The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has named the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) as one of its partners for its forthcoming 7th Annual Lecture series scheduled to hold in Abuja.
Vice President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, will be the Special Guest of Honour
The GOCOP is an association of professional journalists who rose to the top of their profession in the print media before taking their practice online.
A statement earlier by Corps Public Education Officer of the FRSC, Bisi Kazeem, said the lecture series would hold on Thursday, August 24, 2017.
The event will take place at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.The lecture has “Achieving the goals of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety in Africa” as its theme.
Also, Kazeem named Jean Todt, the President, Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, the United Nation’s Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, as the Guest speaker.
The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), is scheduled to be the Special Guest of Honour, while the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, will serve as the Chairman of the occasion.
China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) plans to establish a national carbon-trading system and launch a carbon emissions market this November, according to a report by Scientific American.
Jiang Zhaoli, deputy director of the Department of Climate Change
The NDRC said in its report a carbon emissions quota control system will be applied to manage the cap-and-trade program covering companies with an annual energy consumption of more than 10,000 tons of standard coal in the petrochemical, chemical, building materials, iron and steel, nonferrous metals, paper, electricity and aviation sectors.
In addition, a state and local two-level management system for the emissions market will be set up, the report stated.
“The carbon market will develop gradually as a continuously improving system,” Jiang Zhaoli, deputy director of the Department of Climate Change, was quoted in media reports. “Judging from the estimating quota allocation of the eight sectors, the emissions are expected to reach five billion tons, half of the country’s total emissions. It will make the market the biggest in the world.”
The Commission said a national carbon-trading market that will improve the system, activate trade and have strict regulation and transparency will be developed by 2020.
Since June 2013, China has piloted carbon emissions trading in seven provinces and cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Hubei province and Guangdong province.
“With more than 2,000 companies involved in the pilot carbon-trading system, the total trading volume reached 160 million tons and the trading value rose to 3.7 billion yuan ($553 million) as of this May. The performance rate of companies in the pilot areas was nearly 100 percent,” Ma Aimin, deputy director of the National Centre for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation, was quoted by Jiemian.com.
In 2009, China promised at the Copenhagen climate change conference to cut its carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 40-45 percent by 2020 from 2005 levels. In June 2015, it set a target of peaking its carbon emissions by 2030.
“It is a common and urgent task for all countries to adopt strong and effective policies and actions for tackling climate change and speed up low-carbon transition,” Xie Ji, an inspector at the Department of Climate Change said, Jiemian.com reported.
Xie said that as a responsible developing country, China has actively participated in the global climate governance and promoted the establishment of a fair, cooperative and win-win global climate governance system.
According to the China Carbon Market Research Report released by United Nations Development Programme, if carbon trading tools are established, the scale of China’s carbon transactions will reach at least 100 to 120 billion yuan after 2020.
“Currently, the European Union has the world’s biggest carbon-trading system, but China’s emissions market being established is more than likely to replace the EU to become the world’s biggest one,” Vicky Pollard, environmental counselor in the EU delegation to China, told 21st Century Business Herald.
All Progressives Congress (APC) national stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has expressed joy at the return of President Muhammadu Buhari to the country after his medical vacation in the United Kingdom, saying the president’s return is a nation’s hope fulfilled.
President Muhammadu Buhari (left) with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo after the Mr President’s arrival on Sunday, August 19, 2017
In a statement by his Media Office, Asiwaju Tinubu, who is at present abroad, said the President Buhari had always been a man of moral fortitude, discipline, strength and dedication.
According to him, the attributes had helped him battle medical challenges. “These same attributes will lead him to success in surmounting our national challenges.”
The statement, entitled “President Buhari’s Return: A Nation’s Hope Fulfilled”, reads: “President Buhari”s return home is our prayers answered. President Buhari has always been a man of moral fortitude, discipline, strength and dedication. These attributes have helped him battle medical challenges. These same attributes will lead him to success in surmounting our national challenges.
“President Buhari has demonstrated time and again his devotion to this nation and its great causes. His love of country and the realisation that he has a mission to fulfil so that Nigeria may realize its better self by providing security and prosperity to all Nigerians has compelled him home.
“Just as we gathered to pray for his health and his return, we must remain united in spirit to support President Buhari as he pursues the progressive agenda for which he was elected and that promises us all a better day.
“Our nation is strong but must overcome many challenges. We can do so with President Buhari at the helm and with the rest of the nation in active support.
“Thus, the president’s return home is both real and symbolic. We all must renew our faith in our collective purpose and rededicate ourselves to a nation indivisible and united in reconstructing our political economy so that it provides a decent and good life to all our people.
“It has been a heartening thing to see that our nation has matured to the point where governance continued in a meaningful, seamless manner during the president’s absence. This again was a sign of the harmony between President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
“On this day, it is even more heartening to think of the things that can now be achieved with President Buhari back to lead the nation.
“Today is a glad and happy one for those who wish Nigeria well. While we celebrate the President’s return, we also must quickly turn to the hard and heavy work at hand.
“With President Buhari back and with the nation united behind him, we can accomplish excellent things. May we do our best to become our best.
Civilians in conflict are not a target, top United Nations officials on Friday, August 18, 2017 stressed at a special event marking World Humanitarian Day (WHD), which honours aid workers and pays homage to those killed in service, while also drawing attention to the millions of people today living in war zones.
Staff stand together at United Nations Headquarters in New York to draw attention that civilians are #NotATarget. Photo credit: UN News/Paulina Carvajal
“For the millions of people caught in conflict, struggling to find food, water, and safe shelter; who have been driven from their homes with little hope of return; whose schools have been bombed; and who await life-saving medical care – we cannot afford to fail,” Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, said, urging each person and country to stand in solidarity with civilians in conflict.
Standing at Headquarters in New York alongside UN aid workers and staff who lost colleagues in war zones, the Secretary-General lent his support to the #NotATarget campaign, which highlights the need to protect civilians caught in conflict, including humanitarian and medical workers.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) also expressed concern over the safety of health workers, saying that, last year, 418 people died because health facilities were attacked.
“Over the two-year period from January 2014 to December 2015, there were 959 deaths from attacks on health care. Sixty-two per cent of the attacks were reported to have intentionally targeted health care,” the UN health body stated, adding:
“Every hospital destroyed and every health worker killed or injured takes years of health services away from the people who need them most. Stop attacks on health care.”
Joining Mr. Guterres to mark the 2017 WHD, which is officially commemorated on August 19, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, spoke of the challenges faced by aid workers around the word.
“Last year, 288 aid workers were targeted in 158 attacks. In the past three months alone, relief workers have been shelled and shot at, kidnapped and killed in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan and Syria,” he said. “This is blatantly unacceptable.”
Earlier in the week, the UN and partners launched the #NotATarget petition urging global leaders do more to ensure the rules of war are upheld and civilians are protected in armed conflicts.
With more than 10,500 signatures, the petitioners demand that world leaders do more to protect people trapped in conflicts, with a particular focus on those living in urban areas, children, targets of sexual violence, forcibly displaced people, humanitarian workers and health workers.
The petition will be presented to the Secretary-General during the high-level General Assembly, which opens on 12 September this year.
The UN General Assembly designated August 19 as World Humanitarian Day in 2008, selecting the date to coincide with the anniversary of the deadly 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.
Originally coined by Médecins Sans Frontières in 2015, the #NotATarget hashtag is being used in the World Humanitarian Day digital campaign this year to call for action on behalf of all civilians trapped in conflicts.
The illegal occupation of Belema Flow Station and Gas Plant in Rivers State has safety implications both for the people at the facilities and nearby communities, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has warned. Since Friday, August 11, 2017 some persons have reportedly camped out day and night at the two facilities.
Protesters at the Belema Flow Station
In a statement issued on Sunday, August 20 2017, SPDC said it was “deeply concerned that unauthorised persons, including women and children, have been observed in close proximity to equipment that process crude oil and gas without the protection of safety clothing that is mandatory for people working in or accessing such restricted areas.”
SPDC had carried out an emergency shutdown of production ahead of the illegal occupation, but has been unable to access the facilities since then to ensure a safe shutdown over a prolonged period.
“The continued illegal occupation for many days exposes people at the plant to higher safety risks as anything could trigger a spill or fire with potentially serious consequences,” the company warned in the statement endorsed by its Spokesman, Bamidele Odugbesan.
Odugbesan added that the organisation remained committed to the development of the Niger Delta especially host communities including Belema and Kula.
“The SPDC JV partners have contributed $29 billion to the economic growth of Nigeria between 2012 and 2016. The SPDC JV is also currently supporting various GMoU Cluster Development Boards in the Niger Delta and mentoring NGOs to deploy a total of N7 billion for development projects of host communities’ choice under the GMoU programme,” he disclosed.
The three tiers of government (federal, states and local governments) shared N2.788 trillion between January and June this year, a 38% increase on the N2.019 trillion shared in the first half of 2016.
Executive Secretary of NEITI, Waziri Adio
This disclosure is contained in the NEITI Quarterly Review which focuses on disbursement from the Federation Accounts and Allocation Committee (FAAC).
The review was based on data obtained by NEITI at the meetings of FAAC and data from National Bureau of Statistics, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Finance and the Debt Management Office.
Out of N2.788 trillion disbursed in the first half of 2017, the Federal Government received N1.09 trillion, 36 state governments received N923 billion while N549.8 billion went to 774 local governments in the country.
A further breakdown shows that total releases to the three tiers of government was N430.16 billion in January, N514 billion in February, N496.40 billion in March, N418.82 billion in April, N418.82 billion in May and N462.36 billion in June.
However, despite the 38% increase in disbursements in the first half of 2017 when compared with 2016, all the three tiers of government suffered significant revenue decline in terms of projected FAAC disbursement. “Coupled with the low price of oil is the country’s difficulty in meeting the targeted/budgeted production rate of 2.2 million barrels per day. Production has consistently fallen below two million barrels per day since March 2016. Thus the double “whammy” of low oil prices and lower production that hit the country since 2014 has remained,” the NEITI Quarterly Review observed.
For instance, while the expected FAAC disbursement for the three tiers of government was N4.7 trillion, the actual FAAC disbursement to them was N2.788trillion, representing a shortfall of over 40.67%. According to the publication “the volatility nature of disbursements to all tiers of government in the first half of 2017 would suggest difficulty in implementing budgets at Federal, State and Local government levels. The volatility in revenue inflows will adversely affect planning and expenditure of government and thus likely hamper efforts at stimulating growth and development”.
The NEITI Quarterly Review further disclosed that a total of N513 billion was spent on debt servicing by the three tiers in the first quarter of 2017. This was against the N1.276 trillion disbursements in the first quarter. This means that debt servicing took up 40.27% of FAAC disbursement for the first quarter of this year.
“The figure reveals that debt servicing as proportion of total FAAC allocations is generally higher in the first quarter of the year, after which it falls to lower levels. Based on this, the figure of 40.27% observed in the first quarter of 2017 might be an upper threshold and it would thus be expected that this figure will be lower for the remaining quarters of the year,” the Report concluded. However, the Debt Management Office (DMO) is yet to provide data on the figure for the second quarter of 2017.
In this direction, the NEITI publication expressed concern that, the nation’s debt in relation to revenues appears to have reached critical levels. It further disclosed that domestic debt servicing constituted 90% of total debt servicing. The Report also remarked that “domestic debt servicing consistently outstrips external debt servicing. In the first quarter of 2015, domestic debt servicing made up over 93% of total debt servicing. This figure did not change much by the first quarter of 2017 as domestic debt servicing was over 92% of total debt servicing”.
On the Paris Club debt refund to the 36 States and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the NEITI Quarterly Review confirmed that N760.18 billion was released by the Federal government to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.
The money which was paid in two tranches represents refunds of over deductions from FAAC allocations to states and local governments used for quick payment of debt relief granted to Nigeria by the Paris Club between 1995 and 2002.
The NEITI publication disclosed that Rivers received the highest amount of N44.93 billion followed by Delta with N37.61billion and Akwa Ibom N35.98 billion. Bayelsa got N34.9 billion while Kano state received N31.74 billion respectively. The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja received the lowest amount of N2.05 billion. Details of total Paris Club Refund to the 36 States and Abuja are produced below:
Table: Break down of Paris Club Refunds to States and FCT (N Billions)
State
First Tranche
Second Tranche
Total
Abia
11.43
5.72
17.15
Adamawa
10.26
6.11
16.37
Akwa-Ibom
25.98
10.00
35.98
Anambra
12.24
6.12
18.36
Bauchi
13.76
6.88
20.63
Bayelsa
24.90
10.00
34.90
Benue
13.71
6.85
20.56
Borno
14.68
7.34
22.02
Cross River
12.15
6.08
18.23
Delta
27.61
10.00
37.61
Ebonyi
9.02
4.51
13.52
Edo
12.18
6.09
18.27
Ekiti
9.55
4.77
14.32
Enugu
10.72
5.36
16.09
Gombe
8.95
4.47
13.42
Imo
14.00
7.00
21.00
Jigawa
14.22
7.11
21.32
Kaduna
15.44
7.72
23.17
Kano
21.74
10.00
31.74
Katsina
16.40
8.20
24.61
Kebbi
11.95
5.98
17.93
Kogi
12.06
6.03
18.08
Kwara
10.24
5.12
15.36
Lagos
16.74
8.37
25.12
Nasarawa
9.10
4.55
13.65
Niger
14.42
7.21
21.63
Ogun
11.48
5.74
17.22
Ondo
14.01
7.00
21.01
Osun
12.63
6.31
18.94
Oyo
13.32
7.90
21.22
Plateau
11.29
5.64
16.93
Rivers
34.93
10.00
44.93
Sokoto
12.88
6.44
19.32
Taraba
9.33
5.61
14.94
Yobe
10.83
5.41
16.24
Zamfara
10.88
5.44
16.33
FCT
1.37
0.68
2.05
TOTAL
516.38
243.80
760.18
The NEITI Review reports that “the Federal Ministry of Finance stressed that the Paris Club releases should be used largely by the States for the payment of workers’ salaries, welfare, and pensions which may have been pending since 2014”.
The NEITI Quarterly Review also confirmed that the NNPC has completed the refund of N450 billion owed the Federation Account, as a result of portions of domestic crude receipts withheld by the Corporation from November 2004. This followed the implementation of a payment schedule worked out between the Corporation and the Federation Allocation Accounts Committee.
From the NNPC debt refund which commenced since 2011, a total of N206.242 billion was paid to the Federal Government, N151.446 billion was paid to the 36 States and FCT, while the 774 local governments collectively received N92.311 billion.
NEITI’s interest in providing timely information and data on the FAAC allocations to the three tiers of government is in line with its mandate to monitor and enthrone transparency in the management of extractive industry revenues. NEITI’s is also interested in the FAAC disbursements in view of the fact that over 70% of the funds involved are derived from the extractive sector.
Over four years – some 56 months – of implementation of a project tagged “Support to the Justice Sector in Nigeria” formally came to a close in Abuja on Thursday, August 17, 2017 amid pomp and circumstance.
Hon. Justice Ibrahim Jauro of Yobe State Judiciary; Mrs Joy Bob-Manuel, DG, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria; Mr. Kurt Cornelis, Head of Development Cooperation, EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS; and Ms. Cristina Albertin, UNODC Representative in Nigeria at the End of Project Shareholders’ Meeting in Abuja
Implemented by the European Union (EU), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Federal Government, the project gulped a whopping €19,076,309.
The project was realised in locations such as Abuja and nine focal states of Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Imo, Katsina, Lagos, Osun and Yobe. Its main objective was to strengthen the Rule of Law through enhanced accountability, accessibility, transparency and fairness of the justice system in Nigeria.
Essentially, the Support to the Justice Sector in Nigeria Project aimed to complement the efforts of government in improving justice delivery through effective coordination and cooperation among justice sector institutions, with enhanced legal and policy frameworks, strengthened operational structures and capabilities of officials in the sector, and increased access to justice and respect for human rights and the rule of law, especially for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups including children.
Through the support of the projects, some 62 resource materials and publications were produced, including among others, Justice Sector Reform Action Plans for eight states, Court Users Guides (in several local languages), Revised Police Training Manuals, Police Human Rights Handbook and Training Manual, National Policy on Prosecution, Sentencing Guidelines and several publications on Child Justice.
UNODC Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms Cristina Albertin, remarked that a unique feature of the projects is that it built a lasting platform for partnership among a wide range of federal and state actors in justice administration including network mechanisms with the aim to enlist holistic and comprehensive support across Nigeria justice institutions at federal and state levels for fair, accessible and faster delivery of justice for all.
She said: “In my view, this approach and resulting collaborative work cannot be anything less than a guarantee for continuity and sustainability in justice reform while the project formally ends. Let me assure you at this point that UNODC’s commitment to justice reform in Nigeria continues beyond project end as we know and recognise justice reform as a critical foundation to ensure the respect for human rights for each and every Nigerian, including the principle of equality before the law and the right to due process and fair trials.
The UNODC Nigeria boss congratulated and thanked partners and project supporters for making the initiative a success. She listed them to include the Federal Ministry of Justice, National Judicial Institute, Nigeria Law Reform Commission, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Federal Justice Sector Reform Coordinating Committee, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Prisons Services, National Human Rights Commission, Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Nigeria Bar Association, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), EU, GIZ, Embassy of Switzerland, as well as the nine states involved in the project’s implementation.
Albertin went on: “Good governance can only happen when it is grounded in accountable and fair justice systems. Public officials, be it legislators, governments or the judiciary will be judged by the citizens for their commitment to fair and effective justice delivery to each and every one.”
Referring to the resource materials and publications produced under the project, she stressed: “With these much-needed policy, legal and operational instruments and tools, justice practitioners are now equipped to deliver justice more effectively and efficiently, including to the vulnerable and poor without leaving anybody behind.”
Head of Development Cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Kurt Cornelis, listed some of the project’s achievements to include: development and adoption of a National Justice Policy; passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act; establishment of judicial research centres in selected states.
“We believe that the project has effectively contributed to government’s efforts in reforming the justice sector, and it is our sincere hope that the gains currently achieved will be further enhanced,” he stated, even as he disclosed that a successor project, Support to Rule of law and Anti-corruption in Nigeria (RoLAC), has started.
Cornelis said: “The overall objective of the project is to enhance good governance in Nigeria by contributing to strengthening the rule of law and curbing corruption.
“The main expected outcomes are to: advance the timely, effective and transparent dispensation of criminal justice; strengthen access to justice for women, children and persons with disabilities at federal and state levels; strengthen the fight against corruption by reinforcing prevention mechanisms and building the capacity of anti-corruption agencies to effectively address corruption in public procurement, the criminal justice system and the extractive sector, and, to enhance civil society and public engagement in the fight against corruption and the criminal justice reform process.”
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 deposited its instruments of ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
Francisco Guterres, President of Timor-Leste
The Southeast Asian nation thus becomes the160th country to endorse the global treaty, after Sudan and Zimbabwe on Wednesday, August 2 and Monday, August 7, 2017 respectively deposited their instruments of ratification of the Paris accord.
Occupying half the island of Timor, Timor-Leste is also known as East Timor.
According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), East Timor’s ratification of the pact will enter into force in a month’s time on Friday, September 15, 2017.
Previously, Haiti, the Netherlands, Venezuela and Serbia ratified the pact respectively on on Monday, July 31; Friday, July 28; Friday, July 21; and Tuesday, July 25, 2017.
Before then, the Republic of Malawi on Thursday, June 29, 2017 likewise endorsed the agreement, ahead of Egypt and Togo, which ratified the climate accord respectively on Thursday, June 29 and Wednesday, June 28 2017.
The Paris Agreement builds upon the Convention (UNFCCC) and – for the first time – brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries to do so. As such, it charts a new course in the global climate effort.
The Paris Agreement’s central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Additionally, the agreement aims to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the impacts of climate change. To reach these ambitious goals, appropriate financial flows, a new technology framework and an enhanced capacity building framework will be put in place, thus supporting action by developing countries and the most vulnerable countries, in line with their own national objectives. The Agreement also provides for enhanced transparency of action and support through a more robust transparency framework.
As a step towards ramping up clean electro-mobility in Europe, Deutsche Post DHL Group and Ford have unveiled new electric vans used for parcel delivery in German cities, with at least 2,500 electric “StreetScooters” to be in service by the end of 2018. The vehicles will be powered by electricity from renewable forms of energy such as solar and wind.
Each electric delivery vehicle could contribute to save around 5 tonnes of CO2
The transport sector is responsible for 23% of carbon dioxide emissions globally, and that percentage is expected to grow unless action is taken. A rapid shift towards electro-mobility is crucial to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and to achieve the central goal of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, which is to limit the global temperature increase to below 2 degrees Celsius. Such vehicles are also crucial to ensure cleaner air in the world’s towns and cities.
The launch of the new van is part of the GoGreen environmental programme of the Bonn-based Deutsche Post DHL Group, aimed at reducing all logistics-related emissions to zero by the year 2050. And it comes ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn in November, an event at which many examples of clean transport will be showcased.
12,500 Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Saved Every Year
The e-van, called the “StreetScooter WORK XL,” will function with a battery system delivering 30 to 90 kWh of power. 150 pre-production vehicles will already be used for parcel deliveries in Germany by the end of 2017.
“It is the perfect vehicle for parcel deliveries in major cities and large urban areas, and will enable us to cope with the rising parcel volumes in an even more environmentally friendly and quieter manner,” says Jürgen Gerdes, Member of the Board of Management Post – eCommerce – Parcel, at Deutsche Post DHL Group.
Each of these vehicles could contribute to save around 5 tonnes of CO2 and 1,900 liters of diesel fuel each year. With at least 2,500 e-vans in service as planned, this could allow for a total saving of 12,500 tonnes of CO2 and 4.75 million litres of fuel every year.
A Global Movement for Electric Mobility
In Germany and other parts of the world, similar initiatives are under way. Siemens has announced a plan to start an electric truck charging technology through cables on a stretch of German highways. Meanwhile, in the United States, the electric vehicle startup Chanje is set to launch a new series of electric trucks, vans and shuttle buses. And Tesla has begun the roll out of its Model 3 with an extended range and a price tag which makes the vehicle affordable for a large consumer base.
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the global stock of electric vehicles passed the two million mark in 2016, and this rapid rise has been led by countries including China, the United States, Japan, as well as several European countries.
Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) has set foot on the soil of South Sudan’s capital – Juba, with the establishment of its first office outside Nigeria.
Gabriel Ayuen Deng and Nnimmo Bassey in Juba, South Sudan
HOMEF is an environmental / ecological think tank and advocacy organisation with focus on hunger politics, fossil politics and creates spaces for knowledge sharing through Sustainability Academes and diagnostic Community Dialogues. The organisation, according to its promoters, places premium on information sharing through its publications, including through the quarterly magazine, Eco-Instigator.
HOMEF in South Sudan Office cooperates with the Nile Institute of Environmental Health (NIEH) to fulfill HOMEF’s mandate. South Sudan is a strategic location for HOMEF as the country struggles to maintain balance since gaining independence from Sudan in 2011. The South Sudan office will spear-head activities to contribute to environmental education and the protection of human, ecological and collective dignity within the country and region.
“Our base is Nigeria, but our focus is Africa,” says Nnimmo Bassey, director of HOMEF. “We believe there must be closer collaborations between civil society groups and countries within our continent. We must go beyond bilateral relations between our countries to close linkages between our peoples.”
On Tuesday, August 15 2017, HOMEF and NIEH co-hosted a public workshop in Juba on Water Pollution and the Quality of Life. The workshop dissected the centrality of potable water and sanitation in Nigeria and South Sudan, with special focus on the negative impact on these by oil extraction. The occasion was also used to present the African edition of the book.
HOMEF’s South Sudan office is headed by Gabriel Ayuen Deng.
