A Lagos High Court in Igbosere has adjourned the suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Word of Life Bible Church against the Lagos State Government over non-issuance of building permit to October 11, 2017.
Victoria Island, Lagos
In a suit marked LD/3040/14 before Justice Christopher Balogun, the church is asking the court to order the state government to issue it with building permit for its plot of land in Victoria Island, having paid all necessary fees assessed by the state in respect of the planned structure.
The claimant said it is the lawful owner of Block 1, Plot 21E, Victoria Island Annex Residential Scheme in Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
Joined as defendants in the suit are the Lagos State Governor, Attorney-General, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Building Control Agency, Physical Planning Permit Authority, and the Task Force on Environmental Sanitation.
The claimant, through its counsel, Kayode Bankole, averred that it acquired the property in 2003 with Certificate of Occupancy No. 68/68.199AR from Habib Nigeria Bank Ltd.
It said it secured an approval for change of use of the land from residential to institutional (place of worship) via a September 7, 2004 letter and that its application for a building plan approval was received, processed and assessed for payment of various sums of money which the claimant paid.
“The claimant applied for and secured land clearance from the defendants, by which the claimant was confirmed as the assignee of the land,” the claimants stated.
The defendants, the claimant said, demanded and received a total of N4,590,132.99 as Land Use Charge and other payments so as to allow it continue with its church building, when suddenly the defendant posted a contravention notice, dated January 20, 2014 on its fence, alleging absence of development permit as ground of seeking removal of the building on the land within two days.
According to the claimant, the defendant allegedly posted another two-day notice on January 21 and “demolished part of the fence without any lawful justification and in bad faith.”
It said the defendants, by two letters of July 27, 2010 and June 25, 2011 admitted it “loss all documents submitted by the claimant and demanded another set of documents and fees, which the claimant obliged.”
It is seeking, among others, a declaration that the defendants acts on or about January 21, 2014, amounted to trespass, was illegal, unconstitutional and contrary to Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution.
It also wants a declaration that “the sealing of the claimant’s property since April 2014 by the 4th defendant is wrong, illegal and unlawful and an order directing it to unseal the property. The defendants were yet to file their defence as at July 6.
The G20 and other nations have taken huge strides over the last year towards mobilising the trillions of dollars of public and private capital needed to make sustainable development and climate action a reality, according to new UN Environment (UNEP) research released recently.
Erik Solheim, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The first COP to the Minamata Convention on Mercury will take place in September 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo credit: OECD/Michael Dean
UN Conference on Trade and Development research from 2015 showed that the investment required to bring sustainable development in developing countries was short $2.5 trillion each year, with as much as 10 times that needed globally in the years to come – mainly from private sources.
However, the UN Environment Inquiry into the Design of a Sustainable Financial System’s “Green Finance Progress Report” – a contribution to the G20’s Green Finance Study Group (GFSG) – finds dozens of encouraging policies and financial product developments that show the public and private sectors are serious about changing this trend.
“The world has committed to creating a better future for people and planet. But we will not be able to achieve our sustainable vision without the global financial system using its capital to fuel the transformation,” said Erik Solheim, head of UNEP.
“This new research from UN Environment, a contribution to the G20 Green Finance Study Group, shows encouraging progress in this regard. From a record number of new green finance measures to ambitious plans for green finance hubs, we are seeing the smart money move to green financing.”
Highlights from the report
Green financing at scale will be critical to achieve the G20’s goal of securing balanced and sustained growth. Establishing the GFSG during China’s G20 Presidency last year showed the G20 understood this – reinforced by Germany’s decision to continue the work during its G20 Presidency this year.
The G20 Green Finance Synthesis Report, adopted at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Hangzhou in September 2016, set out seven options identified by the GFSG to accelerate the mobilization of green finance.
Over the last year, considerable progress has been made against these seven options by all G20 members, and the international community, in increasingly systemic national action, greater international cooperation, and increased market leadership.
More measures related to green finance have been introduced since June 2016 compared with any other one-year period since 2000. The trends and measures have resulted in increased flows of green finance, most notably in the issuance of green bonds, which grew by around 100 per cent to $81 billion in 2016.
Examples of specific country action include:
India: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) issued disclosure requirements for the issuing and listing of green debt securities.
Germany: The federal state of Hesse has announced the intention to make the city of Frankfurt a green finance hub.
China: In June 2017, the State Council announced five pilot areas for green finance.
France: In January 2017, France issued a landmark €7 billion long-dated 22-year sovereign green bond, with a view to promoting best market practices (especially in terms of evaluation and impact reporting) and support the development of the green bond market.
South Africa: The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) is developing green bond listing requirements in line with international best practice.
Brazil: The Central Bank issued guidelines on integrated risk management including environmental risk at the end of March 2017.
US: The California State Insurance Commissioner launched the Climate Risk Carbon Initiative online database in January 2017 providing information on high-carbon investments of large insurance companies.
These changes to the financial rules of the game have helped drive the reallocation of capital in financial and capital markets. A comprehensive review looking beyond green finance to assess sustainable finance more broadly indicates that global sustainably managed assets under management have increased by 25 per cent compared to the last survey undertaken in 2014.
Encouraging positive feedback loops are emerging. Increases in green bond primary market issuance have improved secondary market liquidity, allowing new funds to open and operate within existing liquidity and credit-worthiness constraints. Four new green bond funds were launched in the first quarter of 2017.
According to the report, the progress made nationally, internationally and in financial and capital markets shows that financial system is reshaping itself to align with the sustainable development imperatives of the 21st century.
“The challenge now is to rapidly increase capital flows to investments that will support our sustainable development objectives and create commercially viable green businesses for decades to come,” said Solheim. “The G20 and others have set the wheels in motion. Now is the time to press hard on the accelerator.”
Sustainable agriculture practices must be widely implemented in order to stem an alarming loss of biodiversity and to protect endangered species.
Scott Vaughan, Preident and CEO of International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
This is according to the “Standards and Biodiversity” report released recently by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).
Agricultural production currently accounts for 40 per cent of global land surface and is responsible for 70 per cent of projected losses in terrestrial biodiversity due to widespread land conversion, pollution and soil degradation.
“What happens in agriculture matters,” said Scott Vaughan, President/CEO, IISD. “Growing demand for certified products presents a major opportunity to protect our natural resources. The market is rewarding efforts to conserve critical habitats, protect soil and water quality, and mitigate the impacts of climate change. But market forces are not enough.”
The market value of certified agricultural products was estimated to be $52.5 billion in 2015 for eight major commodities (bananas, cotton, coffee, cocoa, tea, sugar, palm oil and soybeans) according to Standards and Biodiversity. That is up from $31.6 billion in 2012, the previous estimate by the “State of Sustainability Initiatives Review”.
Two other major commodities – fisheries and forestry – also registered significant growth, according to the new estimates. The sustainable forestry market grew to $231.8 billion in 2015 from $200.3 billion in 2012. The sustainable fisheries market grew to $8.9 billion in 2015 from $6.8 billion in 2012. The total trade value of the top 10 sustainable commodity markets grew to $293.2 billion in 2015 from $238.7 billion in 2012.
Some agricultural commodity markets are now dominated by sustainability standards. Half of global coffee production was standards-compliant in 2014 (the latest available data,) along with 30 per cent of cocoa production, 22 per cent of palm oil production and 18 per cent of global tea production.
The study forecasts that four other agricultural commodities – bananas, cotton, sugar and soybeans – will have compliance rates of at least 10 per cent by 2020.
However, standards remain a negligible force across global agricultural production as a whole. If those eight agricultural commodities became 100 per cent certified, the study found it would still only amount to 12 per cent of global agricultural land area.
“If voluntary standards are to play a major role in reducing the impacts of agriculture on biodiversity loss, they will have to, at a minimum, establish a significant presence among other crops – most notably, staple crops such as wheat, maize and rice,” said study author Jason Potts, a senior associate at IISD.
“The good news is that we can build political will to address biodiversity loss,” Potts added. “Parties of the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are leading efforts to identify concrete solutions and immediate actions to achieve their biological diversity targets.”
The IISD study builds upon the CBD’s Biodiversity Impact Indicators for Commodity Production (BIICP), which identifies a core set of biodiversity indicators that can help governments and the agricultural industry understand how best to reduce negative impacts on biodiversity. The CBD Secretariat contributed to the development of the report.
“Voluntary sustainability standards are an important element of the necessary policy mix to redirect funding towards sustainable production practices and reducing biodiversity loss,” said Dr. Cristiana Paşca Palmer, Executive Secretary, CBD. “This report makes an important contribution by providing a better understanding of the role and potential of different voluntary sustainability standards, and what policy-makers can do to promote their wider application and their more robust integration into overall policy frameworks.”
The study was released at ISEAL Alliance’s annual meeting – the 2017 Global Sustainability Standards Conference – in Zurich, Switzerland. It identifies a wealth of information about specific commodities, such as:
Cocoa certification appears to be well positioned to promote improved soil fertility where it matters most through a strong presence in countries facing soil fertility challenges.
Coffee certification appears to be well positioned to limit the negative impacts on lakes and other water sources because standards are highly active in areas where the threat of eutrophication is most prominent.
The banana sector may be approaching a “glass ceiling” on growth, as it is currently limited to the small portion of production that is traded internationally.
Cotton certification appears to be under-represented in countries where cotton-related water use is most problematic: the expansion of certified cotton across Pakistan and India is strategically important.
Palm oil certification is geographically focused where forest conversion is most problematic but may nevertheless have limited impact due to the scale of demand for conventional palm oil by Asian countries.
Soy certification is most active in key areas of biodiversity vulnerability but has low adoption rates due to low demand for certified soy from Asia.
Sugarcane certification is highly concentrated in Brazil, which has lower per-volume fertiliser use than other major producing countries. India, China, Pakistan and Mexico represent strategic opportunities for the expansion of certified sugarcane aimed at protecting water quality.
Tea production compliant with standards accounts for 18 per cent of global tea production (by volume) but only 13 per cent of global area under tea production, as it appears to be concentrated in higher-yielding production systems.
A team of experts who recently converged on Abuja to proffer solutions to the nation’s energy crises has demanded a national renewable energy policy to achieve the right energy mix for Nigeria, curb pollution and address climate change.
Solar panels
The policy, the participants noted, should redirect attention from fossil fuels such as oil and gas, nuclear, coal, and tar sands oil.
At the forum themed: “Energy Governance and a Just Transition for Nigeria”, they stressed that Nigeria’s continuous dependence on fossil fuels and generators largely contradicts her Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) pledge of 20% unconditional emission reduction and 45% conditional reduction based on green climate funding and other international fiscal instruments.
They called on the three tiers of government (federal, state and local governments) to take more proactive steps towards energy transition by committing 5% of the annual budget to achieving energy transition across a 10-year period.
Godwin Uyi Ojo, Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), said: “A just energy transition for Nigeria would mean a commitment to an Energy Democracy model that is decentralised and people-driven. It is a system where production and supply chain are managed and controlled by the communities themselves in ways that promote sharing in the investment and benefits as co-producers and suppliers of energy rather than monopolistic companies. This energy democracy model can be achieved through house hold units, schools, or communities mini-grid systems that are cost effective. It is also environment-friendly and generates green jobs that are less capital intensive.”
According to him, Nigeria should not be left behind in the global shift from fossil fuel dependency to renewable energy source as a response to cubing climate change and its devastating impacts. He added that, for Nigeria, the prospect of a just energy transition would spell benefits beyond the current energy system.
He said: “On a global scale, in spite of the rising energy demand more than 1.6 billion people have no access to electricity and about 2.4 billion depend on fuel wood.”
Ojo lamented that government at varying levels of governance in Nigeria lack conscientious and holistic approach to addressing the short fall through alternatives in solar powered systems.
“To move towards just energy transition, the World Bank, Africa Development Bank and other financial institutions and national governments must eliminate incentives in loans and subsidies promoting extractive activities in oil and gas prospecting. Instead, such divestment should translate to investment in renewable energy research, green technology, and the provision of loans, subsidies and zero tariffs for solar equipment and production,” he added.
Another resource person, Mike Karikpo, observed that countries around the world are moving away from fossil fuels. He described the situation as “an emergency period” and called on Nigeria “to do what we have to do”.
Mr. Karikpo also lamented what he described as a lack of political will by the Federal Government to clean up Ogoniland in the Niger Delta region.
He advised government to as a matter of urgency start educating the people on the need for alternative energy sources. “The environment is our life and not for sale,” Karikpo said in response to a question.
A contributor, Alagoa Morris, decried the “massive” deforestation going on within the federal capital territory, saying: “There are no trees and yet the people are cutting trees for fire wood. This portends serious danger to the environment.”
Mr. Festus Eguojie of the Federal Ministry of Environment canvassed for Environmental Education in schools as a panacea for clean energy transition. “We are at the point where demand is not equal to supply,” he said.
Speaking on strategies for promoting clean energy access in Nigeria, Priscilla Achakpa, Executive Director of the Women Environment Programme (WEP), said through a representative that there is need for greater energy access and availability.
“You provide electricity for yourself, you provide water for yourself, and you provide security for yourself. So what is the government doing?” queried a participant.
A representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Uyique Etiosa, advocated for a review of the Federal Government’s Mini Grid Policy which, in his opinion, seems to concede so much powers to the distribution companies (DISCOs).
“By the current agreement, distribution companies could virtually veto any plan to build and operate a mini grid in a place within their territory. The DISCOs could also acquire same if they so wish. This policy is discouraging new entrants and prospective investors in this sector,” he opined.
While responding to some of the issues raised by participants, Kusimo Olutope of the Federal Ministry of Environment disclosed that the President has directed the Federal Ministry of Education to include Environmental Education in the curriculum of primary and secondary schools.
He said: “Environmental Education is the key to awareness creation on the need to protect the environment and to achieve the optimal results towards promoting clean and renewable energy.
He also noted that government has done a lot to encourage investors in the sector. But he admitted that cooking with kerosene in rural communities is a problem.
Mr. Olutope also said that, as a practical demonstration of government resolve to encourage the use of renewable energy, the Federal Ministry of Environment has fitted its offices including the office of the Minister with solar panels to power the ministry.
Other presenters on alternative energy sources such as solar energy include Mrs. Lande Abudu of AZURI Technologies and Habiba Ali of the Kaduna-based DARE, who made several demonstrations with solar lamps and other accessories.
Sunday Odeh, in his presentation, draws the attention of his audience and the government to the enormous opportunities presented by the clean cook stove. He explained that the pilot programme in three states (Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Delta) have proven very successful.
The programme, he said, involved teaching schools how to build clean cook stoves using local materials, thereby reducing dependence on fire wood, as well as providing a livelihood for the stove producers. This, added, could be replicated in other states “but for funding which has limited the ability to go forward”.
He also advocated for a policy change as he said that “voluntary reduction of emission can never work”.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) appears to be a major beneficiary of a set of reforms identified by a team of legislators as well as officials of international agencies to address drugs related crime in Nigeria.
L-R: Glen Richard, Project Coordinator, “Response to Drugs and Related Organised Crime in Nigeria”; Ms Cristina Albertin, Country Representative, UNODC; Hon. Eucharia Azodo, Chairperson, House of Representatives Committee on Narcotics and Drugs; Senator Joshua Lidani, Chairman, Senate Committee on Narcotics and Drugs; Eleni Zerzelidou, Representative of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS; and Ms Aishatu Abdulahi Kaltungo, Legal Officer, Federal Ministry of Budget and national Planning
At the close of a three-day session (Tuesday, July 11 to Thursday July 13, 2017) in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom State, members of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Narcotics and Drugs, as well as representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union (EU) deliberated on response measures to drugs and related organised crime in the country at a forum themed: “Balanced, Evidence Based and Human Rights based Drug Control in line with the 3 UN Drug Control Convention.”
The forum, initiated as part of the “Response to Drugs and Related Organised Crime in Nigeria”, focused on various responses that the Senate and House of Representatives committees believe they can take forward in the coming months to strengthen a balanced approach to drug responses.
In line with the priority areas set out in the National Drug Control Master Plan (NDCMP) 2015-2018 for Nigeria, the two committees identified key action areas.
Firstly, it features Drug Law Enforcement, where they plan to strengthen the NDLEA as a professional institution through capacity building. In the light of the realisation that the agency is underfunded, the say funding should be the first line charge.
They also underlined the need for the NDLEA to raise its profile, essentially by increasing advocacy through print, broadcast and social media, as well as via a functional website. The legislators also highlighted enabling NDLEA to investigate drug trafficking and related crimes that involve money laundering.
Second, entails Drug Demand Reduction, where it is proposed that there will be sensitisation, awareness and education on drug issues especially to communities, families, professionals, government, religious leaders, traditional leaders and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
There will likewise be professional training that is continuous at treatment centres for drug counsellors, social workers, doctors, nurses and other professional staff.
Treatment will be expanded through establishing and maintaining treatment centres with a focus on drop-in-centres, community-based treatment, provision of continuity care (detox, counselling, rehabilitation, vocational training), women’s specific centres, centres for IDPs and provision of vocational training.
Thirdly is Availability and Control of Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances, which will ensure that regular and adequate supply of appropriate and recommended opioid medicines are available in the country.
Besides standardising formulations of controlled drugs, the action areas also aims to regulate and control the required and recommended psychotropic substances and precursors.
“The Committees will continue to engage with various ministries and technical agencies of Government of Nigeria, discuss with Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Health, the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, the European Union as well as the United nations Office on Drugs and Crime to take forward Nigeria’s response on drug control,” said Senator Joshua Lidani, chairman of the Senate Committee on Narcotics and Drugs.
Funded by the EU, “Response to Drugs and Related Organised Crime in Nigeria” is being implemented by the UNODC to support Nigeria’s efforts to tackle drug-related challenges using a multi-faceted approach. The project commenced at the start of 2013 and is scheduled to conclude at the end of 2019.
Full of giant trees, dense, mossy and mysterious, the Białowieża Forest in Poland has been described as one out of a fairy tale. It is said to be is one of the last remnants of the ancient forest that once covered half of Europe for millennia. The forest, which is home to a herd of 900 wild bison and straddles the border of Poland and Belarus, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
The Białowieża Forest is home to a herd of 900 wild bison
But there are concerns over the Polish government’s handling of this legacy.
Loggers using heavy machinery are clear-cutting the forest, felling 150-year-old spruces and ignoring the breeding seasons of birds, scientists and campaigners allege.
“It infuriates me that some vandals, barbarians, can destroy the forest,” notes biologist Tomasz Wesolowski. “I don’t know when the breaking point will be…but with every cut we get closer to it. If we lose the forest, we lose it forever.”
“Białowieża is a haven for biodiversity – unparalleled on this continent,” says Jaroslaw Krogulec of Birdlife Poland.
According to conservationists, some180 bird species breed there, including three-toed woodpeckers and Eurasian pygmy owls. Lynx and elk are among the 59 mammal species. The forest is also the habitat of bison – the largest wild herd on the continent. Biologists are likewise fascinated by the multitude of mosses, lichens and fungi.
The Polish government, on its part, claims that logging is necessary to protect the forest from the bark beetle. Ecologists consider this to be a pretext, pointing out that they are a natural part of the forest ecosystem. The government’s sole interest appears to be profiting from the sale of timber, they remarked, adding that logging has tripled since it changed Poland’s forestry law.
The nationalist government has reportedly ignored warnings from the European Commission threatening to take it before the EU’s Court of Justice. However, Polish environmental activists are standing up for the forest, chaining themselves to the logger’s machinery and risking arrest.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee on Wednesday, July 5, 2017 adopted a decision urging Poland to immediately halt all logging and wood extraction in the old-growth forests of Białowieża.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is expected to carry out a mission to assess whether the site’s unique values, which include intact ecological processes, are at risk. Poland has been requested to submit a report on the conservation of the site by December 2018. Should danger to the site’s Outstanding Universal Value be confirmed, Białowieża will be considered for inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2019.
“The old-growth forests of Białowieża are one of the main reasons why it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list,” said Tim Badman, Director of IUCN’s World Heritage Programme. “It is critically important – and a global responsibility – that the Outstanding Universal Value of this ancient forest be preserved for future generations. IUCN looks forward to engaging with Poland to carry out a monitoring mission to Białowieża, in order to assess the situation and identify and agreed adequate measures to conserve the site.”
Poland has been undertaking wood extraction and logging in Białowieża Forest. The site, which is protected under the European Union’s Natura 2000 initiative, was the subject of European Commission’s announcement, in June 2016, of an infringement procedure against Poland, which noted that increased logging in Białowieża is likely to cause irreparable biodiversity loss.
In a recent letter, the Rainforest Rescue urges Polish, EU and UNESCO officials save the forest.
The letter reads in part:
To: Prime Minister Szydło, Environment Minister Szyszko, EU Environment Commissioner Vella, UNESCO World Heritage Centre Director Rössler
Dear Madame Prime Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Białowieża is a priceless natural treasure. Its biodiversity is unparalleled in Europe, and ecologists and nature lovers praise its beauty in glowing tones. UNESCO declared parts of the forest to be a World Heritage Site in 1979.
It is therefore scandalous that Białowieża Forest is being clear-cut on a large scale. The loggers apparently do not even spare trees that are older than 150 years. The incomparable ecosystem, which encompasses ancient trees as well as deadwood and which provides habitat for numerous bird, mammal and insect species, is in acute danger.
Ecologists consider the argument that felling the trees is necessary to protect the forest against bark beetles to be a pretext.
Numerous scientists and conservationists from Poland and the rest of Europe oppose logging in Białowieża Forest and are committed to preserving it.
Please take responsibility for one of the last primeval forests of Europe and protect Białowieża.
In the wake of the recent predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) that enlisted Ogun among the states to experience above-normal rainfall this year, the state government has put in place necessary measures to stem impending flood disaster.
Ogun State Commissioner for Forestry, Chief Kolawole Lawal
Director, Ogun State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Sakirulah Adebakin, through the Head of the Media, Ministry Of Environment, Mr. Goke Gbadamosi, stated that the state government had embarked on several sensitisation programmes to inform and educate the people on the need to refrain from environmentally unfriendly dispositions such as dumping of refuse in drainages and building of houses in waterways, amongst others.
He disclosed that his agency had collaborated with the 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local council Development Areas in the state to identify flood-prone areas with a view to sensitise residents on flood prevention.
Adebakin said that SEMA had equally scaled up sensitisation through jingles on radio and television stations, saying government was also working with the Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives to reach out to the people through Community Development Committees (CDCs) and Community Development Associations (CDAs) across the state.
“We are very proactive in dealing with the issue of flooding. Natural disasters like flood usually do not give notice before they happen. But it can be prevented. We have shifted our attention from mere provision of relief to prevention. That is why we have embarked on massive public enlightenment as well as sensitisation to inform the citizens on ways to prevent flood,” he said.
The Director enjoined people living along river banks and flood-prone areas to relocate to safer grounds, adding it was better to avoid flooding than seek succour whenever it occurs.
He advised residents across the state to keep government abreast of emergency situations, particularly flood related cases for prompt and adequate intervention, as government remains committed to the safety of lives and property of its citizens.
The Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) has launched its first medical outreach in the Federal Capital Territory at Gidan Mangoro community of Karu in Abuja, treating more than 4,000 beneficiaries and providing medical supplies to five local primary schools. This is the latest phase of Shell’s Health-in-Motion programme which was rolled out in the Niger Delta in 2005.
Shell’s Regional Community Health Manager, Dr. Akinwunmi Fajola (left), presenting a First Aid box to one of the beneficiaries of the SNEPCo Health-in-Motion programme held in Gidan Mangoro community of Karu in Abuja
Speaking at the opening session of the two-day programme in Abuja, Managing Director of SNEPCo, Bayo Ojulari, said the crusade aimed to take free promotive, preventive and curative health services to the hard-to-reach communities in Nigeria. By doing this, he said, “we hope to be able to support the efforts of government at all levels in providing accessible healthcare to the people.”
Ojulari, represented by Shell’s Regional Community Health Manager, Dr. Akinwumi Fajola, advised against ignoring early signs of health challenge which he said could make it difficult for prompt and effective management by medical officers.
The Minister of Health, represented by Dr. Adebimpe Adebiyi, commended the Health-in-Motion initiative, adding that the Federal Government was willing to collaborate with SNEPCo to take the programme to other communities in Nigeria.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Iyke Judith, a widow, said: “My heart is full of joy to know that all the services – eyes screening and glasses; drugs; laboratory tests; everything is free. I am so happy; may God Almighty bless the company. I believe it is because of me that the company came here because I have been sick for some time now especially after my spinal surgery and had no money to visit the hospital. This programme has just solved my health issues.”
A total of 4,224 people from the community benefitted from different health services including include eye, dental, mass deworming, cardiovascular screenings, HIV & malaria testing and breast and cervical cancer screenings services. Three women were treated with cryotherapy on the spot for early stages of cancer of the cervix while 17 women with breast lumps had free mammograms done. Six hundred people with impaired vision received reading glasses while those requiring further management were referred to the General Hospital Karu.
The medical outreach was held in collaboration with the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and had in attendance representative of the FCT Minister, Dr. Mathew Ashikeni; the traditional ruler of Karu, His Royal Highness, Emmanuel Kyauta Yewp; and Chairman of AMAC, Mr. Abdullahi Adamu Candido.
Unabated climate change would bring devastating consequences to countries in Asia and the Pacific, which could severely affect their future growth, reverse current development gains, and degrade quality of life, according to a report produced by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK).
Flooding in Asia
Under a business-as-usual scenario, a 6 degree Celsius temperature increase is projected over the Asian landmass by the end of the century. Some countries in the region could experience significantly hotter climates, with temperature increases in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the northwest part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) projected to reach 8 degree Celsius, according to the report, titled “A Region at Risk: The Human Dimensions of Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific.”
These increases in temperature would lead to drastic changes in the region’s weather system, agriculture and fisheries sectors, land and marine biodiversity, domestic and regional security, trade, urban development, migration, and health. Such a scenario may even pose an existential threat to some countries in the region and crush any hope of achieving sustainable and inclusive development.
“The global climate crisis is arguably the biggest challenge human civilization faces in the 21st century, with the Asia and Pacific region at the heart of it all,” said Bambang Susantono, ADB Vice-President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development. “Home to two-thirds of the world’s poor and regarded as one of the most vulnerable region to climate change, countries in Asia and the Pacific are at the highest risk of plummeting into deeper poverty – and disaster – if mitigation and adaptation efforts are not quickly and strongly implemented.”
“The Asian countries hold Earth’s future in their hands. If they choose to protect themselves against dangerous climate change, they will help to save the entire planet,” said Professor Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, PIK Director. “The challenge is twofold. On the one hand, Asian greenhouse-gas emissions have to be reduced in a way that the global community can limit planetary warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, as agreed in Paris 2015. Yet even adapting to 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature rise is a major task. So, on the other hand, Asian countries have to find strategies for ensuring prosperity and security under unavoidable climate change within a healthy global development. But note that leading the clean industrial revolution will provide Asia with unprecedented economic opportunities. And exploring the best strategies to absorb the shocks of environmental change will make Asia a crucial actor in 21st-century multilateralism.”
More intense typhoons and tropical cyclones are expected to hit Asia and the Pacific with rising global mean temperatures. Under a business-as-usual scenario, annual precipitation is expected to increase by up to 50% over most land areas in the region, although countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan may experience a decline in rainfall by 20-50%.
Coastal and low-lying areas in the region will be at an increased risk of flooding. Nineteen of the 25 cities most exposed to a one-meter sea-level rise are located in the region, 7 of which are in the Philippines alone. Indonesia, however, will be the most affected country in the region by coastal flooding with approximately 5.9 million people expected to be affected every year until 2100.
Increased vulnerability to flooding and other disasters will significantly impact the region – and the world – economically. Global flood losses are expected to increase to $52 billion per year by 2050 from $6 billion in 2005. Moreover, 13 of the top 20 cities with the largest growth of annual flood losses from 2005-2050 are in Asia and the Pacific: Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Zhanjiang, and Xiamen (PRC); Mumbai, Chennai-Madras, Surat, and Kolkata (India); Ho Chi Minh City (Viet Nam); Jakarta (Indonesia); Bangkok (Thailand); and Nagoya (Japan).
Climate change will also make food production in the region more difficult and production costs higher. In some countries of Southeast Asia, rice yields could decline by up to 50% by 2100 if no adaptation efforts are made. Almost all crops in Uzbekistan, meanwhile, are projected to decrease by 20-50% by 2050 even in a 2 degree Celsius temperature increase (Paris Agreement scenario). Food shortages could increase the number of malnourished children in South Asia by 7 million, as import costs will likely increase in the subregion to $15 billion per year compared to $2 billion by 2050.
Marine ecosystems, particularly in the Western Pacific, will be in serious danger by 2100. All coral reef systems in the subregion will collapse due to mass coral bleaching if global warming increases by 4 degree Celsius (global business-as-usual scenario). Even with a 1.5 degree Celsius temperature increase, 89% of coral reefs are expected to suffer from serious bleaching, severely affecting reef-related fisheries and tourism in Southeast Asia.
Climate change also poses a significant risk to health in Asia and the Pacific. Already, 3.3 million people die every year due to the harmful effects of outdoor air pollution, with the PRC, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh being the top four countries experiencing such deaths. In addition, heat-related deaths in the region among the elderly are expected to increase by about 52,000 cases by 2050 due to climate change, according to data from the World Health Organisation (WHO). Deaths related to vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue may also increase.
A business-as-usual approach to climate change could also disrupt functioning ecosystem services, prompting mass migration – mostly to urban areas – that could make cities more crowded and overwhelm available social services.
Moreover, a warmer climate for the region could endanger energy supply. Climate change can exacerbate energy insecurity through continued reliance on unsustainable fossil fuels, reduced capacities of thermal power plants due to a scarcity of cooling water, and intermittent performance of hydropower plants as a result of uncertain water discharges, among other factors. Energy insecurity could lead to conflicts as countries compete for limited energy supply.
To mitigate the impact of climate change, the report highlights the importance of implementing the commitments laid out in the Paris Agreement. These include public and private investments focused on the rapid decarbonisation of the Asian economy as well as the implementation of adaptation measures to protect the region’s most vulnerable populations. Climate mitigation and adaptation efforts should also be mainstreamed into macro-level regional development strategies and micro-level project planning in all sectors, in addition to the ongoing renewable energy and technology innovation efforts in urban infrastructure and transport. The region has both the capacity and weight of influence to move towards sustainable development pathways, curb global emissions, and promote adaptation, the report concludes.
ADB approved a record $3.7 billion in climate financing in 2016 and has committed to further scale up its investments to $6 billion by 2020.
ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Established in 1966, ADB is celebrating 50 years of development partnership in the region. It is owned by 67 members – 48 from the region. In 2016, ADB assistance totaled $31.7 billion, including $14 billion in cofinancing.
Catholic Medical Practitioners have called on the federal government to legislate, regulate and monitor the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Nigeria.
GMOs
While demanding that attention be payed to the labelling of GMO products, they demanded adequate funding for research and development by the GMO regulatory agencies for the nation to derive benefits from the technology.
“But more importantly, to protect our people and environment from the many possible dangers thereto: decreasing food productivity, food gene extermination, corruption of soil ecology, food insecurity and biological imperialism as well as various health hazards on human beings, the environment, animals and plants,” declared the Association of Catholic Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (ACMPN) in a communique released at the close of its 12th scientific conference and annual general meeting that had “Genetically-Modified Organisms: How Harmful, Harmless or Beneficial?” as the theme.
The event held from Thursday, July 6 to Saturday, July 8, 2017 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The conference called on the government to re-commit to working for all Nigerians, truly developing a national consciousness on shared values.
They also want the government to lead Nigerians to possess, take ownership and protect the nation morally, socially, politically, and economically in a truly independent and progressive manner.
“The protection of lives of everyone, including the unborn Nigerians is a sacred duty for all, especially those in authority,” the medical practitioners noted, calling on the authorities to adequately train the personnel, equip and fund the national agencies mandated to protect the health and lives of citizens, the environment and natural resources.
“In this way, these agencies will not become mere facilitators and local proxy organisations for global businesses and so-called development partners whose underlying targets may be inimical to the strategic interests of Nigeria and her peoples.”
The conference further called on Catholic doctors to engage in health insurance and especially community-based health insurance to help citizens access health care, and for Nigeria to achieve universal health coverage to improve its current low indices.
It also called on all doctors of goodwill to adopt healthier, ethically and culturally adequate approaches in their maternal, child and family health care, rather than the values of the “culture of death”.
The ACMPN also re-committed itself to promote the sanctity of human life, marriage between a man and a woman, natural family planning and NaProTechnology in pursuit of family health and national development.
