The House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy says it will investigate the usage of $2 billion renewable energy grants to the country.
Speaker of the House, Rep. Tajudeen Abass
The Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Victor Afam (LP-Anambra), said in a statement issued on Sunday, November 3, 2024, in Abuja.
He said that the public hearing, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 5, and Wednesday, Nov. 6, will cover the period from 2015 to 2024.
The rep alleged that investments meant for the development of the renewable energy sector in Nigeria had not made a commensurate impact on the energy security challenges of the country.
He said that MDAs with dealings in investment, procurement, and receipt of grants for the development of the renewable energy sector would be investigated.
Afam called on stakeholders to attend the public hearing.
“The House of Reps was alarmed that the dysfunctional electricity generation and supply system persists, contrary to the objectives behind government investments and grants aimed at developing the renewable energy sector.
“The probe of these investments is to determine the integrity of the procurement and execution processes,” he said.
Afam said that the investigation was to discourage opaqueness, promote transparency and objectivity in handling government or public resources.
He thanked the European Union and other donor agencies for their useful submissions, insights and cooperation in sharing information with the committee.
The indescribable destruction caused by the first and second world wars led many to desire an international organisation dedicated to maintaining world peace. The United Nations (UN) was therefore established on October 24, 1945, to maintain international peace and security and to achieve cooperation among nations on economic, social, and humanitarian challenges.
Mohamed Malick Fall, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria
As we commemorate the “birth” of the UN, we are reminded of its enduring legacy in promoting peace, development, and humanitarian relief across the globe. The creation of the UN, nearly eight decades ago was a pivotal moment in international history – anchored in the vision of a world united to prevent conflict, protect human rights, and ensure dignity for all. The values enshrined in the UN Charter resonate strongly in Nigeria, a nation that joined the UN on October 7, 1960, just days after gaining its independence.
Some will argue that the need for the UN has never been greater than it is today, at a time when multilateralism and interstate collaboration is under threat in an increasingly divided world. Not only is the spectre of conflict rearing its ugly head, but pandemics have also killed millions of people in the last few years. Most importantly, humankind is facing an existential challenge through climate change. If we are to survive, we will need to put our own interest aside for that of humanity and common survival.
The UN’s engagement with Nigeria has been deep and transformative, spanning development initiatives, and humanitarian responses to the challenges faced by vulnerable people. Through decades of partnership, the UN has played a central role in support of the Government of Nigeria, positively impacting the lives of millions through its wide-ranging interventions.
First, humanity is at the heart of the UN’s work in Nigeria. Across Nigeria, each region faces distinct humanitarian challenges. The UN, through its agencies, in collaboration with local and international partners, with the Nigerian Government taking the lead, has acted as a beacon of hope for those in crisis. Interventions have ranged from providing life-saving food and medical supplies, to addressing the long-term needs of displaced people, including education, and psychosocial care.
The UN supports resilience building, agricultural recovery, food security, and livelihoods in affected communities, as well as reproductive health and protection services against gender-based violence. Furthermore, the UN aids displaced people and refugees, providing shelter and basic needs, while also supporting child protection, education, health, and nutrition programmes.
In Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, where conflict and displacement have left millions vulnerable, UN-coordinated humanitarian responses have been crucial. Over the past decade, at least five million people have received aid annually, courtesy of the UN and partners, ensuring their access to food, water, healthcare, and protection services.
Beyond emergency responses, the UN has continued to support Nigeria’s development. It has been pivotal in fostering sustainable development through a focus on capacity building, governance reform, and the empowerment of women and youth. Over the years, the UN has supported numerous educational and vocational programmes that have enabled thousands of Nigerians to rise above poverty and build better futures for themselves and their families.
More so, the UN has supported the implementation of projects aimed at enhancing the resilience of communities. Initiatives in agriculture, renewable energy, and economic diversification have been particularly impactful in promoting food security and mitigating the effects of climate change. Similarly, its support for the fight against gender-based violence and human trafficking is helping protect vulnerable people and upholding human rights.
Despite these successes, the road has not been without challenges.
Conflict, displacement, food insecurity, malnutrition, natural disasters, and climate change impacts remain significant hurdles in Nigeria’s path to sustainable development.
The humanitarian crisis in the north-east persists, with violence continuing to disrupt lives and livelihoods. The northwest struggles with escalating banditry and communal clashes, displacing thousands. The north-central region faces recurrent farmer-herder conflicts, threatening food security and livelihoods. The south-west grapples with violence and kidnapping, posing risks to safety. The south-south is grappling with environmental degradation affecting both livelihoods and ecosystems. In the south-east, rising insecurity has disrupted local economies and essential services, intensifying the humanitarian needs of affected communities.
Moreover, rising inflation and the global economic downturn have compounded the struggles faced by Nigeria’s most vulnerable people.
As we celebrate the UN’s impact in Nigeria, let us remember that the journey continues.
Let all hands be on deck!
By Mohamed Malick Fall, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria
Shell companies in Nigeria teamed up with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and other stakeholders to build Information Communication Technology (ICT) centres and a digital library in Nigerian universities this year in their continuing support for education.
The engineering design studios and FCT hub at FUTO
Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) and NNPC in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Monitoring and Development Board (NCDMB) launched a digital library at Niger Delta University, Amassoma in Bayelsa State in April, while an ICT centre was commissioned at the Sa’adu Zungur University (formerly Bauchi State University), Gadau in Bauchi State in July, by The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) as part of the Joint Venture with NNPC, TotalEnergies and NAOC.
In the latest intervention just last week, lecturers and students at Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), applauded as SPDC, NNPC and other Joint Venture partners collaborated with NCDMB to unveil a world-class engineering design studios and ICT hub at the institution.
“This is Shell working to power lives in Nigeria,” said Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, and Managing Director, SPDC, Osagie Okunbor, reflecting on the three facilities.
The projects have changed the academic and physical landscapes in the three universities and linked the students and lecturers to the global learning arena.
The facilities at FUTO include two state-of-the-art engineering design studios and a fully furnished 100-seater ICT lecture hall, equipped with computers and smartboards with dedicated power and water supplies. FUTO was selected for the project as part of the “institutional strengthening” in the catchment area of SPDC’s Assa North Ohaji South Gas Development Project.
They were launched at a colourful ceremony attended by representatives of the Imo State Government and principal officers of the university.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, represented by the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Dr. Chimezie Amadi, said: “We deeply appreciate the efforts of our partners in NNPC, SPDC, Total Energies, and NAOC JV, who have invested in the future of Imo State by supporting this critical project. Your commitment to human capacity building aligns perfectly with our goals, and together, we will continue to drive innovation, skills development, and sustainable economic growth for our people.”
Okunbor’s address at the commissioning was read by General Manager, External Relations, Igo Weli, in which he expressed happiness “that the collaboration of SPDC, Joint venture partners, NCDMB, and FUTO has resulted in this successful social investment project that demonstrates our commitment to improving access to quality education for every Nigerian.”
Executive Secretary NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, called on Nigerian institutions to domesticate the advancements in AI and other technologies.
“Our AI must understand Igbo, Hausa, Efik, Yoruba, and other local languages,” he said, speaking through Dr. Ama Ikuru, the Director in charge of Capacity Building.
“We must leapfrog the innovations of other nations and become a net exporter of advanced technology to achieve the lofty ideals of Nigerian content development.”
The Chief Upstream Investment Officer, NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, Bala Wunti, said in his address which was read by the Senior Advisor Stakeholders Relations, Mrs. Halimat Wilson: “Innovation thrives in an environment where ideas can be freely exchanged and developed. The Engineering Studio and ICT Hub is designed to be such a place where students, researchers, and faculty can collaborate on projects, share knowledge, and push the boundaries of what is possible.”
Welcoming guests earlier, FUTO Vice Chancellor, Professor (Mrs.) Nnenna Oti, thanked the sponsors of the project “for a landmark donation” to the university.
Shell Companies in Nigeria have been involved in education since the 1950s through scholarships and other initiatives. These efforts have resulted in the award of thousands of secondary, undergraduate and postgraduate scholarship awards, provision of educational infrastructure and establishment of sabbatical and internship programmes as well as centres of excellence in several universities.
The Director of Dams and Reservoirs Operations in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Ali Dala, has called for the construction of more dams to mitigate flood risks.
Flooding in Maiduguri
Dala made the call when he led a team of the Inter-ministerial Technical Committee on Evaluation of Dams in Nigeria to the Oyan Dam in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Saturday, November 2, 2024.
Dala said the visit to various dams across the country is to assess their conditions and evaluate their safety status for potential flood control.
While observing that many dams in Nigeria are aging and require maintenance and upgrades, Dala stressed the need for increased investment in dam construction and maintenance.
He also called for regular dredging of rivers to remove debris and improve their capacity to handle excess water.
“I have said it, and even the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation has mentioned it a number of times that, for us to control floods adequately in Nigeria, we need more dams.
“Nigeria currently lacks the necessary number of dams to effectively control flooding.
“Sediment builds up in reservoirs can reduce their storage capacity, hindering their ability to control floods.
“By increasing the number of dams and improving their maintenance, we can significantly reduce the impact of floods in Nigeria.
“A country like the US has at the moment 92,000 dams, China has about 98,000 dams while in Nigeria we have only 408 registered dams.
“So, I believe that by the time we also improve on the number of dams in the country, flooding would be a thing of the past or will be drastically reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.
The team’s evaluation is expected to provide valuable insights into the current state of Nigeria’s dam infrastructure as well as help in informing future policy decisions related to flood control and water resource management.
For the first time, global leaders reached an agreement that recognises Afro-descendant peoples as indispensable partners in biodiversity and climate initiatives.
Women of African descent
Afro-descendats are people of African origin who live in the Americas and African Diaspora, and are descendants of enslaved americans.
Afro-descendant peoples’ roles in biodiversity preservation and ecosystem health were formally acknowledged in Article 8(j), marking a historic moment for the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Afro-descendant peoples and Latin America and the Caribbean.
June Sommer, Chair of the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, said, “It is essential for people of African descent to be visible in all frameworks. We find ourselves on the periphery or invisible. We have to be at the centre of all of the processes. And unless that is done, we are leaving out a vital group of people who help to protect biodiversity.
“Women are the carriers of traditions. Women are the carriers of customs. Women are the carriers of culture. And if we are able to pass this on, even without speaking, because we are very oral people, are able to pass these things down and our children understand, then it is part of our sustainability.”
Daniel Garcés Carabalí, Ambassador of Colombia to Ghana, said, “Today’s milestone at COP16 marks an important step forward in recognising the vital role of Afro-descendant peoples in global biodiversity conservation. In Colombia alone, Afro-descendant peoples manage over 11.4 million hectares across municipalities where they have deep-rooted ties, including lands rich in biodiversity and critical for climate resilience.
“This decision underscores our commitment to inclusivity in environmental governance — an approach essential not only for Colombia but also for Ghana and the broader African continent, where similar communities are indispensable custodians of biodiversity. Together, our countries stand ready to champion this inclusive approach, building stronger, more resilient ecosystems for all.”
Maria del Rosario Mina Rojas, Ambassador of Colombia to South Africa, said, “For Colombia and South Africa alike, this recognition is deeply symbolic. Afro-descendant peoples, shaped by histories of resilience and land stewardship, are not only custodians of biodiversity but also keepers of cultural wisdom that supports ecological balance, giving to the world hope.
“By embracing their contributions, we honor their role in our environmental future and reaffirm our commitment to a governance model that reflects equity, respect and shared purpose — values both our nations have championed in overcoming legacies of exclusion. Together, Colombia and South Africa will continue to drive this inclusive approach, fostering ecosystems that are not just rich in diversity but rooted in justice.”
Esther Ojulari, Programmes Director, Baobab Centre for Innovation in Ethnic-Racial, Gender, and Environmental Justice, said, “Today’s decision is not only a win for global conservation but a powerful step forward for racial justice and reparations for Afro-descendant peoples. By formally recognizing Afro-descendants as key stakeholders, COP16 acknowledges both the historical injustices we have endured and the critical role we play in preserving biodiversity through traditional knowledge and practices.
“This inclusion in the Convention on Biological Diversity framework sets a precedent for environmental policies that honor racial justice and equity. We are hopeful that this landmark moment will drive forward initiatives that genuinely support Afro-descendant rights, land security and sustainable futures.”
Previously, official UN CBD documents only mentioned Indigenous peoples and local communities in Article 8(j) of traditional knowledge. The new decision to include Afro-descendants commits delegates to prioritise Afro-descendant land rights as integral to biodiversity conservation across Latin America and beyond.
The announcement aligns with COP16’s theme, “Peace with Nature,” highlighting that achieving the global goal of protecting 30% of the world’s biodiversity by 2030 requires secure land tenure and tailored conservation efforts for Afro-descendant territories.
The summit underscored that empowering Afro-descendant peoples in environmental protection not only supports ecosystem resilience but also advances social justice.
This commitment to both land rights and tailored conservation approaches seeks to ensure sustainable development that honours the rights and contributions of Afro-descendant peoples in stewarding biologically rich landscapes.
COP16 of the Convention on Biological Diversity concluded on Saturday, November 2, 2024, Cali but the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative believes that, by excluding the elimination of fossil extraction from the final text of the negotiations, the event fails to confront one of the greatest threats to biodiversity and climate: the extraction and flaring of oil, gas and coal.
While the negotiations made important advances – first and foremost the recognition of indigenous peoples and Afro-descendant communities as stewards of biodiversity, the creation of the Global Coalition “Peace with Nature”, and the reaffirmation that geoengineering, a speculative technology, must not be part of the climate response – a crucial opportunity to address the common cause of the climate and biodiversity crises was missed.
Participants at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Cali, Columbia
Both crises are said to be driven by the same destructive force: the fossil fuel industry, which, as in the climate negotiations, remains the elephant in the room.
Despite efforts by Colombia, together with Fiji and other Pacific islands, as well as indigenous peoples and civil society organisations, to connect the climate and biodiversity crises and include fossil fuels in the final text, all mention of oil, gas and coal extraction was removed, severely compromising the future of nature and humanity.
Andrés Gómez, Latin America focal point for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, said: “The COP16 in Cali was supposed to be a turning point to redefine our relationship with nature. However, the omission of the urgently needed fossil phase-out in the final text has meant another missed opportunity to address the common cause of the climate and biodiversity crisis.
“Promises to protect 30% of land and seas by 2030 and civil society demands for repayment of the North’s ecological debt to the South again fail to materialise, while support for the fossil industry remains intact. We hope that the leadership that Colombia has shown with its commitment to the Fossil Fuels Non-Proliferation Treaty will be endorsed by other nations at the COP 29 that is about to begin.”
Kumi Naidoo, President of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, said: “Biodiversity and climate change are not abstract concepts or isolated problems; they are realities that communities defending their territories face every day, especially in the Global South, where the devastating effects of the fossil industry are felt most acutely. It is precisely the resistance and solidarity among the peoples of the South that points the way forward to protect nature.
“Our commitments will be empty promises as long as we do not end the fossil fuel era. From the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative, we pledge to contact every head of state, urging them to join this effort at the upcoming COP29 in Baku. At this critical moment in history, the time for shying away from reality is over; we must tackle at the root what threatens the life and future of humanity.”
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and cloudiness from Sunday, November 3 to Tuesday, November 5, 2024, across the country.
Cloudy weather
NiMet’s weather outlook released on Saturday, November 2, envisaged light dust haze on Sunday with localised visibility of 2km to 5km in the northern region during the forecast period.
According to it, sunny skies with a few cloud of patches is expectedduring the forecast period.
”In the southern region, there are slim chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Cross River and Akwa Ibom States during the morning hours.
“There are prospects of thunderstormsalong with moderate rains over parts of Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Edo, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Akwa Ibom,Rivers and Lagos states during the afternoon and evening hours,” it said.
NiMet envisaged slight dust haze during the forecast period in the northern region on Monday.
According to NiMet, sunny skies with a few patches of clouds are anticipated during the forecast period in the North Central region.
It anticipated the chances of thunderstorms with moderate rains over some coastal cities during the afternoon/evening hours in the southern region.
“For Tuesday, In the northern region, slight dust haze is anticipated throughout the forecast period.
“In the North Central region, sunny skies with few cloud patches are expected during the forecast period.
“In the southern region, partly cloudy conditions are expected with prospects of thunderstorms along with moderate rains over the coastal cities during the afternoon/evening hours,” it said.
NiMet urged the public to take necessary precaution as dust particles are in suspension.
The agency advised people with Asthmatic health condition and other respiratory issues to be cautious of the present weather condition.
“Strong winds may precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur, public should take adequate precaution. Adhere to safety advisories issued by relevant authorities.“
Airline operators are advised to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.
Emergency forces in Spain were able to rescue a woman trapped inside a car alongside the dead body of her sister-in-law for three days following the deadly flash floods in Spain, where the death toll has now climbed slightly to 211.
A fallout from the Spain storm
Police in the municipality of Moncada shared a video on social media platform X on Saturday, November 2, 2024, showing the president of Valencia’s civil defence, Martín Pérez, delivering the news of the woman’s rescue to employees amid applause.
The woman is said to have been trapped in the vehicle in the municipality of Benetússer, south of the city of Valencia, for three days alongside the body of her sister-in-law, news agency Europapress reported citing the local Las Provincias newspaper.
Rescue workers heard her screaming as they towed away cars stuck in a tunnel.The woman was taken for a medical examination, but no further details about her state were initially known.
At least 211 people were killed in Tuesday’s storms and floods in Spain’s southern and eastern regions, most of them in the Valencia region, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Saturday after a meeting about response to the disaster.
Spanish Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, said earlier on Saturday that he expected the number to continue rising as rescue teams continued to conduct searches in the hardest-hit areas.
There are fears that many more people will be found dead in cars swept away by the torrential rains that flooded towns and caused rivers to burst their banks last week
The Cadre Harmonisé (CH) Report for October 2024 has predicted that at least 33.1 million people in 26 states and the FCT will face food and nutrition crisis between June and August 2025.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari
The prediction came from the CH Analysis Report released on Friday, November 1, 2024, in Abuja.
The analysis was conducted by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme (WFP), Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and other partners.
The affected states are Sokoto, Zamfara, Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Taraba, Katsina, Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Plateau, Kaduna, Kebbi, Niger and Benue.
Others are Cross River, Enugu, Edo, Abia, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kwara, Ogun, Lagos, Rivers, and the FCT.
The report indicates that this figure includes 514,474 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
It revealed that approximately 25 million people across the 26 states and the FCT are currently experiencing food crises.
Kouacou Koffy, FAO Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, called for urgent attention and a unified approach to address food and nutrition security in the country.
He stated, “With the concerted efforts of the government, CH stakeholders, and the international community, we can move closer to alleviating hunger and reducing suffering for Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
“We are facing unprecedented challenges affecting livelihoods and food and nutrition security globally, regionally, and nationally”.
Koffy said that Nigeria is experiencing a combination of shocks, including economic factors affecting the prices of staple crops and agricultural commodities, climate-related events such as floods and droughts, and insecurity.
He explained that the goal of CH workshops is to analyse available food security data and contributing factors to identify populations and areas at risk of food and nutrition insecurity in the country.
According to him, these workshops also aim to propose appropriate measures to prevent or mitigate ongoing food crises.
He stated, “CH analysis is the most reliable and widely accepted early warning tool for humanitarian programming, food security, and livelihood response targeting, as well as for prioritising development programmes”.
Temitope Fashedemi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, pledged the government’s commitment to applying the findings of the report to guide food and nutrition security programmes across states.
Balama Dauda, CH Focal Person for the National Programme on Food Security, identified key drivers of the food crisis as high prices of foodstuffs and non-food items, flooding, and insecurity.
President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, has called on Member States to collaborate and expedite action toward ensuring that the African-Atlantic gas project (AAGP) becomes a reality.
ECOWAS Ministers of Hydrocarbons and Energy, including Morocco and Mauritania, at the joint meeting on AAG implementation and renewable energy initiatives on Friday in Abuja. Photo credit: NAN
Touray made the plea at a joint meeting of the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) Ministers of Hydrocarbons and Energy, with Morocco and Mauritania participating, on Friday, November 1, 2024, in Abuja.
The energy ministers’ meeting was to deliberate on AAGP’s institutional agreements to facilitate regional access to natural gas and expansion across global markets.
It is a 6,800km gas pipeline network within the ECOWAS subregion, 5,100 kilometres on offshore from Nigeria to Morocco, passing through the coastal countries to Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
The president, who was represented by the Mr Sediko Douka, ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, said the project had already reached a critical stage of its implementation.
He said the main objective of the meeting was to provide an update on the overall progress of the project, and present to them the latest versions of the community texts.
“We have reached a critical phase in the development of this project, and it is essential for all parties to urgently collaborative and ensure that it becomes a reality.
“This project is of vital importance for our region, as increased access to natural gas will not only boost our electricity production/generation capacity, but will also drive economic, industrial, and agricultural growth across the region.
“As a transitional energy source, abundant natural gas usage in the region will support our countries in contributing to global climate change efforts, advancing clean and sustainable mobility, and promoting the use of clean cooking solutions,” he said.
Touray also urged member states to boost renewable energy, saying it was essential to develop strategies, initiatives, action plans, and regulatory frameworks to increase its share in the subregion’s energy mix.
“Currently, the use of renewable energy in our region is marginal, apart from hydroelectric sources, which themselves are underutilised, that is, only at 20 per cent.
“For us, the main challenges facing the ECOWAS region are the shortage of energy production capacity and the need to cover energy demand, as well as access issues.
“This Forum therefore provides an opportunity to take measures to strengthen our regional structures in the energy sector, each of which is experiencing its challenges,” the president said.
Also speaking, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Expo, said that the proposed African-Atlantic Gas Pipeline (AAGP) when operational would bolster Africa’s energy security and unlock new markets.
According to him, linking Nigeria’s natural gas reserves to North Africa and Europe would expand opportunities for economic growth, job creation, industrialisation, and benefiting communities across the linkage countries.
He described the AAGP as a crucial step toward achieving the vision of an integrated hydrocarbon and energy infrastructure within Africa and a reflection of ECOWAS’ strategic vision for a connected and economically vibrant pipeline network.
“The draft agreement is therefore an affirmation of our commitment to enhance trade within ECOWAS and other African countries, facilitating natural gas access across the region, and expansion in global gas markets,” he said.
AAGP is the outcome of the merging of West African Gas Pipeline Extension Project (WAGPEP) and Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline Project (NMGP) into a single gas power plant project.
The merger was approved by ECOWAS Heads of State and Government at their 63rd Ordinary Session on July 9, 2023.
