Three billion people around the world are suffering the impact of poor and degraded land which will “increase levels of migration, stability, and insecurity among many communities.
The newly-elected President of a UN-backed conference on desertification, drought,t and land restoration, Abdulrahman Alfadley, said this at a conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Alfadley, the Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture was speaking as the 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) got underway in the capital of the Middle Eastern country.
The meeting, according to UNCCD, represents a “moonshot moment to raise global ambition and accelerate action on land and drought resilience through a people-centered approach.”
Globally up to 40 per cent of the world’s land is degraded, which means its biological or economic productivity has been reduced.
This has dire consequences for the climate, biodiversity, and people’s livelihoods.
Droughts, which is a priority issue at COP16, are becoming more frequent and severe, increasing by 29 per cent since 2000 due to climate change and unsustainable land management.
The UN desertification convention was agreed upon 30 years ago and the organisation’s current Executive Secretary, Ibrahim Thiaw, highlighted the continued importance of restoring land lost to drought and desertification.
“Land restoration is primarily about nurturing humanity itself,
“The way we manage our land today will directly determine the future of life on earth,” he said in a statement.
He spoke of his personal experience meeting farmers, mothers, and young people affected by the loss of land, saying: “The cost of land degradation seeps in every corner of their lives.”
“They see the rising price of groceries, in unexpected energy surcharges, and in the growing strain on their communities,” he said.
“Land and soil loss are robbing poor families of nutritious food and children of a safe future.”
COP16 provides the opportunity for global leaders from governments, international organisations, the private sector, and civil society to come together to discuss the latest research and chart a way forward to a sustainable future of land use.
Together the world can “reverse the trends of land degradation,” Thiaw said, but only if “we seize this pivotal moment.”
In a video address to the conference, the UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed urged delegates at COP16 to play their part and “turn the tide,” by focusing on three priorities including strengthening international cooperation.
She said it was also crucial to “ramp up” restoration efforts and work towards “the mass mobilisation of finance.”
Financing these efforts is going to be challenging, and is unlikely to come from the public sector alone, but according to the UN deputy chief, “cumulative investments must total 2.6 trillion dollars by 2030.
“That is what the world spent on defence in 2023 alone.”
Speaking on behalf of civil society organisations attending the conference, Tahanyat Naeem Satti called for “ambitious and inclusive action at COP16.”
She said, “Meaningful participation of women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, pastoralists and local communities in decision-making at all levels must be institutionalised.”
She emphasised that “their insights and live experiences are critical to shaping policies that effectively address land degradation and promote sustainable land management and restoration.”
The conference is set to last two weeks until Dec. 13 and there will be some intense discussions and negotiations as delegates push towards the following outcomes.
Today, Tuesday, December 3, 2024, as we observe the International Day of No Pesticides Use, it is crucial to highlight the urgent need for caution and action regarding pesticide use globally, particularly in Nigeria. This day serves as a reminder of the potential dangers posed by pesticides and calls for a halt in their trade and application. It is also an opportunity to urge the European Union (EU) to address its double standards in pesticide regulation and to call upon the Nigerian government to take decisive measures to reduce pesticide usage.
Use of pesticide
Today, many are not just breathing toxic pesticides in fields, stores, schools and office, we are eating and polluting our environment – water, soil and air. Trend and practices, suggest that we have them in our blood, and they are not making us any healthy.
Pesticides are used in agriculture, for disease vector control and in domestic and municipal settings for the control of pests such as rodents, insects, fungi and weeds. However, the continuing use of hazardous pesticides presents major public health and environmental issues of global concern. People have a right to choose the type of chemicals they want to expose themselves, their family, and their children to, and nobody is allowed the right to deprive anyone of all the necessary information needed to enable them to make that individual choice.
Users can make better decisions about which products to use or whether to use pesticides by being aware of the risks associated with them. The three factors that determine the likelihood of pesticide related biodiversity loss and health problems are – (1) exposure level, (2) pesticide toxicity, and (3) access to comprehensive information.
On exposure level, over 94% of farmers use chemical pesticides in Nigeria, over 80% of these pesticides are Highly Hazadious Pesticides (HHPs), sold in open markets and villages – by anyone and to anyone. This excludes the number of grain and food sellers who use these pesticides for storage and preservation. Over 85% of farmers who use and apply these pesticides do not use Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) nor do they know how to apply them properly (this excludes those that are in the fumigation business for offices, schools, homes, gardens and hotels).
In 2018, over 270 people in a community in Benue state died because of pesticide – Endosulphan in their community river. Most HHPs are Persistent pesticides, meaning they can be in the environment for months and years (up to 10 years) seeping into ground water and plants. The high exposure rate of the population to pesticide evidenced by the continued open sales of these poisonous chemicals in open spaces, accounts to the increasing suicide rates in Nigeria.
To prevent suicide and self-harm, the World Health Organisation WHO’s LIVE initiative recommends amongst others, stringent measures to limit access to the means of suicide (e.g. pesticides, firearms, certain medications). According to a 2022 study on media reports on suicide in Nigeria, the commonest method used for suicide is pesticide ingestion (56.8%) followed by hanging (27.1%).
Nigeria imports approximately 147,446 tonnes of pesticides annually, making it one of the largest importers in Africa. Historically, pesticide application was estimated at 125,000 to 130,000 metric tons per year as of 1998. A survey indicated that 75% of women farmers experienced health issues related to pesticide use, including respiratory problems and skin rashes.
On the toxicity level, a recent report by the Alliance for Action on Pesticides in Nigeria (AAPN) a loose alliance of over 80 CSOs, farmers, researchers and Academia in Nigeria shows that of the 30 common pesticide active ingredients reviewed in Nigeria in 2023, 25 are categorised as Highly Hazadious Pesticides (83.3%), three are categorised as Moderately Hazardous Pesticides, one falls under the category of Slightly Hazardous Pesticide.
Scary but very true, the Dossier shows that 60% of the pesticide active ingredients in products sold and used in Nigeria are cancer-causing (60%), 73% of them cause endocrine disruption, 63% are immunotoxins, 60% will cause hard to the brain function – neurotoxic, and 60% toxic to the reproductive system.
The increasing new cases of cancer and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) serve as evidence to these truths. These chemicals are in fruits, vegetables and grains – we eat them; while over 70% of our food exports are rejected in Europe for many reasons including the presence of these toxic pesticides, many of which are already banned in the Europe.
More than 58% of registered pesticides in Nigeria contain active ingredients that are banned in the European Union. This includes hazardous substances like chlorpyrifos and Paraquat.
On access to information, farmers are constantly blamed for pesticide hazards, even when the manufacturers and marketers of these toxic pesticides refuse to inform the famers and consumers of the full risk and dangers associated with their products (just as their counterparts in the tobacco industry now do). Hypocritically, most of the companies that have the patents to producing these toxic pesticides are in Europe – but the European law permits these companies to continue the production and export of the toxic substances to poor developing countries where they know hospital do not work, regulation to ensure some safety measures are lax, market practices also unregulated and national political integrity questionable.
Today, as we mark the International Day of No Pesticides Use, we must reflect on the grave implications of pesticide use on public health, the environment, and sustainable agriculture. This day reminds us of the urgent need to address the unchecked proliferation of pesticides, especially in countries like Nigeria, where regulatory frameworks are either weak or poorly enforced. It is also an opportunity to amplify calls for global accountability, including urging the European Union (EU) to end its double standards in pesticide. A 2022 report by Public Eye revealed that European companies exported 81,000 tons of pesticides containing hazardous chemicals to developing nations, including Nigeria, in a single year.
The EU’s stance undermines its commitments to human rights and environmental sustainability. If these pesticides are unfit for European farms, they should not find their way into Nigerian markets. This double standard has been widely criticised as a clear violation of human rights and environmental justice principles. If these pesticides are deemed unsafe for use in Europe, why should they find their way into Nigerian farms and markets?
Nigeria’s government must take decisive action to address this crisis by strengthening regulatory frameworks to ensure that all pesticides entering the country meet international safety standards and are properly registered. It should also invest in and promote sustainable agricultural practices, such as integrated pest management and agroecology, to reduce reliance on chemical pesticides. Capacity building is essential, with efforts focused on training farmers and agricultural workers in the safe handling, application, and use of pesticide alternatives. Furthermore, immediate steps must be taken to halt the importation and distribution of banned or hazardous pesticides.
As we mark the International Day of No Pesticide Use, we must reaffirm our commitment to creating a safer, healthier, and more sustainable agricultural system, not just in Nigeria, but globally. A future free from the toxic burden of hazardous pesticides is achievable, but it requires collective action – from global powers like the EU to grassroots movements led by organisations such as AAPN.
Let this day serve as a reminder that the health of our people and the planet must never be compromised or traded. Together, we can end the double standards and build a food system that prioritises life over profit.
By Donald Ikenna Ofoegbu, programme manager of the Henrich Boell Stiftung Nigeria, and a coordinator of the Alliance for Action on Pesticide in Nigeria (AAPN)
The Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, has reiterated that the project, in line with its policy of inclusivity, will benefit all Ogonis irrespective of their social status.
Participants at the one-day life skill workshop organised by HYPREP for over 160 Ogoni People with Special Abilities in Port Harcourt
Prof. Zabbey made this assertion recently at a one-day life skill workshop organised by HYPREP for over 160 Ogoni People with Special Abilities in Port Harcourt, noting that no Ogoni person would be left behind in the project.
Prof. Zabbey, who was represented at the workshop by the Head, Sustainable Livelihood, Mrs. Josephine Nzidee, explained that the workshop, a top-bottom approach, was part of a needs assessment to identify skills for members of the group, preparatory for a livelihood training programme.
She stated that the workshop was aimed at creating awareness, building confidence and educating people with special abilities on societal integration and alternative sources of livelihood in line with HYPREP’s core mandate to restore livelihood in Ogoni.
President of the group, Ngobaridapdoo Joy, commended the PC for the gesture, noting that this was the first time the Project was organising such an interface which gives them a sense of belonging and inclusivity, further demonstrating the robust relationship that exists between the association and HYPREP.
The participants, drawn from the Local Government Areas, were trained on prospects and alternative sources of livelihood, health and physical challenges for persons living with special abilities and general security tips for people living with special abilities. Participants also filled the assessment forms and select training in 15 skill sets.
The Project, according to HYPREP, has continued to drive its policy of exclusivity, ensuring that everyone has a stake in its programmes including the vulnerable and under-served community.
“It has increased female participation from 5% to 40% and now offering this special group the opportunity to acquire skills to better their lots.”
President Bola Tinubu is on a mission to transform satellite towns in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to cities, says FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Nyesom Wike,
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria
Wike, who stated this during the inauguration of the construction of Kabusa to Takushara Road in Abuja on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, added that the Tinubu administration had taken governance to the grassroots of Abuja.
He said that the Tinubu administration was committed to bringing development and governance to rural communities across the FCT.
“One of the promises Tinubu made is that look, all people in satellite towns, do not think that the government is about cities, we will also turn satellite towns to cities.
“One of the things to do, is to construct roads for you, and I can assure you, it is not about flagging up road projects, in the next six to seven months, I want to assure you we are going to commission this project.
“For the first time roads were being constructed in rural areas and are being fitted with streetlights.
“It has never happened before and I want to assure you that the government of President Tinubu will not fail you,” Wike said.
He added that the Kabusa to Takushara Road would be fitted with streetlights to light up the road at night, making life a bit more comfortable like those in the cities.
The minister thanked the residents of Kabusa for believing in Tinubu’s administration and assured them that the funds needed to complete the project had been made available.
Wike, who called for the continued support of the residents, disclosed that another contract would be awarded on Wednesday for the construction of Kabusa to Ketti road as part of the Tinubu rural transformation agenda.
“What we are doing today is what the Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda is all about – give hope back to our people.
“I am happy that if not for the government of Tinubu, I wouldn’t have known Kabusa and Takushara,” he said.
Wike urged the contractor to employ the locals to enable them to feed their families.
Earlier, Mr Richard Dauda, Director Engineering Services, Federal Capital Development Authority, said that the project was in line with the FCT Administration mandate to provide infrastructure and services to the entire territory.
Dauda explained that the 9.8-kilometre road project, a 7-metre two lane carriageway with shoulders and streetlight, was awarded to Allied Technical and Construction Company Ltd, and expected to be completed in six months.
He explained that the road would connect several communities namely Kabusa, Teta, Tasha, Sauka and Takushara and enhance socio-economic activities in the area.
“The road, when completed, will provide a safe and comfortable road for both vehicles and pedestrians and allow free movement of agricultural products from the hinterland into the city.
“The project will also create direct and indirect jobs and provide quick and timely response to emergencies and quick access to health services,” he said.
The Kabusa to Takushara Road is the third road to be constructed by the Wike-led FCT Administration.
Across Africa, the land we stand on and the air we breathe are both rapidly being eroded. From the arid parts of the Sahel to bustling urban centres, air pollution and land degradation are wreaking havoc on multiple fronts. Africans pay for them in income, food security, climate stability and public health.
L-R: Johan Rockström, Director, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research; Osama Ibrahim Faqeeha, COP16 Presidency; Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary, UNCCD; Xenya Scanlon; and Yazan Neme, UNCCD Secretariat, addressing a press confrence at COP16. Photo credit: IISD/ENB | Anastasia Rodopoulou
Robust national and regional strategies are key, ideally along with global targets. The continent’s leaders have an opportunity to set these at the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP16 holding in Riyadh.
Air pollution ranks among the leading environmental health risks globally and is responsible for one in nine deaths globally. In Africa, this translates to over 400,000 premature deaths annually, often linked to dust storms caused by land degradation, desertification and deforestation. Meanwhile, two-thirds of the African continent is desert or drylands, further worsening air quality and reducing agricultural productivity, affecting both urban centers and rural and cross-border area.
Degraded lands release dust and pollutants that worsen air quality, while air pollution accelerates soil degradation and desertification. A unified approach to bridge the gap between sustainable land management and effective air quality governance can break this vicious cycle and enhance the resilience of African populations.
Deforestation, agricultural emissions, and dust from degraded lands are some of the sources of air pollution that impact entire regions. The transboundary nature of air pollution further complicates mitigation efforts, as pollutants move across borders, affecting countries beyond their source. Discussions at the recent 10th Special Sessionof the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) emphasised the need for coordinated action to mitigate these impacts, underscoring that countries cannot effectively tackle these problems alone.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) presented a 2023 Guide on Ambient Air Quality Legislation to support countries aiming to strengthen or develop national air quality legislation and governance frameworks. To address immediate pollution sources, but also mitigate long-term impacts such as land degradation, the Guide emphasises the importance of robust governance systems, cross-sector collaboration, monitoring systems, and actionable and enforceable standards on air quality.
UNEP’s efforts, through the Montevideo Environmental Law Programme, to promote air quality legislation align closely with the broader environmental goals set for UNCCD COP16 to combat desertification and promote sustainable land management. By incorporating air quality provisions that regulate emissions from unsustainable agricultural practices and deforestation into domestic legislation, African countries can enhance their holistic environmental governance.
Robust national air quality legislation enforces strict emission controls, promotes sustainable land use practices, and invests in monitoring systems. To ensure these laws are effectively implemented, building institutional capacity is essential. Furthermore, because pollutants transcend political boundaries, cross-border agreements and regional collaboration are essential to addressing transboundary pollution.
Cote d’Ivoire is one of the first African countries to have begun working with UNEP to align domestic legislation and regulation on air quality with global best practices. This helps ensure national policies are well designed and can be effectively implemented.
Integrating robust air quality governance frameworks into national and regional policies offers a pathway to reducing pollution and addressing its impact on land and livelihoods. This will achieve much of what is needed to break the cycle where degraded lands contribute to poor air quality, which in turn drives further degradation.
The time for decisive action is now. As the 10th AMCEN Special Session set the stage for discussions at the UNCCD COP16 in Riyad, air quality governance should be prioritised in environmental policy. This integrated approach requires commitment, resources, and international cooperation. These will hugely pay off countries in public health, economic growth, and help build a resilient future for all, across Africa.
By Patricia Kameri-Mbote, Director of the Law Division, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Negotiations on a global drought regime are set to dominate the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) as 197 Parties gather to address one of the world’s deadliest and costliest disasters. The conference opened on Monday, December 2, 2024, with major political and financial commitments to strengthen drought resilience worldwide.
Leaders from different countries gather for a UNCCD family photo. Photo credit: IISD/ENB | Anastasia Rodopoulou
Drought, intensified by climate change and unsustainable land practices, has surged by nearly 30 per cent in frequency and intensity since 2000, threatening agriculture, water security, and the livelihoods of 1.8 billion people, with the poorest nations bearing the brunt.
In his opening remarks, Ibrahim Thiaw, UNCCD Executive Secretary, said: “We are all gathered here to make COP16 a historic moment. The world expects Parties to adopt a bold decision that can help turn the tide on the most pervasive and the most disruptive environmental disaster: drought.”
In a video message to delegates at UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, emphasised the growing challenges posed by land degradation and drought.
“Never before have so many people been affected by land degradation and drought. 40 per cent of fertile land is now degraded. And the results are dire: rising inequalities, people hungry, people displaced. Livelihoods and businesses threatened, environments destroyed, and the foundation of peace, stability and security rocked. On the basis of current trends, by 2050, three in four people, will be affected by drought worldwide. But you are in Riyadh to turn the tide,” she said.
Newly elected COP16 President Abdulrahman Alfadley, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, echoed these concerns, noting that degraded land already affects three billion people globally and will “increase levels of migration, stability, and insecurity among many communities.”
COP16 will focus on establishing the first global regime for drought resilience, addressing the systemic risks of drought highlighted in multiple articles of the UNCCD and decisions from the past seven COPs.
Governments are expected to negotiate commitments to enhance resilience at all levels, building on recommendations from the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought established at COP15.
Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership Secures $2.15bn in Commitments
The Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, announced on Tuesday by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as UNCCD COP16 host, will leverage public and private finance to support 80 of the most vulnerable and drought-hit countries around the world.
An initial $2.15 billion have been pledged towards the Riyadh Partnership by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ($150 million), the Islamic Development Bank ($1 billion) and the OPEC Fund for International Development ($1 billion). The Arab Coordination Group, which encompasses 10 institutions headquartered in five countries, is expected announce its pledge on day two of COP16.
“The Riyadh Drought Resilience Partnership will serve as a global facilitator for drought resilience, promoting the shift from reactive relief response to proactive preparedness. We also seek to amplify global resources to save lives and livelihoods around the world,” said Dr Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudia Arabia and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency.
The Partnership will work to source additional funding through voluntary contributions by countries, financial institutions, and philanthropic organisations, among others. The financial and in-kind contributions help least developed countries (LDCs) and lower middle-income countries to unlock access to additional financing through blended financing such as concessional loans, commercial loans, equity participation, savings, insurance and other financial schemes.
State Secretary of Environment of Spain, Hugo Morán, said: “For Spain and Senegal, the co-chairs the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), promoting international cooperation is a key priority. We are working very hard to mobilise political momentum and resources for drought resilience all over the world. However, much remains to be done. This is why we welcome the Riyadh Partnership and its potential to mobilize additional resources for drought resilience with a focus on the least developed countries and the lower middle-income countries. We look forward to collaborating with Saudi Arabia and the UNCCD Secretariat to leverage synergies between IDRA and this new partnership.”
Negotiations on drought underway
A major focus of COP16 will be negotiations on a future global regime on drought resilience, the first of its kind. Multiple articles of the Convention text refer to drought and the last seven UNCCD COPs also have decisions related to drought.
The Drought Resilience + 10 Conference, held in Geneva from September 30 to October 2, 2024, concluded that “the increasingly systemic nature of drought requires new approaches, policy instruments and the operationalisation of national drought plans along the lines of proactive and integrated drought management.”
It is expected that the negotiations among governments, culminating at UNCCD COP16, will result in robust commitments to strengthen community, national and international resilience to anticipate, respond to and recover from the impacts of impending or ongoing droughts, building on the policy options presented by the Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought established at COP15.
“After 30 years of deliberations, including six consecutive years of intergovernmental working groups, all eyes are on us. This is a lot of pressure, but we must seize this pivotal moment in Riyadh. Together, we can reverse the trends of land degradation and build a more resilient world to drought,” said UNCCD’s Thiaw.
World Drought Atlas and International Drought Resilience Observatory
Amid escalating global drought crises, the UNCCD, in collaboration with the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) and partners, launched the World Drought Atlas, highlighting the systemic risks of drought across critical sectors like energy, agriculture, river transport and trade, using maps, infographics and case studies to showcase its cascading impacts on inequality, conflict and public health.
In addition, the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA) introduced the prototype International Drought Resilience Observatory (IDRO) — an AI-powered global platform designed to empower diverse stakeholders, from policymakers to communities, with actionable insights for building drought resilience. The full version of IDRO will debut at UNCCD COP17 in Mongolia in 2026, marking a shift towards proactive drought management worldwide.
Anna Dyson, Founding Director of Yale Centre for Ecosystems + Architecture, explained: “Although a wealth of knowledge is emerging on drought resilience globally, it tends to be scattered and difficult to access. The Observatory will enable quick access to diverse expertise and tools needed to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to drought challenges. Connecting insights with powerful analytics, it delivers timely, actionable information while addressing critical gaps in risk and adaptive strategies.”
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has called on stakeholders to leverage opportunities presented by waste materials for wealth creation.
Delegates at the Lagos Waste Forum
Sanwo-Olu made the call at the 5th edition of the Lagos Waste Forum on Monday, December 2, 2024, in Lagos.
The theme of the forum was “Unlocking Nigeria’s Green Potential: Waste Reduction, Recycling, and Circular Economy Pathways to Jobs, Business, and Sustainability”.
Represented by his Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Rotimi Akodu, Sanwo-Olu underscored the importance of addressing the state’s waste challenges.
According to him, there should be a paradigm shift in the way waste is seen by identifying them as opportunities for innovation and economic growth.
“With a population exceeding 20 million, Lagos generates over 13,000 metric tons of waste daily.
“However, we see this challenge as an opportunity to innovate, create jobs, build businesses, and promote sustainability. The green economy is a goldmine waiting to be unlocked,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He said that Lagos was intentional in taking bold steps to lead in waste management by promoting recycling hubs, launching public awareness campaigns, and exploring advanced technologies such as waste-to-energy conversion.
“Through the efforts of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and strategic partnerships, we are maximising resource recovery to reduce the burden on landfills.
“This not only supports our sustainability goals but also creates jobs, especially for our youths,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Also speaking, the Managing Director/CEO of LAWMA, Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said that waste was not merely a challenge but an opportunity to be harnessed for economic and environmental benefits.
“LAWMA is committed to innovation and collaboration, as demonstrated by our partnership with Ghana’s Jospong Group to establish Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs).
“These integrated systems will prioritise recycling, composting, and reuse, significantly reducing waste sent to landfills,” Gbadegesin said.
He said that LAWMA’s dedication to initiatives like Adopt-A-Bin, introduction of smart bins, and public-private partnerships aligned with the principles of a circular economy.
“Our efforts aim to transform waste into wealth by creating economic opportunities, reducing pollution, and fostering environmental sustainability.
“As we convene today, I challenge every stakeholder here to design actionable plans that will propel Lagos and Nigeria toward a sustainable and prosperous future,” Gbadegesin said.
Earlier in his welcome address, Ambassador Obuesi Phillips, President of the Lagos Waste Forum, commended the collaborative efforts of government agencies, private sector operators, and civil society organisations.
Phillips said that the synergy had become hallmarks of the forum since its inception in 2018.
He added that the forum remained a flagship event on Lagos environmental calendar, fostering partnerships and actionable solutions for sustainable waste management.
Also Mrs Amaka Onyemelukwe, Senior Director of Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability at Coca-Cola Company, in her goodwill message, emphasised Coca-Cola’s commitment to building a better tomorrow through impactful actions.
Onyemelukwe reiterated the company’s dedication to fostering positive change within communities, ecosystems, and economies in Lagos and across Nigeria.
She reiterated Coca-Cola’s determination to ensure all bottles and cans produced were recycled and reused, reflecting its goal of leaving a lasting, positive footprint on the world.
The event featured industry leaders and stakeholders, including Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, General Manager LASEPA; Mr. Stephen Agugua, ILO Coordinator for Just Transition and Green Jobs; and Mr. Kunle Adebiyi, Executive Director of LAWMA.
Others included Dr Oluyomi Banjo, National Programmes Coordinator at UNIDO; and Mrs. Oluchi Odimko, Head of Sectoral and Regulatory Affairs at the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.
The event also had school children and various stakeholders in the waste value chain in Lagos State.
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has said that ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is within reach, but only if global leaders commit to dismantling barriers to healthcare and upholding human rights.
UN Secretary-General, António Guterres
Guterres, in a statement, urged the leaders to take the right path to end the scourge.
“Every 25 seconds, someone in the world is infected with HIV.
“One-quarter of people living with HIV – more than nine million people – lack access to lifesaving treatment,” Guterres said in a message to mark World AIDS Day.
He, however, called for a rights-based approach to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention and treatment, highlighting the harmful effects of discriminatory laws and practices that stigmatised women, girls, and minorities.
“The fight against AIDS can be won,” Guterres stressed, “If leaders take a rights-based approach to ensure that everyone – especially the most vulnerable – can get the services they need without fear.”
“We will overcome AIDS if the rights of everyone, everywhere, are protected. I call on all leaders to heed this year’s theme and take the ‘rights’ path,” he said.
UNAIDS, the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS, reinforced the call, urging governments to “take the rights path to end AIDS.”
Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director, stressed the importance of removing systemic barriers to healthcare.
“To protect everyone’s health, we need to protect everyone’s rights,” she said.
Its World AIDS Day report showed that respecting and protecting human rights can help ensure equitable access to HIV services and prevent new infections.
It also revealed how gaps in realisation of human rights, and abuses and violations obstruct the end of the AIDS pandemic.
The UNAIDS report underscores that progress will stall without a human rights-based approach. In 2023, 1.3 million people were newly infected with HIV globally, three times the target of no more than 370,000 annual infections set for 2025.
In addition, 63 countries still criminalise LGBTQ+ people, while widespread gender-based violence and limited educational opportunities for women and girls leave them particularly vulnerable.
In 2023, they accounted for 62 per cent of new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa. Worse still, nine out of ten new infections among 15 to 19-year-olds are among girls, reflecting systemic gender inequalities, according to UNICEF.
The disparity is also evident in access to treatment, including for boys and young men.
While 77 per cent of adults living with HIV have access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), only 57 per cent of children aged 0 to 14, and 65 per cent of adolescents aged 15 to 19 do.
“Children and adolescents are not fully reaping the benefits of scaled up access to treatment and prevention services,” Anurita Bains, UNICEF Associate Director of HIV/AIDS, said.
“Children living with HIV must be prioritised when it comes to investing resources and efforts to scale up treatment for all, this includes the expansion of innovative testing technologies,” she said.
The Commanding Officer, Forward Operating Base (FOB), Escravos, Capt. Ikenna Okoloagu, has charged naval personnel to remain steadfast in the fight against crude oil theft and other illegalities in the maritime space.
Naval personnel of the Forward Operating Base (FOB), Escravos on their quarterly Route March exercise
Okoloagu gave the advice on Monday, December 2, 2024, shortly after the FOB’s 4th Quarters Route March in Escravos, Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Addressing the personnel, Okoloagu reminded them that the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, had remained committed to their welfare.
He, therefore, urged them to be resolute in the discharge of their duties.
The commanding officer maintained that the Nigerian Navy had zero tolerance for indiscipline as well as corrupt practices.
Speaking on the route march, Okoloagu said that the exercise involved 10 kilometres brisk walk.
Okoloagu, who led other senior and junior officers in the exercise, added that it was aimed at promoting physical fitness and mental well-being of the personnel.
“The essence of the exercise is to ensure officers and ratings are at all time physically fit for the tasks assigned to them.
“The exercise is aimed at promoting physical fitness and mental well-being of it’s personnel.
“It is also aimed at promoting comradeship and for the populace to know that they have a Navy that is physically fit to carryout their assignment,” he said.
Okoloagu, however, expressed satisfaction with the turnout of personnel in the exercise that lasted for about two and half hours.
The Port Harcourt refinery has resumed full operations after a brief “scaling down”, Mr Ibrahim Onoja, the company’s Managing Director, has said.
Port Harcourt Refinery
Addressing newsmen after a facility tour of the refinery on Sunday night, Onoja said the facility had resued distribution of products, including Premium Motor Spirit, kerosene, and diesel.
“The refining plant has undergone extensive upgrades to enhance efficiency and reliability which had also impacted on production capacity.
”We replaced most of the equipment including pumps installation and cables.
“The plant is running and we are trucking out our products,” he said.
Also speaking, Mr. Moyi Maidunama, the Director of Operations of the Nigeria Pipeline Storage Company (NPSC) Ltd, acknowledged that there was a temporary reduction in production.
He, however, explained that the reduction was to help address some technical issues aimed at improving the delivery capacity of the facility.
”We are managing the process with the number of trucks available today, using three loading arms for evacuation, this would be resolved soon.
”Our operations were not totally halted but reduced due to some of the improvements that we needed to make in terms of getting more loading arms operational.
”We have been evacuating refined petroleum products from the refinery since yesterday and its obviously going to be a continuous process,” he said.
Mr Worlu Joel, the terminal manager, also confirmed the efficiency of the refinery, adding that it had began loading of Premium Motor Spirit, kerosene and diesel.
According to him, the deport which has eleven functional loading bays currently uses only three due to its high efficiency.
He said that each of the bay evacuates as much as three trucks in 15 minutes.
He however, expressed worries over slow turn out of tanker drivers
“We have surplus product. Let us say we have up to 100 trucks today, we will evacuate them in five hours, it’s no longer our problem, it’s the tanker drivers,” he said.
On Nov. 26, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) said the Port Harcourt refinery had begun production after a long period of rehabilitation.
It said the refinery began truck loading of petroleum products.
The Port Harcourt Refineries comprise two units, with the old plant having a refining capacity of 60,000 barrels per day (bpd) and the new plant 150,000 bpd, both summing up to 210,000 bpd.
The refinery has not operated maximally for over two decades.
It was shut down in March 2019 for the first phase of repair works after the government secured the service of Italy’s Maire Tecnimont to handle the review of the refinery complex, with oil major Eni appointed technical adviser.
In 2021, NNPC Ltd said repairs had started at the refinery after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved $1.5 billion for the project.
On Dec. 21, 2023, the Nigerian government announced the mechanical completion and the flare start-off of the refinery.
