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NMDPRA, stakeholders collaborate to address wholesale gas challenges

Michael Simire
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NMDPRA, stakeholders collaborate to address wholesale gas challenges

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has reiterated its commitment to addressing and resolving critical regulatory challenges within the wholesale supply sector for natural gas and petroleum liquids.

Farouk Ahmed
Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed

Ahmed, who was represented by his Secreatary and Legal Adviser, Dr Joseph Tolorunse, said that the workshop aimed at clarifying and enhancing the implementation of regulations governing wholesale supply operations of natural gas and petroleum liquids in Nigeria.

A central topic of the workshop was the 0.5 per cent levy associated with the Midstream Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund.

Ahmed said that this levy would be reassessed to ensure compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which was introduced in August 2021, replacing the Petroleum Act of 1969.

“This transition not only bolsters domestic energy security but also enhances opportunities for international exports.

It also provide a clear regulatory framework for entities involved in the sale and delivery of natural gas and petroleum liquids,” Ahmed stated.

He encouraged stakeholders to share their concerns about the implementation process to foster alignment and collaboration.

“The workshop underscored the significant benefits of these operations, including increased investment opportunities, improved transparency in hydrocarbon measurement and equitable trading practices.

“These changes are anticipated to create a more competitive market and solidify Nigeria’s position in the global energy sector,” he said.

Acknowledging the challenges faced, Ahmed emphasised NMDPRA’s commitment to resolving disputes and addressing the needs of all stakeholders.

He said that the workshop served as a vital platform for open dialogue, focusing on collective responsibility in meeting current and future demands for wholesale gas and petroleum supplies.

He urged participants to work closely with the authority to optimise midstream and downstream operations, stimulate infrastructure development.

Ahmed also urged stakeholders to contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s energy sector, a proactive approach deemed essential for both the national economy and Nigeria’s role in the global energy market.

However, some industry stakeholders raised concerns about the implementation of the 0.5 percent levy under the PIA.

They emphasised the need for clarification and mutual understanding between authorities and the industry.

Mr Lanre Daramola from Aradel Energy described the engagement as a positive step, expressing hope that discussions will clarify the implementation of the PIA regulations.

He pointed out a significant gap in the legislation, noting that does not specify who is responsible for collecting the levies.

“There is a need for understanding between the authorities and the industry to address this issue, and discussions are ongoing,” he added.

Another participant, Mr Emmanuel Cofie-Spiff from Oando Energy, noted various views were shared aspects of wholesale gas operations, including supply issues and the 0.5 percent payment on gas transactions mandated by the PIA.

“While many concerns have been raised, there is optimism that this stakeholders’ meeting will pave the way for regulations that benefit both operators and the government.

“Stakeholders clarified that while they do not oppose the PIA, they seek clarity on its implementation.

“A pressing question remains regarding who is responsible for paying and collecting the 0.5 per cent levy.

“The NMDPRA has suggested that since industry players produce the gas sold to consumers, they should be responsible for collecting the levies and remitting them to the government,” he added.

He, however, said that many International Oil Companies (IOCs) had expressed reluctance, arguing that this responsibility requires further clarification.

“As discussions progress, stakeholders remain hopeful for a consensus that will facilitate the effective implementation of the PIA regulations, fostering a favourable business environment for both the government and industry operators.

The workshop attracted over 70 participants representing various sectors of the oil and gas industry.

By Rukayat Adeyemi

UNESCO maps 4,500 marine species under eDNA programme

Michael Simire
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UNESCO maps 4,500 marine species under eDNA programme

UNESCO’s groundbreaking environmental DNA programme has mapped nearly 4,500 marine species across 21 World Heritage sites around the world, providing new key data and a revolutionary method for stronger ocean protection in an era of rapid climate disruption.

Aldabra Atoll
Sampling expedition at the Aldara Atoll, Seychelles

“This UNESCO programme revolutionises the way we observe and monitor marine life. At a time when the degradation of biodiversity is reaching an alarming pace, it provides new opportunities to better understand and protect critical ecosystems in the 18,000 protected marine areas around the world. In accordance with its Recommendation on Open Science, UNESCO makes this technology freely accessible and calls on its Member States to support the scientific community for its large-scale use,” declared Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General.

Climate disruption, including ocean warming, is forcing marine species away from their natural habitats and creating an urgent need to better understand and monitor their distribution. UNESCO has developed a new standardised eDNA sampling method to map ocean life.

Over the course of three years, marine experts and local scientists took 500 samples from 21 sites protected by UNESCO under the World Heritage Convention, detecting the presence of nearly 4,500 marine species – an impressive result that would previously have taken many years of survey work and cost millions of dollars.

Nearly half of the identified species were fish, and also include 86 shark and ray species, 28 mammal species, and three turtle species. Among the findings were 120 species listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.

The study also determined that many of these species will soon be confronted with temperatures exceeding their known tolerance limits. Based on the warmest future climate scenario, up to 100% of fish species in the tropical and subtropical sites studied would exceed their current thermal limits and be potentially endangered, while 10-50% of fish species in temperate oceans would exceed their current thermal limits.

A blueprint for marine biodiversity monitoring

UNESCO’s eDNA programme marks the first standardised application of eDNA sampling to monitor the status of marine species among global biodiversity hotspots. With a single 1.5-liter water sample, eDNA techniques can reveal genetic traces of approximately 100 marine species on average. Compared to other existing technologies, it is incredibly affordable, non-invasive and fast – reducing data-collection times from years to just months.

The method is also said to be easy to implement, allowing local communities to participate in advancing knowledge alongside scientists. More than 250 schoolchildren, some as young as six years old, participated in sampling expeditions led by UNESCO. The results demonstrate the power of this method as a transformative tool for ocean conservation.

All data from the eDNA initiative is systematically uploaded to UNESCO’s Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS), a global open-access platform that ensures the information is freely available, comparable, and interoperable for researchers and decision-makers worldwide.

An essential tool to achieve climate and biodiversity targets

UNESCO’s initiative is a vital step toward achieving the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’s “30×30” goal of protecting 30% of the world’s terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas by 2030.

By combining cutting-edge science with citizen participation, UNESCO’s technology provides a scalable and accessible model that can be applied to the more than 18,000 existing marine protected areas – and new ones that will be created – to address the urgent challenges facing the ocean today.

The data collected will support science-based decision-making, helping Member States better plan and manage marine protected areas to adapt to changing climates.

Civil society groups decry recommendations to EU on Solar Radiation Modification

Michael Simire
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Civil society groups decry recommendations to EU on Solar Radiation Modification

Civil society groups including Indigenous Peoples and climate justice groups have expressed concern about recommendations on Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) published on Monday, December 9, 2024, by Chief Scientific Advisors to the European Commission. While the advice highlights the grave and essentially irresolvable risks of Solar Radiation Modification, the policy recommendations risk legitimising and facilitating solar geoengineering.

European Commission
European Commission. Photo credit: Mark Renders/Getty Images

The Scientific Opinion of the Chief Scientific Advisors draws on an Expert Review Report produced by SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies), part of the Scientific Advice Mechanism to the European Commission which was also published on Monday. 

The recommendations include negotiating a global governance regime for solar geoengineering, and while the European Union is advised to take a position of “Non-Deployment” into these negotiations, that position would potentially be up for review every five years. The recommendations also include authorising some outdoor solar geoengineering experiments, a clear red line for the Hands Off Mother Earth! (HOME) Alliance, as well as funding some of these. 

According to the group, geoengineering technofixes do not address the root causes of climate change and instead risk leading to further climate breakdown, biodiversity loss and impact on peoples, communities and territories. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) agreed to reinforce the precautionary approach to geoengineering, reaffirming its de facto global moratorium on geoengineering at COP16 last month citing concern about the proliferation of outdoor solar and marine geoengineering experiments in recent years.

Global South countries are increasingly raising the alarm about solar geoengineering and leading calls for a Non-Use Agreement. In 2023 the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) called for a Solar Geoengineering Non-Use instrument and was supported by many global South countries including Fiji, Vanuatu, Colombia and Pakistan at the United Nations Environment Assembly in calling for a precautionary approach, as a controversial resolution was negotiated. The EU Parliament also passed a resolution calling for a Non-Use mechanism last year, while Germany has indicated that it is open to dialogue on a Non-Use Agreement.

Linda Schneider, Senior Programme Officer International Climate and Energy Policy, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung said: “The policy recommendations of the European Union Commission’s advisory group do not do justice to the grave and irresolvable risks of solar geoengineering clearly outlined in the report.

“Instead of kickstarting an open-ended negotiation process that could end up enabling solar geoengineering deployment, the European Union should work with African and Pacific governments to establish a clear and robust international non-use agreement.

“This is exactly what the European Parliament has already called for in 2023: It called on the European Commission and the European Union member states to initiate a non-use agreement at the international level in accordance with the precautionary principle.

“The EU should also not allow any field experiments on geoengineering, as recommended by the advisory group, and should certainly not fund geoengineering research with public funds. Further research will never be able to resolve the inherent, incalculable risks of such a planetary-scale experiment. We know enough about these technologies to be sure that their use would only cause more climate chaos. Their development should be stopped immediately.”

Mary Church, Geoengineering Campaign Manager at the Center for International Environmental Law said: “While the evidence review clearly lays out the unacceptable and unmanageable risks of solar geoengineering, the recommendations put forward by the Chief Scientific Advisors risk opening the door to a facilitative governance regime. It’s encouraging to see talk of support for a non-deployment regime, but reviewing the position every five years sends very mixed signals about commitment to preventing the use of solar geoengineering.

“The EU should rule out funding outdoor experiments. Small-scale outdoor experiments simply cannot provide meaningful information on the intended climate impact of solar geoengineering, but they do serve technology development and risk normalising these dangerous technologies.

As the European Union debates the future of solar geoengineering, it must acknowledge that these highly speculative technologies not only pose significant environmental and social risks but also stand in clear contradiction to international law, including the precautionary principle and human rights obligations. With the reaffirmation of the global geoengineering moratorium under the Convention on Biological Diversity, it is critical that the EU respect this agreement and reject any outdoor experiments or research that could jeopardize ecosystems and communities worldwide.”

Tom Goldtooth, Executive Director, Indigenous Environmental Network, said: “Solar geoengineering does not address greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel extraction, the root cause of climate change. It serves as a distraction from dealing with climate change, while providing another colonialist excuse to Western science to experiment on Indigenous Peoples and their lands and territories without their free, prior and informed consent.”

Mfoniso C. Xael, Programmes Manager, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, said: “Authorising outdoor experiment of Solar Radiation Modification is tantamount to approval of open experiment. There is no way the desired effect of SRM can be felt if not done at scale – doing so at scale means risking lives both of humans and non-humans. The impacts of SRM cannot at this moment be quantified, we are calling on the European Union to stop all attempts at outdoor experiments and review the policy recommendations that risk legitimising and facilitating Solar Radiation Modification.

“The question of whether or not Geoengineering can be governed should already be out of negotiations as it obviously can’t. The focus now for all peoples should be on addressing the root causes of climate change. It’s not wise to attempt mopping a floor when the tap (the real source of leakage) is still on.”

Kwami Kpondzo, Co-Coordinator of HOME! Alliance Africa Working Group, said: “Since policies have to be made to serve people, it is important that the content of the policies meet the desires of people. Geoengineering technologies to combat climate change are not welcome either in Europe or Africa. People and the planet should benefit from climate solutions. Solar Radiation Modification is uncertain, and studies show that it’s risky and will have huge impacts on people, their livelihoods, and forests in Africa. The AMCEN, put hold on Solar Radiation Modification for a reason and we don’t want Africa or any other continent to conduct geoengineering experiments.

Silvia Ribeiro, Latin America Director, ETC Group, said: “Solar geoengineering is a set of dangerous hypothetical technological proposals that carries unacceptable risks, especially for the Global South. It will deepen global inequity and it is already used globally as an excuse to delay real GHG reductions and effective climate action that addresses the causes and prevents further climate change.

“Once developed, it will be used unilaterally by those with the resources and control over the technology, as it has happened with other dangerous technologies in history. Over 500 scientists have considered that its governance implies insurmountable challenges.

“In view of new projects and proposed experiments to develop geoengineering, the Convention on Biological Diversity in November 2024, reaffirmed its moratorium on geoengineering and urged all Parties to ensure its implementation.

“The European Union should make sure that solar radiation modification experiments are not allowed and actively engage to develop an international non-use agreement.”

Coraina de la Plaza, Global Coordinator, Hands Off Mother Earth! (HOME) Alliance, said: Instead of periodically reviewing its position on Solar Radiation Modification, the European Commission should support and join countries that have already called for an international non-use agreement and listen to the European Parliament, which only a year ago also called on the European Commission to initiate work on an international non-use agreement. The impacts of Solar Radiation Modification can be too vast and unpredictable, affecting regions and populations unevenly for the EU to even consider reviewing its position on the issue.”

Managing living amid economic challenges as 2024 winds down

Michael Simire
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Managing living amid economic challenges as 2024 winds down

As the curtain falls on 2024, taking stock in retrospect of what the year has been like, the wins, the loss and everything in between ought to be guides for managing further lifestyles.

Wale Edun
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun

Critics note that although a number of people have shown how resilient, frugal and courageous they could be in the face of social and economic challenges, it does not mean that they have not been affected adversely by the global economic challenges that have drastically affected the country’s economy.

With the staggering economic challenges, everyone is looking for a way out, and a lot of families can’t be with their loved ones, critics note further.

According to them, the coming celebration of yuletide and new year which usually bonds family and loved ones, might be also affected.

“This will probably be the most boring Christmas for me,” says Mrs. Edith Orji, a resident of Lagos, noting that she will the yuletide alone because her husband had travelled out of the country for better economic situations.

“When someone who has three shops, decides to travel for greener pasture, you know it is really tough. We are doing well but these days nothing seems to be working.

“I’m honestly not looking forward to celebrating the yuletide as it will have been with my husband; he has yet to find his feet and we may not be able to send gifts to our families in the village,’’ she said.

For Mrs Alarape Lawrence, also a resident of Lagos, the reality of the social-economic situation in the country has normalised family living far away from their loved ones.

“Back in our days, Christmas used to be a family fun affair, that’s when everyone came around, cousins, nieces, nephews and other distances relatives converge to create memories.

“But these days, everyone is looking for a way out of this country either through school or work, in our days once you are done with school you come back home. Our daughter came for Christmas; it was a joyous occasion for us all.

“No amount of money can take the place of physical presence, as Africans, that’s what makes us unique, I know economically everyone is struggling, but at the end of the day, family is important,’’ she said.

Mrs. Kamiye Sanni, a 65-year-old widow, also said that the reality of losing a loved one “hits harder during the festive period such as Christmas.

“It’s going to be like a regular sad day for someone that is dealing with grief; this year has tested me the most, hoping for a better new life ahead.

“In my circle of life, a lot of people I know are dealing with a lot, as we are living life is happening to us, we all need to be kind to one another.”

But optimists insist that as long as we are alive, citizens should pray and hope for the best, while sowing the seed of love, kindness and peace.

Perceptive observers insist that with the persistent increase in food items and cost of transportation, among others, citizens should be worried about living.

However, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, said that the government would strengthen the foreign exchange market and the economy.

He said that the government would also raise raising revenue by looking at other sources of investment funding, attracting investment funds and equity funds.

Similarly, President Bola Tinubu has promised that his administration would ensure significant reduction in cost of living across the country, especially as it concerns food costs.

Concerned citizens have also noted that although the Federal Government has taken some measures to ameliorate the hardship in the country, the impacts are not felt much.

The measures included upward review of the minimum wage in the country, subsidised food items and inputs supply to farmers to boost food production in the country.

Irrespective of these measures, economists advise the citizens to invest during economic downturns.

They advise further that diversification, focusing on stable companies, and dollar-cost averaging can help manage risk.

They call on families to rely on home-cooked meals, utilise public transportation in most occasions, reduce social activities and buy food stuff in bulk, among others.

By Aderonke Ojediran, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Import licence: Dangote Refinery seeks to amend suit against NNPC, others 

Michael Simire
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Import licence: Dangote Refinery seeks to amend suit against NNPC, others 

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE has sought to amend its suit against the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and others.

Dangote Refinery
Dangote Refinery

The plea to amend the suit followed an application by the NNPCL before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court in Abuja, urging the court to strike out the case for being incompetent.

Dangote Refinery had sued Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) as 1st and 2nd defendants.

Also listed as 3rd to 7th defendants respectively in the originating summons, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024 and dated Sept. 6, are AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited, T. Time Petroleum Limited, 2015 Petroleum Limited, and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited.

The oil company, through its lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, prayed the court to nullify import licences issued by NMDPRA to the NNPCL and the five other companies for the purpose of importing refined petroleum products.

The company (plaintiff) also prayed the court to declare that NMDPRA was in violation of Sections 317(8) and (9) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) by issuing licenses for the importation of petroleum products.

It stated that such licenses should only be issued in circumstances where there is a petroleum product shortfall.

It equally sought a N100 billion in damages against NMDPRA for allegedly continuing to issue import licences to NNPCL and the five companies for importing petroleum products.

But the NNPCL (2nd defendant), in its preliminary objection dated and filed Nov. 15, urged the court to strike out the suit.

It argued that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC) sued by the refinery was non-existent entity.

The company, through its lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), being its registered name with the Corporate Affairs Commission, is not one and the same with the 2nd defendant sued by the plaintiff.

It further argued that the court lacked jurisdiction over the 2nd defendant sued as Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC).

“A simple search on the CAC website shows that there is no entity called ‘Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC),’” the 2nd defendant said.

The NNPCL, therefore, said that the 2nd defendant, as sued by the refinery in the instant suit, is not a competent party or a juristic person, urging the court to strike out its name or the suit in its entirety.

Meanwhile, the Dangote Refinery, in a motion on notice dated Nov. 25 but filed Nov. 28 by Onoja, sought an order, granting leave to the company to amend its originating summons in accordance with the rules of the court.

The refinery, in a copy of the motion sighted by NAN on Monday, said this would allow it to correct the name of the 2nd defendant to read; “Nigerian National Petroleum  Company Limited,” instead of “Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC)” earlier listed.

In the affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by Vincent Sani, a litigation clerk in the law firm of Onoja, he said he was informed by one of their lawyers, Innocent Adoo, on Nov. 25 that after the filing of the originating processes in the suit, he observed that the 2nd defendant’s name was erroneously spelt, hence, the need for the amendment.

Sani averred that the said amendment had become necessary in order for the record of the court to bear the proper description of the 2nd defendant (NNPCL) as a party in the suit.

The litigation clerk said that the NNPCL was yet to be served with the said originating processes sought to be amended.

According to him, the proposed amended originating summons, affidavit in support and written address, are hereby exhibited and marked as “Exhibit A.”

Sani, who averred that the defendants/respondents would not be prejudiced if the application is granted, said that justice would be better served if their plea is considered.

However, the proposed originating summons, filed on Nov. 28 and dated Sept. 6, seek the same reliefs with the earlier filed by the refinery.

It will be recalled that three oil marketers had also prayed the court to dismiss suit.

The oil marketers, in a joint counter affidavit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1324/2024 filed on Nov. 5 in response to Dangote Refinery’s originating summons, told Justice Ekwo that granting that application would spell doom for the country’s oil sector.

According to them, the plan to monopolise the oil sector is a recipe for disaster in the country.

The three marketers: AYM Shafa Limited, A. A. Rano Limited and Matrix Petroleum Services Limited, in their response, said the plaintiff did not produce adequate petroleum products for the daily consumption of Nigerians.

Besides, they argued that there was nothing placed before the court to prove the contrary.

Justice Ekwo had fixed Jan. 20, 2025, for report of settlement or service.

By Taiye Agbaje

Three-quarters of Earth’s land became permanently drier in last three decades – UN

Michael Simire
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Three-quarters of Earth’s land became permanently drier in last three decades – UN

Even as dramatic water-related disasters such as floods and storms intensified in some parts of the world, more than three-quarters of Earth’s land became permanently drier in recent decades, UN scientists have warned in a stark new analysis released on Monday, December 9, 2024.

Drought
Drought

Some 77.6% of Earth’s land experienced drier conditions during the three decades leading up to 2020 compared to the previous 30-year period, according to the landmark report from the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Over the same period, drylands expanded by about 4.3 million km2 – an area nearly a third larger than India, the world’s 7th largest country – and now cover 40.6% of all land on Earth (excluding Antarctica).

In recent decades some 7.6% of global lands – an area larger than Canada – were pushed across aridity thresholds (i.e. from non-drylands to drylands, or from less arid dryland classes to more arid classes).

Most of these areas have transitioned from humid landscapes to drylands, with dire implications for agriculture, ecosystems, and the people living there.

And the research warns that, if the world fails to curb greenhouse gas emissions, another 3% of the world’s humid areas will become drylands by the end of this century.

In high greenhouse gas emissions scenarios, expanding drylands are forecast across the Midwestern United States, central Mexico, northern Venezuela, north-eastern Brazil, south-eastern Argentina, the entire Mediterranean Region, the Black Sea coast, large parts of southern Africa, and southern Australia.

The report, “The Global Threat of Drying Lands: Regional and global aridity trends and future projections”, was launched at the 16th conference of UNCCD’s nearly 200 Parties in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (COP16), the largest UN land conference to date, and the first UNCCD COP to be held in the Middle East, a region profoundly affected by impacts from aridity.

“This analysis finally dispels an uncertainty that has long surrounded global drying trends,” says Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary. “For the first time, the aridity crisis has been documented with scientific clarity, revealing an existential threat affecting billions around the globe.”

“Unlike droughts – temporary periods of low rainfall – aridity represents a permanent, unrelenting transformation,” he adds. “Droughts end. When an area’s climate becomes drier, however, the ability to return to previous conditions is lost. The drier climates now affecting vast lands across the globe will not return to how they were, and this change is redefining life on Earth.”

The report by UNCCD Science-Policy Interface (SPI) – the UN body for assessing the science of land degradation and drought – points to human-caused climate change as the primary driver of this shift. Greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation, transport, industry and land use changes warm the planet and other human activities warm the planet and affect rainfall, evaporation and plant life, creating the conditions that increase aridity.

The report offers a comprehensive roadmap for tackling aridity, emphasising both mitigation and adaptation.

UNCCD Chief Scientist, Barron Orr, said: “For decades, the world’s scientists have signalled that our growing greenhouse gas emissions are behind global warming. Now, for the first time, a UN scientific body is warning that burning fossil fuels is causing permanent drying across much of the world, too – with potentially catastrophic impacts affecting access to water that could push people and nature even closer to disastrous tipping points. As large tracts of the world’s land become more arid, the consequences of inaction grow increasingly dire, and adaptation is no longer optional – it is imperative.”

Nichole Barger, Chair, UNCCD Science-Policy Interface, said: “Without concerted efforts, billions face a future marked by hunger, displacement, and economic decline. Yet, by embracing innovative solutions and fostering global solidarity, humanity can rise to meet this challenge. The question is not whether we have the tools to respond – it is whether we have the will to act.”

Sergio Vicente-Serrano, co-lead author of the report and an aridity expert with Spain’s Pyrenean Institute of Ecology, said: “The report’s clarity is a wake-up call for policymakers: tackling aridity demands more than just science – it requires a diversity of perspectives and knowledge systems. By weaving Indigenous and local knowledge with cutting-edge data, we can craft stronger, smarter strategies to slow aridity’s advance, mitigate its impacts and thrive in a drying world.”

Narcisa Pricope, co-lead author, professor of geosciences and associate vice president for research at Mississippi State University, USA, said; “This report underscores the critical need to address aridity as a defining global challenge of our time. By uniting diverse expertise and leveraging breakthrough technologies, we are not just measuring change – we are crafting a roadmap for resilience. Tackling aridity demands a collaborative vision that integrates innovation, adaptive solutions, and a commitment to securing a sustainable future for all.”

Andrea Toreti, co-lead author and senior scientist, European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, said: “The timeliness of this report cannot be overstated. Rising aridity will reshape the global landscape, challenging traditional ways of life and forcing societies to reimagine their relationship with land and water. As with climate change and biodiversity loss, addressing aridity requires coordinated international action and an unwavering commitment to sustainable development.”

NBMA lists responsive measures to detection of XEC COVID-19

Michael Simire
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NBMA lists responsive measures to detection of XEC COVID-19

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) has disclosed that a new variant of the COVID-19 virus, known as XEC, was recently detected in some countries and that, currently, there are no confirmed cases of the XEC variant in Nigeria.

Dr Agnes Asagbra
Dr Agnes Asagbra, Director-General, NBMA

While the country remains free of this new variant, the NBMA says that it is committed to taking all necessary precautions to safeguard public health and prevent its potential spread into the country.

As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure Nigeria remains protected from emerging biosecurity threats, the agency says it is working closely with relevant stakeholders to monitor and assess the situation.

“Proactive measures, including heightened surveillance at borders, airports, and other points of entry, are being implemented to detect any potential cases promptly. Additionally, we will continue to reinforce our national vaccination and public health response strategies,” the agency disclosed in a statement made available to EnviroNews.

Considering this development, the NBMA is issuing the following public advisory to ensure continued safety:

• Stay Informed: Please rely on trusted health authorities for accurate information regarding COVID-19 and any emerging variants. Misinformation can lead to confusion and jeopardize public health efforts.
• Adhere to Preventive Measures: Continue to practice the preventive measures that have helped curb the spread of COVID-19, including wearing masks(N45), practicing good hand hygiene, maintaining physical distancing where possible, and ensuring proper ventilation in indoor spaces.
• Get Vaccinated: We strongly encourage all eligible individuals to get vaccinated and receive booster shots. Vaccination remains one of the most effective means of preventing severe illness and complications from COVID-19.
• Monitor Symptoms: If you experience any symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, or loss of taste or smell, seek medical attention immediately and follow the guidance provided by local health authorities.
• Cooperate with Health Authorities: In the event of any suspected or confirmed cases of the XEC variant, we urge the public to cooperate fully with health authorities in reporting cases and adhering to quarantine and isolation guidelines.

The NBMA adds that it prioritises biosecurity and biosafety and is committed to protecting Nigeria from any potential threats to public health.

“We will continue to provide updates as necessary and ensure that all measures are in place to respond swiftly to any developments. We call on all Nigerians to remain vigilant, adhere to public health guidelines, and trust in the collective efforts of our national health infrastructure in safeguarding the wellbeing of all citizens,” notes the NBMA.

Maiden African Plenary of IPBES addresses global biodiversity crisis

Michael Simire
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Maiden African Plenary of IPBES addresses global biodiversity crisis

Representatives of almost 150 governments are on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, starting a week-long meeting with some of the world’s leading scientific experts on biodiversity in Windhoek, Namibia, to tackle a range of challenges related to biodiversity loss and the degradation of nature’s contributions to people around the world.

David Obura
David Obura, first Chair of IPBES from Africa

The 11th session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (#IPBES11) will be the first ever meeting in Africa of the global body tasked with presenting decision-makers with the best-available science and expertise, to inform policy and action on nature.

“As the first Chair of IPBES from Africa, it is wonderful to also have the opportunity to conduct the first ever session of the IPBES Plenary on African soil,” said Dr. David Obura (Kenya).

“#IPBES11 is tremendously important to inform and help shape policy and actions that support biodiversity and just, sustainable futures for people and nature across the world. I would particularly like to thank H.E. President Nangolo Mbumba and all the people of Namibia for their remarkable hospitality and generosity in hosting the IPBES Plenary,” added Obura.

Addressing delegates in person about the importance of the meeting, Namibian Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, remarked: “Let IPBES-11 be a turning point where science, policy, and global collaboration come together to secure a future where biodiversity thrives, and humanity flourishes alongside each other. The findings of the IPBES Nexus and Transformative Change Reports highlight the urgent need for integrated, cross-sectoral approaches. Namibia calls on all stakeholders to strengthen international cooperation, increase financial and technical support for biodiversity-rich nations, and prioritise the inclusion of local communities in conservation strategies.”

Among the most important agenda items for the 11th session of the IPBES Plenary will be the consideration by the member States of two landmark new IPBES assessment reports.
The IPBES Nexus Assessment explores the interlinkages and interconnections between crises in biodiversity, water, food, health and climate change – and will offer decision-makers a wide range of options for action across all of these challenges together, rather than in separate single-issue silos, which will also support just and sustainable outcomes across these crises.

The IPBES Transformative Change Assessment focuses on the underlying drivers of biodiversity loss and the kind of system-wide changes needed to conserve and restore biodiversity for a more just and sustainable world.

The Plenary will also consider approving the scope of a vital new assessment – the Second Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services – a follow-up to the seminal 2019 IPBES Global Assessment, which alerted the world to the fact that a million species of plants and animals now face extinction.

31 fatalities as ‘undiagnosed disease’ breaks out in DR Congo

Michael Simire
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31 fatalities as ‘undiagnosed disease’ breaks out in DR Congo

Between October 24 and December 5, 2024, Panzi health zone in Kwango Province of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) recorded 406 cases of an undiagnosed disease with symptoms of fever, headache, cough, runny nose and body ache, disclosed the World Health Organisation (WHO), adding that all severe cases were reported to be severely malnourished.

Tedros Ghebreyesus
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organisation (WHO)

Among the cases, 31 deaths have been registered, disclosed WHO, pointing out that the majority of cases reported are among children, particularly those under five years of age.

“The area is rural and remote, with access further hindered by the ongoing rainy season. Reaching it from Kinshasa by road takes an estimated 48 hours. These challenges, coupled with limited diagnostics in the region, have delayed the identification of the underlying cause. Rapid response teams have been deployed to identify the cause of the outbreak and strengthen the response.”

According to the WHO, the teams are collecting samples for laboratory testing, providing a more detailed clinical characterisation of the detected cases, investigating the transmission dynamics, and actively searching for additional cases, both within health facilities and at the community level.

“The teams are also aiding with the treatment of patients, risk communication and community engagement. Given the clinical presentation and symptoms reported, and a number of associated deaths, acute pneumonia, influenza, COVID-19, measles and malaria are being considered as potential causal factors with malnutrition as a contributing factor.

“Malaria is a common disease in this area, and it may be causing or contributing to the cases. Laboratory tests are underway to determine the exact cause. At this stage, it is also possible that more than one disease is contributing to the cases and deaths.”

Campaigners commence flagship Africa Week for Mercury-Free Dentistry

Michael Simire
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Campaigners commence flagship Africa Week for Mercury-Free Dentistry

The World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry (WAFMD) will on Monday, December 9, 2024, kick off a week-long flagship Africa Week for Mercury-Free Dentistry. It is themed: “Implementing the Children’s Amendment in Africa/Developing economies (COP 4.2)”.

Dental amalgam
President, World Alliance for Mercury Free Dentistry, Charlie Brown, in the company of officials and NGO leaders at a forum

Part of the decisions during COP4.2 include no dental (mercury) amalgam for pregnant or breastfeeding women, children from 1 to 6 years and women of childbearing age (15-39 years).

In a statement issued ahead of the week-long event which holds from December 9 to 13, 2024, in several African countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Tanzania, among others, Chairman and Founder, Dentists Committee for a Mercury Free Africa, Prof. Godwin Toyin Arotiba, said Africa should not be a dumping ground for dental amalgam, and African countries have poor resources and technology to manage mercury wastes.

He pointed that the African dentist desires to practice 21st Century mercury-free dentistry (minimum intervention Dentistry – MID) and not 19th century tooth destructive “drill and fill” dentistry (which is not evidence based).

“While 21st century dentistry aims to keep all teeth and oral tissue healthy and functional for life, drill and fill dentistry often results in toothless ‘grandpa’ smile in old age with poor oral and general health outcome,” Prof. Aritoba added.

President of the US-based World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, Charlie Brown, during a recent visit to Abuja, Nigeria, disclosed that the organisation has activities in 23 African countries that all started after the Abuja Declaration of 2014 which became a prototype for the whole world on phase down of dental amalgam.

He went further, “The Abuja Declaration became the prototype for the whole world. After the Abuja Declaration, we did the Dakar Declaration, for Asia for mercury-free dentistry, the Declaration for Latin America, the Chicago Declaration for mercury-free dentistry in the United States. Then the Bonn Declaration.

“All these came from the Abuja Declaration because it just sounds governmental, it sounds official. It really was just eight of us in the room. We had the West African group, Dominique Bally from Ivory Coast, along with people from Benin, Senegal, Ghana, off course Nigeria and Tanzania. Everybody was so excited. So, the Abuja meeting actually started the campaign in East Africa too.

“Abuja Declaration is what those of us see as a vision Africa should have. Did we know what we were doing? Not yet. Did we have a plan? No, not yet. We had a vision and that was the Abuja Declaration,” he said.

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