The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission has renewed the power generation licence for Afam VI Power Plant, a 650MW-capacity facility that has delivered over 25.97 million Megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity into the Nigerian grid since inception in 2008.
L-R: Commercial Manager, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), John Kadiri; General Manager, Business and Government Relations, Bashir Bello; General Manager, Gas, Philip Mshelbila; Commissioner for Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, Dafe Akpeneye; and the General Manager, Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Olufunke Dinneh, at the presentation of power generation licence for SPDC Joint Venture’s Afam VI Power Plant, in Abuja… on Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Afam VI is owned by The Shell Petroleum Development Company Joint Venture (SPDC JV) and located in Afam in Oyigbo Local Government area of Rivers State.
Presenting the renewed licence to the leadership of SPDC at the Commission’s office in Abuja on Tuesday, the Commissioner, Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Mr. Dafe Akpeneye, described SPDC JV as a committed partner in the Nigerian power sector adding that the company’s belief in the sector and its resolve to help it develop were remarkable.
“We hope for greater efficiency and improved operations from Afam VI in the next 10-year phase of your operations just as we look forward to working together to resolve some of the challenging issues in the power sector,” he said.
Receiving the licence, the General Manager, Gas of SPDC, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, described the Afam VI as a model worthy of emulation by government and other players in the power sector. “Here’s a power plant with a dedicated gas plant operating with high uptime generating clean and efficient power from the combined cycle of three gas and one steam turbines.”
He lamented the challenges of debt, power evacuation and off-take which he said prevented the plant from delivering optimally at 15 percent of the total national grid-connected electricity.
Afam VI uses combined cycle gas turbine technology that burns 40 percent less gas than plants using older open cycle technologies. This also contributes significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2016, Afam VI power plant supplied approximately 12% of the nation’s grid-electricity.
Built with the most efficient technology in the industry and utilising waste heat energy from the gas turbine exhaust, the plant generates an additional 200MW from the steam turbine without consuming any additional gas, thereby considerably reducing its carbon footprint.
As a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project under the United Nations Executive Board for Climate Change, Afam VI Power Plant eliminates over 500,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year, while also maintaining excellent safety standards.
The operations at Afam VI have generated subcontract opportunities and employment for over 150 people from the 16 host communities. It also provided hands-on and offshore training for 30 youths in Electrical, Mechanical and Instrumentation engineering on Combined Cycle Power Plant operations and maintenance. All the trainees are already employed in the Nigerian power industry.
The power plant also won SPDC the Best Company in Climate Action Award in the 2016 edition of Sustainability, Enterprise, Responsibility Awards for Corporate Social Responsibility (SERAs–CSR), an annual event to celebrate organisations that invest resources to improve the socioeconomic living conditions of people in Nigeria and Africa.
The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) on Wednesday, November 21, 2017, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in the bid to ensure proper regulation of genetically modified (GM) foods in Nigeria.
DG/CEO of NBMA, Dr. Rufus Ebegba, with the team from NAFDAC and the management staff of NBMA
The Director General/CEO of NBMA, Dr. Rufus Ebegba, while addressing the team from the NAFDAC, emphasised the need for both agencies to work together for the good of Nigerians.
Dr. Ebegba stated that the MoU signing was necessary as the agency had previously signed MoUs with other sister agencies like Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) and National Seed Council (NaSC) and is set to sign more memoranda with other line agencies to ensure the safe practice of modern biotechnology and use of its products.
He said, “NAFDAC is a major stakeholder in biosafety as the NBMA Act 2015 specifically states that NAFDAC will also be involved in the certification of GM foods. In view of this, the agency has been working tirelessly for several months to get this memorandum signed and it is a thing of joy to sign this today.”
Dr. Ebegba stressed how germane the role of NAFDAC is in the food safety system of Nigeria. He further stated that, recently, the agency was alerted of imported GM maize and a team of biosafety officers was sent to take sample for analyses. After confirmation that the maize was genetically modified, NBMA took the most responsive action by repatriating the shipment.
In his remarks the Director General, NAFDAC, represented by Prof. Samson Adebayo, Director PRS, stated that NAFDAC is ready to collaborate with NBMA to ensure GM products in the country are safe for consumption by Nigerians.
Prof. Adebayo expressed gratitude for the initiative to draft and sign an MoU by both agencies and assured that there would be adequate collaboration between NAFDAC and NBMA for proper regulation of GM foods in the country.
Two off-grid projects were recently announced in Nigeria, one consisting of a partnership between Pan Africa Solar and BBOXX (PAS BBOXX), adding to the growing momentum of the off grid sector across Africa.
Off-grid lighting in Africa.Photo credit: unep.org
The first project, headed up by Pan Africa Solar, is an 80MW utility scale Photovoltaic Power Plant located in Katsina State, near the town of Kankia. The project focuses on a stable state in the north of the country, where – due to lack of available hydro resources and gas supply – renewables are the only long term sustainable option. The project will integrate panels mounted on tilting structures that track the path of the sun throughout the day, constructed on 210 hectares of land.
BBOXX is collaborating with Pan Africa Solar on a second project supplying the distributed energy service that is operating in Kano State, Northern Nigeria, with hopes to expand across the country.
BBOXX’s VP of Business Development, Anshul Patel shared his comments on the partnership and its plans: “Pan Africa Solar is a dedicated team with a core understanding of the Nigerian market; a very exciting BBOXX partner in a much underserved market. Nigeria has 60 million people who lack access to electricity. To date, 2000 people have been impacted by our work in Kano, and the business is currently in the process of scaling its operations. The partnership between BBOXX and PAS is instrumental in leveraging expertise in the off-grid business combined with local market knowledge to successfully scale operations with a goal of electrifying one million people by 2020.”
EnergyNet launched the Off the Grid Club initiative in 2016 to provide a networking platform for off-grid technology providers, financiers and regional leaders working in Africa’s off grid industry. The membership programme collaborates with partners such as the Shell Foundation, ElectriFi, Akon Lighting Africa and Solektra in developing and financing off grid projects to electrify rural communities in Africa.
From February 6 to 8, 2018, off-grid developments will be discussed by energy leaders in Kampala, Uganda at the “Africa Energy Forum: Off the Grid Summit” – held with the endorsement of Irene Muloni, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development of Uganda.
This meeting is co-located with the regional East Africa Energy & Infrastructure Summit. Both meetings will unite governments from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia, leading utility and regulatory companies from the region as well as international financiers, donor organisations and power developers to focus on what is needed to unlock investment in energy for regional growth.
Officials of the Water Resources Commission (WRC) have introduced to and discussed with stakeholders in Accra a regulatory instrument passed to govern dams in the country. Known as the Dams Safety Regulations, 2016 Legislative Instrument (LI) 2236, its purpose is to promote the safety of dams and prevent or minimise damage to people, the environment and property.
A farm dam
The LI is also aimed at ensuring dams are properly designed, constructed and maintained to help prevent cracks and other dam related accidents.
While it may seem that the LI contradicts the mandate of the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), in reality there is no conflict. The mission of GIDA is “to provide effective and efficient Agricultural Water Management services, and maintain reliable irrigation systems for sustained benefit to the national economy through the formulation, regulation and execution of appropriate policies to benefit farmers, industry and institutions within a sustainable environment.”
Thus, GIDA’s main objective is “to provide efficient technical services in irrigation infrastructure development to enhance water and soil conservation best practices,” in addition to “assisting farmers and other clients in irrigation and other Agricultural Water Management (AWM) technology transfers.”
So, there is no contradiction in the mandates of the two institutions. For a while, in this instance, the WRC seeks to regulate the safety of all dammed facilities, GIDA is focused on ensuring the availability and provision of agricultural water to enhance food security.
LI 2236 came into effect on July 27th, 2016, and makes provision for the WRC to establish a Dams Safety Unit purposely to review and approve procedures and guidelines as well as the Operation and Maintenance Manual prepared and submitted to the WRC by owners or operators of dams.
The Dams Safety Unit shall also inspect and classify dams to which the regulations apply; investigate any report on dam safety; co-ordinate consultations on the formulation of dam safety policy within the WRC; and co-ordinate inter-agency consultations on dam safety policy. The Unit will additionally develop technical materials on dam safety, and create public awareness on dam safety and related matters.
The LI further prescribes steps for determining the risk potential of a dam. The assigned Dam Safety Officer shall consider the type of dam, the purpose for which the dam has been constructed or is being constructed, its name, the description of the location as contained in the title deed of the land, the District in which the dam is located, and the nearest settlement. Other considerations include the maximum height of the dam or the proposed maximum height of the dam; the gross storage capacity of the reservoir and surface area of the reservoir when filled to capacity.
Furthermore, in the case of a modification or repair of an existing dam, a description of the nature and the extent of the alteration or repair has to be stated.
Provision is also made under the LI to declassify dams based on recommendation in an inspection report by a Dam Safety Officer to the WRC. Declassification may also be effected when the WRC “receives information from a licensee who is constructing a dam, that there has been a deviation from the expected condition of the foundation of the dam, or when in the opinion of the WRC, a condition of the dam is hazardous.”
The coming into being of LI 2236 makes it an obligation for dams to be registered through an application to the WRC. Accordingly, the registration should be done “within three months after the date on which the dam is capable of containing, storing and impounding water.”
The LI instructs that “a person who fails or neglects to register a dam in accordance with these Regulations commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than five hundred penalty units and not more than seven hundred and fifty penalty units and a further fine of two hundred penalty units for each month that the offence continues.”
Stakeholders at the meeting were from the various water related institutions and organisations, The Engineer in charge of Surface Water at the WRC, Dr. Bob Alfa took them through the LI. He explained the process of dam classification as provided for under the LI, and said, “Dams are categorized according to their classes of consequences from class zero to class four… where zero has insignificant impact and class four has the highest impact.”
Dr. Alfa said: “The issue of dam safety hinges on the three pillars of design and construction, supervision and preparedness,” adding, “it is important to ensure it is right from the beginning, since dams are serious weapons in waiting if the necessary steps are not taken.”
He mentioned the causes of dam failures as including sub-standard construction materials, design error, poor maintenance and natural causes. Dr. Alfa cited instances of dam failures in which thousands of people were killed and millions of others were displaced.
The list include the failure of the Banqiao Dam in China in 1975 that killed 171,000 people and displaced 11 million others; the failure in 1979 of the Machchu Dam in India that killed 25,000 people and displaced over 2 million people; and in 2012 the failure of the Kopru Dam in Turkey that killed 10 people and displace over 200,000 others.
As part of the meeting’s agenda, the Principal Legal Officer of the WRC, Mrs. Bernadette Araba Adjei facilitated a discussion on the Riparian Buffer Zone Policy for Managing Freshwater Bodies in Ghana. She the purpose of the policy “is to improve water quality by trapping sediment and chemicals from runoff before reaching water bodies.” It also seeks “to create shade which lower water temperatures and hence improve habitat for aquatic organisms and prevent soil erosion.”
Mrs. Adjei noted that in implementing the Riparian Buffer Zone Policy, “where the standards and management requirements … are in conflict with other laws, regulations, and policies, the most restrictive requirements shall apply.”
Earlier in his Welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the WRC, Ben Yaw Ampomah, said the discussion on the Riparian Buffer Zone Policy for Managing Freshwater Bodies in Ghana, was the last in the series of Regional Stakeholder Consultations. He explained that the purpose was to collate Stakeholder input as part of preparatory measures to formulate the needed Legislative Instrument to implement the Policy, which was launched in May 2014.
It is worth noting that the Riparian Buffer Zone Policy for Managing Freshwater Bodies in Ghana, has been introduced at a time when lots of challenges confront conservation efforts. For instance, the built-up of areas within riparian zones through housing, construction and commercial activities weakens the feasibility of establishing buffer zones.
Both the Densu Delta and Sakumo Ramsar sites are typical examples of areas where considerations for the functioning of natural ecosystems have been discarded in favour of human activities that undermine long term livelihood sustainability.
Then, there is also the issue of the destruction of riparian vegetation hastened by irresponsible mining facilitated by illegal mining or “galamsey,” which has destroyed almost all of Ghana’s fresh water bodies.
In this context, the Policy calls for the introduction and in some instances, the re-establishment of buffer zones, to be considered as an integral part of the general socio-economic development process, which needs equal support to make the policy implementable.
The Water Resources Commission (WRC) was established by an Act of Parliament (Act 522 of 1996) with the mandate to regulate and manage Ghana’s Water Resources and co-ordinate government policies in relation to them. The Act stipulates that ownership and control of all water resources are vested in the President on behalf of the people, and clearly defines the WRC as the overall body responsible for water resources management in Ghana. The Commission, which provides a forum for integration and collaboration of different interests, is composed of the major stakeholders involved in the water sector.
It took about two and a half hours from the heart of Lagos, Ikeja to Seme Border, plying an almost non-motorable and grid-locked road on the so-called ECOWAS high-way; but that is a story for another day.
Comptroller Nigeria Customs, Seme Area Command, Abdullahi Mohammed (hand in the air), pointing at the imaginary border line beacon between Nigeria and Benin Republic at Seme as participants look on
The trip in a 30-seater coaster bus was on Day One of the recent United Nations Office on Drugs (UNODC) Sensitisation of Seme Border Communities on Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) in Promoting better management of migration in Nigeria by combating and reducing irregular migration that occurs, inter alia, through Trafficking in Persons (TIP) & Smuggling of Migrants.
The team’s first point of call was to pay advocacy on the Comptroller Seme Command of NIS, Ibrahim Liman. His warm welcome eased off the tension from the tortuous trip and then, the entourage proceeded to sight see the coastal line and border between Nigeria and Benin Republic while they awaited an interface with officers of the security formations at Seme Border.
It was both intriguing and frightening standing at the edge of the Atlantic, staring into the unknown, endless distance of the ocean. The cascading, rolling and roaring waves smacked of beauty and terror. Beauty in the form of nature’s wonder and terror in the form of the oceans ruthless claim of lives usually smuggled to other shores.
The ocean, just like the desert has claimed many Nigerian lives who are unfortunately misinformed and make the perilous journey to Europe in search of greener pastures. Such gave rise to the fight against smuggling of migrants in Nigeria which is championed by the UNODC through EU funding in conjunction with over 100 state and non-state actors.
The project aptly titled: “Promoting Better Management of Migration in Nigeria by Combating and Reducing Irregular Migration” which occurs, inter Alia, through Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and Smuggling of Migrants (SOM) is targeted amongst other things to encourage Nigeria to maximise the potential of migration, considering that the country is opportune to have a vibrant population with 70 percent within the range of 40 years.
As elucidated by UNODC National Project Officer, Sylvester Atere, at all meetings, they desire to see people have informed knowledge to make informed decisions and choices that will deter irregular migration and rather encourage regular migration in the Country.
The entourage went into a closed door meeting with the top brass of the NIS, Nigeria Customs and other federal establishments/agencies at Seme border with the same enlightenment message on SOM. The meeting which held at the Officers’ Mess of the Nigeria Customs and under the Chairmanship of the Nigeria Customs, Seme Area Command Comptroller, Abdullahi Mohammed brought the the fore the tapestry that connects smuggling of migrants with all aspects of smuggling.
Accordingly, representatives of all the formations where in unison over the germaneness of fighting against SOM in respect to its ever growing menace. According to them, they have been working together to address the issue in view of the fact that it is all encompassing and constitute security, economic, health and developmental challenges amongst others.
An excursion to a section of the colonial pillar at the imaginary border line between Nigeria and Benin Republic by officers of the formations gave the participants a clearer view of the seemingly fluid flow of traffic from one end to another. However, this flow could very well be misused by some unscrupulous elements to engage in any form of smuggling.
The next point of call to the Oba Akran of Badagry Kingdom, HRM, De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi 1 in his palace heralded a rich culture of a people within the mix of trans-border activities. The entourage on arrival at the palace encountered a folklore singer with his band, heartily singing praises of the Oba and giving a rendition of the proud history of the Ogu (Egun) people who inhabit Badagry.
The warm reception made colourful by a full palace of high Chiefs and other subjects was made even more worthwhile with the pledge by the Oba to enlighten his people on SOM with the view to stemming its practice.
Day Two of the programme saw the UNODC and NIS team engaging traditional leaders, religious leaders, transport union members, market men and women, artisans, community leaders, youth groups, business community, agencies and NGOs/CBOs in an interactive session over SOM. A video display of the ills of SOM was shown to the crowd. At the end of the session, the stakeholders had a better understanding of SOM as enthused by a participant, John Okun who stated that he is happy with the sensitisation which has informed him more on the dangers of smuggling of migrants adding that it is a useless endeavour that bears no good.
Day Three which was the wrap-up constituted of an interface with officers and men of various Federal Agencies involved in border management at Seme Border, including those from Benin Republic and then, an advocacy visit to Lords New Generation Schools. The target of the officers was apt on the premise of the rationale that they are managers along the border.
In all these sessions, after proper sensitisation on SOM, distribution of the campaign paraphernalia such as T-shirts, Fez cap, pen and flyers, a mock display of handing over red card to SOM was carried out by the crowd.
It is worthy of note that the SOM business is the 3rd most profitable and criminal business around the world and majority of those swallowed up by the desert are Nigerians. To this end, the call for synergy, purpose and union amongst security agencies at border communities is now or never. As earlier stated, the purpose is not to discourage people from traveling but to be be well informed and not do it irregularly. So to say, the security formations at the border need to be at peace with border communities and work closely with the communities, so they can have their ears to the ground and curb the menace of SOM as well avert chaos.
It is worrisome that since 2012 when the UNODC programme to “Promoting Better Management of Migration in Nigeria by Combating and Reducing Irregular Migration,” statistics by NIS show that from January-December, 2012, January-December, 2013, January-December, 2014 and January-December, 2015; 800, 2,900, 8,700, 23,000 respectively have been registered as irregular migrants. From January-September, 2016 and January-May, 2017, the same NIS records that 22,500 and 10,000 irregular migrants case have been recorded respectively.
Meanwhile, another statistics by the Ministry of Interior, Italy indicates that, by 2016, irregular migration in Nigeria stood at 36,000 while that of Ghana stands at a distant 5,636. Accordingly, 316 convictions have been recorded by National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIB).
It is hoped that, by the end of this year, when the SOM project by UNODC would come to a close, the rate at which Nigerians engage in irregular migration would have reduced considerably, due to the acquired knowledge and informed decisions that no nation’s economy is totally exceptional and anyone can actually make it right here in Nigeria, once they are hardworking. Most importantly, seeing the sustainability of this programme will go a long way in ensuring that its ideals do not die off, but are sustained by the government as well as both state and non-state actors or stakeholders as it were.
The Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibril, has urged all stakeholders to collaborate with the Federal Government in efforts to promote sound environmental sanitation practices across the country.
The minister made the call in Abuja on Monday, November 20, 2017 during the celebration of the 2017 World Toilet Day, organised by the Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON).
Ibrahim Usman Jibril, Minister of State for Environment
Jibril, who was represented by Mr Dominic Abonyi, the Registrar, EHORECON, said that the theme of the 2017 World Toilet Day was “Wastewater’’.
He stressed that the theme was aimed at drawing global attention to the health challenges which were triggered by the poor management of sewage and effluent discharge.
He said that the theme was also aimed at re-awakening societal consciousness on the importance of having a toilet in every household and ensuring proper management of wastewater.
The minister said that National Demographic and Health Survey revealed that access to improved sanitation was still about 36 per cent for majority of the populace.
“I, therefore, invite the private sector to partner with the ministry and government at all levels in providing sanitation facilities for communities, especially in the rural areas where open defecation is still a norm.
“Provision of sanitary facilities in schools must go hand-in-hand with other efforts to achieve Universal Basic Education in the country.
“These efforts will promote sound environmental sanitation practices because we all know that poor sanitation is linked to the transmission of diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid and polio.
“Besides, increasing the people’s access to sanitation and improving hygienic behaviours are vital to efforts to reduce this enormous disease burden,’’ he said.
Jibril said that the ministry and with the support of UN Development Programme (UNDP) had undertaken several activities to promote proper disposal of human waste in the country.
“The activities include the development of an all-embracing National Environmental Sanitation Policy,’’ he said.
He stressed that sanitation was a crosscutting issue that required the active participation of various sectors of the economy as well as development partners to enable it to make a reasonable impact.
Speaking, Dr Shehu Ahmed, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, said that access to sanitary facilities remained a mirage to a vast majority of the citizens.
Ahmed, who was represented by Mr Theodor Nwaokwe, Deputy Director, Pollution Control and Environmental Health, said that sanitation was a fundamental element in the fight against poverty and preventable diseases.
He, however, advised Nigerians to support the government in ensuring a high level of sanitation coverage across the country.
New Report “Dam Violence: The Plan That Killed Berta Cáceres” launched at COP23 denounces Honduran state agents and DESA dam executives as intellectual authors of assassination
Honduran prize-winning campaigner Berta Caceres was slain by gunmen on March 3, 2016 weeks after opposing a hydroelectric dam project
Over a year after the assassination of the Honduran environment defender Berta Cáceres, the Justice for Berta Campaign brought the gruesome incidence to the fore at the UN climate change summit (COP23) in Bonn, Germany. Berta Cáceres, one of the most internationally-recognised environmentalists, was gunned down in her home for defending the land, water and human rights of the Lenca People and has since become the epitome of the violence such activists suffer.
At COP23, the Justice for Berta Campaign and the It Takes Roots delegation officially delivered the report entitled “Dam Violence: The Plan That Killed Berta Cáceres” to the Honduran government, which has yet to meet with the family and organisation of the murdered leader since the report’s release. The head of the Honduran delegation, Mr. José A. Galdames, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Energy, Natural Resources, Environment and Mining, received the report and invited the Campaign for Justice for Berta and the report’s authors to present it and testify in Honduran court.
The report is the result of a year-long independent investigation by the International Advisory Group of Experts (GAIPE) made up of specialists in international human rights law, international criminal law and comparative criminal law. The GAIPE report explicitly names the authors of the assassination and uncovers a plot against Berta Cáceres that was months in the making and included senior executives of DESA, the Honduran company holding the dam concession.
Over 180 international human rights organisations are supporting COPINH in demanding the arrest, trial and conviction of those who ordered and planned the murder of Berta Cáceres and the persecution of COPINH and her family. The case of Berta Cáceres exemplifies the urgency of strengthening protections for land and water defenders as a central question within the international climate negotiations.
In another achievement for the Campaign for Justice for Berta, the daughter of the beloved leader, Bertha Zúniga Cáceres, joined a press conference by video of international land defenders at COP23 to denounce the state and corporate intellectual architects of the assassination of her mother, Berta Cáceres.
Bertha Zúniga, General Coordinator of COPINH and daughter of Berta Cáceres, said: “As COPINH, as the family of Berta, and as the international community, we are joining to demand that justice prevail, not just for Berta Caceres but for all the men and women who defend land and territory. Not just the Lenca People, but Indigenous People who are on the frontline of territorial defense As COPINH, as the family of Berta, and as the international community, we are joining to demand that justice prevail, not just for Berta Caceres but for all the men and women who defend land and territory.”
Alberto Saldamando, Indigenous Environmental Network: “The recent 2nd Global Witness report on the persecution and murder of environmental activists found that almost one half of the victims are Indigenous. The case of the assassination of Bertha Caceres, the impunity of the perpetrators recently was found to be at the highest level of the Honduran government and industry. They should be prosecuted.”
Heather Milton-Lightening, Indigenous Climate Action: “We stand with and fully support Berta’s family, community and social movement comrades in the call for justice at the highest level. Understanding that Indigenous Peoples, particularly women and those in the broader gender spectrum are the greatest at risk of violence in Honduras. We know that death threats and intimidation are normalised through state and military oppression including private contractors. We call upon the states of globe to uphold human and Indigenous rights, to keep our frontline defenders safe.”
Jaron Browne, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance: “There is a bill before the US Congress right now, HR1299, the Berta Cáceres Human Rights in Honduras Act, calling for a suspension of U.S. security aid to Honduras until human rights violations committed by the Honduran security forces cease. This new report from GAIPE only underscores the urgency of immediately halting US military aide. As social movements inside the Unites States, Grassroots Global Justice Alliance is actively campaigning in support of this bill, and the international call for the arrest, trial and conviction of those who ordered and planned the murder of Berta Cáceres.”
Ramon Cruz, Sierra Club International: “The Sierra Club stands in solidarity with all of the courageous environmental justice groups that are speaking out against impunity. Violence against those who defend nature is not only human rights violation, but a violation to nature itself. We call on international institutions and civil society groups the world over to keep these repressive governments accountable and demand that they bring all those implicated in Berta Caceres’ murder and the murders of hundreds of other environmentalists around the world to justice.”
A group, the Billital Moroobe Association of Nigeria (BILPAN), warned on Monday, November 20, 2017 that the anti-grazing law enacted in some states was a violation of the fundamental human rights of herdsmen.
Herdsmen grazing their cattle
The group, which also call themselves Pastoralists, made the statement while speaking with newsmen in Dutse, Jigawa State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the position of the group comes amid out cries over the killing of hundreds of farmers by rampaging herdsmen nationwide.
The association described the anti-grazing stance of some states as infringing on herdsmen’s rights and freedom of movement.
The National President of BILPAN, Alhaji Ali Rimindako, while inaugurating the Jigawa State Chapter of the body, called for an immediate reversal of the anti-grazing law in states that had enacted the law.
He argued that signing the anti-grazing bill into law by some governors had technically infringed on the fundamental rights of herdsmen.
Rimindako said that cattle breeders had no business other than rearing of animals and that preventing them from doing their business was against the principles of natural law, equity and good conscience.
According to him, BILPAN is not a body having only Fulani herdsmen but an association that has all cattle breeders as members.
The president said that BILPAN was a registered body, having members in many West African and Central African in countries, including Chad and Cameroon.
Rimindako said that the body had been assisting security agencies in fighting vices such as kidnapping, cattle rustling and armed robbery.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the association, Alhaji Ya’u Malammadori, described BILPAN as a non-religious and non-political organisation.
He said that the goal of the body was to promote peace and harmony among the populace.
The new members of the body’s new executive are Alhaji Adamu Saveyo, the state chairman and Alhaji Yamusa Muhammad, secretary.
Others are Hajiya Altine Dutse, the women leader. Members of the new executive are to serve on caretaker basis for two years.
UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, on Monday, November 20, 2017 said reports of African migrants being sold as slaves in Libya were “appalling’’.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Photo credit: UN Photo/ Kim Haughton
Guterres said he was “horrified’’ by video footage appearing to show a slave auction where migrants were sold for 400 dollars apiece, made public by a CNN investigation.
“I abhor these appalling acts and call upon all competent authorities to investigate these activities without delay and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Slavery has no place in our world and these actions are among the most egregious abuses of human rights and may amount to crimes against humanity,’’ Guterres told newsmen in New York.
The UN chief said he had asked the relevant UN actors to actively pursue the matter.
Guterres added that the “scourge’’ of human trafficking should also remind the international community of the need to address issues surrounding migration.
He called for development cooperation to address the root causes of current migration flows, a meaningful increase in legal migration opportunities and enhanced international cooperation to crack smugglers and traffickers.
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), on Monday, November 20, 107 launched an evidence-based insurance development roadmap to accommodate smallholder farmers in the country.
Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh
Dr Bukar Hassan, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, launched the roadmap in Abuja.
Hassan said that the roadmap was apt because of the devastating impact of climate change on the agriculture sector.
Hassan, who was represented by Mr Sunday Edibo, the Director, Lands and Climate Change in the ministry, said that the move was to promote food security and nutrition in the country.
According to him, the launch of the roadmap document will strengthen the role of the insurance industry in the country’s agricultural resilience policy via improved data management and sharing.
“To ensure food security, farmers should insure their crops and obtain some financial support in the event of the occurrence of any disaster,’’ he said.
Dr James Hansen, the Flagship Leader for the Climate Change Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), said that the roadmap document was to support the country in efforts to build a robust agriculture resilience that could cope with shocks and stress of climate change.
Hansen said that the roadmap would help the government and insurance sector to take steps that would guarantee the provision of more useful, better targeted and accessible insurance to more farmers.
According to him, this is something that will encourage stakeholders to invest in smallholder agriculture.
“This is to support Nigeria’s efforts to transform its agriculture from subsistence to business-oriented agriculture.
“One of the things that make this transformation difficult is the risk caused by climate change, while farmers may also find it difficult to adopt the technology if there is flood or drought.
“It is high time we stopped preaching improved seeds and fertilisers and look at insurance. If you give a farmer a loan and there are risks such as flood and drought in the business, he may not be able to repay the loan.
“The scheme is not just to provide compensation when there is a risk but it will also enable farmers to go into more profitable agriculture,’’ he said.
Dr Debisi Araba, the Director, Africa Region of the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture, said that the roadmap document would form part of the revised edition of the National Agricultural Resilience Framework (NARF).
He said that the NARF was Nigeria’s strategy aimed at building resilience in the agricultural sector.
“It is not enough to increase productivity but you have to build resilience to ensure proper agricultural transformation,’’ he said.
Araba said that the document was formulated after due consultations with smallholder farmers in different states and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector.
“We need to ensure that agriculture thrives in a low-risk environment. Insurance forms part of the tools that will enable us to reduce risks perception and actual risks in the agriculture sector,’’ he added.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the production of the roadmap document was the outcome of a consultative dialogue between the Federal Government and the CGIAR in 2014.
NAN also recalls that the document was articulated as a result of the proposed major expansion of agricultural insurance by the Federal Government.
The document is to guide the plans of the government and insurance operators to fashion out ways of accommodating more smallholder farmers in the country’s insurance policies.
