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British anthropologist advises against ranching in Nigeria

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British anthropologist advises against ranching in Nigeria

Ranching cannot end challenges of pastoral migration in Nigeria because it was not successful in the past, an anthropologist, Mr. Roger Blench, has said.

Cattle ranching
Cattle ranching

Blench, a Briton, made the assertion on Thursday, November 8, 2018 in Abuja at the public presentation of a Brochure entitled: “Towards a Peaceful Co-existence between Herders and Farmers in Nigeria.’’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the brochure is a publication of Misereor, Dialogue and Partnership Service (DPS) and Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN).

The anthropologist, represented by the Project Consultant and Advisor, Misereor and DSP, Mr Olaniyan Cosmas, said that suggestions that ranching was solution to lingering violence between herders and farmers in Nigeria was misconceived.

“Ranches were first established in Nigeria in the 1920s, mainly with the objective of fattening cattle for the market.

“Ranches continued to be established into the 1960s, often with external aid, and they have all fallen into disuse for lack of effective management,” he explained.

According to him, ranches required undisputed land tenure, reliable infrastructure and utilities, and predictable input costs, none of which was present in Nigeria.

Blench, however, said that ranches would compete in a market where traditional suppliers of livestock products within Nigeria and from neighbouring countries had access to free pasture.

On agriculture, he said that land in Nigeria had historically not been fenced because it was abundant.

He said that farms moved frequently under slash and burn systems, and that disease kept pastoralist cattle out of most regions of the country, thereby reducing the problem of livestock incursions.

Blench, however, stated that unprecedented increase in human population in the 20th century has led to increasingly codified systems of land ownership and the movement of cattle into new ecological zones.

He said that such situation often led to conflict between farmers and pastoralists.

“The brochure considers technical options for enclosing land, including the comparison between industrial fencing and live fencing.

“Nigeria has changed and agricultural systems that were appropriate in pre-colonial times are no longer realistic,” Blench said.

According to him, there was lack of consistency between federal and state governments’ policies towards pastoralists as well as a lack of awareness of the effectiveness or otherwise of earlier policies.

“Uncontrolled and exaggerated media reporting and social media blogging promoted inter-group hatred and collapse of nomadic education system intended to provide schooling for pastoral people.

“Consolidation of many pastoralists into small areas in the Middle Belt, leading to entrenched positions, greater suspicion and ecological damage, were all issues needed to be addressed for peaceful coexistence between herders and farmers,” he said.

In his address, CSN Secretary General, Rev. Fr Ralph Madu, said that to stop the bloodshed, Federal Government should improve security, end impunity by assailants and hasten livestock sector reform.

Madu said that the government should better protect herders and farmers, prosecute attackers and carry out its National Livestock Transformation Plan.

He also recommended that state governments should roll out open grazing bans in phases.

The cleric appealed to community leaders to curb inflammatory statements and encourage compromise, while international partners should advocate for accountability and support livestock sector reform.

By Abujah Rachael

Concern as Iran charges IUCN conservationists with crimes punishable by death

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Concern as Iran charges IUCN conservationists with crimes punishable by death

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has said that it is deeply disturbed as five IUCN member conservationists, including members of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC), are charged with crimes punishable by death in Iran.

IUCN’s Director General Inger Andersen
IUCN’s Director General Inger Andersen. Photo credit: pinterest.com

The five conservationists have been charged with “corruption on earth”, the highest penalty for which is execution, according to media reports.

“IUCN is deeply alarmed by the charges against these dedicated women and men committed to protecting Iran’s rich natural environment and unique species,” said IUCN Director General Inger Andersen. “Their work is of crucial importance to their country and its people, particularly at a time of severe environmental challenges in Iran. IUCN and its Commissions stand in solidarity with them.”

The five environmentalists from IUCN Member organisation Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation (PWHF) are Niloufar Bayani, Taher Ghadirian, Sepideh Kashani, Houman Jowkar and Morad Tahbaz. Taher Ghadirian and Houman Jowkar are members of the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group; Taher Ghadirian is also a member of the IUCN SSC Bear Specialist Group. They undertake vital conservation work including efforts to conserve the Critically Endangered Asiatic cheetah.

“Monitoring and researching species that live in remote landscapes, such as the Asiatic Cheetah, is a challenging task,” said Jon Paul Rodriguez, IUCN Species Survival Commission Chair. “As their numbers have dwindled, Asiatic cheetahs have become elusive, making it difficult for researchers to observe them directly. Novel techniques such as camera traps have proven indispensable in helping researchers gain valuable insights into the status and biology of threatened species worldwide.”

The five conservationists had been detained by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in January along with four others and charged with espionage. Human rights campaigners and Iran’s government have said the charges against them are unfounded, according to media reports.

IUCN’s Director General raised the matter as soon as the colleagues were arrested and met with the Iranian authorities asking for transparency and justice. She recalled IUCN resolution 2.37 adopted at the 2000 IUCN World Conservation Congress, ‘Support for Environmental Defenders’, which calls for the Director General to speak out publically and forcefully to discourage harassment or persecution of environmental advocates.

The four others detained in January are Amir Hossein Khaleqi, member of the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group, of the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication and of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, Sam Rajabi, AbdolReza Koupayeh, and Kavous Seyed-Emami.  Kavous Seyed-Emami died in prison for unknown reasons following his detention. IUCN has called for an independent inquiry into his death.

Iran is said to be facing environmental challenges including drought, water scarcity and dust storms, which have led to nationwide protests this year.

Hydropower dam construction in developing world unsustainable, says report

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Hydropower dam construction in developing world unsustainable, says report

A new research has found that large-scale hydropower dams are unsustainable in the developing world.

Hydropower dam
Hydropower dam

Hydropower is an important source of energy and makes up more than 70 per cent of all renewable energy globally as of 2016.

However, new research, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, has found that large-scale hydropower dam projects have had an adverse effect on the environment.

In the 1970s, the construction of dams began in developing countries, notably along the Mekong River Basin and the Congo River Basin.

The construction of these large-scale hydropower dams has reportedly contributed to the destruction of the environment, disrupting river ecology, deforestation, losing aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity and releasing substantial greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

The dams, according to the report, have also had a negative effect on livelihoods, as the construction has displaced thousands of people and affected food systems, water quality and agriculture in the surrounding areas.

The report looks at the reliability of hydropower under projected climate change and whether it is worth the environmental side effects.

The report notes that hydropower needs to be transformed for it to be a truly sustainable source of energy. It suggests that hydropower designs need to truly allow fish passage and mimic the seasonal river flows. They also note the importance of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) in being able to stop a dam being built.

This follows the WWF releasing its 2018 Living Planet Report, which stated that freshwater species are under threat from pollution and dam development.

Read the full report here.

Courtesy: Climate Action

Advocacy coalition urges AfDB to commit to 100% renewable future

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Advocacy coalition urges AfDB to commit to 100% renewable future

In a bid to have Africa commit to 100% renewable energy and to increase transparency in the continent’s energy sector, Zero – a coalition campaign between climate change volunteers and Non-Profit Organisations (NGOs) around the continent – was launched on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa at the Sandton Convention Centre on the side-lines of the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Africa Investment Forum.

AfDB Africa Investment Forum
A session at the AfDB Africa Investment Forum

The African Climate Change Reality Project (ACRP) – the African branch of Nobel Laureate and former US Vice President Al Gore’s The Climate Reality Project – is leading the campaign. The campaign is driven by Africans for Africans to build a movement towards clean energy from the grassroots up.

“Our ultimate goal is for a low carbon sustainable future for all Africans and the shift from fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas to renewable energy is vital as the latter is less costly and will create more jobs, build sustainable infrastructure, and does not contribute to pollution or harmful emissions which cause irreversible damage to our climate.

“We believe the AfDB is moving in the right direction in terms of clean energy finance for the future of Africans, but they continue to invest in new fossil fuel development in Africa and are not as transparent as they should be,” says Nicole Rodel, African Climate Reality Project’s Communications Coordinator.

In 2017 the AfDB’s energy investments portfolio consisted of 100% renewable energy, amounting to 1.4 GW of clean electricity, indicating the bank may be leading Africa towards the energy of the future. The AfDB has approved power generation projects with 1,400 megawatts cumulative specifically from renewables in 2017.  Both show its commitment towards achieving the Paris Agreement’s target of keeping the global temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

“We have been tracking the Bank’s progress towards transparency and easy access to information and have noticed that the AfDB is ranked fourth in the 2018 Aid Transparency Index. However, we feel that in an industry where standards are low this could be improved,” says Ahmed Mokgopo, 350Africa.org campaigner.

The Zero coalition calls on the bank for increased transparency concerning the disclosure of possible and impending investments. The improvement in transparency gives public citizens a chance to voice their opinions on investments that threaten their well-being and quality of life and allows the AfDB to explore alternative options to development.  Furthermore, the campaign calls on the bank to disclose and share the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data for the projects and portfolios it supports.

This, it was gathered, will send a message to potential investors and policymakers of the importance of decoupling Africa’s growth and development from GHG emissions.

All African countries have endorsed the Paris Climate Agreement and the goal to limit global temperature increase to 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels. In accordance with international reports, most notable the recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), African countries are among the most vulnerable countries to climate change.

The IPCC report also warns of the devastating impacts of warming beyond 1.5ºC.  As temperatures continue rising, Africans will experience catastrophic impacts related to climate change, according to the report.

“The costs of this damage, including increased civil unrest, migration and destruction of infrastructure, will require significant funding to ensure the wellbeing of African lives – and it becomes the responsibility of the region’s governments and public institutions, like the AfDB, to lead the world by example towards demonstrable and marked reduction in emissions,” says Rodel.

While the AfDB claims to support the shift to renewable energy, it is unfortunate that the Bank’s energy portfolio still consists of more than 45% of fossil fuels investments from coal, oil and gas. This stands in contrast to the 100% renewable energy vision of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, of which many African countries are a member.

“We are sure that AfDB can offer more support for this important endeavour which will lead to rapid advancement and support energy players on the African continent to shift to renewable energy projects. The transformation will inevitably begin by using a robust methodology to comprehensively measure and report emissions from its portfolio, including emissions from non-energy sectors and financial intermediaries,” concludes Michael David Terungwa, Climate Reality Leader and founder of Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP).

“Renewable energy solutions will not only not help Africa achieve universal access to modern energy, but they also represent the viable alternative to meet African countries’ nationally determined contributions which pursue low-carbon development pathways. A rapid and sustained shift to 100% renewable energy investment will prevent the continent continue experiencing extreme weather events and other devastating impacts related to climate change. We, therefore, urge the AfDB to immediately freeze all fossil fuels investments on as most of the financial institutions have committed to do,” adds Landry Ninteretse, 350Africa.org.

Nadine Bugaighis, Africa Green Concern Group, notes: “Climate Change is an increasingly urgent problem that we must react to now.  The Zero campaign is giving us a chance to call on big African public organizations like African Development Bank to take the lead in eliminating fossil fuel projects that are destroying the future of Africa. The Bank also needs to be more transparent concerning potential fossil fuel projects to give the communities a chance to voice their opinions on such investments that can harm their wellbeing.”

Ivy Chipasha, AFRICA Renewable Energy Alliance: “Now is the time to set the course towards a substantial uptake of renewable energy for all people in urban and rural Africa to improve their livelihoods and to protect the environment.”

WHO immunises 79,000 children against polio in FCT

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WHO immunises 79,000 children against polio in FCT

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it immunised about 79, 000 children of below five years against polio during the just concluded polio immunisation in Kuje Area Council, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Polio immunisation
Polio immunisation. Photo credit: Ruth McDowall for Rotary International

Mr Shola Ayeniyi, the WHO Local Government Facilitator, made the disclosure during a general review meeting at the end of the polio immunisation at the Primary Health Care Centre in Kuje on Wednesday, November 7, 2018.

He stated that the polio immunisation, titled “End Polio Now”, commenced on Nov. 3 and ended on Nov. 6.

Ayeniyi explained that the exercise was aimed at ensuring children were vaccinated for eradication of the virus to ensure their healthy growth.

The facilitator said the exercise, with the help of massive awareness creation through media sensitisation in the area, yielded 95 per cent coverage.

He, however, noted that there were pockets of non-compliance and rejection in some communities, stressing that this was quickly addressed with proper sensitisation by the district heads.

Ayeniyi also called on the council administration to fix dilapidated roads in some communities to help facilitate coverage in subsequent exercise in the area.

Environment-friendly hybrid seeds will boost food security, says biotechnologist

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Environment-friendly hybrid seeds will boost food security, says biotechnologist

A biotechnology expert, Mrs Eniyekpemi Ebimoboere, has said that development of environment-friendly hybrid seeds will boost production of local vegetables and food security in the country.

Hybrid seeds
Hybrid seeds

Ebimoboere, the CEO of Afritropic Farming and Agric Services, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 in Lagos.

She said the availability and development of the hybrid seeds would help tackle malnutrition and health challenges among Nigerians.

“The development of hybrid seeds plays a major role in boosting food security in the country.

“Hybrid seeds also help in the fight against malnutrition because it is very important to have vegetables to support our highly carbohydrate-based diet.

“This is possible when individuals purchase these hybrid seeds and cultivate these vegetables around their homes.

“With this hybrid seed technology Nigerians can eat healthy with the availability and accessibility of highly nutritious vegetables. We can tackle food insecurity across the country,” she said.

She harped on the necessity of developing the seeds and how compliant they were to the soil in any environmental location.

“Most conventional vegetable crops like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and onions may not thrive in the South-West or South-South as much as they will in the northern region of the country.

“That is why we have worked on these hybrid vegetal seeds to improve seeds so that they can stand the environmental and climate conditions in all parts of the country.

“They are hybrid seeds and not Genetically Modified seeds (GMOs), they are conventionally processed. These seeds are bred to suit the environment,’’ she said.

She added that they had low health risks, more qualitative, affordable and nutritious among other advantages.

“We develop these hybrid seeds to ensure the presence of nutritious vegetable in local meals across the country.

“We like seeing quality produce and that is why we organise trainings and seminars on the benefits of these hybrid seeds.

“Hybrid seeds have varieties and the number one benefit is that their yield is far higher than what the conventional seeds would produce.

“Hybrid seeds also have shorter duration in crop production than regular seeds.

“For example, our hybrid cucumber seedlings when planted can be harvested within forty-five days, it is healthy, and the yields are high in quality,” she said.

By Mercy Omoike

Tremor: Reps seek compliance with global standard on mining, drilling

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Tremor: Reps seek compliance with global standard on mining, drilling

The House of Representatives on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 mandated its Committee on Environment to interface with relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to ascertain the level of monitoring and compliance with world global standards in blasting, mining and borehole drilling.

House of Representatives
House of Representatives

This was sequel to a motion under matters of urgent national importance by Rep. Johnson Oghuma (APC-Edo), at plenary on the “urgent need to forestall impending earthquakes in Nigeria.”

Moving the motion, Oghuma expressed concern over the recent cases of earth tremor experienced in September and October in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) around Mpape and Maitama areas, raising fears of imminent earthquake.

According to him, earth tremor is a form of seismic movement within the earth which occurs at a small scale but can lead to earthquakes if preventive measures are not taken to reduce the stress.

“The reports by Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) indicates that the incidence was likely caused by stress in underground rocks resulting from human activities which include blasting and mining of rocks.

“The National Space Research and Development Agency had reported that communities in four states and Abuja might witness earthquakes if necessary, preventive and monitoring devises are not employed immediately,” he said.

The lawmaker emphasised that it was necessary that preventive measures were taken to stop the catastrophe from happening.

Contributing to the motion, Rep. Johnson Agbonayinma (APC-Edo), said the issue of the tremor was important and should be taken seriously.

“What is happening these days is worrisome. Nobody knows which neighborhood will be next. Presently, we have nothing on ground on how to prevent, monitor or manage such occurrence.

“In developed countries like America, they plan for the future, they plan ahead for such occurrences but in Nigeria, we don’t plan. Once we fail to plan, we automatically plan to fail.

“The issue of boreholes is taking center stage in this matter. The drilling of boreholes must be regulated.

“I am appealing to government to rise up to the occasion and begin to do the needful,” he said.

Also, in his contribution, Rep. Abiante Awaji-Inombek (PDP-Rivers), said that for tremor to happen in Abuja, it showed that something was happening to the management of our environment.

“The suspicion that the tremors might be as a result of mining activities should not be over looked. There must be a holistic approach to this issue.

“We simply have to rise to the challenge before us. We should not restrict our attention to Abuja only, we should look at potential hotspots,” he said.

The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara.

The House further mandated the Committee on Environment to report its findings within six weeks for further legislative action.

By Abiemwense Moru

Group commences 30-yr management agreement of Gashaka Gumti Park

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Group commences 30-yr management agreement of Gashaka Gumti Park

In an apparent bid to boost conservation efforts in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Environment in Abuja on Monday, November 5, 2018 inaugurated a Local Organising Committee (LOC) to steer the implementation of a private-public partnership between the National Park Service and Africa Nature Investors Foundation (ANIF) in the management of the Gashaka Gumti National Park.

Gashaka Gumti National Park
Environment Minister of State, Ibrahim Usman Jibril (fourth from left), with members of the Local Organising Committee of the Gashaka Gumti National Park after the committee’s inauguration

Inaugurating the committee, Environment Minister of State, Ibrahim Usman Jibril, expressed optimism towards the activities of ANIF in boosting ecotourism and providing technical, financial and human resource support within the National Park.

He said: “Our seven National Parks are all in a critical state. Before now, we had eight National Parks; none of them is in the best of state and there is little we can do, especially with limited funding. Understanding that we must be conscious and intentional about our strategy, we are delighted to welcome Africa Nature Investors Foundation to intervene in the conservation efforts of Gashaka Gumti National Park.”

Speaking on behalf of ANIF, a director, Tunde Morakinyo, explained that the LOC is committed to transforming the Gashaka Gumti National Park to become a national heritage that Nigerians can be proud of.

Morakinyo stressed: “We have drafted an implementation protocol that will attract investment worth millions of naira, train and equip the park rangers and attract tourists to the park.

“Poaching, logging, activities of cattle herders, poor infrastructures and security concerns are some of the major challenges that have limited the tourism potentials of Gashaka Gumti National Park. We are discussing with two international conservation NGOs – Chester Zoo and Wildlife Conservation Society – to bring technical expertise. We have a 30-year contract and our major areas of investments are infrastructure, community engagement, improving research and attracting tourists.”

Constituting the LOC are: Philip Iheanacho, Tunde Morankinyo, Olaleye Olajide, Andrew Dunn, all representing the ANIF; from the National Parks Service are Okeyoyin ‘Deji, Kolo M. Yakubu and Saidu Yohanna. Also on the committee is Mohammed Yidi who is representing the local communities, the Department of Planning, Research & Statistics, and the Department of Forestry.

By ‘Seyifunmi Adebote

Climate change, water and sustainable development

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Climate change, water and sustainable development

Prince Lekan Fadina, Executive Director, Centre for Investment, Sustainable Development Management and Environment (CISME), in a recent presentation in Abeokuta, Ogun State at a forum organised by the Nigerian Institution of Water Engineers, a division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, explored threats posed by climate change to water, environment and sustainable development. He lists measures to address the unsavoury prospects. Excerpts:

Lekan Fadina
Prince Lekan Fadina

The effect that climate change has on our water is just one example of the impact it can have on our life. It is becoming increasingly evident that we are at a critical point in time regarding our changing climate and the future of our planet.

We must be disciplined and respect our environment; remember the Holy Book draws our attention to the instruction of God that we must protect God’s resources. We must remember that, within those six days that God worked to create the world, water was one of those resources.

We must decrease emissions by managing our water using less energy or switching to renewable energy as this helps to slow global warming.

We should imbibe the habit of turning lights off when not in use, driving less and insulating homes to make them energy-efficient as this will reduce energy use.

We must put in place focussed, sequential, instructional programmes as a regular integral part of the whole curriculum.

We must go back to the days of sanitation and water inspectors.

We must buy environmentally responsible products and eating low-impact diet.

We must have lifestyle changes that can have a positive impact.

We must express support for environmental protection, by rising to do the right thing by cultivating a culture of environmental sustainability.

We must integrate climate change and environment sustainability into overall National Development Plan.

We must be a good advocate by making our voices heard, writing government officials, voting, posting about online or simply talking with family, friends, househelps, club members, associations, churches, messages, market place and being an ambassador of environment and sustainable development.

We must strive to be a sustainable development practitioner by training, education and, luckily, this has become a global profession with specialisation in various areas.

We must change our attitude and realise that the Almighty demands of us to manage this resource well for generations unborn.

We must embark on environmental education, publications, advocacy and people-centred projects to change people’s behaviour.

We must encourage community engagement by involving our communities to see the proper management of water and environmental sustainability as their own. We should encourage them as “owners” to do things in a sustainable manner.

We must all act now because the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has given us ultimatum of 12 years to do something or we perish – face the consequences of homelessness and natural calamities.

Water is life and as human beings over 70% of our body is water and if we continue to treat water badly we must be ready for the consequences.

Abuja tremors can’t lead to earthquake, says expert

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Abuja tremors can’t lead to earthquake, says expert

The National President, Association of Hydrologists, Prof. Ehidiamhen Charles, on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 said the two recent earth tremors in Abuja could not lead to earthquake.

Abuja
The Abuja city gate

Charles. who made this known in Minna, Niger State while speaking with newsmen, said: “The minor incidents should not cause panic among the residents of the Federal Capital Territory.

“These incidents are minor, they cannot cause any concern; there should be no cause for alarm.”

Charles described incidents as ‘‘mere earth movements” which, he said, “are normal”, asserting that the tremors could not cause damages to individuals and the community.

‘‘Tremors are a regular phenomenon; Nigeria is stable, we are not an earthquake zone. The nearest we have here is volcano, even the volcano is dormant.”

He attributed the incidents to human activities saying, ‘‘so many construction works are going on in Abuja.

‘‘So many mining activities are going on; if I use dynamite, the blasting can only cause accentuation, the tremors are not destructive.”

The hydrologist said that there was no adequate consultation with the association before raising the alarm.

“Nigerians should not be made to panic, government should not be made to spend money unnecessarily,” he advised.

He recalled that there had been similar incidents in Kaduna, Paiko in Niger State and Ijebu Ode in Ogun State in recent past, adding that since then nothing had happened in these areas.

By Aminu Ahmed Garko

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