Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State said on Friday, December 22, 2017 that his administration would create a Ministry of Energy in 2018 to facilitate project execution in the energy sector in the state.
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State
Tambuwal dropped the hint while addressing newsmen at the Government House in Sokoto, the state capital.
He said that the ministry would help promote economic and commercial activities as well as create employment opportunities all over the state.
The governor added that N1.4 billion had been earmarked for the energy sector, including the take-off of the new ministry in the 2018 budget.
He said the ministry was expected to handle the completion of the 38 megawatts independent power project inherited from the previous administration, among others.
Tambuwal said government would also construct feeder roads across the state, including the 30-kilometre Kuruwa-Kaurare Road in Tureta Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
He listed other roads as the10-kilometre Goronyo-Birjingo Road in Goronyo LGA, 18-kilometre Toronkawa-Binjin-Muza-Kibiyare Road in Yabo LGA and 15-kilometre Kebbe-Girkau-Mazoji Road in Kebbe LGA, among others.
The Kaduna State Government has procured 500 refuse bins to improve waste disposal and management activities in the Kaduna metropolis.
Amina Sijuwade, Kaduna State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources
Mrs Amina Sijuwade, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, disclosed this at the launch of the distribution of N40 million refuse containers.
She said that the government acquired the waste bins, following complaints by residents regarding the limited number of bins in the city.
The commissioner, who was represented by Mr Shehu Raubilu, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, conveyed the state government’s determination to ensure a clean and healthy environment at all times.
Sijuwade said that the government decided to purchase the refuse bins so as to tackle the menace of improper waste disposal and reduce the residents’ burden in efforts to dispose of their waste.
She said that some of the refuse bins would be stationed in specially designated points across the city, while more bins would also be distributed to households and business premises.
“We have procured 100 galvanised 1100-litre bins and 400 plastic 240-litre bins; valued at N40 million,” she said.
The commissioner said that the state government had distributed the bins to the residents at no cost, urging the people to handle the bins with utmost care.
Sijuwade, who said that the recent plastics removal exercise was aimed at reducing the menace of plastics in the environment, commended the public for supporting the initiative.
In his remarks, Ahmed Salihu, Director of Environment in the ministry, urged the residents to adopt sound waste management practices.
“We want to partner with the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in our efforts to clean up the state.
“We will also patronise local manufacturers of waste bins to ensure that most areas are provided with adequate refuse bins,’’ he added.
Salihu called on the media to sensitise the residents to the need to dispose of their garbage properly for prompt and hitch-free evacuation.
The Chairman, Kulen Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (KACRAN), Mr Khalil Bello, has called for proactive measures to end incessant herdsmen and farmers crises in parts of the country.
Armed Fulani herdsmen
Bello made the appeal at the inauguration of the Borno chapter of the association on Friday, December 22, 2017 in Maiduguri, Borno State.
While calling for restoration of harmonious and peaceful co-existence, he said the association was formed primarily to check the clashes.
He said that the association would sensitise and mobilise its members to shun violence, embrace dialogue and co-exist peacefully among themselves as farmers.
Bello however pointed out that lack of cattle routes and grazing lands as well as the inability of the herdsmen’ associations to educate their members on peace building were responsible for the spate of farmers and herdsmen crises.
The chairman stressed that effective measures were necessary to change the trend and promote peace to accelerate livestock production in the country.
“Our mission is to promote peace and unity between herdsmen and farmers.
“We are concerned with the highly pitiable and unacceptable hostility existing between them and we are determined to change.
“Peace, tolerance, understanding, unity, patience and concern for others especially farmers are core values, which we cherish and intend to uphold in our association.
“We are asking for just and fair dealings between farmers and herdsmen,” he said.
Bello added that the association welcome pastoralists, livestock farmers and any other Nigerian wishing to join its membership to enhance peace building in the country.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on Thursday, December 22, 2017 advised Lagos residents to be cautious in all their dealings to avoid emergencies or disasters due to the change in weather patterns.
Adesina Tiamiyu, General Manager of LASEMA. Photo credit: PM News
Mr Adesina Tiamiyu, the General Manager of LASEMA, gave the advice in a statement signed by Mr Kehinde Adebayo, the Head of LASEMA Public Affairs Unit.
Tiamiyu said that between the end of November and middle of March every year, humidity usually dropped to as low as 15 per cent, with people experiencing cold, especially in the morning.
He added that visibility was also impaired during the period because of the early morning haze.
Tiamiyu advised motorists to be conscious of the foggy weather conditions, as well as the early morning and late evening mist, which were usually associated with the harmattan season.
He urged motorists to continuously embark on routine check of the wipers, brakes, windscreen and headlights of their vehicles before plying the road.
Speaking on the incessant fire outbreaks in the current dry season, the general manager stressed that it was needful for the residents to take necessary precautionary measures to avoid fire outbreaks and other emergencies.
“Measures to be taken include staying away from naked light such as the use of candles, switching off electrical appliances when not in use and desisting from storage of inflammable materials such as petroleum products.
“Others are eschewing bush burning and unnecessary use of fireworks which are highly explosive.
“These are precautionary steps to prevent disastrous consequences,” he said.
Tiamiyu assured the citizens that the government was alive to its responsibilities in ensuring the safety of the citizens’ lives and properties at all times.
He, however, warned the residents to be vigilant, particularly when they were in large gatherings such as religious programmes, carnivals, clubs, event centres and restaurants by monitoring all the activities around them.
“You should report suspicious and unusual activities to security agencies through the emergency numbers, 112/767, which are toll-free and open to all distress calls from any telecommunication network.
“The agency will continue its routine day and night patrols with the tow trucks around the Third Mainland Bridge to the Berger end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
“We will sustain our patrol of Western Avenue to Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and the heavy-duty trucks, Super Metro, would to be stationed at the Anthony area to cover the Ikorodu Road Axis and Lekki-Epe Expressway.
“Other areas of coverage include Ikeja, Mile 2, Badagry Expressway and other strategic locations across the state.
“The essence of the patrols is to tow off any broken-down vehicles, causing impediment on the road; as this could possibly result in unnecessary accidents, loss of man hours and traffic gridlock,” he said.
Tiamiyu commended Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for providing adequate resources for the agency and security organisations in the state so as to ensure adequate protection of lives and properties.
He said that the response time of LASEMA had improved considerably, with over 80,000 calls relayed to the Call Centre on a daily basis on crises, ranging from domestic violence, robbery, road accidents to fire outbreaks, with several link calls.
He said that the operational base of the agency was spreading to cover all the parts of the state for adequate and prompt response to any form of emergency.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Thursday, December 21, 2017 approved three bills on revised National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), Copy Rights and the Separation of Piracy and Maritime offences.
Environment Minister of State, Ibrahim Usman Jibril
These approvals are part of the outcome of the FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in the State House, Abuja.
Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibril, said the bill on the revised NBMA sought to safeguard the environment as well as protect lives and property of citizens.
According to the minister, the country will drive enormous benefits from the NBMA Bill.
“The Federal Ministry of Environment presented two memos to council. One was taken yesterday and one was taken today. The one taken today was a policy memo seeking council’s approval for the revision of the National Biosafety Management Agency.
“The National Biosafety Management Agency is an agency under the Ministry of Environment charged with the responsibility of monitoring and supervising the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the country.
“Most of the time, people tend to mix this agency up with another sister agency in the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. The one under Technology Ministry is charged with the responsibility of carrying out research and coming up with breakthroughs.
“The one under the Ministry of Environment is a regulatory agency charged with the responsibility of checking products with genetically modified organisms which will come into the country to ensure that they are safe for consumption,’’ he said.
The second one taken yesterday was about hydrocarbon remediation project in Rivers State where approval was given for engagement of consultants to supervise, monitor and evaluate a proper framework that is put in place to assist in supervising and actualising the clean up.
He also disclosed that the FEC approved that a project management consultant should be engaged for the Port Harcourt Hydrocarbon Remediation project in Rivers State.
According to him, the consultants are to supervise, monitor and evaluate a proper framework that is put in place to assist in supervising and actualising the clean up.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said the council approved the Copy Rights and the Separation of Piracy and Maritime offences Act.
He said: “Two memos were presented to the council this afternoon from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the first one relates to Copyright Bill which is intended to be transmitted from the executive to the National Assembly.
“It is a bill that relates to the creative industry. It is meant to ensure the protection of creative works against piracy and protection of intellectual property rights.’’
According to him, the FEC has instructed his office to send the bill to the National Assembly for passage into law and eventual assent by the president, if passed.
He disclosed that the council also approved a bill relating to the suppression of piracy and maritime offences.
The minister revealed that the intention of the bill was to accord protection to the maritime industry against piracy.
“The intention is to accord protection to the maritime industry against piracy and indeed come up with a comprehensive policy position incorporated into the bill.
“It is intended to ensure that at the end of the day, the international convention that has been ratified by Nigeria overtime in relation to maritime industry, is incorporated into the bill with a view to bringing it in line with international best practices and ensure the protection of maritime boundary.
“The same bill as processed by the Office of the Attorney-General has been approved by the council and the attorney-general has accordingly been instructed to send the bill to the National Assembly for passage and eventual assent by the president if passed by the National Assembly,’’ he further explained.
The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the council endorsed regulations meant to improve veterinary practice in the country.
“We presented a memorandum to the council relating to Veterinary Council of Nigeria which has been in existence since 1953 and under the provisions of the law setting it up, the council members are from time to time improving regulations on veterinary practice so that people who are not qualified as veterinary doctors do not operate in the country.
“The regulations had been submitted to the council and it approved them for the president to endorse so that those regulations can be put into practice for the protection of livestock.’’
The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has asked the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other financial institutions that currently pump huge resources into upstream oil and gas projects to stop the practice to compel countries to transit from fossil fuels to renewables.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, AfDB president
ERA/FoEN recommendation is coming on the heels of the World Bank announcement at the One Planet Summit that it will no longer finance such projects after 2019.
At the Summit convened in Paris by President Emmanuel Macron of France, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, the World Bank Group made the announcement as part of a number of new announcements.
It stated however that, in exceptional circumstances, consideration will be given to financing upstream gas in the poorest countries where there is a clear benefit in terms of energy access for the poor and the project fits within the countries’ Paris Agreement commitments.
In a statement issued in Lagos, ERA/FoEN said the announcement by the global body is a good step which further reinforces the group’s call for Nigeria and other countries that still rely on fossils to move to cleaner alternatives that are beneficial and easily manageable by local communities.
ERA/FoEN Executive Director, Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo, said: “In as much as we want to see the World Bank Group go beyond words and follow through with concrete actions, other financial institutions must divest from fossil fuel projects.”
Ojo noted that sustained funding from the financial institutions to projects in the upstream oil and gas sector have contributed largely in slowing progress towards the Paris Agreement and other initiatives that would make the world a cleaner and safer place to live in.
He explained that developing nations are worse hit by the Climate change phenomenon which has ruined livelihoods and compelled forced migration and its attendant fallouts in form of conflicts hence the need for radical actions that would reverse the trend.
The ERA/FoEN boss asserted that aside cutting emissions from source as demanded by the vulnerable and most impacted nations in Africa, the only other way to compel a transition to renewables is the defunding of projects that contribute to the problem.
“By this announcement of the World Bank Group, there is a glimmer of hope in the horizon. Unequivocally the AfDB and other institutions have been shown the way. We urge them to follow this step before it is too late,” he said.
The Health of Mother Health Foundation (HOMEF) and a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have condemned the granting of a permit to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and ETHZ Plant Biotechnology Lab in Zurich to carry out Confined Field Trials (CFT) of genetically modified (GM) cassava (AMY3 RNAi Transgenic lines) in Ibadan by the Nigerian Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA).
Cassava
The NBMA is said to have issued the permit despite HOMEF’s 37-page objection supported by 87 organisations, outlining why the staple crop should not be toyed with by modern agricultural biotechnology merchants. According to HOMEF and the coalition, the genetic engineering technique used by IITA and ETZ to product the cassava has never been approved anywhere else in the world, thereby making “Nigeria a testing field for risky, unregulated technologies”.
The groups disclosed in a statement made available to EnviroNews that the timeframe given by NBMA for comments was from July 27, 2017 to August 24, 2017, and that the approval for the GM cassava was given by NBMA to IITA and ETHZ on September 22, 2017, “less than a month after they advertised for comments”
The statement adds: “We sent our 37-page objection to NBMA on August 21, 2017. NBMA sent a letter via email acknowledging our objection on the 20th of September 2017.
“In their letter, they stated amongst other things that our objections had been noted and that they will review the application holistically. On September 22, 2017, NBMA granted the approval to IITA, a mere two days after they acknowledged our objection and stated that they will look into it.
“The issuance of the permit became public from the press statement issued by IITA titled: ‘IITA to carry out field trials of GM cassava’ on 19 December 2017. What a gimmick! Why did they not out rightly state in their letter to us that they had made up their minds already to give their approval instead of giving the false impression that they are considering our objection? What a charade!”
Nnimmo Bassey, Director of HOMEF, was quoted in the statement as saying: “Again, NBMA has demonstrated that they do not consider public opinion and objections. Their calls for comments are just window dressing and an insult to Nigerians. The approval granted IITA is the requiem for food safety in Nigeria. With NBMA’s propensity to approve whatever is thrown at them, and with its mercantilist bent of seeking approving fees and even having special fees for fast-tracking GMO approvals, Nigerians have to come to terms that we are being turned into guinea pigs without our consent. We roundly condemn the permit and denounce NBMA’s contempt to public opinion.
“The purpose for the GMO cassava experiment is shrouded in secrecy as the IITA and NBMA send conflicting signals as to whether the GMO cassava is being aimed for food or for industrial processes. It is regretted that NBMA cannot distinguish between being an agency that regulates biosafety and one that is set up to promote the technology.”
The group recalls that NBMA had approved Monsanto’s BT cotton that Burkina Faso had rejected in 2016 for failure to deliver good quality yield.
“The Agency saw nothing wrong with saddling Nigerians with the burden of a failed technology. NBMA also approved Monsanto’s Maize application, that is accompanied with a cocktail of chemicals, including glyphosate formulations which the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a sub unit of the World Health Organisation (WHO), said is likely to cause cancer. In California, it is mandated that glyphosate be clearly labelled as a cancer-causing agent. A new study, published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research, has found that (Glyphosate) Roundup caused disturbances in an important soil fungus (Aspergillus nidulans) at the cellular level at doses far below the recommended agricultural application rate. But NBMA sees nothing wrong with Glyphosate.”
Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje, Chair of the Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa (AFSA), said: “We are on the wrong train, with a wrong driver heading to a doubtful destination.”
The statement reads thus: “In our objection to the GM cassava application that was sent to NBMA, we noted that the applicants backed their application for a novel technology in 2017 with vastly outdated publications, including ones published in 1974, 1978 and 1984. We queried what environmental impact assessment including baseline surveys was done by IITA and ETZ to support their claims of absence of wild varieties as well on possible health impacts.”
Commenting on the level of scholarship backing the application, Bassey said, “It is alarming that IITA has not done any study on this sensitive subject but is content to present a writing based on obsolete books or rather relying on their partners in Switzerland for information and expertise.”
The groups added that the applicants are testing AMY3 RNAi lines RNAi, a technique that is novel – and although there is no experience with such GE plants in Nigeria as of yet, it is known that there are separate risk issues associated with this technology and only few RNAi based plants have been commercialised – typically in the US in commodity crops that serve primarily as animal feed.
The groups are urging the Nigerian government to investigate the process in which NBMA had been issuing permits including the ones issued to Monsanto, NABDA and now IITA/ETZ. They describe the claim by the applicants that no cassava plant from the experimental field trail will be consumed as “very deceptive”.
“It will be almost impossible to rule out surreptitious acquisition of the stem-cuttings and the likelihood of unlawful harvest by locals who had always accessed improved cassava varieties from IITA.
“The applicants claim that the CFT is ongoing scientific research and not for experimental release or of a commercial product. The possibility of contamination of cassava cultivar in Ibadan exists because of this CFT. All over Oyo State in Nigeria, cassava is an allogamous plant, which means there is 100% chance of out crossing. Insects pollinate cassava and this GM cassava will contaminate local farmers’ varieties or other varieties cultivated for other purposes in the locality.”
According to the groups, the stability of the traits involved as well as the potential for gene flow, and the risks posed by the GM cassava to farmers, consumers, economy, environment and lots more remain unknown.
“The capture and manipulation of our staple crops is taking a steep colonial track and the colonisation of our foods and culture spells a grave danger that government must be awake to. Platitudes from NBMA are worthless and must be treated with ample caution,” urged Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, Convener of Nigerians against GMOs.
He adds: “More so, there is serious lack of capacity within Nigeria to adequately control and monitor the human and environmental risks of GM crops. Further, there is little or no testing of any food material and products in Nigeria for GMOs, or the monitoring of their impact on the environment including water resources. GMOs are regulated because their safety is in doubt. Why NBMA will continue to issue permits without due consideration to the Nigerians, our environment and health is something our government need to look at critically.”
The Global Water Partnership of West Africa (GWP-WA) in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) organised in Bamako, Mali, the regional kick-off meeting of the “Programme on Advancing Dialogue and Investment for Food Security in Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus in West Africa”.
Participants during the official closing of the event
Among attendances to the meeting were the Executive Director of the Volta Basin Authority, representatives of other basin organisations, Niger Basin Authority (NBA) and Gambia River Authority (OMVG), regional organisations such as Water Resources Coordination Centre (ECOWAS/WRCC), CILSS, African Network of Farmers and producers (ROPPA), representatives of targeted counted of the pilot phase, Mali, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Benin, Country Water Partnerships, the Chair, members of the Technical Committee and the GWP-WA Executive Secretariat.
The meeting was co-sponsored by the Minister of Water and Energy and the Minister Commissioner for Food Security of Mali. At the opening ceremony, Mr. Malick AlHousseini, Minister of Water and Energy, said that “we salute and appreciate this initiative of the Global Water Partnership (GWP) with its partners, which is of great importance for our countries”. He concluded by urging GWP-WA and ECOWAS so “that the initiative be intensified and extended to all ECOWAS countries in order to remain in harmony with the framework for the implementation of the SDGs, which insists on the principle of “leaving no one behind “.
The Chairman of the GWP-AO, Professor Amadou Hama Maiga, recalled that “given the interaction between agents and factors of economic development, it is now agreed to adopt the Nexus approach in development processes, and as far as food security is concerned, it is the Nexus “Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem”.
The meeting, which took place over three days, allowed, among other things, the clarification of the Nexus concept and its link with IWRM, the declination of opportunities to ensure food and nutritional security in West Africa, the presentation and exchanges on the development process of the regional and country programmes. The regional partners ECOWAS/WRCC, NBA, VBA, OMVG, CILSS and ROPPA made presentations on the policies, strategies, plans, programmes and projects implemented or under development relating to the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem sectors in the region. These presentations highlighted the efforts that are being made to integrate the Nexus into the various national and sub-regional initiatives. Successful discussions allowed the partners to express their commitment to the initiative.
It is important to remember that West African countries are faced with ever-increasing demands for food, water and energy, a challenge compounded by climate change. To date, the sectoral approach has been at the centre of policies in the region and in countries that do not always take into account the interconnections and interdependence between the three sectors.
Ensuring the food and nutritional security of populations and their effective adaptation to climate change requires moving towards efficient and sustainable integrated use of land, water, energy and other vital resources; and better coordination of efforts to maximise synergies.
Therefore, the concept and approach of Water-Energy-Feeding-Ecosystem Nexus was adopted to promote efforts to better understand the interconnections between these sectors on the one hand, and the relationship between the Nexus concept and adaptation to climate change on the other. The Nexus approach recognises that energy security, food security, water security and ecosystems are inextricably linked and that actions in one sector are likely to have impacts in another sector or sectors.
The launch of the “Programme on Advancing Dialogue and Investment for Food Security in Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus in West Africa s Nexus in West Africa” will create the synergies needed to mobilise the various national, regional and international donors to invest in the various initiatives developed to ensure food and nutritional security in the countries of the sub-region.
The meeting made it possible to identify certain financing opportunities at different levels and to call on the actors to look for different financing initiatives, to get closer to the national authorities to explore the mechanisms available at the level of climate financing, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to negotiate the positioning of Nexus projects as priority projects. Participants were invited to share the main achievements of this workshop as soon as they returned to their respective countries.
The next steps in the implementation of the Programme, which has just been launched in Bamako, are the finalisation of project documents at regional and national levels in order to be able to agree on the timetable for taking funding decisions from a number of potential donors by June 2018. The development of a strategic framework and guidelines, in collaboration with ECOWAS, to promote the integration of the NEXUS approach to accelerate investments for food and nutrition security at all levels in West Africa will also be implemented in 2018. Emphasis will also be placed on building the capacity of stakeholders to support understanding and ownership of the application of tools and methods to consider the Nexus.
At the Closing Ceremony, the Minister Commissioner for Food Security of Mali, Mr. Oumar Ibrahima Toure, pledged to “carry the results of the Bamako meeting wherever necessary” to underline the importance he attaches to the launching of this initiative, which, he says, “will make a significant contribution to the fulfillment of our mandate to eradicate hunger, ensure food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”.
A coordinating forum of the world’s indigenous peoples has confirmed its involvement in the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) over the next five years with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the latest event in Bonn, Germany.
Joan Carling, Co-convener of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group for Sustainable Development, signs a Memorandum of Understanding with CIFOR Director General, Robert Nasi (in red). Photo credit: CIFOR/Pilar Valbuena Perez
“We highly appreciate this collaboration with CIFOR,” said Joan Carling, Co-convener of the IPMG, at the signing. “We look forward to further engagement, because we are also knowledge holders who can enrich the GLF. Collaboration is needed in order for us to advance in the interests that we share for sustainable landscapes.”
Carling signed the agreement alongside Robert Nasi, Director General of CIFOR.
“Involvement of indigenous peoples is crucial to the success of the Global Landscapes Forum, and the sustainable management of landscapes more generally,” Nasi said.
“Indigenous peoples are not only important rights-holders in their landscapes, but often keepers of crucial knowledge that can support sustainable management for environmental and human well-being. We welcome the IPMG’s commitment to bring indigenous voices to GLF activities going forward.”
A delegation of 18 indigenous leaders from around the world were nominated by IPMG to attend GLF Bonn, bringing their unique perspectives to discussions on action on climate change and sustainable development in the land sector. The IPMG is an international indigenous peoples forum for coordination and planning, with sustained engagement in the Post-2015 Development Agenda.
Recognising the importance of indigenous peoples and traditional knowledge to the sustainability of landscapes and action on climate change, the MoU with CIFOR sets out a common understanding of shared goals and cooperative action over the next half-decade.
Under the new agreement, IPMG will hold a permanent seat on the GLF Knowledge Committee, will regularly host discussions and exhibitions at GLF events, and will be involved in training courses, youth events and online forums, among other opportunities for participation.
The Global Landscape Forum is said to be the world’s largest multi-stakeholder platform of its kind that is designed to accelerate action and produce positive social change based on research, knowledge and data concerning forests and land use. It convenes partnerships of international organisations, civil society, scientific institutions, communities, women, and Indigenous groups, the media and the financial and corporate sector unified by the aim to create sustainable landscape solutions to achieve sustainable development and the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and the Aichi Targets.
CIFOR is a non-profit global organisation dedicated to advancing human-well-being, environmental conservation, and equity. It is also the secretariat and lead implementing organisation of the GLF.
The alleged delisting of Enugu, the capital of Enugu State, as one of the 100 resilient cities of the world by the Rockefeller Foundation has generated reactions from some officials of the Enugu State Government.
Enugu
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Foundation, in its second cohort of participating metropolitan members, admitted Enugu city in 2014.
The status placed Enugu city among the select few cities to benefit from a whole lot of resources – funding, best practices and investments – to assist in engineering urban resilience which focuses on infrastructural development, among others.
However, Enugu was allegedly removed from the list of 100 cities participating in the programme due to what the Foundation called “inaction’’.
In a reaction, the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Sam Ogbu-Nwobodo, told a news conference in Enugu on Wednesday, December 20, 2017 that the state government had no official information on why Enugu city was delisted.
Ogbu-Nwobodo, however, said that people should not believe what they read on the social media regarding the city’s delisting.
“I do not think Enugu has been deleted; if that happens, there should be a proper process.
“There was a process when Enugu was named as one the 100 resilient cities of the world, which we celebrated,” he said.
The commissioner said that the state government would be ready to contest the delisting of Enugu if at all it happened.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Works, Mr Greg Nnaji, said that, judging from the government’s efforts to clean and develop Enugu, the city had the capacity of being rated as resilient.
He stressed that the urban renewal initiative of the government had gone into full force.
He said that additional satellite towns of the city were being created, while roads were reconstructed and infrastructure upgraded to decongest the city centre.
“We can still come up again in the rating with efforts we are making now if, indeed, we are delisted.
“At the end of this construction season, we shall be second to none,” he said.
Nnaji said that the current administration was very proactive, adding that was why the government had set up a committee to clean up the state.
However, a NAN check reveals that the Lagos metropolis, which was admitted after Enugu, is the only city in Nigeria that is currently participating in the programme.
Other African cities in the programme include Accra in Ghana, Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Arusha in Tanzania, Cape Town in South Africa, Kigali in Rwanda, Nairobi in Kenya and Paynesville in Liberia.
