The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned residents to desist from open defecation to prevent cholera in the territory.
The Abuja city gate
The Director, Public Health, Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCTA, Dr Humphrey Okoroukwu, gave the warning in a statement on Friday, August 17, 2018 in Abuja.
Okoroukwu disclosed that seven deaths have so far been recorded from cholera outbreak in four communities of Sauka, Mpape, Kubwa village and Ushafa.
He, however, explained that open defecation was one of the causes that predisposes some residents to cholera, which affected some communities in the territory.
“People should stop defecating in open places, especially around the river banks to prevent infectious diseases like cholera.
“Residents are advised to have toilets in their homes and those who cannot afford Water Closet should endeavour to have pit latrines to avoid outbreak of cholera,” he said.
The director said that cholera outbreak was common during the rainy season and stressed the need for residents to take necessary precautions.
He said that cholera outbreak occurred mainly in rural communities that had no access to potable water.
Okoroukwu also enjoined FCT residents to treat their drinkable water and ensure that it was free of any contamination.
He advised residents to take sick persons with symptoms of cholera immediately to nearby healthcare facility or hospital, pointing out that timeliness is of essence.
On her first visit to the West African nation of Côte d’Ivoire, Canada’s Minister of International Development, Marie-Claude Bibeau, and the President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, shared a common vision and commitment to the advancement of women and girls on the continent.
Canada’s Minister of International Development, Marie-Claude Bibeau, and the President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina
Both officials met at the bank’s headquarters in Abidjan, following the Minister’s visit to an AfDB-financed rural agriculture project in Abengourou, Côte d’Ivoire, earlier in the day. Bibeau, Adesina and other senior management members exchanged views on wide ranging issues including gender empowerment issues, renewable energy, agriculture, and innovative financing mechanisms.
Canada is the fourth-largest contributor to the bank among non-regional members, and the sixth-largest donor to the African Development Fund (ADF), the concessional arm of the Bank Group.
The Minister emphasised the need to involve African women in decision-making processes.
According to Bibeau, “If we want to end poverty, women in Africa must be able to develop their full potential,” she said. She also expressed the hope that women would no longer be perceived as “mere beneficiaries,” but as “agents of change.”
“This is the approach we are taking in Canada. We are working to ensure that 15% of our department’s budget is allocated to transformative projects for women,” Bibeau said.
The Gender Strategy is a central part of the bank’s ambitious vision for Africa, based on the reality that gender equality is integral to Africa’s economic and social development. The vision includes creating opportunities for women, disadvantaged and marginalised people and communities so they can fully participate in and benefit from the development of their communities and nations.
Commending Adesina for exemplary leadership, Bibeau acknowledged that “change will not come overnight, but our collective actions will make a significant difference.” The Bank recorded exceptional results for 2017 with approvals of $8.7 billion and over $7 billion of disbursements, the highest performance since its creation in 1964.
From 2010 to 2017, the bank’s operations have positively impacted the lives of millions of Africans. Eighty-three million Africans have benefited from improved access to transport, and 49 million have gained access to clean water and sanitation. Nine million African women have been connected to electricity and the living conditions of 29 million more women have been significantly enhanced because of improvements in agriculture.
Adesina called for greater mobilisation of resources in favour of women.
“We need to change the current system and introduce a mechanism for rating and classifying financial institutions. Those who put the issue of gender at the centre of their concerns should be at the forefront of this ranking,” he said.
According to Adesina, “the bank plans to raise a $300-million guarantee fund for the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative.” AFAWA is expected to leverage close to $3 billion over 10 years to empower female entrepreneurs through capacity-building development, access to funding, and policy, legal and regulatory reforms to support enterprises led by women.
The initiative provides significant support for the advancement of Africa’s gender agenda. The bank is helping build women’s market programmes in countries such as Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Through four commercial banks, at least 200,000 women-owned businesses are expected to be impacted through financing, growth in revenues and through coaching and mentoring programmes.
Adesina said he hoped Canada would champion the initiative, launched during the bank’s 2016 Annual Meetings.
The Canadian Minister and the AfDB President also discussed closer cooperation between Canada and Africa, and Canada’s participation in the first Africa Investment Forum scheduled for November 2018 in South Africa.
Canada joined the AfDB in 1982. The country has supported all the general capital increases of the bank and all the replenishments of the ADF. Canada also participates in several multi-donor trust funds and other initiatives managed by the bank.
The African Development Bank Group is one of Canada’s leading partners in supporting sustainable economic growth in Africa. Other Bank Group priority areas of focus include environment and renewable energy, inclusive governance, peace and security.
UN Climate Change’s Momentum for Change initiative on Friday, August 17, 2018 released its new, interactive online report to highlight the climate action milestones that it achieved last year.
Building Resilient Livelihoods – Sudan
By shining light on the most inspiring and transformational mitigation and adaptation activities, known as “Lighthouse Activities”, Momentum for Change aims to strengthen motivation, spur innovation and catalyse further change towards a low-emission, high-resilient future in line with the Paris Climate Change Agreement.The Lighthouse Activities are showcased at the annual United Nations climate change conferences.
Last year, 19 Lighthouse Activities from various countries were recognised for demonstrating diverse solutions to tackle climate change. From companies that have gone climate-neutral to organisations that tackle plastic pollution to governments that finance green projects – all the winners aimed toward making a difference.
Commenting on the significance of the Momentum for Change initiative, head of UN Climate Change, Patricia Espinosa, said: “Now that the era of implementation of the Paris Climate Change Agreement has begun, each of the Momentum for Change Lighthouse Activities serves as a real-world reminder that climate action is not just possible – it is the path we must get on to achieve the goals laid out in Paris.”
By using a combination of infographics, animation, photos and videos, the digital report makes data digestible, says the UN, adding that the interactive elements highlight the real results and growing numbers the Momentum for Change winning activities are having in tackling climate change.
“Data is a key part of the design so that users can see an impressive by-the-numbers recap of major milestones, while at the same time feel inspired by the climate action underway around the world in the run-up to the Global Climate Action Summit taking place in San Francisco this September,” said Espinosa.
The report also comes ahead of the announcement of the winners of the 2018 Momentum for Change awards.
Leaders from business, government and civil society around the world announced on Thursday, August 16, 2018 that they would be delegates to the Global Climate Action Summit, which is to be convened this September in San Francisco, California in USA.
Hilda Heine, President of Marshall Islands, is one of the first group of speakers and delegates announced on Thursday
The leaders from six continents will join the current Co-Chairs: Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Patricia Espinosa; Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs of China Minister Xie Zhenhua; Chair of the Mahindra Group Anand Mahindra; the United Nations Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth Jayathma Wickramanayake; UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action Michael R. Bloomberg; and California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. at the crucial Summit.
The first group of speakers and delegates announced on Thursday include President Dr. Hilda C. Heine of the Marshall Islands; Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama of Fiji; Canadian Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna; Mayor of San Francisco London Breed; Mayor of Quelimane in Mozambique Manuel de Araújo; musician Dave Matthews; CEO of Unilever Paul Polman; Chairman and co-CEO of Salesforce, Marc Benioff; CEO of Dalmia Cement Mahendra Singhi; Executive Director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre Johan Rockström; Chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson; C40 Chair and Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo; and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Others are actor and activist Alec Baldwin; world-renowned chimpanzee expert Jane Goodall; astronaut Mae Jemison; NBC News chief foreign affairs correspondent and host of MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” Andrea Mitchell; Mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner; Director of Public Health and the Environment Department, World Health Organisation, Dr. Maria Neira; former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm; former U.S. Vice President Al Gore; Mayor of Rotterdam, Netherlands, Ahmed Aboutaleb; European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete; former Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus; and former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
Civil society leaders in this first wave of announcements include Mission 2020 Convenor and former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Christiana Figueres; Oxfam International Executive Director Winnie Byanyima; NextGen America founder and President Tom Steyer; General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Sharan Burrow; news commentator and founder of Dream Corps Van Jones; Green for All CEO Vien Truong; Conservation International CEO Dr. M. Sanjayan; AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka; and Chair of Slum Dwellers International (SDI) and Founding Director of the Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Center (SPARC) Sheela Patel.
This first wave of delegates comes as the Summit has published the latest draft programme for the Sept. 12‑14 event online, which can be viewed at globalclimateactionsummit.org/program.
The Summit will open with an astronaut’s view of the beautiful, fragile earth, produced for the Summit by National Geographic and narrated by actor-director Robert Redford before pivoting into details on the science of climate change and the risks humanity is facing from extreme weather events and the rising costs to economies, lives and livelihoods.
Later in the day, a series of events and dialogues will celebrate the extraordinary achievements and wave of momentum underway since the adoption of the historic Paris climate change agreement of 2015.
It will also underline new and continuing efforts underway across the Summit’s five challenge areas of energy, economic growth, sustainable communities, land and sea, and climate investments toward the next milestone of “peaking” pollution worldwide by 2020 as a prelude to decarbonising the global economy.
The second day of sessions will focus on crosscutting areas of climate action and climate impacts. This will highlight the activities of leading companies, cities, states and investors actively committing to climate action and racing toward a decarbonised future.
Nick Nuttall, communications director for the Global Climate Action Summit, said: “There has been enormous anticipation about the release of the draft program and the names of the thousands of leaders coming, many of whom are champions internationally and within their own countries, communities and sectors. Today we are delighted to begin the long but exciting process of announcing delegates from East and West, North and South. These are the first but certainly not the last, so please watch for updates on our website or via social media.”
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other response and security agencies have begun emergency rescue operations on a four-storey collapsed building in Jabi, Abuja.
Scene of collapsed building in Jabi, Abuja. Photo credit: Premium Times
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered from eyewitnesses that the building collapsed at about 1.30 p.m on Friday, August 17, 2018 with some construction workers trapped, including children and food vendors.
An eye witness account told NAN that there were over 15 workers in the building, six persons were rescued so far and one dead.
Speaking to NAN, Dr Onimide Bandele, NEMA Deputy Director, Search and Rescue, said that operations were ongoing, adding that some victims had been brought out of the collapsed building.
He said that eyewitnesses informed rescue operators that some construction workers were still trapped under the building.
“Search and rescue operation are ongoing and as at now we cannot say how many persons have been rescued.
“It is not a figure I can quote because it is at variance with what eyewitnesses saw.
“Our efforts are to ensure that we get to the roots of this and ensure that no life is lost.”
The FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, who also visited the scene commended rescue operators for their prompt response to the scene of the incident.
He said it was his earnest prayers that the trapped construction workers would come out safe and alive, adding that health personnel were on ground to take casualties.
He assured that, after the rescue operations, proper investigation would be conducted into the building collapse.
An eye witness, Mr Tersoo Achin, stold NAN that the four-storey building had been there for over 15 years.
Achin said that construction work began on the site only three months ago, adding that six persons were rescued from the collapsed building, and one is dead out of more than 15 workers there.
As at the time of filing the report, no official response on the incident.
Lagos-based construction firm, ITB Nigeria Ltd, has disclosed that it is about to complete the Trinity Towers located on Victoria Island in Lagos.
An impression of Trinity Towers
The “21st century style” structure is a flagship project by The City of David, a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and is designed to provide space for a blend of worship, work and recreation. The edifice, which sits n 10,000 square metres, has three towers of 14 floors each linked together and separated by corridors. Its special features include a helipad, garden terraces, gymnasium, 5,000-seater auditorium, wellness centre, and parking spaces for over 650 cars.
Speaking on the project, George Makhoul, Project Manager, Trinity Towers for ITB Nigeria Ltd, said, “This is a remarkable project for ITB Nigeria. The design and scope of the project with its attendant structural requirements speaks to our ability as a company to deliver excellent projects that set the standards for architecture in Nigeria. It also reaffirms our position as leaders in the construction industry.
“The features and amenities of the Trinity Towers is like no other. It is essentially a work of art brought to life with eco-friendly materials and proper utilisation of natural light and ventilation. We employed high efficiency glazing that reduces heat loss and reflects ultra-violet rays for lower energy consumption. Upon completion, Trinity Towers will no doubt be the ideal place for business and relaxation in Victoria Island.”
Valued at N2 billion, Trinity Towers, according to ITB, is positioned to raise the bar for contemporary office and relaxation space in the country.
“It boasts of an interior that will position it as prime residential and commercial property. The 5,000-seater concert hall will have automated and integrated lighting, sound and video system and state-of-the-art audiovisual facilities suitable for live broadcast. There are also indoor amusements for the kids, retail facility and cinema experience for all the family from the two cinema halls, recreational theme park and shopping centre,” adds Makhoul.
The Lagos State Government on Friday, August 17, 2018 urged residents to be mindful of the environment, as they celebrate the Eld-el-Kabir festival.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Babatunde Durosimi-Etti
Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, said in a statement that it was necessary to enlighten Lagosians to show utmost love for their environment, even as they celebrate.
The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, August 21 and Wednesday, August 22 as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Kabir, an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (also known as Abraham) to follow Allah’s (God’s) command to sacrifice his son.
Durosinmi-Etti said that the administration of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode had been in the forefront of the campaign for healthy people and cleaner environment.
He urged Lagosians to desist from acts that could have negative impacts on the environment.
According to him, a lot of waste will be generated during the Sallah and should be disposed properly.
“Lagosians should respect the environment and dispose of animal waste properly, as well as bag their refuse and put at designated points.
“To guide against the outbreak of epidemics, residents of this state must always ensure that they handle waste in the most appropriate way,’’ the commissioner said.
Durosinmi-Etti said that government was committed to bequeath a cleaner Lagos, where improved waste management facilities would enhance the turn-around time of waste disposal services.
He said that government had directed the rehabilitation of access roads to the Ikorodu and Epe dump sites.
The commissioner said that the law against street trading was still in force.
“Government will not tolerate any form of street trading, be it display of rams on major highways, road medians, lay-byes, gardens and parks across the state,’’ Durosinmi-Etti said.
He said that while it was not unusual for traders to take advantage of the season to market and sell rams, this must be done without defacing the state or compromising the wellness and well-being of Lagosians.
The commissioner urged Lagosians to take advantage of the various parks and gardens across the state during the celebration for leisure, funfair and relaxation.
A coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on Friday, August 17, 2018 called on government at all levels, institutions, private sector, groups and individuals to support the tree planting awareness campaign.
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State
Mr Ufana Husseini, Kogi State Coordinator, Rural Wealth Foundation (RWF) and leader of the coalition, made the call during a tree planting exercise to mark the 2018 Tree Planting campaign in Lokoja, the state capital.
The 2018 tree planting has its theme as: “Mitigate the Impact of Climate Change and Improve Food Security.”
According to Husseini, the aim is to guarantee food security and safety of the earth for future generations.
The agricultural expert said there was need for the country to also embark on forestation of the environment in view of the effort to diversify the economy from oil-dependent to agriculture-dependent one.
“The issue of tree planting is not only important but a necessity. People in the flood prone areas need to be sensitised and enlightened about the importance of tree planting.
“Tree planting can preserve homes and farmlands from being washed away by flood, thereby saving lives and property.
“Every nation, including Nigeria, needs to grow enough food for its citizens and rely less on imported food.
“Climate change is a global phenomenon and a nation that depends on imported foods is taking a very big risk,” he said.
Husseini attributed the issue of poverty and malnutrition prevalent in Africa, especially in rural areas, to lack of knowledge to exploit the abundant natural resources in the continent to advantage.
“In the rural areas, people are sitting on a goldmine, but they are still prone to poverty and malnutrition leading to so many diseases such as anemia among pregnant women and Kwashiorkor in children.”
These, according to him, are deficiency diseases which vegetable consumption could easily control but still prevalent in rural areas due to lack of enlightenment and sensitisation.
He said that the coalition, in view of the prevailing circumstances of rapid deforestation and desertification of the environment, resolved to sensitise Nigerians on the gains of tree planting.
“We began with the formation of Climate Change Clubs in primary schools with the hope for expansion to both secondary and tertiary institutions to create awareness on the dangers of climate change and need for tree planting.
“It is necessary to get them properly informed regarding the need for tree planting for carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration, food and erosion control,” he said.
The coalition includes: Rural Wealth Foundation (RWF) Justice, Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) and MOM Orphanage, Rehoboth Communication Advancement Initiative.
Others are Teens Educational Development Initiative (TEEDIN), Citizens Emancipation and Advocacy Trust (CEPAT) and Dual Communication Initiative.
The Edo State Government says it will partner landlords in Benin City, the state capital, on its greenery project as part of its efforts on environmental sustainability.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State
Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Dame Omoua Alonge Oni-Okpaku, said this while speaking with journalists on Friday, August 17, 2018 in Benin.
She said that the project would be driven on a social and behavioural change template aimed at encouraging landlords in the city to plant and maintain trees in front of their houses.
She said: “There is a big drive at enhancing the beauty of our state. We are looking at parks and gardens.
“We are also looking at building what the old Edo should look like in a modern form.
“Governor Godwin Obaseki’s drive is to create a beautiful Edo, a state where people can encounter with tradition and have a feel of it in the 21st century.
“We are looking at building up our parks, the ring road, and intend to get our landscaping right.
“In the greenery project, we will commence an awareness campaign to appeal to people to plant flowers in front of their houses,” she said.
The commissioner said that the state government would support the people in achieving the greenery project.
According to her, if everybody does their bit, it will become easier for the government to work on areas that are not owned by individuals.
Oni-Okpaku said that the state government would roll out a clean-up initiative, noting that the state government was planning to acquire and distribute dustbins in vehicles for the control and collection of plastic wastes.
The Executive Director, Project Pink Blue, an NGO, Mr Runcie Chidebe, says Nigeria records about 102,000 new cases of cancer every year and a significant low surviving rate.
Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole
Chidebe made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, August 17, 2018 in Abuja.
He said cancer was responsible for the death of 72,000 Nigerians annually.
According to him, less than 50 oncologists is not enough to cater for the cancer related cases in various health institutions in the country.
He stressed the need for the government at all levels to encourage more resident doctors to go abroad to train as oncologists that would tackle the rising cases of cancer in the country.
“In Nigeria, cancer is leading to 72,000 deaths yearly; this number is set to increase given that there are about 102,000 new cases of cancer every year and a significant low surviving rate.
“For a country with more than 180 million people and 102,000 new cases of cancer, there are less than 50 trained oncologists in Nigeria.
“For instance, survival rate for breast cancer in U.S. is 85 per cent, while it is a dismal 1.9 per cent to 10 per cent in Nigeria.
“This is partly due to absence of skilled professionals in cancer care, which leads to poor quality of service and poor treatment outcome,’’ Runcie said.
He expressed regret that when patients are diagnosed with cancer in remote south-south villages the only place they can receive treatment is in Port Harcourt, saying there are so many alarming cases in the country which are not reported by the media.
The executive director, however, called on the government to invest more in the prevention and treatment of cancer and other non-communicable diseases.
Project Pink Blue is a non-profit organisation engaged in raising cancer awareness, patient navigation, advocacy and free breast and cervical cancer screening for under-privileged women in Nigeria.
