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Presidential Directives: NCDMB to launch new Contracting Cycle Guidelines, holds sensitisation workshops

Michael Simire
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Presidential Directives: NCDMB to launch new Contracting Cycle Guidelines, holds sensitisation workshops

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is gearing up to launch new Contracting Cycle Guidelines for the oil and gas industry in compliance with the Presidential Directives on Local Content announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in March 2024 to accelerate oil and gas contract timelines, incentivise investments in the sector and increase Nigeria’s crude oil production.

NCDMB
Participants at the two-day Contracting Cycle Guidelines Sensitisation Workshop held in Lagos

Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, announced this at the two-day Contracting Cycle Guidelines Sensitisation Workshop organised in Lagos by the Project Certification and Authorisation Directorate (PCAD) of the Board for international and indigenous operating oil and gas companies and their service counterparts.

The workshop provided a platform for NCDMB to explain the provisions of the Guidelines and how it would implement them in alignment with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act and the Presidential Directives.

Represented by the Director, Project Certification and Authorisation, Abayomi Bamidele, the Executive Secretary emphasised that NCDMB is a business enabler hence the decision to get stakeholders’ feedback before finalising and launching the guidelines at the forthcoming Practical Nigerian Content Workshop slated for December 3 to 5, 2024, at the Nigerian Content Tower, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

To further assist the companies, he promised that NCDMB would convene a technical workshop in the first quarter of 2025 to train personnel of operating and service oil and gas companies on how to efficiently complete various technical documents utilised in oil and gas contracting process.

The three Presidential Directives are the Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance, Presidential Directive on Reduction of Petroleum Sector Contracting Cost and Timelines, and Presidential Directive on Oil and Gas Companies (Tax Incentives, Exemption, Remission, etc).

Commenting on the objectives of the Presidential Directives, Ogbe canvassed that for Nigeria to deepen local content practice and grow the sector, it must eliminate premium margins charged by some service companies, stop frequent policy changes and ensure that final investment decisions (FIDs) are signed regularly, to catalyse new projects. He recommended that at least one or two FIDs should be signed at the annual oil and gas conferences, to create activities in the sector.

The Executive Secretary provided further details on the Presidential Directives and the Board’s actions, noting that the PD on Local Content Compliance addressed issues pertaining to NCDMB, while the PD on Reduction of Petroleum Sector Contracting Cost and Timelines referred to NCDMB and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company and its investment arm, the NNPC Upstream Investment Services (NUIS).

He added that NCDMB is working to support oil firms to accelerate their projects and take advantage of the incentives provided by the PD on Oil and Gas Companies (Tax Incentives, Exemption, Remission, etc).

He informed that the PDs reduced the period for concluding oil and gas contracts from 180 days to six months, while it also revised the Contracting Timelines in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) the Board had signed with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd and international operating companies in September 2023 and reduced the number of days allotted to NCDMB on the cycle.

He pointed out that the Board was mandated to develop templates to collapse its touchpoints on the contracting cycle to enhance the business environment within the provisions of the law. Accordingly, the Board has reduced its touchpoints from nine to five for open tenders and selective tenders, while retaining only four touchpoints for single source contract.

He stated that another goal of the Presidential Directive is to eliminate intermediaries with no demonstrable capacity and to develop structured processes to determine, verify and document in-country capacities and capabilities. He added that the Board has adopted robust pre-qualification and technical evaluation process, policy revisions to provide clarity on in-country value addition for OEM representatives and in-country capacity audit every two years.

Another objective of the PD is to target global benchmarks. For this, he noted that NCDMB is proposing the co-creation of tender cost templates/tariffs, the promotion of joint venture of local/foreign service companies, the adoption of robust waiver management system by the Board and conveyor belt of at least two final investment decision (FID) per year.

The workshop featured technical presentations and interactions, and the participants thanked NCDMB for providing a platform for stakeholders to make constructive inputs into the industry’s operating guidelines.

Stakeholders canvass adoption of ‘green’ practices in schools

Michael Simire
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Stakeholders canvass adoption of ‘green’ practices in schools

Stakeholders have demanded the adoption of key green practices in schools across the country.

Balarabe Lawal
Malam Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment

This is contained in a communique issued at the end of the Stakeholders Review and Validation Meetings on the Draft National Framework of the National Green Schools Project held recently.

The communique was signed by the National Project Co-ordinator, National Green Schools Project, Unyime Robinson; Deputy Director, Federal Ministry Environment, Musa Yauri; and representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Environment, National Universities Commission, Universal Basic Education, Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Food Sufficiency, FCT Education Resource Centre, Nigeria Police Force Education Unit, Federal Department of Forestry, National Commission for Colleges of Education, school administrators, teachers, environmental experts, and civil society organisations.

The meetings were convened with the objective of reviewing, discussing, and validating the draft framework, which seeks to promote sustainability, environmental awareness, and green practices in schools across the country.

According to the communique, the meetings endorsed the inclusion of critical environmental initiatives such as establishment of orchards in school’s environment, waste management, renewable energy use, water conservation, and sustainable agricultural practices as part of the school activities through institutionalisation of Green Clubs known as Green Schools Champions.

“It was resolved that teachers, school administrators, and relevant stakeholders will undergo capacity-building programmes to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively implement the National Green Schools Project.

“The stakeholders acknowledged the importance of partnerships with the private sector, non-governmental organisations, and international development partners in mobilizing resources, sharing best practices, and scaling up the project for sustainability.

“A robust monitoring and evaluation framework will be established to track progress, assess the impact of the Green Schools Project, and ensure continuous improvement in environmental sustainability practices in schools.

“Stakeholders agreed that although they are existing environmental education in school’s curriculum in Nigeria, more needs to be done in the integration of environmental education into the existing school curriculum to foster a culture of sustainability among students. This will include the development of IECs materials on climate change, biodiversity, and eco-friendly practices.

“Schools will actively engage local communities in environmental sustainability activities to create broader awareness and participation in green initiatives at the grassroots level.

“The stakeholders expressed their commitment to the successful implementation of the National Green Schools Project and recognised the critical role it will play in fostering an environmentally conscious and responsible generation.

“With the validated framework of the Green Schools Project, the National Launch of the Project is therefore proposed for October 29, 2024, subject for approval by respective authorities.

The meetings commended all stakeholders especial the National Implementation Committee which has now been transformed to National Steering Committee for the Project as recommended in the framework for their active engagement and contributions throughout the stakeholder’s review and validation process and look forward to the positive transformation of our schools into hubs of environmental sustainability.

“The stakeholders commend the Federal Ministry of Environment, Department of Climate Change for the coordination role, the NGO Partner, African Centre for Environment, Agriculture & Rural Development and the internation partners, Zenaga Foundation and Sports For Future for providing the resources and piloting the implementation of Green Schools Project in Nigeria.”

SRADev commits to action to reduce fluorinated GHGs emission, ODS in Nigeria at MOP36

Michael Simire
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SRADev commits to action to reduce fluorinated GHGs emission, ODS in Nigeria at MOP36

Nigeria is participating in the 36th Meeting of the Parties (MOP36) to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which commenced from October 28, 2024, through to November 1, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand.

SRADev
Delegates at the 36th Meeting of the Parties (MOP36) to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, in Bangkok, Thailand

The Montreal Protocol is a landmark Global Treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and very powerful greenhouse gases.

The ongoing MOP36 meeting is crucial as it will address the latest scientific findings, policy developments, and strategies to further reduce ODS and fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (F-gases), which are potent contributors to global warming. There are nearly 100 man-made chemicals referred to as ODS contained in refrigerators and air-conditioners production and consumption.

The MOP36 meeting comes at a critical time when the world is grappling with the dual challenges of ozone layer depletion and climate change. The meeting has provided a platform for parties to review progress, share best practices, and adopt new measures to accelerate the phase-out of harmful substances. This is essential for safeguarding both the environment and public health, as well as for achieving global climate goals.

“As delegates gather in Bangkok for the 36th Meeting of Parties to the Montreal Protocol, the need for Nigerian Government to act faster and go further in our climate ambitions at a time that the state of climate is now critical, with year 2023 as the hottest year in record,” said Dr. Leslie Adogame, Executive Director, SRADev Nigeria.

SRADev Nigeria’s participation in MOP36 (NGO Observer) is considered a major kick-off activity in the one-year project on “Promoting Fast Action to Reduce Emissions of Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depleting Substances in Nigeria”, recently launched in Abuja.

The project aims to support the Nigerian Government to, mitigate the environmental impact of these substances through awareness campaigns, policy advocacy, and the promotion of sustainable alternatives.

The project, which officially started on October 1, 2024, is being funded by the Environmental Investigation Agency UK (EIA, UK), an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) established in 1984 in the United Kingdom.

Looking ahead, SRADev Nigeria is committed to expanding the impact of its project with the following goals:

  • Increase Emission Reductions: Advocacy support to achieve a 25% reduction in fluorinated greenhouse gas emissions and Nitrous oxide gases by 2027.
  • Broaden Community Outreach: Expand educational programmes to reach an additional 10,000 individuals, focusing on youth and women to ensure inclusive participation.
  • Enhance Policy Advocacy: Work closely with policymakers to implement stricter regulations and promote the adoption of sustainable technologies.
  • Foster Innovation: Support research and development of alternative substances and technologies that are environmentally friendly and economically viable.

SRADev Nigeria has in the past played similar but vital roles in the implementation of international multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). This ensures that the voices of local communities are heard and that grassroots perspectives are integrated into global policies. It continues to bring on-the-ground experience and innovative solutions that are crucial for the successful implementation of MEAs.

Participation in MOP36 therefore, underscores our commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development.

“We believe that by engaging with global experts and sharing our experiences, we can contribute significantly to the global efforts to protect the ozone layer and combat climate change.”  “This meeting is a pivotal moment for us to strengthen our programme strategies and partnerships, ensuring a healthier and more sustainable future for Nigeria and the world”, said Mr. Jeremiah Ato, Technical and Policy Officer, SRADev Nigeria.

As a foremost NGO group on chemical and wastes clusters, SRADev Nigeria disclosed that its involvement in MOP36 will enable it to:

  • Engage with Global Experts: Gain insights from leading scientists and policymakers on the latest advancements and strategies for ODS and F-gas reduction in Nigeria.
  • Share our Experiences: Present our project outcomes and challenges, contributing to the global dialogue on effective mitigation strategies.
  • Strengthen Partnerships: Forge new collaborations with international stakeholders to enhance our efforts in Nigeria.

“At MoP36, all Parties should embody the spirit of the Montreal Protocol once again and to demonstrate it truly is the world’s most successful environmental treaty,” said Clare Perry, Climate Campaigner Leader, Environmental Investigation Agency, UK.

NNPC launches free cancer screening campaign, targets 3,000 Nigerians

Michael Simire
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NNPC launches free cancer screening campaign, targets 3,000 Nigerians

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC Ltd) through NNPC Foundation, its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, is set to launch a free cancer screening campaign to address Nigeria’s rising cancer cases.

NNPC
NNPC Foundation Cancer Screening Campaign

The campaign, tagged “Cancer Awareness and ZSX Screening”, will provide not just free cancer screening to indigent Nigerians but also health education, workshops, and consultations with healthcare professionals aimed at empowering individuals to recognise early symptoms, adopt preventive health measures, and better understand the importance of regular screenings.

The campaign, which will be organised in collaboration with local health authorities and expert healthcare providers, is targeted at reaching about 3,000 individuals across the six geo-political zones with screening centres in Kaduna, Rivers, Ondo, Benue, Imo, and Gombe states. The initiative will focus on breast, cervical, and prostate cancer, offering critical early detection support for at-risk populations.

Shedding more light on the objectives of the campaign, the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, said: “The fight against cancer requires a collective effort and a commitment to ensuring accessible healthcare. This campaign is about more than just screening; it’s about saving lives, building awareness, and creating pathways to preventive care for Nigerians who need it most.

“In a country of over 200 million people, too many still lack access to the early detection tools that could make a life-saving difference. NNPC Foundation is dedicated to addressing this critical gap by bringing cancer screenings directly to communities. Early detection is crucial to improving survival rates, and this campaign is a vital step towards that goal.”

Cancer remains one of the most formidable health challenges in Nigeria, with over 79,000 cancer-related deaths annually, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The most common cancers affecting Nigerian men include prostate and liver cancer, while women are predominantly impacted by breast and cervical cancers.

The campaign seeks to counter the trend of late-stage diagnoses, which occur frequently due to limited access to screening facilities, cultural stigmas, and insufficient awareness.

This initiative follows the success of a screening drive in February 2024, where over 200 Abuja residents received free breast, cervical, and prostate cancer screenings.

These free cancer screening campaigns reflect NNPC Ltd.’s broader mission to promote health equity and enhance the well-being of Nigerians across the country through its Foundation.

Kano, UNICEF partner to draft climate change policy document

Michael Simire
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Kano, UNICEF partner to draft climate change policy document

The Kano State Government says it is working in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to draft final climate change policy document and development implementation plan.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State

The Commissioner for Environment, Nasiru Garo, said this at a stakeholders’ engagement on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, in Kano, the state capital.

He said the measure was a critical step towards confronting the existential threat posed by climate change.

According to him, the validation of the draft Kano State Climate Change Policy marks a pivotal moment in the pursuit of sustainable development and climate resilience in the state and the sub region.

“The realities of climate change are no longer distant or abstract across the Sahel and northern Nigeria.

“Frequent droughts that threaten agricultural productivity causing food insecurity and unpredictable rainfall patterns that disrupt the planting season.

“Desertification encroaching on fertile lands and forcing communities to migrate, heatwave and flooding, leading to severe health risks, displacement and destruction of infrastructure,” he said.

He warned that, if left unaddressed, its impact would not only undermine livelihoods and economic progress, but worsen poverty, and increase conflicts over natural resources and strain the social systems.

The commissioner highlighted that the policy would serve as a guiding framework to stimulate concrete action to protect the environment and secure the future of the state.

Stella Terver, UNICEF WASH Programme Officer, Kano Field Office, reiterated the commitment of the UN agency to partner with Kano government in tackling the impact of climate change on children and promote their wellbeing.

Terver emphasised the organisation’s mission, to ensure that children not only survive but also thrive and realise their rights.

She called for implementation of specific policies within Nigeria’s climate plans, to address the vulnerabilities, urging for a collective commitment to foster a safer, healthier environment for children.

According to her, UNICEF has been supporting Kano government through viable interventions, adding that the organisation stands for children.

“Each time we talk about climate change, we talk about how it impacts on the children in Kano State.

“All we do is targeted at children, be it WASH, education, health, policy, child protection, all of them are targeted at that one child,” she said.

Also speaking, Dr Muhammad Khalil, Executive Secretary, Kano Watershed, Erosion and Climate Change Management Agency (KN-WECCMA), restated commitment towards building a climate resilient environment.

He pledged to ensure sustainable development and promote the wellbeing of the citizens, saying that the process adopted in developing the Kano Climate Change Policy, involved engagements with various stakeholders.

Khalil said the engagement was to generate inputs from all sections of society that could impacted by climate change.

On his part, Musa Kachako, Chairman, Kano State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, expressed satisfaction with the stakeholder’s engagement and policy making processes.

“The occasion is to address the issues bothering people for long, not only in Kano or Nigeria but worldwide.

“Environment plays a vital role in people’s health, what they eat and the issue of climate change. If addressed, it will assist ordinary people and not only farmers.”

By Muhammad Nur Tijani

Tuberculosis resurges as top infectious disease killer – WHO

Michael Simire
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Tuberculosis resurges as top infectious disease killer – WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, published a new report on tuberculosis revealing that approximately 8.2 million people were newly diagnosed with TB in 2023 – the highest number recorded since WHO began global TB monitoring in 1995. This represents a notable increase from 7.5 million reported in 2022, placing TB again as the leading infectious disease killer in 2023, surpassing COVID-19.

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

WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2024 highlights mixed progress in the global fight against TB, with persistent challenges such as significant underfunding. While the number of TB-related deaths decreased from 1.32 million in 2022 to 1.25 million in 2023, the total number of people falling ill with TB rose slightly to an estimated 10.8 million in 2023.

With the disease disproportionately affecting people in 30 high-burden countries, India (26%), Indonesia (10%), China (6.8%), the Philippines (6.8%) and Pakistan (6.3%) together accounted for 56% of the global TB burden. According to the report, 55% of people who developed TB were men, 33% were women and 12% were children and young adolescents.

“The fact that TB still kills and sickens so many people is an outrage, when we have the tools to prevent it, detect it and treat it,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “WHO urges all countries to make good on the concrete commitments they have made to expand the use of those tools, and to end TB.”

In 2023, the gap between the estimated number of new TB cases and those reported narrowed to about 2.7 million, down from COVID-19 pandemic levels of around 4 million in 2020 and 2021. This follows substantial national and global efforts to recover from COVID-related disruptions to TB services. The coverage of TB preventive treatment has been sustained for people living with HIV and continues to improve for household contacts of people diagnosed with TB.

However, multidrug-resistant TB remains a public health crisis. Treatment success rates for multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) have now reached 68%. But, of the 400,000 people estimated to have developed MDR/RR-TB, only 44% were diagnosed and treated in 2023.

Funding gaps and challenges

Global funding for TB prevention and care decreased further in 2023 and remains far below target. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), which bear 98% of the TB burden, faced significant funding shortages. Only $5.7 billion of the $22 billion annual funding target was available in 2023, equivalent to only 26% of the global target.

The total amount of international donor funding in LMICs has remained at around $1.1–1.2 billion per year for several years. The United States government remains the largest bilateral donor for TB. While the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) contribution to international funding of the TB response, especially in LMICs, is important, it remains insufficient to cover essential TB service needs. The report emphasizes that sustained financial investment is crucial for the success of TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment efforts.

Globally, TB research remains severely underfunded with only one-fifth of the $5 billion annual target reached in 2022. This impedes the development of new TB diagnostics, drugs, and vaccines. WHO continues leading efforts to advance the TB vaccine agenda, including with the support of the TB Vaccine Accelerator Council launched by the WHO Director-General.

Complex drivers of the epidemic

For the first time, the report provides estimates on the percentage of TB-affected households that face catastrophic costs (exceeding 20% of annual household income) to access TB diagnosis and treatment in all LMICs. These indicate that half of TB-affected households face such catastrophic costs.

A significant number of new TB cases are driven by five major risk factors: undernutrition, HIV infection, alcohol use disorders, smoking (especially among men), and diabetes. Tackling these issues, along with critical determinants like poverty and GDP per capita, requires coordinated multisectoral action.

“We are confronted with a multitude of formidable challenges: funding shortfalls and catastrophic financial burden on those affected, climate change, conflict, migration and displacement, pandemics, and drug-resistant tuberculosis, a significant driver of antimicrobial resistance,” said Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Global Tuberculosis Programme. “It is imperative that we unite across all sectors and stakeholders, to confront these pressing issues and ramp up our efforts.”

Global milestones and targets for reducing the TB disease burden are said to be off-track, and considerable progress is needed to reach other targets set for 2027 ahead of the second UN High-Level Meeting. WHO calls on governments, global partners, and donors to urgently translate the commitments made during the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB into tangible actions.

“Increased funding for research, particularly for new TB vaccines, is essential to accelerate progress and achieve the global targets set for 2027,” said the WHO.

Gas flaring: Gov Diri laments as Bayelsa Oil Commission submits report

Michael Simire
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Gas flaring: Gov Diri laments as Bayelsa Oil Commission submits report

Gov Douye Diri of Bayelsa State on Monday, October 28, 2024, bemoaned the management of revenues from gas flare fines and royalties paid by oil firms.

Gas flaring
Gas flaring

Diri said the oil producing states and indeed the communities in the region that bear the brunt of gas flaring have been deprived of the revenue accruing to the Federal Government over the years.

He also lamented the situation where oil companies situate their administrative offices far from their operational bases and shortchanging states like Bayelsa of personal income and other taxes.

Diri stated these during an expanded state executive council meeting during which the final report of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission (BSOEC) was presented in Government House, Yenagoa, the state capital.

Commenting on the report titled “An Environmental Genocide: Counting the Human and Environmental Cost of Oil in Bayelsa, Nigeria,” he said the impact of oil pollution to both humans and the environment were alarming.

While formally dissolving the commission with effect from October 31, 2024, Diri said it was saddening to read that “Bayelsa is estimated to have suffered over a quarter of total recorded instances of oil pollution in Nigeria.

“The staggering disparity underscores the inequitable distribution of environmental burdens. Bayelsa State bears 25% of Nigeria’s oil pollution. The sheer scale of devastation paints a dire picture, disconcertingly reminiscent of an environmental Armageddon,” the governor said.

Diri also stated that, according to the report, “between 1970 and 2014, Nigeria earned an estimated trillion dollars in oil revenue, and since 2006, oil produced in Bayelsa generated over $150 billion for the Federal Government and billions for the international oil companies that operate its wells. On average, oil produced in Bayelsa is responsible for approximately $10 billion in government revenues per year.”

He noted that the state was encouraged by the revelation in the report that “in most advanced industrialised countries, two basic principles – ‘polluter pays’ and ‘no fault liability’ – form the cornerstone of the legal regime for regulating extractive industries. Taken together, they mean that those that own and operate facilities are responsible for the damage caused by their pollution even if they are not at fault.”

Describing the report as heartbreaking, he lamented that the magnitude of devastation across communities paints a grim picture of their survival.

Diri assured that a committee would be set up to look into the commission’s recommendations with a view to ensuring its implementation.

He re-echoed the commission’s recommendation of “concerted international action to generate and invest at least $12 billion over the course of 12 years to repair, remediate and restore the environmental and public health damage caused by oil and gas and to lay the foundations for Bayelsa’s just transition towards renewable energy and opportunities for alternative livelihoods” justifies our persistent claim for reparation.”

Diri commended his predecessor, Sen. Seriake Dickson, for his vision in establishing the commission in March 2018 as well as its chairman, Lord John Tucker Mugabi Sentamu and his team for the exceptional work.

In his remarks, Dr John Sentamu, who is the former Archbishop of York, said the oil companies were negligent in their operations and called for the creation of an estimated $12 billion fund to support remediation efforts.

Also speaking, chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council and Ibenanowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, King Bubaraye Dakolo, who described the event as one of the greatest achievements in governance, said there was finally evidence to prove the devastation to both human and environmental health caused by oil and gas exploration and exploitation.

Dakolo said Bayelsans were paying heavily for the enjoyment of the oil and gas resources by others outside the state and the region.

Other members of the commission present at the event included the Chair, BSOEC Expert Working Group and Director, Politics and Governance, Overseas Development Institute, United Kingdom, Dr Kathryn Nwajiakwu-Dahou, Head of the School of Law, University of Bradford, United Kingdom.

Others are Prof. Engobo Emeseh, Department of Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Canada; Prof. Anna Zalik, Professor Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley, California; Long-Term Non-Resident Fellow, Swedish Collegium for Advanced Study, Uppsala, Sweden, Prof. Michael Watts; and Coordinator, Social Action International, Dr Isaac Asume Osuoka.

Also present were Harvir Kaur Sanga from the BSOEC Secretariat, Head of Business and Human Rights; and Deputy Programme Director · Amnesty International, United Kingdom, Mr. Mark Dummet; Chairman, Human and Environment Development Agenda (HEDA), Olanrewaju Suraju; Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Rev. Nnimmo Bassey; and environmental activist, Ms Annkio Briggs, among others.

By Nathan Nwakamma

Ghana to import petroleum from Dangote Refinery – Official

Michael Simire
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Ghana to import petroleum from Dangote Refinery – Official

The National Petroleum Authority of Ghana says it is proposing to import refined petroleum products from Dangote Refinery to boost its energy security and sustain business cooperation with neighbours.

Dangote Refinery
Dangote Refinery

Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Chief Executive Officer, NPAG, said this at the 2024 OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week on Tuesday, October 29, in Lagos.

Speaking as one of the panelists, Abdul-Hamidsaid that the move was aimed at strengthening Ghana’s energy security, and to deepen regional economic cooperation.

The 2024 OTL, 18th edition, has the theme “Alliances for Growth”.

According to Abdul-Hamid, Ghana is seeking an agreement with Dangote Refinery and reducing its reliance on more costly imports from Rotterdam.

He said that Ghana had also expanded its export agreements to include Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, supplying international operational facilities, including U.S. military bases.

“The Dangote Refinery, with its large-scale output, is expected to meet Nigeria’s domestic demand, enabling excess production to be exported to Ghana,” he said.

Abdul-Hamid highlighted Ghana’s pipeline agreement with Burkina Faso as a model of effective regional cooperation to bolster petroleum supply and security, while calling for stronger regional partnerships.

He stressed the importance of a unified currency, enhanced infrastructure, and collaborative efforts to address West Africa’s energy challenges.

The chief executive officer called for resource-sharing to drive economic stability, noting that no African nation could achieve sustainable growth in isolation.

“Pooling human and infrastructure resources across the region can significantly strengthen our economies,” he said.

He suggested that West African nations aligned regulatory policies within the ECOWAS framework to foster seamless trade.

Abdul-Hamid acknowledged that, while the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provided a platform for collaboration, foreign exchange (FX) issues hindered intra-regional trade.

“Heavy reliance on the U.S. dollar for petroleum imports places constant pressure on local currencies, raising prices and reducing purchasing power,” he explained.

He proposed a common West African currency to reduce FX volatility and stabilise regional economies.

On regional economic stability through shared infrastructure, Abdul-Hamid emphasised the need for unified investments in infrastructure to lower transportation costs and improve distribution within the region.

“Transporting petroleum by road is both costly and risky, with hazards such as banditry.

“A shared pipeline infrastructure is safer and more cost-effective,” he said.

Abdul-Hamid cited the Ghana-Burkina Faso pipeline agreement, designed to reduce dependence on tanker transport and ensure consistent supply.

He said that Ghana had introduced regulatory policies that allowed marketers to share storage facilities, promoting cooperation and economic stability.

“This reform supports alliances among importers, enhancing business success and broader economic stability.”

Ms. Oluwatosin Aina, Group Head, Energy, First Bank of Nigeria Ltd., also echoed Abdul-Hamid’s call for a unified African currency.

Aina noted that dollar-based transactions inflated operational and product costs across the continent.

She explained that petroleum transactions with Dangote Refinery and Ghana’s Sentuo Oil Refinery must be dollar-based, “as no African refinery will sell Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in local currencies.”

The group head said that the end of Nigeria’s fuel subsidy had created new investment opportunities in downstream and midstream sectors, making it easier for banks to fund petroleum imports.

She, however, noted that dollar-denominated transactions continued to strain the naira and other regional currencies, calling for strengthened non-oil exports to improve FX inflows.

Aina suggested a model based on the European Union’s common currency, the euro, to stabilise African markets.

“Francophone African countries benefit from stable exchange rates under their shared currency, making them less vulnerable to FX volatility.

“Anglophone nations could adopt a similar approach to strengthen trade and financial stability,” she said.

Abdul-Hamid and Aina stressed the urgent need for a unified infrastructure and currency reforms.

They said that by aligning fiscal policies, petroleum infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks, West African nations could address currency challenges and ensure affordable, stable petroleum pricing for citizens.

By Yunus Yusuf

30% of regions worldwide achieve economic growth while reducing carbon emissions – Study

Michael Simire
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30% of regions worldwide achieve economic growth while reducing carbon emissions – Study

More and more regions around the globe combine economic growth with reducing carbon emissions, researchers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research found. The new study highlights the vital role of national climate actions in decoupling economic growth from CO2 emissions.

Coal-Fired-Power-Plant
GHG emission: A coal-fired power plant

The analysis of data from 1,500 regions over the past 30 years showed that 30 percent have managed to lower their carbon emissions while continuing to thrive economically. While this accelerating trend marks significant progress towards achieving the Paris Climate Agreement, the authors caution that the current pace of decoupling is insufficient to meet the global climate target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“We found that 30 percent of the regions with available data have fully decoupled carbon emissions from economic growth. Regions with high incomes and a history of carbon-intensive industries, as well as those with significant shares of service and manufacturing sectors were particularly successful in reducing carbon emissions while still experiencing economic growth,” says Anders Levermann, co-author and Head of the research department “Complexity Science” at PIK.

“A stabilisation of the global mean temperature is only possible with net-zero carbon emissions. That means that if economies want to grow, they need to be decoupled from CO2-emissions,” adds Levermann.

The success of decoupling is also driven by subnational climate action: “Specifically, EU cities that have implemented climate mitigation plans and regions that have received increased financial support for climate actions tend to show higher rates of decoupling,” explains Maria Zioga, PIK scientist and lead author of the study.

“Notably, Europe consistently outperforms other parts of the world, with many of its regions showing a continuous decoupling trend over the past 20 years. In contrast, North America and Asia have seen more fluctuating decoupling patterns over the decades, but there’s been an improvement trend in the last decade,” she adds.

Less than half of the regions will be able to achieve net-zero by 2050

While previous studies on carbon decoupling have primarily concentrated on nations or individual cities, researchers at PIK have taken a more granular approach while retaining a global scope. They analysed the economic outputs of 1,500 subnational regions where the observed per capita gross regional product (GRP) was increasing, accounting for 85% of global emissions.

By combining these data with gridded information on production-based carbon emission intensities over the past 30 years, they uncovered significant global patterns of decoupling. A lack of global data on consumption-based emissions at the subnational level means that the study does not reflect the impact of international trade, but nevertheless provides key insights into decoupling patterns across the world.

The researchers also estimated the year in which net-zero emissions could be achieved for each region by looking at past decoupling trends and their impact on emissions. “Developed countries appear likely to fulfill these targets ahead of others, but overall recent trends appear inadequate for achieving the net-zero by mid-century in most regions,” concludes co-author Maximilian Kotz, PIK guest researcher and PIK scientist at the time the study was conducted.

“If current decoupling rates continue, less than half of subnational regions will be able to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Therefore, all levels of government need to step up and developed countries in particular should increase their efforts and investment in the energy transition in the developing world in order to meet net-zero targets globally,” he stresses.

New UNFCCC report shows NDCs fall short of expectations

Michael Simire
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New UNFCCC report shows NDCs fall short of expectations

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, comments against the backdrop of the release of the 2024 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Synthesis Report on Monday, October 28, 2024. The report assesses the combined impact of nations’ current national climate plans (NDCs) on expected global emissions in 2030, among other measures

Simon Stiell
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell. Photo credit: IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth

Today’s NDC Synthesis Report must be a turning point, ending the era of inadequacy and sparking a new age of acceleration, with much bolder new national climate plans from every country due next year.

The report’s findings are stark but not surprising – current national climate plans fall miles short of what’s needed to stop global heating from crippling every economy, and wrecking billions of lives and livelihoods across every country.

By contrast, much bolder new national climate plans can not only avert climate chaos – done well, but they can also be transformational for people and prosperity in every nation.

Bolder new climate plans are vital to drive stronger investment, economic growth and opportunity, more jobs, less pollution, better health and lower costs, more secure and affordable clean energy, among many others benefits.

As expected, with countries currently working to put together new NDCs due next year, this year’s report shows only fractional progress compared to what is expected – and urgently needed – next year.

Current plans combined – if fully implemented – would see emissions of 51.5 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2030 – a level only 2.6 per cent lower than in 2019.  Greenhouse gas pollution at these levels will guarantee a human and economic trainwreck for every country, without exception.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change notes that greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut 43% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. By 2035, net global greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut by 60% compared to 2019 levels. This is critical to limiting global heating to 1.5°C this century to avert the worst climate impacts. Every fraction of a degree matters, as climate disasters get rapidly worse.

The next round of national climate plans must deliver a dramatic step up in climate action and ambition.

While these plans are not one-size-fits-all, and are nationally determined, they all need to pass the ABC test:

They must have ambitious new emissions targets that are economy-wide, covering all greenhouse gases, keeping 1.5 degrees alive.

They must be broken down into sectors and gases.

And they must be credible, backed up by substantive regulations, laws, and funding to ensure goals are met and plans implemented.

New NDCs should also detail adaptation priorities and investments to protect critical sectors, infrastructure and people from climate impacts, and support and align with National Adaptation Plan processes.

They should have a time horizon to 2035, with much stronger 2030 targets to drive the deep emissions cuts needed globally this decade.

UN Climate Change – working closely with the wider UN system – is providing a range of practical support, particularly for vulnerable and developing countries, recognizing the severe capacity-constraints and other headwinds that many face.

As these new national climate plans will be among the most important policy documents so far this century, therefore UN Climate Change will deliver a series of events next year to support countries delivery of NDCs and engage the global public in the conversation about their delivery. Further details will be announced at COP29.

COP29 is a vital moment in the world’s climate fight, and today’s data is a blunt reminder of why COP29 must stand and deliver.

Governments must come to Baku ready to convert the pledges in the UAE Consensus at COP28 – tripling renewables, the global goal on adaptation, transitioning away from all fossil fuels – into real-world, real-economy results, protecting people and their livelihoods everywhere.

COP29 must be an enabling COP, delivering concrete and ambitious outcomes on climate finance that take account of developing country needs, recognizing that such support is core business to protect every nation and the global economy from rampaging climate impacts.

The last generation of NDCs set the signal for unstoppable change. New NDCs next year must outline a clear path to make it happen – by scaling up renewable energy, strengthening adaptation and accelerating the transition to low-carbon economies everywhere.

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