Welcome words by Nnimmo Bassey at HOMEF’s Food Festival held in Benin City on Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Food plays a critical role in the life of any community or nation. Food is at the centre of our cultures. Agricultural and food systems generate songs, dances, drama and other art forms that moderate the pulse of any community. Agricultural and food systems drive economies, identities and spirituality.
Nnimmo Bassey
Centre of origin of certain crop varieties simply highlight locations where Nature places those particular crops, for instance. Such crops are climate smart through years of adaptation to those locations. The foods they yield are prepared in particular ways based on the social realities and the preferences of the people. The mode of preparation and presentation are markets of cultural identities tied to the taste buds of the people.
There has been a distancing of our people from our cultural foods. We lost our taste buds to colonialism which promoted cash cropping and plantation agriculture rather than the mixed cropping that assured our forebears of nutritious mix of foods. Today we have a massive assault on African food by reckless introduction of genetically modified foods, some of which are best known as pesticides.
These crops do not only kill our soils and biodiversity, but they also directly assault our food systems and taste buds. That is why some agents of toxic foods can openly declare that “it is better to eat and die, than to not eat and die.” Such talks are declarations of intent to poison Nigerians without any compunction. As we always say, what we eat must not eat us!
Our food is Nigerian, is African, campaign aims to take us back to the place of recovering our taste buds. It is a call to celebrate our culture and to appreciate the bounties of Nature in our localities. Most communities are known for certain foods. Same with nations. Where the foods cross borders there can be fierce competition over who cooks it best, like the legendary competition between Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal over who cooks the best jollof rice.
When we speak of amala, a Nigerian can easily identify which is the region of origin. Same when ofe nsala is mentioned. The same happens when one speaks of tuwo, starch or afang or edikang ikong. When you speak of akara, suya or bole, you are speaking of foods and snacks that have literally diffused into all cultures in Nigeria.
The liberation of our taste buds from artificial and sometimes toxic foods is a push for recovery of our health and economies. African foods directly connect consumers to producers. We share seeds, have festivals linked to farming, fishing and hunting. Our foods are best enjoyed when shared. Food is at the centre of families and communities. A family that eats together lives happily together.
Take out foods and you’ve taken the best part of us.
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on the successful revitalisation of the Port Harcourt refinery, marked by the official commencement of petroleum product loading on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria
The disclosure was made by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, in a statement on Tuesday.
He disclosed that the President acknowledges the pivotal role of former President Muhammadu Buhari in initiating the comprehensive rehabilitation of all our refineries and expresses gratitude to the African Export-Import Bank for its confidence in financing this critical project.
Onanuga stated that President Tinubu commends the leadership of NNPC Limited’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mele Kyari, “whose unwavering dedication and commitment were instrumental in overcoming challenges to achieve this milestone”.
According to Onanuga, with the successful revival of the Port Harcourt refinery, President Tinubu urges NNPC Limited to expedite the scheduled reactivation of both the second Port Harcourt refinery and the Warri and Kaduna refineries.
These efforts, the President said, would significantly enhance domestic production capacity alongside the contributions of privately-owned refineries and “make our country a major energy hub, with the gas sector also enjoying unprecedented attention by the administration”.
The President underscores his administration’s determination to repair the nation’s refineries, aiming to eradicate the disheartening perception of Nigeria as a major crude oil producer that lacks the ability to refine its own resources for domestic consumption.
Highlighting the values of patience, integrity, and accountability in the rebuilding of the nation’s infrastructure, President Tinubu calls upon individuals, institutions, and citizens entrusted with responsibilities to maintain focus and uphold trust in their service to the nation.
In alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda focused on shared economic prosperity for all, the President reaffirms his administration’s commitment to achieving energy sufficiency, enhancing energy security, and boosting export capacity for Nigeria.
The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), said to be the largest global coalition at the intersection of food security and climate change, spearheaded by the United Arab Emirates and the United States, on Monday, November 18, 2024, announced nearly double the investments, partners, and Innovation Sprints in transformative climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation.
AIM for Climate COP29 event at U.S. Centre
The announcements were made at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan under the theme “In Solidarity for a Green World.”
AIM for Climate partners turn ambition into action, driving climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation to tackle the climate crisis, build resilience, and deliver co-benefits for people and the planet.
Building on a record year at COP28, investments have surged from $17 billion to an unprecedented $29.2 billion, over a 2020 baseline. The addition of 52 new Innovation Sprints, bringing the total to 129, further underscores AIM for Climate’s transformative impact. With AIM for Climate expanding from 600 to over 800 partners worldwide, the initiative reflects the urgency and strength of its mission.
The investment increase comprises $16.7 billion from 56 Government Partners including Nigeria and $12.5 billion from the accelerated investments of 129 Innovation Sprint Partners, driving change in climate-smart agriculture and food systems. The growing number of high-impact, private-sector, and public-private partnership-led projects deliver solutions to today’s climate and food challenges.
Aligned with COP 29’s priorities of climate finance, emission reduction, and developing adaptive solutions for climate-related loss and damage, these initiatives focus on one or more of AIM for Climate’s focal areas: Smallholder Farmers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries; Emerging Technologies; Agroecological Research; and Methane Reduction.
AIM for Climate’s impact in Nigeria is substantial, with increased investments being directed toward climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation through new Innovation Sprints active in the region. These investments demonstrate AIM for Climate’s commitment to supporting climate resilience and food security in Nigeria and beyond.
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly is set to conduct a fact-finding visit to Abuni and Uke districts in Awe and Karu Local Government Areas respectively after receiving a petition jointly signed by the Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) and the Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF) detailing the state of the mining communities in the two local governments.
Philip Jakpor (left) engaging Adamu Omadefu during the meetin
In the petition dated October 3, 2024, the groups are calling for a comprehensive environmental audit of Abuni and Uke districts and their source of water, revocation of the mining license of any company found wanting, and need for scrutiny of the agreements reached between the mining firms and traditional rulers in the communities, among others.
The plans to carry out the fact-finding visit was disclosed by the Chair of the Environment Committee, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Adamu Omadefu, in a meeting in Abuja on Sunday, November 24, with civil society and newsmen where he vowed that despoilers of the environment in the state would not go scot-free.
Omadefu revealed that the committee on the environment which he heads has written already to the State Ministry of Environment to furnish it with a comprehensive list of the mining firms operating in Nasarawa as the starting point of investigation.
While commending the lawmaker for taking the bull by the horn by his decision to lead the fact-finding visit, Executive Director of RDI, Philip Jakpor, said that the developments in the mining communities in Nasarawa State are frightening as the environment and water sources have been adversely affected by indiscriminate extraction.
Jakpor drew the attention of the lawmaker to Abuni where locals complained that the mining firm operating there channeled its wastewater into the Rafin Jaki River that the locals depend on for consumption and other domestic use.
He opined that the situation in the mining communities in Nasarawa is a ticking time bomb which will explode soon except something urgent and meaningful is done about the situation, going further to state that the oil curse in the Niger Delta is being replicated in sordid form through solid minerals extraction in the north.
EDEN Executive Director, Barrister Chima Williams, commended the lawmaker for his passion to nip the situation in the bud, maintaining that only someone who loves the people and believes in them can take up the challenge of addressing their concerns.
Williams reiterated that the civil society community in Nigeria is not against foreign or local investments that make life meaningful for host communities, even as he stressed that such investments must respect the rights of the people, respect their environment and respect the laws of the country.
Echoing similar sentiment, EDEN Deputy Executive Director, Comrade Alagoa Morris, said that the sad developments in the Niger Delta after oil started leaving behind a trail of death and destruction must not be allowed to happen in the solid minerals sector.
Beyond what can be seen physically, in the Niger Delta oil has affected the life expectancy of most individuals leaving them vulnerable to illnesses, Morris added.
The incessant oil spills in Ogboinbiri Community in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State has now become a monthly occurrence, with the most recent happening on Friday, November 15, 2024.
Oil spill at Ogboinbiri community in Bayelsa State
Since the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) divested its shares in the Joint Venture totally to Oando, the company’s Ogboinbiri/Tebidaba pipeline within Ogboinbiri community environment has experienced four spill incidents from four different spill points.
The first spill occurred on September 5, 2024, and two incidents happened in October 2024. Following the report from the community on November 20, the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) team in Yenagoa led by Nimiemi Morris and Alagoa Morris mobilised and visited the affected area on Thursday, November 21, 2024, and was led to the site of interest by community guides.
A native of Ogboinbiri community, Bosin Izonakpo, who spoke to the EDEN team, stated that the community has been living in devastation because of the rate of spills in the area. He revealed that the community suffered greatly during the October spill which occurred during the flooding season, spreading the crude all over the environment, destroying aquatic life and damaging their farmlands.
Izonakpo said: “We want to tell everybody, including the government, that the spill is massive. These spills that have taken place within this year have been really massive and devastating. If you can come to Ogboinbiri and see the environment, you will see the damage it has done to the environment, including the aquatic environment. When there is flood this entire (pipeline) environment is covered with water. So, it really affected the aquatic environment and also plants within the impacted areas. We used to have a lot of farms. But since this pipeline came and the spills continued, we have not been able to farm.
“Even if you farm, the yields are not encouraging, very poor harvest. When you come for fishing during the flood, the catch would be poor because crude oil has chased away the fishes from the environment. And this has affected the local economy and livelihood of the indigenes of the community. So, everything possible should be done to clean up the impacted environment and pay damages.’’
Another community member, Esinkumor Richard, who was also one of EDEN guides to the spill area, stated that the excavated area which is about 6 feet deep has been filled with crude oil, which has polluted the environment, making it unfit for life to exist there.
He lamented that the spills have affected the sources of livelihood of the Ogboinbiri people, throwing them into deep hardship, as lands have been lost and even animals are running away from the environment.
Richard said: “The whole environment has been polluted. Investigation showed that it is an equipment failure related incident. So, it means that Oando has work to do. They should come and cleanup, pay compensation and then they should try as much as possible to repair their pipelines and other facilities because it cannot continue like this. The people are suffering. The proceeds of the crude oil and gas are feeding the whole Nigeria and then a few individuals who are hosts to oil installations would be suffering all these negative effects. As it stands it has affected our means of livelihood due to the pollution.
“We are now hungry. Oando should rise up to their responsibilities and do the needful. Otherwise, when the people rise up in anger, they should not blame anybody. Nigeria is benefitting but indigenes of Ogboinbiri are suffering from the negative impacts of these incessant oil spills.”
According to the field report, which was signed by Nimiemi Morris and Alagoa Morris, the crude oil spill was caused by equipment failure, which makes three out of the four spills recorded in the area. It was also observed that none of the previous spills that impacted the environment have been cleaned up. Only recovery of spilt crude oil has been done.
Speaking on the issue, the Executive Director of EDEN, Chima Williams, called on Oando to take immediate and adequate steps to clean up the present spill site and all previously impacted environments, and to replace the aged oil-bearing pipes within the environment, to put an end to these monthly oil spills and further environmental degradation.
Williams also admonished government regulatory bodies at the Federal and State levels to do the needful by ensuring proper cleanup/remediation and replacement of aged pipelines. He charged the people of Ogboinbiri community to continue to remain vigilant in terms of monitoring their environment peacefully and legally demand for environmental justice from Oando and the Federal Government.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has said that its crude oil production figures tallied with that of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Company (NUPRC).
NNPC Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari
Mr. Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd. stated this in a statement on Monday, November 25, 2024.
Soneye gave the clarifications against the backdrop of reports insinuating that the 1.54 million barrels per day (mbpd) for September cited by NUPRC was far below the 1.8mbpd for November cited by NNPC Ltd.
He said the seeming disparity was as a result of the difference in the period of coverage in the reports, stressing that the NNPC Ltd.’s figure was the peak production for October 2024, whereas the NUPRC’s figure was the average production for September 2024.
The spokesman said that the fact was confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer of NUPRC, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, at the recent 42nd Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists Annual International Conference and Exhibition in Lagos.
He said that the NUPRC boss disclosed that Nigeria’s crude oil output, including condensate, increased by 16.56 per cent to 1.8mbpd million in October 2024, from 1.54 million bpd in September 2024.
The statement quoted Komolafe as saying that: “This represents an increase of 253,710, bpd to reach 1.8 million bpd in October, up from 1.54 million bpd in September 2024, representing 16.56 per cent month-on-month rise”.
He said the NUPRC also confirmed at the NAPE event that the 1.8mbpd feat pushed Nigeria’s production beyond the 1.5mbpd quota of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
“There is, therefore, no disparity or discrepancy in the production figures by NNPC Ltd. and the regulator. NNPC Ltd is working closely with relevant stakeholders to boost production to 2mbpd and above by the end of 2024.”
The University of Ibadan’s Heritage Park and Gardens, a symbol of the institution’s rich history and legacy, has been destroyed to make way for the Ivory Tower’s new Senate Building.
Felled trees at the Heritage Park and Gardens, UI
The “sacred space”, developed to commemorate UI’s 60th anniversary, held immense sentimental value and emotional significance to the higher institution.
Like thieves in the night, workers deployed by the university authorities stole into the luxuriant, green, tree-rich park before dawn and took a chainsaw to it. By the time the residents in the University Campus were waking up to a new day on Wednesday, November 21, 2024, the entire park had been destroyed. Over 100 trees were reportedly cut down.
Provision for a new Senate Building had already been made in the University of Ibadan Masterplan, in a totally different location.
But the university authorities, with Federal Government funding, had set their sights on the space occupied by Heritage Park, opposite Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Heritage Park was conceptualised, designed and implemented by Prof. Labode Popoola, during his tenure as Dean of the Post Graduate School in the University of Ibadan, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the University of Ibadan in 2008.
Heritage Park before the tree felling
Prof. Popoola, currently Executive Secretary/CEO of African Forest Forum in Nairobi, had appealed on several occasions earlier this year, when plans to destroy the park had become public knowledge to Federal Ministries, former Vice Chancellors, Pro Chancellors and several others with any pretension to authority within the university sector.
He said: “How do we follow through on conservation efforts when the highest institution of learning which should be a beacon of hope is doing otherwise? Heritage Park, University of Ibadan, is gone.
“Today will pass as one of the saddest days in my over 40 years sojourn at the University of Ibadan. I do not, however, blame the powers that be who did the unimaginable. I blame those who should have led the protest against this heist but chose to keep a deafening silence for reasons they will forever live to regret!”
Environmentalists have also frowned at the development, saying that demolition of the iconic landmark is an indictment of the university’s administration.
According to the conservationists, the university administrators’ collective failure to preserve and protect the cherished heritage site raises questions about their commitment to the university’s values and traditions.
Rosalie-Ann Modder Oyefeso of The Save Our Green Spaces Group said: “Enlightenment is not merely about titles, positions, or credentials; it’s about wisdom, foresight, and a deep understanding of the consequences of one’s actions. The destruction of the Heritage Park and Gardens is a stark reminder that true enlightenment is sorely lacking in the university’s leadership.
“One might make excuses for entrepreneur property developers or state governors or even delegates at COP29 pretending to commit to climate change mitigation, on the grounds that tertiary education, through no fault of their own, is not their strongest suit.
“Because if it was, they wouldn’t be neck deep in large scale deforestation all over the country.
“But what excuse can one make for Nigeria’s oldest University which even boasts a long-standing Department of Forestry?
“Today, the authorities of the University of Ibadan, securely backed by Federal might, have not only destroyed a thing of beauty and rich, environmental benefit.
“They have also destroyed the credibility of their academia as the most learned in the myriad ramifications of deforestation and climate change.
“Today, as Nigeria’s foremost Centre of Excellence, they have set an unfortunate precedent for the rest of the country.”
The NCQG unveiled at COP29, promises to raise $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 to support developing nations in combating the climate crisis. Within this broader target, developed nations committed to providing $300 billion annually through public finance triple the current $100 billion pledge. However, much of the remaining funds are expected to come from private investments and voluntary contributions.
Pay Up action at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan
On paper, this is a step forward, a glimmer of hope for nations vulnerable to climate change. But a closer look reveals deep cracks in the foundation of this agreement. For Africa, a continent facing existential climate threats, the NCQG feels less like a lifeline and more like an empty gesture.
Why NCQG Matters to Africa
The stakes could not be higher for Africa. Climate change is not a distant concern but a present and intensifying crisis. Families in the Sahel are grappling with droughts that leave their fields barren, while coastal communities in West Africa battle rising seas that swallow homes and livelihoods. Africa contributes less than 4% of global emissions, yet it suffers some of the worst consequences of the climate crisis. To address these challenges, Africa needs massive investments – not just to adapt to a warming planet but to transition to clean energy and build climate-resilient economies. Leaders across the continent have made it clear: Africa requires at least $1.3 trillion annually to meet these goals. Yet, the NCQG allocates just $300 billion in public finance, with no guarantees that these funds will be accessible or sufficient.
This makes COP29 for Africa another exercise in lofty rhetoric and empty promises, leaving vulnerable nations scrambling for scraps while developed countries once again evaded meaningful accountability. The much-touted New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance – a $300 billion annual pledge by 2035 – falls woefully short of the $1.3 trillion demanded by the Global South. Even worse, the paltry sum is padded with vague commitments from private investors, loans disguised as aid, and a weak “encouragement” for contributions from emerging economies like China. This is not solidarity; it’s a smokescreen.
Moreover, Africa is home to some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable populations. As the continent leaves Baku., the consensus is that it is leaving with little more than crumbs. The insistence on loans rather than grants perpetuates debt traps which shows the economic imperative of the deal. While the lack of tailored solutions for the continent underscores the disinterest of developed nations in addressing specific regional challenges. Promises of clean energy transitions and climate-resilient agriculture remain hollow without clear timelines, adequate funding, and genuine technology transfer.
Worse still, the NCQG’s reliance on private sector involvement sets a dangerous precedent. While private investments are framed as a solution, they open the door to exploitation under the guise of “climate action.” For African nations, this is not a partnership; it’s a transaction rigged against their interests. Again, accountability mechanisms are glaringly absent, allowing developed countries to celebrate their token gestures while sidestepping the real work of delivering funds on time and ensuring their effectiveness. The promise of transparent tracking systems remains an illusion, making it impossible to measure whether these commitments translate into tangible outcomes or remain stranded in boardroom discussions.
It is therefore an insurance deal without the premium.UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell called the NCQG “an insurance policy for humanity,” emphasising its potential to safeguard billions of lives. But for many African nations, it feels like an insurance deal with no premiums paid. The $300 billion commitment, while significant, is a fraction of what’s needed. Worse, much of it is expected to come as loans or investments, not grants, further deepening the debt burdens of nations already struggling under economic pressure.
Imagine being a farmer in Kenya, watching your crops fail year after year due to unpredictable rains. Or a mother in Mozambique, rebuilding your home for the third time after another devastating cyclone. These communities need immediate, reliable support – not vague promises of private sector investments or voluntary contributions that may never come.
Another Race to the Bottom
The NCQG reflects a worrying shift in responsibility. By relying on voluntary contributions from emerging economies like China and heavily emphasising private investments, developed nations sidestep their historic obligations. This approach waters down the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” enshrined in the Paris Agreement. For African nations, this is more than a political maneuver – it’s a betrayal. It shifts the financial burden onto those least equipped to bear it, creating a race to the bottom where nations must compete for limited resources. Without binding commitments and transparent mechanisms, Africa risks being left behind once again, its people bearing the brunt of promises unfulfilled.
Way Forward: Turning Promises into Action
To transform promises into action, developed nations must honour their commitments with binding timelines, ensuring the $300 billion pledge materialises as real, accessible funding. Crucially, grants not loans must form the foundation of this financial support to avoid exacerbating the debt burdens of vulnerable nations. Africa’s unique challenges demand tailored solutions, including concessional financing, technology transfer, and debt relief. Regional initiatives, such as clean energy projects in East Africa or climate-resilient agriculture in the Sahel, require targeted backing to address specific needs effectively. Equally important are robust accountability mechanisms.
Transparent tracking systems must be implemented to ensure timely delivery and efficient utilisation of funds. Without such transparency, the NCQG risks becoming another empty promise. African nations must also unite with other developing countries to build solidarity and push for meaningful financial commitments at COP30 in Brazil. This collective strength will be vital in resisting attempts to dilute the obligations of wealthier nations. Although private investments have a role to play, they must align with Africa’s priorities.
Clear regulatory frameworks are essential to prevent exploitation and ensure that these investments genuinely benefit local communities. By focusing on these key actions, the NCQG can move beyond rhetoric to deliver tangible support, helping Africa and other vulnerable regions combat the climate crisis with dignity and resilience.
A Call for Climate Justice
The NCQG was meant to be a beacon of hope, a symbol of global solidarity. But for Africa, it risks becoming a mirage hence an optical illusion of progress that fades upon closer inspection. The climate crisis is not waiting for boardroom negotiations or incremental changes. Every missed commitment, every diluted promise, comes at a cost measured in lives, livelihoods, and lost futures. For Africa, COP29 was a bitter reminder that the global climate process remains skewed in favor of the wealthy. This was not a breakthrough; it was a betrayal. The road to COP30 in Brazil must be paved with real, enforceable commitments not the tired spectacle of broken promises and diluted ambition.
Africa deserves more than hollow pledges; it deserves justice. As the world looks to COP30, the voices of those on the frontlines must not be ignored. If the global community truly believes in an equitable future, it’s time to turn words into action, promises into progress, and goals into tangible change. Only then will the NCQG be more than an illusion – it will be a lifeline for a continent and a world in crisis.
Nairobi-based Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), in an assessment of the outcome of the COP29 climate change summit that ended on Sunday, November 24, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan, laments that $300 billion falls far short of the $1.3 trillion the African and developing countries were pushing for
Dr Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA)
As we absorb the outcome of the all-stakes COP29, dubbed the “finance COP”, it is reverberating across mountains, valleys, oceans, rivers, and all over the world that, once again, rich countries have their way – delaying action, and escaping their duty to pay what is due to the victims of their actions.
The $300 billion Goal falls far short of the $1.3 trillion the African and developing countries were pushing for to address the gap in adaptation needs and climate funding for vulnerable people.
Woefully, the money will come in many forms and sources, defeating the spirit of the principles of the Climate Change Convention and the Paris Agreement that calls for the provision of public finance by developed countries. Clearly, developing countries are poised to sink deeper into debt as climate becomes a new source of debt as they grapple with rising development demands. Moreso, the deal does not inspire hope for less developed countries who have suffered unjustly low access to climate finance due to their constrained fiscal space.
And the problems for Africa do not end in the size of commitment. Article 6 has been messed up to centre the carbon market in the mobilisation of climate finance. This is a bold departure from the Paris Agreement, centring carbon market in climate finance as opposed to their contribution to reducing emissions, a role this market has played with dismal performance with peaking emissions and violations of human rights.
No free lunch was what then Africa was pushed to, technically being pushed to clean the pollution mess of developed countries to access the much-desired climate finance. A COP where justice, equity, reparations, and responding to the needs of climate-vulnerable people ruled the airwaves, this was a stab at the back. Unfortunately, the decision on the carbon market was lauded in the COP29 Presidency closing speech as a breakthrough – a height of hypocrisy.
For PACJA, Baku remains one of the worst deals in the history of COPs. In the coming days we will be making an extensive analysis on Baku, and provide the way forward to our members, partners and other stakeholders.
The Nigerian government has launched Abating Greenhouse Gas Emission from Obsolete Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (AGORA) Equipment project to create a future where energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling and refrigeration technologies become a standard.
L-R: The Finance and Market Monitoring Expert, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Victor Minguez; National Project Coordinator, UNEP, Etiosa Uyigue; Acting director, Energy Transition Unit, Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Shehu Mustafa; National Ozone Officer, National Ozone Office, Engr. Idris Abdullahi; Regional policy and technical specialist, Regional Service Centre for Africa, United National Development Programme (UNDP), Joel Ayim Darkwah; Climate change programme analyst, UNDP, Udumma Nwokike; Energy expert, United for Efficency, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Miquel Pitarch Mocholi; and Programme Manager, UNEP, Mzwandile Thwala, during the AGORA Project stakeholders’ inception workshop in Abuja
During a stakeholders’ workshop organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment through the National Ozone Office, in collaboration with the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United for Efficiency (UNEP-U4E), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), titled “Abating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Obsolete RAC Equipment in Ghana and Nigeria (AGORA)”, participants stressed that the project would tackle climate change issues.
The National Ozone Officer, Mr. Idris Abdullahi, from the Federal Ministry of Environment, revealed that the AGORA Project is an avenue to advance and promote energy efficient and low GWP technologies by strengthening policies of the transition leading to reduction of GHG emissions.
He added that the project would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the refrigeration and air conditioning sector, as well as tackle climate change related issues.
According to Abdullahi, the objectives of the AGORA project is to obsolete Rac equipment. The project is at its initiative stage and will last up to three years.
“The AGORA project that we are launching today presents another opportunity for us to further advance our efforts towards the promotion of Energy Efficient and Low GWP technologies in the RAC sector by Establishing and strengthening policies, regulations and partnerships to ensure the success of the transition to Energy Efficient and Low GWP RAC equipment thereby leading to the reduction of GHG emissions at the equipment’s end of life and transforming the RAC market through ambitious replacement programmes for old and in-efficient equipment using high GWP refrigerants, initiating market transformation in the air-conditioning sector in Africa, and also supporting South-South cooperation between Nigeria and Ghana, since the project will be implemented in both countries,” he said.
Abdullahi recalled that Nigeria is a party to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer and has ratified all its Amendments, the recent being the Kigali Amendment on phase down of Hydrofluorocarbons, which are greenhouse gases used mainly as cooling agents in the Refrigeration & AC sector. Over the past three decades, Nigeria has been implementing the Protocol’s Ozone Depleting Substances Phase out Programme in the relevant sectors, such as the Refrigeration, Air Conditioning, Foam, among others.
Similarly, Dr. Shehu Mustapha of the Energy Commission of Nigeria highlighted that AGORA Project focuses on accelerating the transition to energy efficient and climate friendly refrigerator and air conditioner RAC in Nigeria and Ghana.
Speaking further, he stressed that the commission is aimed at enhancing energy efficiency and promoting climate-friendly cooling solutions, thereby contributing significantly to Nigeria’s climate goals and sustainable energy access.
“The project will help to sharpen the future of air conditioning and refrigerating standards in Nigeria, driving advancements in energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable economic growth,” he said.
The project manager from UNEP-U4E, Mr. Mzwandile Thwala, in his remarks emphasised that AGORA Project is advancing efforts to integrate energy-efficient and sustainable cooling solutions into Nigeria’s climate goals.
He added that project is a tool in addressing climate challenges as well as driving economic growth and enhancing the well-being of communities, also to promote the use of low-GWP refrigerants and energy-efficient ACs in residential and commercial sectors to reduce energy demand and emissions.
Furthermore, Thwala outlined that UNEP-U4E’s Integrated Policy Approach advocates for an integrated policy approach that facilitates the transition to sustainable cooling solutions. This approach encompasses five key components:
Standards and Regulations which set clear energy efficiency requirements and ensure that products entering the market are fit for purpose.
Supporting Policies which ensure that requirements are consistently conveyed to consumers, such as helping buyers understand their energy performance and other attributes, empowering them to make informed decisions.
Finance and Financial Delivery Mechanisms which help offset the higher purchase price of energy-efficient products, making them more accessible to consumers and businesses alike. AGORA is one of such mechanisms.
Monitoring, Verification, and Enforcement which involves overseeing the products sold in the market, verifying compliance with standards, and enforcing these requirements to ensure that consumers and businesses benefit from the market transformation.
Environmental Sound Management and Health, such as end-of-life management of RAC equipment and refrigerants, a component which the AGORA project is trying to address.
“The AGORA Project embodies this collective commitment. It provides a platform to accelerate the replacement of obsolete RAC equipment with energy-efficient and climate-friendly alternatives. The project also facilitates innovative financing mechanisms and strengthens the end-of-life management of equipment and refrigerants, setting a new benchmark for circular economy practices in the RAC sector,” he said.
Thwala reaffirmed UNEP-U4E commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient and climate-friendly technologies, particularly in the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) sector.
Additionally, the regional policy and technical specialist regional service centre for Africa of UNDP, Mr. Joel Darkwah, disclosed that AGORA Project would support sustainable cooling solutions as well as ensuring a more circular economy in Nigeria.
He revealed that Nigeria has been one of the leading actors on the Montreal Protocol globally and in Africa and has been recognised as such for decades. It has been one of the most proactive Parties and also a leading member of the Africa group within the institutions.
“This leadership is essential as Nigeria has significant needs in terms of sustainable cooling in view of its diverse economy and population. This can only grow over time, as the needs in residential cooling, but also for cold chain, for example, keep growing. The challenge therefore is how to make this growth sustainable, by selecting the most efficient and environmentally friendly cooling solutions,” Darkwah stressed.
He assured that the equipment replaced is handled properly through proper sound disposal.
Darkwah charged the media to increase public awareness on this process for the uptake of sustainable cooling options at the household level.
