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Democracy Day: Nigerians asked to be vigilant

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Democracy Day: Nigerians asked to be vigilant

Former Lagos State governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) national stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has asked Nigerians to keep and nurture democracy, nor for the sake of democracy but for the sake of the country.

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Bola Tinubu

“We must remember that should we fall asleep, there are those who would like nothing better than to take it from us,” he said in his message on the occasion of this year’s Democracy Day and 2nd year of President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Tinubu said Nigerians should remain vigilant and “by doing so ensure a better future and better Nigeria for ourselves and our progeny”.

The statement was issued on Sunday, May 28, 2017 in Lagos by Tinubu Media Office and signed by his Media Adviser, Mr. Tunde Rahman.

In the terse statement, the APC national stalwart said: “Democracy Day and our commemoration of it must be more than an empty ritual. It must add up to more than another reason to have another holiday.

“We, as a people, choose democracy as our preferred form of governance not because it would be easy to achieve or to hold even once we have it. We choose democracy because history has taught us that the welfare of the people is best and perhaps only secured by government responsive and accountable to the people. This can only be democracy.

“Many Nigerians have fought and sacrificed to enshrine democracy as our way of governance. We mark this day in honour of these people many of whom laboured in obscurity and without proper thanks to achieve this precious thing for the nation.

“We mark this day to keep in remembrance that we must not take this good form of government for granted. We must keep and nurture it, not for democracy’s sake but for our own sake. We must remember that should we fall asleep, there are those who would like nothing better than to take it from us. We must remain vigilant and by doing so ensure a better future and better Nigeria for ourselves and our progeny.

“Thus, I congratulate Nigerians on this day. I congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and urge him and his administration to continue to do all it can to protect and improve our democratic way of life.

“I wish all Nigerians a happy Democracy Day.”

Children’s Day: Rescue of 82 Chibok schoolgirls described as significant

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Children’s Day: Rescue of 82 Chibok schoolgirls described as significant

Senator Oluremi Tinubu representing Lagos Central Senatorial District has said the recent rescue of 82 of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls is a proof of the commitment of the Federal Government to the wellbeing of the Nigerian child.

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Released Chibok girl with her parent

On the occasion of this year’s Children’s Day, she said her prayers were with the remainder of the over 200 girls abducted from their dormitory in Chibok in 2014 who are still in captivity.

Senator Tinubu expressed the hope that the remaining girls would be rescued soon and reunited with their families.

In a letter addressed to the Nigerian Child across the 36 states of the federation, Senator Tinubu also charged the government to provide for those who have been displaced by insurgency and are often without basic necessities – food, shelter, affordable and accessible health care and education.

“This is your right and I hope that Nigeria can be better to provide you a whole world of opportunities ahead of you. It is my hope that every one of you can be protected fromviolence such in all its forms such as exploitation and abuse, trafficking, physical and humiliating punishment, harmful traditional practices etc. However, you must not let the difficulty of the situation around you limit the greatness you carry,” she said.

The letter reads:

“Dear Nigerian Child,

It is the 27th of May, a day set aside to celebrate you a valuable resource, our hope and leaders of tomorrow; appreciate childhood and address issues that concern you all. Thus, I rejoice with you.

“This children’s day is a joyous one, particularly so, in light of the return of 82 Chibok girls, children like you who were abducted in 2014 and deprived of access to their homes, education, parents and loved ones. The return of these girls is proof of the commitment of this government to your wellbeing. My prayers are with those still in captivity and for their hasty return.

“Some of you, especially those who have been displaced by insurgency, are often without basic necessities – food, shelter, affordable and accessible health care and education. This is your right and I hope that Nigeria can be better to provide you a whole world of opportunities ahead of you.

“It is my hope that every one of you can be protected from violence such in all its forms such as exploitation and abuse, trafficking, physical and humiliating punishment, harmful traditional practices etc. However, you must not let the difficulty of the situation around you limit the greatness you carry.

“My commitment to you children has not waned. As the Senator representing Lagos Central, I will continue to do my best to ensure better conditions, welfare and opportunities for you all.

“You are the leaders of tomorrow, Nigeria’s future; and everything you do and learn is to prepare you for that great responsibility and equip you with all the necessary tools. Please make the most of it.

Today, I wish you a happy Children’s day and hope sincerely that you take on the baton of excellence, impacting lives, your surroundings and Nigeria in all you do.

“Happy Children’s Day 2017.”

Urban development: Egypt to adopt citywide upgrading approach

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Urban development: Egypt to adopt citywide upgrading approach

As Egypt continues to exert all efforts for enhancing living conditions of its inhabitants, and in line with the Egyptian development vision 2030 and its urban development targets, the Ministry of Housing – represented in the Informal Settlement Development Fund – together with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Egypt are initiating a new cooperation entitled “Participatory Citywide Urban Upgrading in Egypt”.

Egypt UN-Habitat
Dr. Joan Clos, the Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and the Executive Director of UN-Habitat (centre), signing the cooperation project with Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Housing, Utilities And Urban Development; Eng. Khaled Sedeek, Executive Director of the Informal Settlement Development Fund; Ambassador Saeed Mohammed Al-Said Hindam, Assistant Foreign Minister and Director of the Department of International Cooperation for Development; and Mrs. Randa Abou al-Hosn, United Nations Development Programme country director

During his visit to Cairo on Sunday, May 21 2017, Dr. Joan Clos, the Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, signed the new cooperation project with Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Housing, Utilities And Urban Development; Eng. Khaled Sedeek, Executive Director of the Informal Settlement Development Fund; Ambassador Saeed Mohammed Al-Said Hindam, Assistant Foreign Minister and Director of the Department of International Cooperation for Development; and Mrs. Randa Abou al-Hosn, United Nations Development Programme country director.

The project will bring the specialised experience of UN-Habitat to the Egyptian context; supporting the planning and implementation of strategies and programmes that increase access to adequate housing, improve living conditions of informal dwellers and curb the growth of new informal areas. In this process, a number of participatory planning tools and guidelines will be tested, shared and applied.

Additionally, the project will endorse the establishment of a knowledge platform aiming for full participation and involvement of stakeholders from local target communities, community-based organisations (CBOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academia, private sector, national and international development agencies active in the urban sector.

The project, it was gathered, will be implemented in five years, targeting priority defined informal and unplanned areas in Egypt in support to the country’s vision to address and resolve various socio-economic and physical issues resulting from the spreading of unsafe, informal and unplanned areas.

Images: Governor signs Benue anti-open grazing bill into law

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Images: Governor signs Benue anti-open grazing bill into law

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Monday, May 22, 2017 signed the bill outlawing open grazing in the state.

Describing the development as a step in the right direction, the governor stated that his administration would do all it can to protect the state from intruders and criminals.

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Governor Ortom signs the bill as Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, Terkimbi Ikyange (right), lends a hand
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The governor displays a copy of the new law amid applause
Benue Governor
The governor addressing the gathering

Stakeholders task government on framework to implement climate change policies

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Stakeholders task government on framework to implement climate change policies

Stakeholders in the environment sector have called on the federal government to create what they describe as a holistic institutional framework for the implementation of climate change policies in the country.

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Environment Minister of State, Ibrahim Jibril, with some dignitaries during the “Environment in an Era of Change” forum in Abuja

This is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day stakeholders’ meeting of Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) in the environment sector with the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibril, in Abuja on Thursday, May 25, 2017.

Themed: “Environment in an Era of Change,” the forum appeared to be well attended by CSOs, NGOs, CBOs, FBOs,  development partners as well as other critical stakeholders operating in the environment and development sector from the six geopolitical zones of the country.

The meeting was aimed at facilitating stakeholders’ consultations on environmental issues, challenges and prospects in Nigeria and to engender interaction between the Environment Ministry and other stakeholders in the formulation of durable environmental agenda and roadmap towards repositioning the Nigerian environment.

Other objectives of the meeting include to stimulate policy dialogue on the environment among relevant stakeholders within the various strata of the society that will foster sustainable economic development in view of Nigeria’s efforts to diversify her economy and employment generation to the teaming rural communities, and also to facilitate the adoption of strategies to fast-track the Green Economy initiative through Public Private Partnership (PPP) Programme of the government towards implementation of the country’s programme.

The meeting was also aimed at providing an update on government policy action on environmental governance; seeking inputs of CSOs into the implementation of government environment programme and create the platform for continued engagement between government and the CSOs.

The communiqué also called for more awareness creation on the effects of land degradation and other environmental challenges in the country.

It also tasked the federal government to, among other things, emphasis on review and update of some environmental laws that are obsolete.

Other issues raised by the communiqué include the need for enhanced advocacy by CSOs in promoting effective environmental management; the need for the Environment Ministry to push for support from state governments for more collaboration in areas of sensitisation and the environment sustenance awareness embarked upon by CSOs, who urged for more collaborative support from the ministry.

Speaking, the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril, disclosed that the meeting was convened in order to provide a platform to brief the CSOs, NGOs, development partners and other critical stakeholders on the efforts to reposition the Environment Ministry in delivering its mandate.

This, according to him, would engender contributions of the stakeholders to further reposition the environment sector in view of the Sustainable Development Goals and the change vision of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

While charging the stakeholders to raise critical issues that would bring rapid development of the environment sector, the Minister said: “I do hope that this gathering will stimulate policy dialogues on the environment among various strata of the civil society with the goal of fostering partnership and collaboration for sustainable economic development in view of Nigeria’s efforts to diversity her economy and employment generation.”

Earlier in his address of welcome, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Shehu Ahmed, noted that governance in the environment sector can only achieve sustained result and become more effective with the active support and partnership of the CSOs, NGOs and other development partners.

He called for a regular interface and sharing of ideas between the ministry and the stakeholders so as to ensure a rapid development of the sector.

By Michael Simire and Hassan Danmaryam

St Kitts and Nevis ratifies Minamata Convention

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St Kitts and Nevis ratifies Minamata Convention

Seven days after a rash of ratifications triggered the Minamata Convention on Mercury into force, the Government of St Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 deposited its instrument of ratification, thereby making the twin island nation the 53rd future Party to the Minamata Convention.

Timothy Harris
Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis

History was made on Thursday, May 18, 2017 when the global treaty came into force, having garnered the required 50 ratifications.

On that day, the EU and seven of its member States – Bulgaria, Denmark, Hungary, Malta, the Netherlands, Romania and Sweden – deposited their instruments of ratification at the UN Headquarters in New York, bringing to 51 the current number of future Parties.

As a result, on August 16 2017, the Convention, which aims at protecting human health and the environment from anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds, will become legally binding for all its Parties.

The 1st Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention (COP1) will gather governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations from around the world in Geneva from September 24 to 29, 2017.

The Minamata Convention is said to be the first new global Convention on environment and health adopted for close to a decade. It addresses the entire life cycle of mercury, considered by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the top 10 chemicals of major health concern, which threatens the environment and health of millions.

Shell inducts top-performing students into mentorship programme

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Shell inducts top-performing students into mentorship programme

Beneficiaries of The Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Joint Venture undergraduate scholarship who have consistently earned excellent grades have been inducted into a new mentorship programme aimed at grooming them for entry into the oil and gas industry and motivating them to maintain their top academic performance.

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Officials of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited and the Scholars at the SPDC Headquarters, Port Harcourt

“Our ‘Shell Meet Scholars’ programme is an extension of our joint venture’s education initiative for undergraduates in our areas of operation. It is our way of giving recognition to beneficiaries of our university scholarship scheme who have consistently maintained a CGPA of 4.5 and above in their courses of study,” said SPDC’s Social Investment and Social Performance Manager, Gloria Udoh when 18 out of the 22 students visited the corporate headquarters of the company in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, May 24, 2017.

She said that with the programme, the scholarship scheme has taken a more sustainable character as SPDC will encourage the 22 students to maintain their current academic grades by having SPDC mentors assigned to them.

“They also qualify for automatic internship placement in the company and free enrolment to the Shell-built Port Harcourt Literary Society Library,” Udoh added.

SPDC’s Campus Ambassadors Programme (CAP) will groom the 22 students to become role models in their various universities, while being prepared for possible employment in the oil and gas industry after graduation. The initiative will cover coaching in career management, self-evaluation and feedback, communications skills, technical knowledge improvement, change management, leadership skills and understanding of SPDC’s business culture.

The elated students thanked SPDC for the transparency of the scholarship award process and pledged to work hard to be worthy ambassadors of the company.

A total of 8,145 students from SPDC operational areas have benefited from the joint venture’s regular secondary school scholarship scheme in the past six years. The university scholarship scheme is a natural progression of the scholarship scheme for students at the secondary school level.

Menstrual Hygiene Day: WaterAid demands improved sanitation access to women, girls

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Menstrual Hygiene Day: WaterAid demands improved sanitation access to women, girls

On the occasion of the Menstrual Hygiene Day, WaterAid says it aims to help change the secrecy, shame and stigma associated with menstruation – a situation faced by some 800 million women around the world on their periods.

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Dr Michael Ojo, Country Director, WaterAid Nigeria

“Why does WaterAid want to bring periods out of the closet? The easier it is for people to discuss menstruation, whether they are teenage girls, village leaders or government ministers, the easier it will become for women and girls to discuss their periods with dignity and engage in dialogue about how to ensure proper menstrual hygiene management,” the non-for-profit organisation disclosed in a statement.

According to WaterAid, one in three women around the world do not have access to a decent toilet when they are on their period, implying that it can be really hard to deal with menstruation with dignity.

“Girls in Nigeria can be in danger if there are no private, decent toilets at school for them to manage their periods properly. They either go to the bush, risking attack from onlookers or dangerous animals, or opt to stay home and so miss out on their education and the greater opportunities it brings. Girls often feel shame, fear and confusion around periods and this is intensified when there is no source of clean water, soap, or a private girls’ toilet with space to wash in.”

The body emphasised that the needs of women and girls around menstruation have been neglected around the world, leading to inequity and missed opportunities. WaterAid is however now calling on everyone to be more open about menstruation, to help confront taboos, and  highlight the issues faced by the one in three women worldwide who do not have access to a toilet during their period.

Dr. Michael Ojo, WaterAid Nigeria’s Country Director, said: “This Menstrual Hygiene Day, we are amplifying our call for cooperation with the education and health sectors as well as those working in reproductive and sexual health to ensure girls are prepared for the onset of menstruation, to ensure they can care for themselves in a dignified and hygienic way, and to dispel the myths and taboos that often accompany menstruation.

“When there are no safe, private toilets in schools, girls often skip school during their period, or drop out altogether once they reach puberty. We need to talk openly about this issue and remove the silence and stigma that surround periods. Most of all we need to ensure that every woman and girl has access to clean water, safe toilets and somewhere to wash by 2030.

“Unless we can all talk about periods openly, we won’t be able to make sure that women and girls have the decent toilets and sanitary products they need; and the superstitions and taboos that mean too many women and girls live a half-life during their periods will remain unchallenged.”

The Menstrual Hygiene Day was started by WASH United in 2014 to build awareness of the fundamental role that good menstrual hygiene management plays in helping women and girls reach their full potential.

Oluseyi Abdulmalik, WaterAid Nigeria Communications & Media Manager, says: “Proper menstrual hygiene management for women and girls requires inclusive water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in schools and public places; provision of protection materials at affordable rates; behavioural change and communication and a review of existing policies to address this important issue. Everyone has a role to play. At WaterAid Nigeria, the integration of menstrual hygiene management in all of our sanitation and hygiene interventions – with a focus on Equity and Inclusion, WASH in Schools and WASH & Health is critical.”

PIGB: NEITI lauds Senate, urges House for speedy action

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PIGB: NEITI lauds Senate, urges House for speedy action

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has welcomed what it describes as a “bold step” by the Senate to pass the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) on Thursday, May 25, 2017 in Abuja.

Waziri-Adio
Executive Secretary of NEITI, Waziri Adio

The decision of the Senate to consider the bill as priority resulting in its passage is not only legendary, but historic given the challenges the bill has passed through in its legislative journey for almost two decades, the NEITI stressed in a statement.

As an agency set up to enthrone transparency and accountability in the management of extractive industries in Nigeria, NEITI says it has legitimate interest in the PIGB in view of its strategic importance to the realisation of its mandate.

NEITI therefore calls on the House of Representatives to find similar courage to give the bill an accelerated consideration on its merit in overriding public interest.

The transparency agency recalls that the passage of the bill is coming more than 17 years after the process commenced in April 2000.

“We also note that the objective of a petroleum sector Law remains to develop a dynamic governance framework that will re-position the Petroleum industry to fully embrace competition, openness, accountability, professionalism as well as better profit returns on investments,” discloses NEITI, noting that the public outcry that greeted the failure of the last National Assembly to pass the bill may have informed the current Senate’s resolve to revive legislative interest on the bill “resulting in the milestone achievement recorded at the moment.”

“We are delighted that to avoid the controversies that killed the last PIB, the current Senate, carefully assembled experts who carefully broke the bill into various segments beginning with the governance aspect of the proposed law. The PIGB now passed by the Senate is a product of this creative initiative.”

NEITI notes that, in 2016, it was in realisation of the current stagnation of investment opportunities in the Petroleum Industry, the negative consequences to the economy as a result of the absence of the new law that made the agency to publish a researched Policy Brief titled “Urgency of a new Law for the Petroleum Sector”.

“In that publication shared with members of the National Assembly, NEITI alerted the nation that Nigeria had so far lost over $200 billion as a result of absence of the Law. These lost revenues were as a result of investments withheld or diverted by investors to other (more predictable) jurisdictions. The hedging by investors stems from the expectation that the old rules would no longer apply, but not knowing when the new ones would materialise,” contends NEITI.

It adds: “We also note that NEITI’s 2013 audit of the oil and gas sector revealed that a cumulative $10.4 billion and N378.7 billion were lost as a result of under-remittances, inefficiencies, theft or absence of a clear governance framework for the sector. The cost to the nation in 2013 alone was N1.74 trillion.

“It is now hoped that, with the prospects of a new Law coming in to place, this huge revenue losses to the nation as a result of governance lapses will be eliminated.

“While NEITI looks forward to carefully studying the contents of the PIGB as passed by the Senate, it joins all stakeholders to commend Senate for what has been achieved so far  in the passage of this important bill.

“NEITI also commends the media, civil society organisations, industry, stakeholders and experts who have followed the bill in the National Assembly for their valued contributions to the process.

“NEITI hopes to convey a multi-stakeholders dialogue on the provisions of the bill as passed by the Senate to set the stage for informed stakeholders’ engagements on how this Bill will positively influence the on-going reforms in the oil and gas industry.”

Flagship UN ocean summit to mobilise action to reverse marine degradation

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Flagship UN ocean summit to mobilise action to reverse marine degradation

The United Nations has said that it will bring together Heads of States, Heads of Governments and other high-level delegates, representatives from civil society organisations, the business community, intergovernmental and UN agencies as well as renowned personalities, and other ocean and marine life advocates at the Ocean Conference on June 5 to 9, 2017 in New York to spur action to improve the state of the world’s oceans.

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Ocean pollution (or marine litter) by plastics and plastic particles is a major marine degradation concern

With the health and sustainability of the global ocean sharply deteriorating, the Conference, says the UN, comes at a critical moment.

“Human activities are having major impacts on the ocean, affecting everything from the viability of marine habitats to the quality and temperature of the water, the health of marine life, and the continued availability of seafood. Ocean deterioration has broader implications as it affects poverty eradication, economic growth, sustainable livelihoods and employment, global food security, human health and climate regulation – many of the critical goals needed to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda,” the global body disclosed in a statement.

The Ocean Conference, said to the first UN conference of its kind on the issue, will focus on achieving the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 14, highlighting the need to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

Mandated by the UN General Assembly, the Conference was originally scheduled to take place in Fiji. But Cyclone Winston caused heavy damage to the island in 2016 and the Conference was moved to New York. The Governments of Fiji and Sweden are co-hosting the Conference, and Fiji will kick it off with a special cultural ceremony at 5 June 5, prior to the formal opening.

The five-day Conference will result in a global call for action by UN Member States – a concise, focused and concrete declaration to advance action towards a more sustainable future for the ocean. The Conference will also generate hundreds of new commitments for action. More than 290 voluntary commitments have been made so far in the lead-up to the Conference and many more are expected, showcasing critical initiatives undertaken by countries, businesses or people, individually or in partnership, including Governments, the UN system, civil society and the private sector.

There will also be final report of the Conference, which will include the co-chairs’ summary of the seven partnership dialogues, focusing on marine pollution, ocean acidification, conservation of oceans and their resources as well as marine and coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries, marine technology and issues concerning Small Island Developing States and least developed countries that depend on the oceans for their livelihood.

Kicking off the week-long Conference will be the World Ocean Festival – a public event which will take place at New York City’s Governors Island on June 4.  The Festival, which is free and open to the public, will offer views of a parade of boats from Pier 64 on the Hudson River, around the southern tip of Manhattan and past the UN on the East River. The Festival will host activities for all and feature conversations with the world’s leading experts in ocean science, conservation and advocacy. The Festival is hosted by the City of New York and organised by the Global Brain Foundation.

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