The Secretary-General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, and staff members remembered former Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday, August 22, 2018, describing him as a leader who put people at the centre of the UN work.

During a wreath-laying ceremony in New York, Guterres led staff members in paying respects to Annan, whom they described as the embodiment of the intergovernmental organisation that worked to improve the lives of men and women worldwide.

Kofi Annan died on Saturday at the age of 80 in Bern, Switzerland.

Annan, a mild-mannered diplomat from Ghana, rose through the UN system to become its seventh leader in January 1997, serving two consecutive five-year terms till December 2006.

“Kofi Annan’s years in office were an exciting time. He put forward new ideas. He brought new people into the United Nations family. He spoke passionately about our mission and role.

“He created a renewed sense of possibility both inside and outside our organisation about what the UN could do and be for the world’s people.

“His most defining features were his humanity and solidarity with those in need.

“He put people at the centre of the work of the United Nations and was able to turn compassion into action across the UN system,’’ Guterres said.

He listed some of the actions Annan took to include uniting world leaders to agree global targets on poverty and child mortality – linchpins of the landmark Millennium Development Goals.

“The former UN chief also joined with civil society and the healthcare injury to save lives from HIV and AIDS.

“As his successor noted, Annan also did not shy away from addressing challenging issues.

“Annan faced up to the grave errors made by the United Nations in the 1990s – in its response to the Rwanda genocide and the Srebrenica killings – by shining a light inside the UN.

“The reports he commissioned aimed to make sure such terrible mistakes are never repeated and set the international community on a new course in its response to mass atrocities,” Guterres said.

Guterres stated that the passing of his predecessor was “a personal loss’’ for many who worked in the UN system.

While the UN flag outside headquarters was flown at half-mast for three days following the announcement of Annan’s death, staff members have been filling a book of condolences with expressions of sympathy to his wife, Nane, and family.

Many UN personnel also have been sharing their memories of a man who they described as “wise yet humble, courteous and charming’’.

By Prudence Arobani

Nigeria has had its fair share of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta in form of gas flaring and oil spillage, no thanks to crude oil exploration activities by multinationals in the restive region. Pretoria, South Africa-based Nigerian civil engineer and environmentalist, Bola Babarinde, who is involved in the promotion of the Bluestream environmental management products, says that Bluestream can play a vital role in assisting the nation in cleaning up polluted areas and addressing the challenge environmental degradation, if given the opportunity. But he wants the authorities to adopt a political will to be able to do so

Tell us about yourself, the Bluestream products, and your involvement in the business 

My name is Bola Babarinde, an enginner and a business man with interest in construction, commodities, import/export, renewable energy and green solutions which assist our environment.

Bluestream products are mainly environmentally acceptable products which include but not limited to bio-degradable degreasers and cleaners and soil remediation. I am a director of Delta Partners, a company that brought the products to Nigeria from South Africa. We are in partnership with reputable companies as our Nigerian operators, such as Enquot Nigeria Limited, champions soil remediation sales and services while we are in discussion with Nigerian Clean services on sewage and cleaning services products.

What is the source of origin of these products, and how effective are they?

This is a South African invention and 100% green; very effective with testimonies from reputable international companies as clients. You can get more infomation on Bluestream website.

How environment friendly are your cleaners, degreasers and bio-digesters, in the light of the fact that some of these products are not without side effects upon application?

All our products range are natural microbial-based with great value to the environment. We can assure you of no side effect of any of our products, as they are specifically developed to avoid use of chemicals.

We’ve heard of cases of crop failures and other negative impacts after the application of products like weed killers as well as crop bio-fortification. How effective and safe are the Bluestream soil remediation products?

It is simple and safe to use Organic SoilFix Liquid because of their non-toxic, non-abrasive, non-carcinogenic and non-volatile. They are produced from a natural waste product from the cotton industry. Organic SoilFix contains over five billion CFU’s Colony Forming Units per gram.

Nigeria has in its oil-rich Niger Delta region been experiencing large scale environmental degradation because of reoccurring oil spillage. A United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report has recommended an extensive clean-up of polluted land, wetlands and water bodies. What is your impression of this situation, how can it be permanently resolved, and what role can Bluestream, through products such its biodegradable degreasers and cleaners, play in this regard?

This problem unfortunately has been a scourge for oil producing areas for so many years, and past governments showed little or no commitment for the clean-up which was rather unfortunate. There must be a political will to address this matter. There is also the issue of corruption where monies are voted for the clean-up but eventually end up in individual pockets. This should be addressed by the present Federal government in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

There must be a renewed vigour to do the right thing for the people of Niger Delta, they deserve better. We may not be interested in dealing with government directly because of bureaucracy but we can work with our partner such as Enquot to assist in championing the project if we are approached. Government agencies are difficult to work with it due to complex bureaucracy. However, we are ready to assist if there is an enabling environment.

How affordable are your products, especially to small and growing businesses on the African continent?

The principal contributor to cost is insitu treatment of contaminated soil, which makes overall cost more than 50% cheaper compared to transporting the contaminated soil to treatment site and brought back after completion of treatment. In fact, we can save up to 75% of present cost of remediation method being adopted.

How long have you been in operation in Nigeria, and what projects have you undertaken in the country?

We are new in Nigeria, and we just signed an MOU with Enquot Nigeria Limited and undergoing product registration process with relevant government departments for approval. But I believe if there are opportunities Enquot will not hesitate to work on it as they are the sole representative for Soil Remediation Bluestream products in Nigeria.

Seven years after the UN building in Abuja was hit by insurgents in which 21 persons died, the reconstruction of the building has been shrouded in controversy.

The building, located in the Central Business District of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is home to all the UN agencies in Nigeria, many of which are still operating from different locations since the Aug. 26, 2011 attack.

On that day, at about 11 a.m., a car loaded with explosives broke through two security barriers and a driver detonated the bomb after crashing it into the UN reception area.

The bomb caused devastation to the building’s lower floors which is the headquarters for about 400 UN employees.

The then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Viola Onwuliri, described the attack as “not attack on Nigeria but on the global community; an attack on the world.’’

Also, the then UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, described the attack as an “assault on those who devote themselves to helping others.”

Shortly after the attack, the Federal Government promised that it would renovate and reconstruct the building within the period of six months after the incident.

Similarly, four years after the bombing, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), reassured Ki-moon, who was on a visit to Nigeria that the Federal Government would hand over the renovated UN building as promised.

Corroborating the Federal Government’s promise, Mr John Chukwu, the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, said that the UN had sorted out all grey areas at meetings with UN experts.

Further to this, in 2017, while signing FCTA/UN 2017 Annual Work Plan, FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, also promised to complete the reconstruction and hand over the building before the next anniversary of the UN.

Bello, who described the signing ceremony as a very important milestone in the relationship between the FCTA and the UN, said that speedy reconstruction of the building would be recognition of the UN commitment to doing good works in the FCT.

He promised that adequate budgetary provisions would be made in the 2017 budget to accelerate the realisation of set targets and bridge the deficiency gaps in performance in the previous years.

He said that the Federal Government also approved N6, 972, 986, 898 billion for the contract for the provision of security equipment and associated infrastructure, including furnishing for UN building.

“The UN building was bombed in August 2011 by terrorists that almost destroyed the entire building as well as led to the loss of lives.

“At that time, as part of Nigeria’s commitment to the ideals of UN and the support and also as reciprocation of what the UN has done for this country over the years, the government decided to reconstruct the UN building,’’ he said.

He said that the contract was awarded to the main contractor that constructed the building – Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

According to him, the scope of the contract is to provide the latest level of security parameter fencing that is capable of withstanding bomb blast as well as fortifying gates to the highest international standards.

He explained that it would also include the creation of three police posts including the installations of body scanners, baggage scanners as well as the installation of close circuit television across the internal and external portions of the building.

“So, all these will be done within a period of 13 months, hopefully by which time the UN will move to its office, the agencies in it will be able to operate from one location under fortified security that is up to the standard that the UN is used to,’’ he stated.

However, on June 20, President Muhammadu Buhari while signing the 2018 budget noted that lawmakers made cuts amounting to N347 billion in the allocations to 4,700 projects he submitted for consideration.

He observed that additional security measures for the UN building; the provision for rehabilitation and additional security measures for the UN building by the FCT was affected by the cut.

Buhari who expressed his displeasure said that the cut would make it impossible for the Federal Government to fulfill its commitment to the UN on the project.

But Mr Tony Odigie, Director, Public Building, Federal Capital Development Authority, said that what remained in the building was installation of security apparatus.

He said the contractor – Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. – had already moved into the site for the contract for the provision of security equipment and associated infrastructure, including furnishing for the building.

Odigie promised that FCDA was going “compress’’ the work, in order to meet the deadline.

Observers note that for almost seven years after the killing of some people and destruction of the building, the staff members of the UN have been operating in rented buildings Abuja.

They, therefore, call for urgent attention on the speedy completion of the building.

By Sadiya Hamza

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it is partnering with insurance companies to sensitise residents on safety measures and insurance policies meant to mitigate disasters in the South-East.

NEMA’s South-East Director, Walson Ibarakumo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 that the main business of risk management was for insurance companies.

“What NEMA actually does is to provide succour to victims of disaster.

“Although, insurance companies have not been forthcoming but NEMA is going to them to educate them that disaster management falls under their mandate as a business.

“Just recently, NEMA had a meeting with the insurance companies in Ebonyi, where we pointed out the need for them to collaborate with us and that their services are necessary in disaster management.

“At the meeting, the companies say that they will key in and be part of our sensitisation so that they can enlighten the general public on the vital role insurance have to play in disaster management.

“If individual or groups get to know and understand the role of insurance, I quite believe that they will subscribe to insurance companies’ policy or policies cover for their overall benefit when disasters occur,’’ he said.

According to him, if people take up insurance policy cover, when disaster occur, the insurance company or companies will come and do their own assessment and pay compensation to the victims.

“This indemnity or compensation is far above the succour NEMA brings to them,’’ the director said.

Ibarakumo said that NEMA would be taking the sensitisation to various markets in the zone on the need for traders to take-up group insurance policy against disasters.

He noted that the disaster like flooding and fire disasters were yearly routine in some markets, adding that traders had to take up insurance policy or policies against these developments, if not individually, it could be done in a group form.

“The agency believes that insurance companies will be of tremendous help to the traders in markets in Onitsha and other trading cities in the South-East at this point,’’ Ibarakumo added.

By Stanley Nwanosike