet the 2030 land degradation neutrality goals.

Prioritising action to end violence against women

Michael Simire
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Prioritising action to end violence against women

In Nigeria, violence against women remains a pervasive and deeply troubling issue. It affects millions of women and girls.

Gender-based violence
Gender-based violence

In spite of ongoing efforts to combat this scourge many survivors continue to suffer in silence, often due to fear or lack of awareness about available support resources.

To illustrate the gravity of the issue, one survivor of gender-based violence, who prefers to remain anonymous, shared her harrowing story recently.

“I was married at 16 and suffered years of physical and emotional abuse. I was too afraid to speak out, but one day, I found the courage to leave.

“With the help of a local non-governmental organisation, I was able to access counselling and legal support,” she said.

Her experience reflects the need for increased awareness and robust support systems for survivors of gender-based violence.

According to OXFAM, domestic and sexual violence are particularly concerning, with distinctive regional variations across Nigeria.

Alarmingly, 30 per cent of Nigerian women and girls aged 15 to 49 have experienced some form of physical or sexual violence, with the South-South zone reporting the highest prevalence at 52 per cent.

Moreover, single women, whether divorced, separated, or widowed face even greater risks, with 44 per cent affected across all regions.

To address these alarming trends, the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS) has emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts.

During a recent community sensitisation programme on the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law in Nasarawa State, Mrs. Geraldine Ita-Etuk, Acting National President of the NCWS, called for collective action from stakeholders.

She emphasised the need to build a society where women and girls are valued, respected, and protected.

Ita-Etuk noted that although the VAPP law, enacted in 2015, offers a comprehensive legal framework to protect women and girls, many remain unaware of its provisions.

“Stakeholders must engage community leaders, traditional rulers, and other influential figures to raise awareness about the law,” she said.

She called for technical support for law enforcement institutions and stressed investing in health, education, financial empowerment, and technology to uplift rural women and boost national development.

Various stakeholders and organisations have reaffirmed their commitment to tackling gender-based violence.

For instance, Mrs Mary-Maudline Nwifuru, wife of the Ebonyi State Governor, has urged the public to promptly report any cases of abuse to her office, ensuring immediate intervention.

Similarly, organisations like the Women Advocates and Research Documentation Centre (WARDC) and Women for Women International (WfWI) have called for increased funding and collaboration to address this issue effectively.

In a recent move, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has expanded its anti-gender-based violence campaign to all six area councils of the territory.

Speaking on the initiative, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, Minister of State for the FCT, emphasised that combating gender-based violence is crucial to building a fair and equitable society.

“The psychological, physical, and emotional impacts of gender-based violence are far-reaching, with long-term health consequences.

“Aggressive campaigns can significantly raise awareness about the various forms of violence, including domestic abuse, sexual assault, and harassment,” she stated.

Mahmoud also stressed the importance of education and outreach efforts to challenge societal norms and stereotypes that perpetuate violence.

Mobilising communities, she argued, fosters collective responsibility and creates safer environments for all.

In another noteworthy effort, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has partnered with governors’ wives to combat gender-based violence and harmful social practices nationwide.

Additionally, the Federal Government has announced plans to enact mandatory reporting regulations, aimed at tackling the widespread prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence.

Mrs Yewande Gbola-Awopetu, Head of the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Response Unit in the Ministry of Justice, explained that the proposed law would legally require individuals and organisations to report cases of abuse.

“Mandatory reporting ensures timely intervention, supporting survivors, holding offenders accountable, and implementing preventive measures,” she said.

Addressing gender-based violence requires innovative approaches and collaboration among diverse stakeholders.

According to Ms Grace Udie, Communications Officer at Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI), the government’s decision to enforce mandatory reporting represents a significant milestone in this fight.

“Gender-based violence is a global concern, affecting millions of women and girls annually. Tackling this complex societal challenge demands collective effort,” Udie remarked.

Ultimately, ending violence against women in Nigeria demands a united and sustained approach.

Recognising the vital role of rural women and addressing the unique barriers they face is essential to achieving this goal.

By investing in education, healthcare, and economic empowerment, stakeholders can create a society where women and girls are truly valued, respected, and protected.

By Abiemwense Moru, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Climate change: Stakeholders review Enugu’s Local Adaptation Plan of Action

Michael Simire
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Climate change: Stakeholders review Enugu’s Local Adaptation Plan of Action

A team of stakeholders comprising Ecocyclers, Plogging Nigeria, Society for the Improvement of Rural People (SIRP), Support of Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative (NGYOUTHSDGS) and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany converged on Enugu at a Stakeholders Engagement Meeting to review a Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPA) to empower youth civil societies to build stronger communities.

Stakeholders’ engagement meeting
Delegates at the stakeholders’ engagement meeting in Enugu

The statewide stakeholders’ engagement meeting was held on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, and had in attendance CSOs, NGOs, women groups, PWDs, students, community members and government representatives from the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change, with the theme “Climate Action for Stronger Naija”.

As a review forum, the agenda focused on presentation of key findings from community dialogues in Enugu South and North LGA in line with the National Adaptation Plan of Action (NAP) and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The LAPA Review Forum was co-created by six CSOs in Enugu State and they include Ecocyclers, Plogging, SIRP, Coil, SustyVibes and DFF with support of NGYouthSDGs and the German Mission in Nigeria. It aims to develop a plan that strengthens the resilience of communities to climate change by addressing specific local vulnerabilities and risks. It is also to ensure inclusive participation of stakeholders, including grassroots communities, local government officials, traditional leaders, and relevant state agencies for comprehensive input.

The Enugu State Commissioner of Environment, Prof. Sam Ugwu, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, assured the stakeholders that his ministry would fully back the outcomes of the workshop and other civil engagements meant to create environmental resilience and people ownership of any policy document on climate change.

Lagos plans future with fewer cars on roads

Michael Simire
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Lagos plans future with fewer cars on roads

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, reiterated its commitment to creating an eco-friendly state with fewer cars on the roads in the future.

Lagos Real Estate Marketplace
Dignitaries, panelists at the closing of the 5th Lagos Real Estate Marketplace Conference and Exhibitions on Wednesday in Lagos

Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, said this during a presentation at the closing of the fifth Lagos Real Estate Marketplace Conference and Exhibitions in Lagos.

Osiyemi said that the commitment is in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda of Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s led administration.

He expressed concern that traffic congestion costs the state trillions of naira in deficits annually.

According to him, the current reliance on road transportation, which accounts for 90 per cent of travel in Lagos, is unacceptable

The commissioner noted that water and rail transportation account for only two per cent of the means of transportation, highlighting their gross underutilisation.

Osiyemi emphasised that every sector in the state must be robust enough to contribute significantly to the wellbeing of its residents, as Lagos accounts for 30 per cent of the nation’s gross domestic product.

He, however, expressed the readiness of the state to maximise the use of intermodal transportation system, to help upscale socio-economic activities in the metropolis and reduce man-hour loss to traffic.

In a panel discussion, Ms Titilayo Oshodi, Special Adviser to Gov. Sanwo-Olu on Climate Change and Circular Economy, emphasised the need for the state and its stakeholders to adopt a purposeful approach to waste management.

Oshodi highlighted the importance of a circular economy in recycling, repurposing and reusing waste effectively.

She noted that several policies were already in place in the state for managing waste, urging producers and manufacturers across various sectors to collaborate with the state government to contribute to carbon reduction efforts.

Ms Stella Okengwu, Chief Executive Officer of Winhomes, said that the current economic situation calls for housing to be built based on clear demand that aligns with people’s budgets.

Okengwu, an engineer, urged industry players to maximise solar energy options by partnering with relevant companies and offering affordable repayment plans to clients.

Mr Ndifreke Ikokpu, Co-founder of Systemap, recommended implementing an open data policy in the state’s real estate administration to enable investors and citizens to access information for informed real estate decisions.

Similarly, Mr John Oamen, Co-founder of Cutstruct, urged the state government to promote the digitisation of construction procurement.

This, he added, would enhance the efficiency and practices of the construction and real estate sectors.

By Rukayat Adeyemi

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