The National Judicial Council (NJC) has set up a total of 15 different committees to investigate various allegations contained in petitions against 15 Judicial Officers, including two Chief Judges.
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen
The Council, which is under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, took the decision at its 83rd meeting, after considering the reports of the two Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees, on 46 petitions written against judicial officers in the federal and state judiciaries.
According to the statement issued on Monday, October 2, 2017 by the Director of Information, NJC, Barrister Soji Oye, the Council had dismissed a total number of 31 petitions, 29 of which it found unmeritorious, while the remaining two written against Justice James T. Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, and the Acting Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice O. O. Akeredolu, were withdrawn at the instance of the petitioners.
Al-Sagr National Insurance Company, which wrote against Justice Tsoho withdrew its petition since the Judge had delivered the ruling in his case.
Also, Chief Raheem A. Badmus, who wrote against Justice Akeredolu voluntarily withdrew his petition for personal reasons.
The Council treated the two petitions as withdrawn, since it did not find anything in them sufficiently serious for further consideration as stipulated in Regulation 9 (1) of the Judicial Discipline Regulations.
However, it considered and found worthy of further investigation, the petition written by Azi A. Phillip on behalf of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Plateau State Chapter, accusing the immediate past Chief Judge of Plateau State, Justice P. D. Damulak of bias, for failing to make his judgment in Suit No. PLD/J/236/16 delivered on November 4, 2016, available to him till the time he wrote the petition.
But the Council had decided not to constitute an investigative committee to look into the matter, because the Chief Judge had already retired from service and therefore, no longer in the employment of the National Judicial Council.
It also considered and dismissed petitions written against two other Judicial Officers – High Court of Justice, Abia State, Justice L. T. C. Eruba and Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, Kano State, Abdullahi Waiya, for lacking in merit.
It also decided to issue two letters of advice to Justice M. A. Dada of the Lagos State High Court of Justice, and Justice Chukwudi Charles Okaa of the Anambra State High Court, for violating the extant laws in the course of their judicial duties.
This position was based on petitions written against them by Dayo Adamolekun, Ridwanulah Olanite, and Reverend F. U. Ekavhiare & Associates, respectively.
The Council also unanimously agreed to report Adesina Ogunlana to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (L.P.D.C.) for misconduct bordering on the use of uncouth language in a petition written to NJC against the immediate past Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice O. O. Atilade.
The Council however welcomed as good development, a letter from Zamfara State Government, approving the recommendation of the NJC for the removal of Justice Musa Ibrahim Anka from office, for allegedly receiving N200,000 bribe from one Zubairu Abdumalik in order to deliver judgement in his favour.
The recommendation was made to the Zamfara State Government by the Council in 2011.
Whether or not Africa will be able to maximise her potential in food production will depend to a large extent on the ability of countries to adopt science, technology and innovation. And if the continent can fully maximise her agricultural capacity, then she has to position herself to take advantage of new and emerging technologies.
Ugandan Prime Minster and Leader of Government Business, Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda, speaking during the conference
This was the consensus at the end of the three-day High-level Conference on Application of Science, Technology and Innovation in Harnessing African Agricultural Transformation, which held recently in Kampala, Uganda.
About 100 African agricultural experts and scientists, government delegations including policy makers, technocrats and Parliamentarians as well as representatives of civil society organisations, international organisations, the UN systems, academia as well as the media, attended the conference, held from Wednesday September 26 to Friday, September 29, 2017.
It was jointly organised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Uganda and the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) on the theme: “Integrating the path in Africa’s agricultural transformation”.
The conference was formerly closed by the Ugandan Prime Minster and Leader of Government Business, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, with a speech that highlighted the importance of science in turning the fortunes of Africa’s agriculture around from its abysmal performance, even though a little more than two thirds of the population is involved in agriculture.
“It is a shame,” he said, “that 60 to 70% of the people are involved in agriculture and yet we do not produce enough to feed Africa, and look for food from Europe and America where only 2% of the people are involved in agriculture, and are producing more than enough for them and export some to Africa.”
Currently, the continent imports over $35 billion food products, most of which can be produced locally.
Therefore, Dr. Ruganda urged African nations to embrace science as the only option to improve the continent’s food production, and commended participants for identifying the adoption of science and technology as the mechanism that will ensure sustainable production for small holder farmers.
He was happy with the acknowledgement by participants that scientific mechanisms could support small holder farmers build the needed resilience to climate change impacts, saying, “This is critical because small holder farmers form the continent’s main source of food, employment and even income.”
The Ugandan Prime Minister said the need for Africa to integrate modern biotechnology as one of the scientific processes for food security and economic growth was long overdue. He noted: “It’s now more than 20 years since GMOs were commercialised and records indicate that using this science and innovation in agriculture has had unblemished results of safe use and consumption.”
GMOs or genetically modified organisms are the products of the scientific process that rearranges genes or DNAs and add new ones to stimulate disease resistance, productivity and other desired qualities in crops and livestock.
Dr. Ruganda stressed that Africa could utilise this scientific process that transforms agriculture, “to feed our people, promote economic growth, fight against poverty and enhance sustainable use of our natural resources and the environment.”
He noted that Africa was lagging behind in using science and technology because of inadequacies in communicating the role of technology and innovation in agricultural transformation. “We have made many advances in research discoveries, but they end up in publications, sometimes in cupboards, sometimes in lecture rooms… we need to harness these valuable information that will empower our people, our farmers, our governments,” Dr. Ruganda added.
He urged policy makers and implementers to translate the innovation in scientific discussions into useful information that can help change the quality of lives of our people and promote production especially in food security.
Dr. Ruganda was also quick to acknowledge the progress that African governments have made so far in addressing related issues and announced that Uganda was about to pass her National Biosafety and Biotechnology Bill into law following final discussions to fine-tune it. The Bill is expected to be passed sometime this week and, once it becomes Law, it will provide a framework for Ugandan scientists to innovate and apply the relevant mechanisms to improve the country’s agricultural production.
Re-echoing similar sentiments about the Ugandan Biosafety and Biotechnology Bill, the Permanent Secretary of Uganda’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MoSTI), David Obong, touched on the importance of the deliberations and outcomes for his country, saying, “The conference was timely as it has coincided with the period of the passage of our Bill.”
He said that his Ministry has established a Directorate with separate Departments on Biosafety and Biotechnology as well as Bio-economy as part of the institutional arrangements for effective functioning. Mr. Obong was also optimistic that “it is through science and technology that Africa can make use of her vast land resources and be able to feed her growing population.”
Earlier, the Deputy Executive Secretary of Uganda’s National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST), Dr. Belay Getachew, presented details of the conference communique. Among other things, it admitted the constraints in Africa’s agriculture as including poor yields, poor harvests, inadequate sustainable funding sources and the different stages in which countries are in adopting and applying science and technology.
The communique recognised the crucial role of the private sector, women and the youth in transforming Africa’s agriculture. It called for evidenced-based decisions for the sector and for urgent strategic communication in the delivery of science, technology and innovation information.
The communique further recommended that African nations should take measures to increase funding for research, invest in intellectual property in GMOs and address human resources capital. Additionally, the High Level Conference on Application of Science, Technology and Innovation in Harnessing African Agricultural Transformation, should be made an annual affair.
Clearly, the conference has succeeded in creating a dialogue platform that can facilitate effective utilisation of science, technology and innovation to transform Africa’s agriculture and enhance food security. This was the objective of the organisers of the conference, during which experts presented and discussed topics including: “The state of agriculture in Africa,” “Integrating modern biotechnology into Africa’s agriculture for food security,” The role of communication in demystifying adoption of science, technology and innovation for development,” and “Winning public and political support to advances in science, technology and innovation in the age of ‘Alternative Facts.’”
Others were “Inspiring a climate for change to enhance food security,” “Fostering evidence based biosafety regulations and policies for transformational change in Africa’s agriculture,” “Regional approaches to biotech adoption and trade in Africa,” and ‘Strengthening intellectual property in the global bio-economy.”
As part of the conference activities, the Open Forum on Agriculture Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) celebrated its 10th anniversary and formally gave awards to winners under its first ever annual media awards contest on biotechnology for African journalists. The overall winner was Omolara Afolayan of TVC News, Nigeria.
The Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District seat tussle at the National Assembly has taken another twist as a lawyer in the legal unit of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barrister Ochai Jacob Otokpa, has written the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, alleging threat to his life by Senator Bassey Albert Akpan.
Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki
Otokpa, in the letter, said the threat to his life is due to a process he filed in court to discontinue an appeal by PDP against a judgment of the Federal High Court in Uyo, which sacked him (Akpan) from office.
Akpan is the senator “illegally” recognised by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to represent Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly against the decision of a Federal High Court in Uyo, delivered since February 27, 2017. The court judgment ordered the Senate to swear-in Mr. Bassey Etim as the Senator-elect to represent the said district.
Otokpa, who is a legal assistant to the National Legal Adviser of the PDP, alleged in a petition filed on his behalf by Firma Nexus Chambers dated September 25, 2017 and received at the headquarters of the Nigerian Police on September 28, 2017, that Senator Akpan invaded his office with thugs, locked him up in the inner office of the National Legal Adviser of the PDP and harassed him, took a picture of him with his phone and threatened to take his life should he lose his seat at the National Assembly.
Otokpa said he does not understand why a lawmaker would engage in such an act when he was only doing what he was authorised to do by his employer.
The petition reads: “It is our client’s brief that, on Tuesday, 19th September, 2017, at about 4:00pm, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan invaded the office of the National legal Adviser of the party (PDP) at the National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, with thugs numbering between four and six in apparent attempt to injure or assassinate our client.
“It is our client’s brief that Senator Bassey Albert Akpan entered the inner office of the National Legal Adviser and our client was called to come in and when our client entered, Senator Akpan asked our client if he is Barr Ochai and our client answered in the affirmative.
“Immediately, Senator Bassey Akpan took picture of our client with his phone and locked the door, put the key in his pocket and started assaulting our client, threatening to kill him for carrying out the lawful instruction given to him to file notice of withdrawal of the appeal of the party.
“In fear for his life, our client upon appreciating the hostile intention of Senator Bassey Albert Akpan started screaming and shouting out to those in the outer office and succeeded in raising sufficient alarm that drew and alerted the people in the outer office as to what was about to happen to our client. Those in the outer office hit the door repeatedly, asking Senator Bassey Albert Akpan to open but he refused.
“The security operatives attached to the National Secretariat of the party were contacted and as they responded to our client’s shout for help, Senator Bassey Akpan opened the door saying that the National Chairman of the party was calling him.
“While he locked our client and thereby unlawfully restraining him, Senator Bassey Akpan issued threats to our client that our client’s life depends on the outcome of the appeals in court and that should he lose the case in the court leading to loss of his seat in the senate, he (Senator Akpan) will make sure our client loses his life.
“He boasted repeatedly that he has the requisite financial, political and positional capacity to ‘crush’ our client and that nothing will happen noting that he does not know the value of our client’s life that he cannot destroy it and go unscathed.
“It is our client’s further brief that while he was leaving the office, one of the thugs brought by Senator Akpan confronted our client and told him to be praying for Senator Akpan to win the court case and retain his seat in the senate and that in the event that Senator Bassey Akpan loses the case, our client will be a dead man, adding that ever since, he had been noticing strange people and cars trailing him and that his car had once been burgled while sensitive documents were carted away,” the petition further read.
The PDP had recently requested the Court of Appeal sitting in Calabar to dismiss its appeal lodged against a judgment of the Federal High Court, Uyo, which sacked Albert Akpan from the National Assembly and declared Bassey Etim as lawful replacement.
The party said the judgment of the Federal High Court in Uyo, which sacked Akpan from the Senate for not being its authentic candidate for the 2015 Akwa Ibom senatorial election, was not against its interest, hence, unnecessary and ought not to have been filed in the first place.
In the notice of discontinuance of the appeal, the PDP told the appellate court thus: “Take notice that the Appellant (PDP) hereby withdraws all the processes including the Notice of Appeal and the brief of argument filed by the erstwhile counsel for the party.”
The decision of the PDP under the leadership of Senator Ahmed Makarfi to withdraw the appeal, it was learnt, was in the spirit of on-going reconciliation in the party and its dogged commitment to bring sanity into the party as it prepares itself for the 2019 general poll in the country.
The background of the unfolding event is that a Federal High Court sitting in Uyo had on February 27, 2017, in a judgment, booted out Mr. Bassey Albert Akpan from the National Assembly.
This development was after the court gave a verdict that Mr. Akpan was not the valid and bona fide candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which won the 2015 general election for the Akwa Ibom North-East senatorial seat.
The High Court, in the judgment on a pre-election dispute between a former member of House of Representatives, Bassey Etim and Senator Akpan over who between them was the authentic candidate of the PDP for the senatorial seat, specifically held that Akpan had wrongly and illegally represented the Akwa Ibom North East Senatorial District in the National Assembly for 628 days.
The span of the current 8th National Assembly is 1,460 days, commencing from June 9, 2015 when it was inaugurated, to expire June 9, 2019.
The court consequently ordered Akpan to vacate forthwith the seat for the bona fide PDP candidate, Bassey Etim, for the remaining 812 days, and refund to the coffers of the National Assembly, within 90 days, all monies he had collected by way of salary and allowances for the 628 days during which he occupied the seat in the Senate.
The court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to retrieve the certificate of return earlier issued to Akpan and issue a fresh one to the newly declared senator-elect, Mr. Bassey Etim, to enable him proceed to the senate for his swearing-in.
INEC had since complied with the court order as it issued the certificate of return to Bassey Etim.
But the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, had however, refused to obey the judgment of the Federal High Court, Uyo, which directed him to inaugurate Bassey Etim to begin to perform the functions of his office.
Also, a legal advice was issued from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), which counseled him to swear in Hon Bassey Etim since there was no stay of execution to stop the implementation of the valid and subsisting high court judgment.
The Senate President had said that he had sent the judgment of the court to the legal department of the National Assembly for legal advice on what to do.
A constitutional lawyer and Human Rights Activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), has described the entire National Day broadcast by President Muhammadu Buhari on the occasion of Nigeria’s 57th Independence as disappointing.
President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria
In a statement issued on Sunday, October 1, 2017, Chief Ozekhome further described the broadcast as another opportunity lost.
“Buhari lost yet another golden opportunity to balm bruised nationality’s ego and cement Nigeria’s yawning cleavages, hate and divisiveness,” Ozekhome stated, adding that the broadcast was very unpresidential and unreconciliatory in all ramifications.
According to him, Mr. President has left the real issues and pursued trifles.
“The speech was bereft of nobility of statesmanship and devoid of a calm grasp and appraisal of the dire straits Nigeria is currently in. The broadcast was rabidly narcistic, parochial, nepotic and clanish, as it failed to see anything wrong with the blatant and well reported threats by the Arewa youths to quit fellow Nigerians from their domains.
“The speech followed his now well worn out fixation of perceived hatred for the Igbo race, whose leadership he needlessly scurilised and lampooned, for allegedly being behind IPOB and other agitations.
“I doubt hearing him mention anything about gun wielding herdsmen that literally vanquish citizens in their own homesteads across Nigeria. The President celebrated mediocrity and edified his government’s non performance two and half years down the line.
“I genuinely wondered if he was discussing the same country, Nigeria, that I am in, or another utopian planet, Mars. The beautiful picture of a peaceful country he painted so glowingly and artistically with the paintbrush of breathless satisfaction is quite different from the stark reality on ground, which every beleaguered Nigerian labours under.
“His speech writers either wallowed in utopian mystic of redemptive mesianism or in crass fraud and grand deception. But Nigerians are no fools,” Ozekhome stated.
The lawyer faulted Mr. President for saying that it was the first time a government at the centre is losing the governorship, senatorial and Houses of Assembly’s elections to the opposition.
“No sir, wrong. Whoever gave Mr President this false electoral history has done him incalculable disservice and great damage and ridicule. Rememner Ondo State (Labour Party), Osun and Edo States (AC), Anambra (APGA), etc? Not only did the ruling PDP party lose the elections to those opposition parties, the then President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan actually rolled out the drums and congratulated the new governors, senators and House members.
“Peter Obi won the Anambra State governorship election in 2010 for the second time on the platform of APGA. Former President Obasanjo was the President at the centre under the PDP just as Bola Tinubu won the Lagos State governorship seat twice under AD and ACN with Obasanjo as President under PDP at the centre. Must everything be predicated on falsehood, force, threats and gun boat diplomacy?” he demanded.
Over 150 countries gathered in Geneva, Switzerland from September 24 to 29, 2017 on the occasion of the First Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-1), ostensibly to mark a major milestone in their efforts to fight mercury pollution.
Considered one of the most dangerous chemicals to human health and the environment, mercury is a neurotoxin with a global reach.
The Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, which entered in to force on August 16, 2017, explored ways to implement the new global treaty, which includes:
banning new mercury mines and phasing-out existing ones;
regulating the use of mercury in artisanal and small-scale gold mining, certain industrial processes and the production of everyday items such as certain compact fluorescent lamps, batteries and teeth fillings; as well as
controlling the emissions of mercury as a by-product from a range of industrial sectors – including coal combustion.
Representatives of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, and the Latin American, Asian and African Centers for Environmental Health present Fernando Lugris, Uruguay, Committee of the Whole Chair, with a “Public Official of the Year 2017” award to honour his leadership in the creation of the Minamata Convention on MercuryMinisterial family photoHiroshi Nishida, Mayor of Minamata City, is welcomed to plenaryMarc Chardonnens, Director, Federal Office for the Environment, Switzerland, is welcomed onto the podium after being elected COP1 PresidentDelegates huddle in the final hours of negotiation
About 80 percent of enlightened Nigerians lament that they are hard hit by climate change, with farmers and fishermen – representing two major employment sectors – being particularly impacted. Climate change interferes with all aspects of life including education.
A flooded school premises in Benin City, Edo State
In Nigeria, especially in some states, many children are absent from school during heavy rains, especially in the villages where there are no means of transportation. Such absenteeism obviously affects children’s academic performance. Climate change particularly affects women and girls. In some places, girls are kept at home doing domestic chores while boys were allowed to go to school. If there is drought, it is mainly women and girls that are responsible for collecting water – a burden which may also prevent them from either attending school or taking their school attendance seriously.
Serious drought leads to food scarcity, which leads to hunger, which in turn affects the ability of learning of children. Children often have to move with their families to places where there is safety from flooding, which also affects their education adversely by interrupting their studies and potentially increasing their distance from available schools. Children’s right to receive an education also results in damage to houses, school buildings and other infrastructures such as roads and bridges. In 2014, some school premises were used as temporary settlements for disaster victims. In Kilosa, for example, two primary schools were closed for weeks in order to provide settlements for flood victims. Such closure also impacts their capacity to study at home.
Many Nigerians are aware that some changes occur in the environment year in and year out but lack knowledge of the reasons for such change. They are also aware of increased disease, food shortages, and extreme flooding at various localities during certain periods of the year. Yet there have been no efforts to reduce the occurrences or avert them altogether. There is a need to educate the public of the signs of climate change as well as management and prevention strategies.
Many of us are aware that climate change is severely affecting livelihoods in Nigeria through changes in rainfall patterns. About 70 percent of the farmers interviewed expressed that their crops were washed away by floods, eliminating their yields for consumption or sale. In some part on Nigeria fishermen were not spared since they could not catch as much fish as they used to and the environment was not conducive for human life since all the debris washed away by water or flood was deposited at various places. About 70 percent of them at various fishing ports lamented that they suffer this disaster yearly but do not have the solution to their problems.
In Nigerian schools, practical demonstrations are needed in order for children to actively use their acquired knowledge and skills to improve society. Teachers should also demonstrate the importance of agriculture in the growth of the nation. In the fishing ports where fish farmers and their children reside, experts should be sent to demonstrate the modern way of processing and preserving fish both for local consumption and for exportation. Children should be thoroughly guided so as to enable them do the same in their various localities.
By Olumide Idowu (Team Leader, Climate Wednesday; @OlumideIDOWU)
Climate Change brings with it an increase in malnutrition, mental health conditions, infectious diseases spread and even death. Rising greenhouse gas levels are triggering climate and environmental changes that will affect human health in many ways. Climate Change is often thought of in terms of its effects on our physical environment: rising sea levels, heat-waves and storms. But increasing evidence shows that the human impact – and in particular the impact on human health will be a major challenge for scientists, politicians and ordinary people.
Dr Peter Tarfa, Director, Department of Climate Change (DCC) in the Federal Ministry of Environment
Recent problem is the issue of cholera which is one of the infectious diseases that remain a major health burden in Nigeria. Several incidences have raised concern that climate change may exacerbate the risk of the disease in the future. Future risk of this disease is essential, especially for regions where the projected climate change impacts, and infectious disease risk, are both large. Cholera is a growing threat, especially for those most vulnerable. Each year about 2.7 million people suffer from cholera, and about 90,000 of them die from this preventable disease. Those who become ill are often the most difficult to reach. Most are poor, live in conditions with poor water quality and sanitation, and often do not have access to treatment when they become ill.
According to the statement of UNOCHA NIGERIA, “the first cholera cases were identified in Borno State, north-east Nigeria, on 16 August, despite extensive efforts to improve sanitation conditions in camps and to raise awareness of the importance of best hygiene practices. The insurgency, and the efforts to quell it, has forcibly displaced 1.7 million people in north-east Nigeria, many of whom are living in dire conditions. To date, health partners have counted more than 3,300 confirmed and/or suspected cases and at least 53 cholera-related deaths. Health workers fear these numbers could rise exponentially because of poor water and sanitation conditions in many camps across the area.”
Many Nigerians are suffering the existing health threats and the emerging ones as a result of climate change. Climate change is intensifying with dimensions in age, economic resources, and location. Just recently, Minister of State for Environment, Usman Jubril mentioned in his interview with national television station NTA News “The effects of climate change are felt at every sight of the country. Rising global temperatures would have a catastrophic effect on human health and patterns of infection would change, with insect-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever spreading more easily.” But the climate we have come to expect is not what it used to be, because the past is no longer a reliable predictor of the future. Our climate is rapidly changing with disruptive impacts, and that change is progressing faster than any seen in the last years.
In conclusion, climate change is speeded up by increase in greenhouse gases plus the depletion of ozone layer which allows the penetration of ultra violet rays. Climate change or global warming causes sea level to rise and the consequences result in flooding from heavy rainfalls induced by precipitation, also from climate change. The deleterious effect of increase in disease like cholera and were implicated as the major health risks exacerbated by climate change. Societal illusion is underscored in this article as a nonchalant environmental habit that contributes to global warming in Nigeria.
As we know health care facilities are considered inadequate in developing economies and exacerbation of health risks in the event of adverse climate will occur. Government health policies should concentrate on providing medical care for cholera patients. Climate change mitigation is by reducing collectively on a global scale the emission of Co2 and greenhouse gases. Nigerian policy makers must be aware of the need to wipe away the prevailing illusion on avoidable bad environmental habits such as industrial pollutant, poor construction of drainages, gas emission from exhaust pipe, use of generator, deforestation, lack of good disposal, Use of firewood, poor maintenance of vehicle and use of perfume. There is need for heightened awareness among the general population on climate change and health risks. Community leaders, churches and mosques have relevant roles to play in guiding the people to understand climate change consequences.
Government in Nigeria could exploit the bond market to manage the consequences of climate change on Nigerian health infrastructure. Climate change can result in catastrophic health risks and further endanger the fragile social security’s system, if not strategically managed. Planting of trees and conscious effort to dissuade deforestation should be essential part of public discourse and policy.
Hard choices have to be made in the US very soon: is it the gold in the ground or gold in another form in the waters?
A pair of spawning salmon
Scenario A: Tens of millions of salmon surge through the state of Alaska’s Bristol Bay and about half the amount are caught to feed half of the world’s demand.
Scenario B: Near the headwaters of the bay, mining company, Northern Dynasty, has discovered what is potentially the biggest gold and copper mine in the world.
If the mine is dug, critics warn the side effects could be devastating: poisoning the salmon, acres of wetlands, lakes and ponds, as well grinding the economy of the Bay to a halt.
The Pebble Mine development stalled under President Barack Obama, but President Donald Trump appears to have given the controversial project a new lease of life.
Critics of the Pebble Mine worry that acid could get into the watershed, destroying one of the last great salmon runs left on the planet.
The developers of Pebble Mine insist that they can pull the gold and copper out safely, but fishermen, conservationists, biologists and most native tribes disagree.
Conservation group, the WWF, has joined in the campaign against the project. The group expresses the concern that the US Congress is considering legislation that would eliminate Endangered Species Act protections for foreign species like tigers, rhinos and elephants. It fears that the legislation could damage the US’ ability to curb illegal wildlife trade.
WWF states: “Bristol Bay is a place of stunning natural beauty, abundant wildlife, millions of salmon, and the place of the strongest commercial sockeye salmon runs in the world. It is a national treasure on a global scale.
“Earlier this year, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under President Trump took a big step backwards to reverse the EPA’s scientifically-based proposed protections for Bristol Bay, Alaska. These proposed protections the EPA itself concluded are necessary to protect Bristol Bay and its fish and wildlife from the proposed Pebble Mine.
“The EPA wants to reverse course on its protections, risking the health of Bristol Bay. We need to keep those proposed protections in place to protect Bristol Bay from the proposed Pebble Mine.”
In a petition which WWF is seeking about 150,000 supporters to endorse, the group is asking Edward Scott Pruitt, the EPA administrator, and the Trump administration not to pave the way for the Pebble Mine.
The petition reads:
Dear Administrator Pruitt and Acting Region 10 Administrator Pirzadeh:
I am writing today to encourage the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect Bristol Bay, Alaska, from the proposed Pebble Mine that would threaten the region’s irreplaceable fish and wildlife resources and the 14,000 jobs that depend on Bristol Bay’s clean, healthy waters. EPA must keep the Bristol Bay 404(c) Proposed Determination in place to protect Bristol Bay, its salmon, waters, people, and sustainable economy from the proposed Pebble Mine.
EPA’s own scientific study contains highly concerning facts: even without a mine disaster, construction of the Pebble deposit will destroy 94 miles of salmon streams and 5,350 acres of wetlands, lakes and ponds. Overall, EPA concluded that mining the headwaters of the Bristol Bay river systems could cause irreparable harm to the valuable Bristol Bay fishery, wildlife, and people.
According to the EPA’s own study, the Bristol Bay watershed provides vital habitat for 29 fish species, more than 190 bird species, and more than 40 terrestrial animals. All five species of Pacific salmon – sockeye, Chinook, coho, chum and pink – spawn and rear in the pristine Bristol Bay watershed. The Bristol Bay watershed supports the largest sockeye salmon run in the world, producing approximately 46% of the world’s wild sockeye harvest, creating $1.5 billion in economic output and nearly 20,000 jobs throughout the United States annually.
Because of its great ecological and economic value, I recommend the EPA keep in place the 404(c) Proposed Determination for Bristol Bay, Southwest Alaska. The reasonable restrictions included in that proposal will prevent unsustainable development that would adversely impact the region’s fishery, recreation and local culture.
Please keep the agency’s 404(c) action in place to protect one of the nation’s greatest sustainable resources – the Bristol Bay, Alaska, salmon fishery.
A fledgling but promising relationship that has been brewing between organised labour and sustainable development campaigners has finally been solidified.
A view of participants at the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) meeting on formation of Coalition on Climate Change between Labour and CSOs
Midwifed by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), the coalition on climate change involving the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and civil society organisations (CSOs) saw the light of the day at the close of a daylong meeting in Abuja on Thursday, September 28, 2017.
Though details of the relationship are still sketchy, it was gathered however that while the CSOs will provide information and knowledge (as well as its management), the NLC will drive the process – all under the guidance and support of FES, a German political foundation.
Essentially, while ensuring that there is synergy between Labour and CSOs working on climate change, the new Coalition likewise aims to put pressure on policy makers on issues on global warming, in order to inform change in policy decision.
L-R: Ako Amadi of the Community Conservation & Development Initiatives (CCDI), Hauwa Mustapha of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), an official of the NLC, and Dr NwaJesus Anthony Onyekuru of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Similarly, the Coalition’s aim is to englighten the public on climate change issues, especially the most vulnerable.
While influencing climate change policy development process for effective implementation, the body is expected to be abreast with up-to-date information and international best practices, and disseminate to the relevant stakeholders.
“The body will be a loose Coalition, and not really a registered organisation. You keep your individual identity, and work on achieving stated objectives,” said Henry Okotie, the FES Project Manager.
According to him, sharing of information and experiences among coaltion members will be key towards ensuring the success of the inktiative. He suggested that the Coalition should meet twice every year – between February and March, and between September and October.
While commending the initiative, Hauwa Mustapha of the NLC stressed that climate change would affect negatively and positively, even as she called on governments at all levels and private sector players to adequately and speedily respond to situations arising from the phenomenon.
Speaking in a similar vein, Prof Emmanuel Oladipo of the University of Lagos, Akoka, emphasised that climate change is not totally a negative occurrence. “The greenhouses gases (GHGs) that are directly or indirectly responsible for global warming, keeps the earth warm, and support life on earth,” he said.
“We should strive to explore the positives such as the business and financial benefits therein such, for example, seeking to acquire and exploit the technologies needed to adapt to climate change,” Prof Oladipo added.
Dr Godwin Ojo of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), frowns and the considerable amount budgeted yearly by governments and businesses to acquire and service generating sets.
“We hereby call on the Federal Government to immediately effect a ban on the importation of generator to, among others, curb the spate of GHG pollution from the equipment. It is unfortuanate that Nigeria has no cap fossil fuel usage,” he stated.
Ako Amadi of the Community Conservation & Development Initiatives (CCDI) expressed concern over the state of disaster management in the country.
His words: “How prepared are we? Where will the technology come from, and how will we use it?
“How do we manage disasters in the event of climate change? We lack disaster management information. We need total orientation of the people.”
As the world observed the International Day of the Older Person on Sunday, October 1 2017, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for a new approach to providing health services for older people.
An aging couple
In a recent publication, the WHO highlights the role of primary care and the contribution community health workers can make to keeping older people healthier for longer. The UN organisation also emphasises the importance of integrating services for different conditions.
“By the year 2050, one in five people in the world will be aged 60 and older,” says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “It’s our goal to ensure that all older people can obtain the health services they need, whoever they are, wherever they live.”
Yet, even in the rich world, people may not be getting the integrated services they need. In a survey of 11 high-income countries, up to 41% of older adults (age ≥65 years) reported care coordination problems in the past two years.
WHO’s new “Guidelines on Integrated Care for Older People” recommend ways community-based services can help prevent, slow or reverse declines in physical and mental capacities among older people. The guidelines also require health and social care providers to coordinate their services around the needs of older people through approaches such as comprehensive assessment and care plans.
“The world’s health systems aren’t ready for older populations,” says Dr John Beard, Director of the Department of Ageing and Life course at WHO.
“Everyone at all levels of health and social care, from front-line providers through to senior leaders, has a role to play to help improve the health of older people. WHO’s new guidelines provide the evidence for primary care workers to put the comprehensive needs of older people, not just the diseases they come in to discuss, at the centre of the way they provide care.”
Older adults are more likely to experience chronic conditions and often multiple conditions at the same time. Yet today’s health systems generally focus on the detection and treatment of individual acute diseases.
“If health systems are to meet the needs of older populations, they must provide ongoing care focused on the issues that matter to older people – chronic pain, and difficulties with hearing, seeing, walking or performing daily activities,” adds Beard. “This will require much better integration between care providers.”
Some countries are already making smart investments guided by WHO’s Global Strategy on Ageing and Health.
Brazil has implemented comprehensive assessments and expanded its services for older adults; Japan has integrated long -term care insurance to protect people from the costs of care; Thailand is strengthening the integration of health and social care as close as possible to where people live; while the Ministry of Health in Vietnam will build on its comprehensive health care system and the large number of elderly health care clubs to better meet the needs of older people in their communities. In Mauritius, the Ministry of Health provides universal health coverage for older adults including a network of health clubs and primary care clinics with more sophisticated services in hospitals. The United Arab Emirates are meeting the health needs of older people by creating more age-friendly cities. In France, a new WHO Collaborating Centre called Gerontopole, located in the Toulouse University Hospital, is helping to advance research, clinical practice and training on Healthy Ageing.
“Integrated care can help foster inclusive economic growth, improve health and wellbeing, and ensure older people have the opportunity to contribute to development, instead of being left behind,” concluded Dr Beard.
