26.4 C
Lagos
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Home Blog Page 1916

Why we couldn’t track health grant, by Follow The Money

admin
-
0
Why we couldn’t track health grant, by Follow The Money

Abuja-based finance watchdog, Follow The Money (FTM), has said that it initially found it difficult to track the $55.5 million Federal Government health grant to the 36 states of the federation as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) because of secrecy as well as contradictory reports about the fund.

Gaya3
A Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in rural Adamawa State. PHCs in local communities in Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Kano, Kogi, Osun and Yobe states as well as the Federal capital Territory (FCT) are beneficiaries of the health grant

Hamzat Lawal, Chief Executive of Connected Development (CODE) and Co-Founder of FTM, while reacting to news of the official release of the fund in a press statement issued on Wednesday, 11 January 2017, said: “This is a beautiful development, outstandingly the fact that this was from the President himself. There has been extensive ambiguity, confusion, secrecy and contradicting reports about this fund. So tracking it has been really difficult for us. At a time, none of the concerned institutions, particularly the Ministry of Finance, could give us information about states that have received the fund and those that have not. Even the Ministry of Health’s Save One Million Lives (SOML) department, could not provide us with this detail.”

According to reports, the Federal Government, under the SOML Project of the World Bank, has released the money to the states and FCT, ostensibly for the promotion of primary health care provision, with each of them getting $1.5 million (N471 million).

The group disclosed that, since last year, the FTM team of CODE has been tracking the release and deployment of the fund in Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), in local communities in Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Kano, Kogi, Osun and Yobe states. It adds that, leveraging on the authority of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and to ensure transparency and accountability in the fund’s usage, the FTM team wrote the governors, and commissioners of health and finance of the aforementioned states to provide the costed work plan of the $1.5m implementation. But only Yobe State is said to have so far provided the information.

The news of the fund’s release has thus come as a relief to the campaigners.

Lawal added: “With this information, we are properly armed to go after the costed work plan using the FOI Law and President Buhari’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) compact from the concerned governmental institutions in the states and use our strategies to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of the fund as it impacts local communities across the country.

“Primary healthcare provision has been in an unacceptable state in the country. In our experience in championing rehabilitation of PHCs across the country, most of them lack water supply, electricity, security, skilled birth attendants, equipment, and toilets. We are optimistic that the efficient use of this fund will help in equipping the PHCs and in providing skilled labour force in them.

“The fund would do so much in terms of maternal mortality rate reduction in the country. This will also help in changing people’s lives, particularly the locals in rural communities.

“We call on the governors and concerned institutions of Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Kano, Kogi and Osun states to provide us with their costed work plan. We also call for transparency, accountability and citizen engagement in the use of this fund.”

UAE to invest $163bn to diversify energy by 2050

admin
-
0
UAE to invest $163bn to diversify energy by 2050

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced plans to invest 600 billion dirhams ($163 billion) in projects to generate almost half the country’s power needs from renewables.

UAE
An impression of the Shaikh Mohammed bin rashid Al maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, UAE

“Our aim is to balance our economic needs with our environmental goals,” Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum said on Twitter as the Gulf state unveiled its “Energy Strategy 2050” on Tuesday, January 10, 2017.

The UAE is a top oil exporter, but has taken steps to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels to generate power, including building nuclear facilities.

The country’s energy mix by 2050 will comprise 44 percent from renewables, 38 percent from gas, 12 percent from clean fossils and six percent from nuclear energy, said Sheikh Mohammed, who is also the UAE’s vice president and the ruler of the emirate of Dubai.

“The plan aims to increase usage efficiency by 40 percent and increase clean-energy contributions to 50 percent,” he wrote.

In June, Dubai announced plans to build a 1,000-megawatt solar power plant by 2030, the year it aims to turn to renewable energies for 25 percent of electricity needs.

In 2013, Abu Dhabi opened the world’s largest operating plant of concentrated solar power, which has the capacity to provide electricity to 20,000 homes.

South Korean firms are also building four nuclear reactors west of Abu Dhabi, which are expected to generate 1,400 megawatts by 2020.

The UAE produces around 2.99 million barrels per day of oil, of which it exports around 2.44 million bpd, according to Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) statistics.

‘Transformed’ German city wins 2017 European Green Capital Award

admin
-
0
‘Transformed’ German city wins 2017 European Green Capital Award

The German city of Essen has won the European Green Capital Award for 2017. The “Green Capital” is a title awarded by the European Commission, for the city’s success in transitioning from a heavily polluting mining centre to a clean and green economy.

German city of Essen
Essen, Germany

The award helps to highlight the crucial importance of city climate action in the run-up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn in November (COP23), hosted by the the UN and presided over by Fiji, with the support of the German government.

Both Essen and Bonn are located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state.

Commenting on the award, the Lord Mayor of Essen, Thomas Kufen, said: “This is powerful recognition that Essen and North Rhine-Westphalia are a hub for environmental and climate protection. We hope that both the UN Climate Change Conference and our role as Europe’s Green Capital can send positive impulses for change across Europe and the world.”

The award was presented by Karmenu Vella, EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, at a ceremony in Bristol, UK, which currently holds the title. Essen was singled out for its exemplary practices in protecting and enhancing nature and biodiversity and efforts to reduce water consumption. Essen participates in a variety of networks and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to improve the city’s resilience in the face of climate change.

Commissioner Vella said: “It gives me great pleasure to present Essen with the European Green Capital Award for 2017. Essen has used the lessons from its industrial past to build an environmentally sound future. They have applied the principle of working with nature and reaped spectacular results. We have a great deal to learn from Essen’s green infrastructure and indeed from its ambitious plans for the future. I look forward to the events that will mark its year as the 2017 European Green Capital.”

The greening of cities is essential to achieve the key goal of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, which is to limit the global average temperature rise to as close as possible to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The role of cities is particularly important given that most of the world’s energy is produced in urban areas, along with the most greenhouse gas emissions.

Successful Transition from Mining Industry to a Services-Based Economy

Essen used to be one of Germany’s most important coal centres, and is the first mining city to win the title of European Green Capital.

In order to protect nature and biodiversity, Essen has built “green corridors” and is renaturalising the river Emscher. In the area known as the Krupp Belt, former site of the Krupp cast steel factory, a leisure area has been built, full of trees and criss-crossed with bicycle paths.

Essen began large-scale coal production in the early 19th century. The decline of the coal and steel industries in the region led to the closing of the last colliery in 1986. The city successfully restructured into a services and financial centre.

The city of Essen intends to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% by 2020 over 1990 levels. Emissions already dropped by 29.5% in 2011 in relation to 1990, exceeding the German national average reduction.

This happened through a combination of national, state and local measures, prompting a reduction in the use of fuels such as heating oil, lignite and black coal and by ramping up district heating and renewable energy deployment.

Since 2010, the city has been buying certified green electricity, and since 2012 it has been helping all relevant stakeholders go green via a dedicated municipal agency. The Essen Climate Agency offers advisory services and works as a hub for consumers, companies, associations and other entities. It is also responsible organising environmental projects and campaigns.

The European Green Capital award will be celebrated in Essen with over 300 activities throughout this year, including many activities involving local citizens.

German city of Essen
Applicant Cities for the European Green Capital 2017

Essen, together with all the previous European Green Capital winners, will act as a role model for other cities aspiring to improve their environmental performance, encouraging them to develop and apply innovative solutions as they progress towards sustainability targets.

Essen (Germany), ‘s-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands), Nijmegen (Netherlands) and Umeå (Sweden)  were shortlisted from 12 entries across Europe. An international and independent panel of Experts assessed each applicant on the basis of the following indicators:

  • Climate change: mitigation and adaptation
  • Local transport
  • Green urban areas incorporating sustainable land use
  • Nature and biodiversity
  • Ambient air quality
  • Quality of the acoustic environment
  • Waste production and management
  • Water management
  • Waste water treatment
  • Eco-innovation and sustainable employment
  • Energy performance
  • Integrated environmental management

Bristol, the current European Green Capital, hosted the Jury deliberations on 17th June, where the four shortlisted cities presented their future goals, their citizens’ communication activities, and their readiness to act as a role model.

Video: Teenager with tumour needs your help

admin
-
0

A 16-year-old Nigerian needs your help to raise N580,000. The money is to enable him pay for surgery to remove a cell tumour that has deformed his face.

Vivienne Irikefe reports.

Ecuador, Georgia biennial reports under scrutiny at year-end forum

admin
-
0
Ecuador, Georgia biennial reports under scrutiny at year-end forum

The seventh technical analysis of biennial update reports (BURs) from developing country Parties was convened in Bonn, Germany, from 5 to 9 December, the final round in 2016. These reports are submitted by developing countries every two years, showing their actions in tackling climate change and support received to undertake them, as well as outlining associated challenges and constraints in implementing these actions.

espinosa
Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The technical analysis of the BURs was coordinated by the UNFCCC secretariat

During this latest round, two BURs, from Ecuador and Georgia, submitted between 21 June and 21 September, were analysed by a 10-man strong bilingual (English and Spanish) team of technical experts (TTE). The team included two experts on land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), who conducted the technical analysis of Ecuador’s annex on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries (REDD-plus).

The technical analysis was coordinated by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat, which will also support both the TTE and the country Parties in the preparation and publication of the final summary reports. These reports will capture the outcome of the technical analysis, including capacity-building needs which were identified in consultation with the Parties analysed, with the aim of enhancing their participation in the technical analysis and facilitating more transparent reporting in the BURs.

The summary reports, once published, will serve as input to the facilitative sharing of views (FSV) workshop, organised under the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), where the developing country or countries concerned give a brief presentation on their BUR, followed by oral questions and answers among Parties.

Technical analysis and the facilitative sharing of views are the two steps defined under the international consultation and analysis (ICA) process for developing countries, the objective of which is to increase the transparency of mitigation actions and their effects.

Additional information on the technical analysis of BURs, including the published summary reports, are available here.

Government urged to impose special levy on tobacco products

admin
-
0
Government urged to impose special levy on tobacco products

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has urged the federal government to immediately impose a minimum of 150% special levy on tobacco products as a means of raising revenue while also reducing the consumption and health impacts of tobacco use.

levy
Imposing a special levy on tobacco products is considered a means of raising revenue while also reducing the consumption and health impacts of tobacco use

The group, in reaction to the newly-announced import duties on tobacco products, said the new policy falls short of recommendations by public health experts, but instead incentivises local consumption of the product.

The ERA/FoEN insists in a statement made available to EnviroNews that, on the surface, the new policy looks promising “but a deep analysis shows it offers subtle protection for local tobacco companies which already controls 90% of the Nigerian market and will now produce more to addict the youths.”

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, had, in a recent circular to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), reportedly announced a raise of import duty on tobacco from 20% to 60%. Products that also had their duties reviewed upwards are imported rice, sugarcane, cassava products and salt, among others.

In reaction to the announcement, ERA/FoEN Deputy Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said: “We commend the listing of tobacco among luxury goods deserving higher duties. We, however, feel that the measure falls short of what is needed to reduce consumption of tobacco products instead it further cushions the local environment for production and consumption.

“We have consistently urged government to look the way of special levies, high excise and high duties on tobacco products, only a consolidated tax regime and the complete removal of all incentives and grants could end the indirect subsidy on  smoking by the Nigerian government.”

Oluwafemi explained that government decision to leave out locally-produced tobacco from the high taxes or levies regime is an indication of disconnect between the Ministries of Finance and Health and would be counter-productive as other tobacco companies would start considering building  new factories in Nigeria to produce the product.

He added: “We are also worried that the new circular ranks tobacco with rice, salt, medicine and other daily needs. Tobacco is not food.  Tobacco is not just a product but a lethal one that needs special attention.”

According to him, the nation stands to gain from imposing higher taxes and other levies on tobacco if done with public health in mind.

“We again re-echo our call that tobacco should be totally excluded from grants and other government incentives. We demand that the government instead go beyond the announced duties by imposing 150% levies on locally-produced and imported tobacco products. Anything short of this is cosmetic,” Oluwafemi insisted.

Bamsey, new GCF boss, takes office

admin
-
0
Bamsey, new GCF boss, takes office

Howard Bamsey has officially begun his duties as new Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund Secretariat. He was selected last year by consensus during the Board’s 14th meeting, following an extensive global recruitment process to select a new head of the Secretariat.

howard-bamsey
Howard Bamsey, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF)

Ambassador Bamsey is said to be a prominent figure in climate change diplomacy. With more than 30 years of experience in international negotiations, he has been instrumental in forging global endeavors on climate change action.

Mr. Bamsey will head up the GCF Secretariat, which was established in Songdo, Republic of Korea, in 2013 to serve the GCF Board. The GCF was formally established in 2010 to contribute to the achievement of the ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) by financing climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives in developing countries.

Welcoming Mr. Bamsey’s appointment, GCF Board Co-Chair Ayman Shasly, representing Saudi Arabia, said the GCF would benefit from the new Executive Director’s wealth of international experience. “This is an exciting time to become the GCF’s leader. I am confident Howard’s appointment will help the GCF scale up climate finance in the months ahead, after its commitment of more than $1.3 billion in 2016,” Mr. Shasly said.

Developed country Co-Chair, Ewen McDonald (Australia), added: “Howard’s leadership and negotiating experience will be of great value as the GCF consults its growing array of climate finance partners to ensure we match the needs of developing countries.”

Mr. Bamsey will work closely with the 24 members of the GCF Board, equally representing developed and developing countries, to oversee the Fund’s investments and management.

Bamsey succeeds Hela Cheikhrouhou, a Tunisian, who was the Fund’s first Executive Director. She is credited with setting in motion GCF’s first resource mobilisation process and overseeing the establishment of the body’s headquarters in the Republic of Korea.

In between Cheikhrouhou’s stepping down and Bamsey’s selection, Javier Manzanares, GCF’s chief financial officer, was the Executive Director ad interim.

Bamsey, former Director-General of the Global Green Growth Institute, has a career spanning decades in international climate change, environment and sustainable development, both in the diplomatic service and academia.

He co-chaired the United Nations “Dialogue on Long-term Cooperative Action on Climate Change” from 2006 to 2007 and served as Australia’s Special Envoy on Climate Change and Deputy Secretary at the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency from 2008 to 2010. He has also served in a variety of senior government and executive positions.

The GCF was established to support low-emissions and climate-resilient development in developing countries in the context of sustainable development and poverty reduction. The Executive Director will lead the Secretariat of the Fund, headquartered in Songdo, Incheon City, Republic of Korea.

Video: Changing face of Mangrove Ecology

admin
-
0
Video: Changing face of Mangrove Ecology

The mangrove is a very unique specie of plant that helps in protecting our coastal area from certain disaster. It is also a plant that most communities depend on as their source of livelihood.
The mangrove is fast depleting due to human activities and an invasive specie of plant called the Nypa palm. There is a serious cry-out for all communities to be given orientation on the need to stop wood logging as this action may aid in wiping out the community in future.

Alternative use of fuel efficient stove should be encouraged to detach community members from the use of firewood to cook even though it is seen as their lifestyle.

Cash incentives should be the motivational factor for many communities to key into the ecological restoration programme of the mangrove.

Nkese Eneyo reports….

Video: What prospects for Occupational Therapy?

admin
-
0
Video: What prospects for Occupational Therapy?

The Federal Neuro-psychiatric hospital’s School of Occupational Therapy is appealing to the public to help fund the school. The profession was almost extinct in Nigeria until the school was established 14 years ago.

I attended their matriculation ceremony for the new batch of students.

By Vivienne Irikefe

Video: HIV advocates call for school campaign

admin
-
0
Video: HIV advocates call for school campaign

HIV advocates call for school campaign

HIV/AIDS

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that two million adolescents are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, and that 82% of them are in sub-Saharan Africa.

Advocates say anti-HIV/AIDS campaign should be made compulsory in schools.

By Vivienne Irikefe

1...1,9151,9161,917...2,210Page 1,916 of 2,210

TV Report

Archives

2025 EnviroNews Nigeria. All Rights Reserved.

×