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African civil society flays bid to ‘hijack’ renewable energy initiative

Michael Simire
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African civil society flays bid to ‘hijack’ renewable energy initiative

The African civil society has expressed reservations regarding what it terms efforts by the European Union and France to takeover the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI), a supposed African-owned and African-led initiative that was endorsed by all 55 African Heads of State to scale up renewable energy on the energy-starved continent.

Youba-Sokona
As a result of the alleged EU and France interferance in the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI), Head of the Independent Delivery Unit (IDU), Youba Sokona, who is regarded as a prominent African scholar and vice-Chair of IPCC, has declared his resignation

The AREI was launched by the African governments with the support of African citizens during COP21 in Paris, with the goal to provide at least 10 billion watts (10GW) of new and additional renewable energy to Africa’s peoples by 2020, and put the continent on course to add at least another 300 GW and achieve universal access to energy for all Africans by 2030.  It was supported by $10 billion in pledges for 2015-2020 by developed countries in Paris.

AREI, as defined in its framework, principles and work plans, is meant to aligned with African values of people-centred approaches, community rights, equity and a bold vision of Africa taking a global lead towards flourishing societies powered by clean and renewable energy.

Since Paris, an Independent Delivery Unit (IDU) was set up to deliver in accordance with AREI’s people-centred principles and approaches. The expectation was that a Board with Heads of State representing each African sub-region would be established, supported by a technical committee involving broad representation and participation by civil society.

However, there are fears that AREI’s integrity and promise of bringing light and energy to Africa’s people is now being threatened by the efforts of the European Union and France for what the CSOs term “premature undue approval” of projects not related to Africa, and seeming attempts to co-opt the initiative to serve European ends, supported by a small handful of Africans.

It was gathered that, at a Board Meeting convened recently in Conakry, Guinea on Saturday, March 4 2017, the European Union and France:

  • Publicly “announced the preparation of 19 new renewable energy projects, with a total potential investment of €4.8 billion” – when they are actually claiming to provide 1/16th or €0.3 billion of this amount, not all of which is for “new projects” or even for “renewable energy”, and with no clarity whether any of these are “additional’” efforts.
  • Managed to have rammed through the Board for adoption these partly EU-funded projects, despite the express objections from some African countries and institutions, and contrary to the principles of African ownership that would expect project priorities and proposals to stem directly from African countries.
  • Ignored and bypassed AREI’s own evaluation process in accordance to its criteria – developed with African and northern government, civil society and other stakeholder inputs. These require all projects be assessed in line with AREI social, environmental, gender and other principles and safeguards before any approvals can be made.
  • Claiming Board memberships when they seem to have only been invited to the meetings and contrary to the idea there should be one developing and one developed non-African country in the Board.
  • Pushed for the imposition of EU technical experts to supposedly take control of AREI core documents to be consistent with European interests

The group stated: “All the above seems to have caused the Head of the Independent Delivery Unit, a prominent and well-respected African (Youba Sokona), to declare his resignation. These actions have been enabled by one or two African states while the interests of the majority of States, and of Africans, have been set aside.

“While we acknowledge that the EU has scaled up support for African renewables since COP21 in Paris, these most recent behaviours are completely unacceptable. Recycling existing projects as ‘new’ ones for AREI virtually ensures it will fail to meet its goal of 10 billion watts of ‘new and additional renewable energy generation capacity by 2020’, leaving Africans in the dark.

“Listing projects in numerous African countries without their consent means these countries may miss out on genuinely new and additional resources from AREI in the future, undermining the legitimate expectations of those countries and their people.

“These carefully staged interferences in Africa’s institutions threaten not merely the potential of AREI to deliver new renewable energy, they call into question the independence and sanctity of African governance arrangements, including the African Union.

“Based on these concerns, we call on all African States, leaders and people to demand genuinely people-centred renewable energy for Africa, building on the great model set out by AREI and endorsed by all African countries.”

The group has thus made the following demands:

  1. That the European Union and France step aside and abandon any aspirations to have seats as Board members, and ensure AREI remains African-led and African-owned. AREI must be run by Africans for Africans. Interference in African governance belongs to another era.
  2. Full accountability, transparency and participation must be provided for African states and for civil society in all aspects of AREI. The Initiative cannot and must not become a tool for one or two African States to benefit themselves or their European counterparts.
  3. That any ‘endorsement’ by the Board of the 19 existing EU projects is indefinitely suspended until a thorough review against AREI Criteria, environmental and social safeguards, prior informed consent by the States and citizens concerned, and active civil society participation are undertaken. It must be for individual African states and people, not the EU, to propose projects to AREI.
  4. That all further funding and projects through AREI be genuinely “new and additional” to ensure the delivery of real outcomes for our people, with no more accounting tricks, and to ensure that developed countries are accountable and meet their financial obligations.
  5. That active participation by all civil society constituencies is ensured at all levels of AREI including its governing bodies, its workplan and project development, and project implementation on the ground.
  6. That African countries immediately take action to put AREI back on track and ensure full independence for the Independent Delivery Unit from donors, the African Development Bank and other third parties, and the reinstatement of its Head.

“We call for all partners in government, academia, faith-based, labour, gender, environmental, community-based organisations, national coalitions and regional and international networks to join us in championing a truly African-led and people-centred approach to renewable energy on our continent. AREI needs to succeed,” declared the group.

In a reaction, Mithika Mwenda, Secretary General of the Pan African Climate  Justice Alliance (PACJA), said: “This hijack by the EU and France threatens to undermine the values  that AREI stand for. The social and environmental criteria to protect  communities’ interests are at risk. African leadership of the  initiative is being undermined. And the financial pledges made at  COP22 will be worthless if the EU only plan to re-brand pre-existing  projects as finance for AREI.

“Not only are AREI, its vision and promise at stake, but the belief  that it is possible to pursue bold, people-centred, transformative  change that does not get corrupted.

“What happened in Conakry is disheartening. But we now have a clear  opportunity to re-assert the great values and principles behind AREI,  and to raise attention and necessary pressure to reclaim the  initiative. We have to mobilise civil society and African countries.  We have to create the conditions for Sokona to come back and continue  the work, in collaboration with civil society and others, to make  AREI’s bold visions come true.”

Applause as Lagos discards ‘anti-people’ sections of environment law

Michael Simire
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Applause as Lagos discards ‘anti-people’ sections of environment law

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has hailed the decision of the Lagos State Government to discard what it tags “anti-people” sections of the new Environment Law that had attracted wide-spread criticism from civil society and grassroots stakeholders.

borehole-sinking
The law had criminalised the sinking of boreholes without official permission

Sections of the law made public at a Public Hearing organised by House Committee on the Environment on Thursday, February 9, 2017 include provisions that appeared to give a considerable amount of powers to the Lagos Commissioner for Environment, criminalisation of the sinking of boreholes, imposition of fines of N100,000 on defaulters and prison terms for anyone in Lagos that sells or transports water, among others. It also had, according to ERA/FoEN, “a booby trap” woven into an irrevocable standing order on payments to contractors and concessions.

Civil society and grassroots stakeholders had also faulted the observed near total lack of consultation of a broad spectrum of stakeholders and Lagos citizens before the Public Hearing and what seemed like the hasty passage of the bill by the Lagos House of Assembly on Monday, February 20, 2017.  The groups also alerted on the inaccessibility of the law more than two weeks after the Wednesday, March 1 signing by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Monday, March 20, 2017 and made available to EnviroNews, ERA/FoEN said it got the final version of the law at the weekend, pointing out that the removal of controversial sections of the law was a “positive moment” for the Ambode administration and the Lagos House of Assembly.

ERA/FoEN Deputy Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said: “We are so impressed that the Lagos government allowed the voice of the people to prevail in its decision to finally expunge sections of the new Environment Law that are clearly anti-people and may have been sneaked into the document by proponents of Public Private Partnership (PPP) model for the water sector.

“Those provocative sections make the Lagos citizen a victim of the failure of successive administrations to invest sustainably in the water sector. By the sheer act of discarding them, the Governor Ambode administration has demonstrating that it is a listening one and we commend this.”

The ERA/FoEN boss however added that the language of the new law is still deliberately skewed to open the door to full privatisation of the water sector while ignoring proven solutions that the state government can learn from countries that have remunicipalised after burning their fingers on the myth called PPP promoted by the World Bank and International Finance Corporation (IFC).

He restated the position of local and international civil society and grassroots groups on the platform of the Our Water Our Right Coalition that solutions have been proposed in the document – “Lagos Water Crisis: Alternative Roadmap for Water Sector”, copies of which have been made available to relevant government agencies and the office of the governor, urging the governor to take a critical look at the document.

“With the removal of anti-people provisions in the Environment law it is still not yet uhuru. We still restate our opposition to PPP in the water sector which the state is still pressing ahead with. We are determined to challenge this false solution through lawful means including public demonstrations in the days ahead,” Oluwafemi insisted.

Government rejects Superhighway’s EIA, Cross River admits errors in report

Michael Simire
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Government rejects Superhighway’s EIA, Cross River admits errors in report

The Cross River State Government has admitted errors observed in its third failed attempt to get its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the proposed 260-kilometre Superhighway project approved by the Federal Government.

Ibrahim-Usman-jibril
Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril, observed that consultant to the project has not done a thorough job on the EIA

Last week, officials of the Federal Ministry of Environment in a stormy stakeholders’ family meeting it organised in Calabar, the state capital, rejected the EIA report submitted by the state, saying: “Definitely that is a document (EIA) that cannot even meet IFC (International Financial Corporation) and World Bank safeguard issues; they have a standard. Looking at the document we have standards that have not been met. An EIA report is a legal requirement which is used to the show level of your commitment regarding environmental and social issues and, at the end of the day, it will also dove-tail into your environmental management plan.

“If there are issues that need to be addressed and which are yet to be addressed, unless that is well addressed adequately, definitely if gaps are left it will be difficult for the Ministry (of Environment) to give the nod.”

Some of the areas faulted include: the baseline study, lack of stakeholder or community engagement, issues of “cut and paste” or observed plagarism, traffic management plan, impact analysis and management plan, financial plan, and others which the Minister of State for Environment Ibrahim Jibril, represented by the Director on EIA in the ministry, John Alonge said, “The Federal Ministry observed that the state government’s consultant to the project has not done a thorough job and we will encourage the consultants to do a thorough job. We are expecting a robust report that will address all environmental and social issues that need to be addressed so that we can have a class document that can meet international best practices.”

The state’s Deputy Governor, Prof Ivara Esu, who stood in for Governor Ben Ayade, said, “It is obvious that all is not against the issue of Superhighway, however we also noted that our consultants have to look at issues suggested and how we can remedy that. We shall do more consultations of the communities involved to capture all. We have noted the expert advice and various issues raised and how they will be addressed, we are a listening government, we want the UN-REDD and funding to continue. We are very anxious about resumption of activities on the Superhighway. Please, do all you can to assist us positively.”

Earlier in his opening address, Gov. Ayade said the Federal Government was frustrating the state “in all areas yet we forge along but environmental tools are to help human beings. As a people who have been denied all these, we need to take our destiny by our hands. We pass a law on absolute conservation, so how else can we show commitment to the forest?

“The Cross River National Park has been turned into an evil forest,” he said, noting that elsewhere like in South Africa superhighway pass through their national park but in the state “the old trees cannot even absorb carbon dioxide anymore and they begin to dry gradually. So the forest is not adding value because it is aging away.”

Despite pressure from members the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) who thronged the venue of the event along with civil servants, civil society groups like the Rainforest Resource and Development Centre (RRDC), the Ekuri Initiatives, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and others, insisted that the proper thing must be done to ensure that the Superhighway, when constructed, will not impact negatively on the people and the environment.

Executive Director of RRDC, Odey Oyama, said, “It is the contention of the RRDC that the Cross River State Government, under any guise whatsoever, cannot alter the boundaries of the park without the authorisation and approval of the National Assembly, and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. By the provisions of the section 94 of the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, the Cross River State Government is precluded from altering the territories of the Park as described in the National Park Service Act, which has been passed by the President.”

He further said: “It is worthy of note that the Oban Hills Division of the Cross River National Park, by virtue of section 50 (2) (b) of the National Park Service Act, CAP N.65, LFN, 2004 is the property of the Federal Government, approved and gazetted in 1998 and the proposed Superhighway’s route has encroached upon the gazetted territory as evidenced in the attached map.”

Equally commenting, the Chairman of the Ekuri Initiative, Martins Egot, said: “We were there to discuss the EIA document and we saw a display of politics by the NLC carrying placards and trying to intimidate everyone to ensure that the state goes ahead with the project with or without approved EIA, and from the presentation of the state they admitted errors in the EIA and moved forward to make promises of what they will do without correcting the flaws and it is was not correct as alleged by the governor that some people and NGOs are paid to frustrate the Superhighway.

“The Ekuri people have not been captured in the EIA and it is wrong to say that the Ekuri forest is degraded buy a community in a tropical high forest. So, clearly, all has admitted that the EIA is faulty so the proper thing has to be done.

“We expect the government to do the proper thing and ensure that all grey arrears as listed by the Federal Ministry of Environment are captured for the interest of all before talking of doing the Superhighway.”

By Tina Todo, Calabar

Residents, group condemn Otodo Gbame community’s demolition

Michael Simire
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Residents, group condemn Otodo Gbame community’s demolition

The Nigerian Slum / Informal Settlement Federation (Federation) and the Justice & Empowerment Initiatives Nigeria (JEI) have condemned the demolition and forced eviction of the Otodo Gbame community, an act believed to have been carried out by the Lagos State Government, albeit on Friday, March 17, 2017.

Otodo-Gbame
Otodo Gbame community under demolition on Friday, March 17, 2017

The groups, in a statement made available to EnviroNews on Monday, March 20 2017, stated that the demolition was executed “in brazen disregard for a subsisting order of court prohibiting the eviction of Otodo Gbame and other Lagos waterfronts”.

According to the Federation and JEI, around 8am on the fateful day, residents of Otodo Gbame – an ancestral, predominantly Egun fishing settlement in Lekki – spotted excavators by the entrance of their community. Community members were then said to have notified their legal counsel at JEI and proceeded to approach the demolition squad said to be led by the Lagos State Task Force, who said they were on orders from the Lagos State Governor, accompanied by Military Police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps who said they were under orders from the Lagos State Commissioner of Environment.

Community members, and later their counsel from JEI, presented documents evidencing a court order from the Lagos State High Court enjoining the government from demolishing their community. But the demolition squad turned a deaf ear, allegedly saying: “This is Lagos State. We don’t care about court orders; take it to the Governor.”

The demolition squad, JEI noted, presented no court order or other document authorising the demolition.

The statement reads: “Facing an imminent threat of unlawful forced eviction, the community members bravely attempted to form a human shield to peacefully stop the excavators from entering the community. Security forces then, reportedly, started firing tear gas and live bullets to disperse the crowd. Residents had no choice but to flee and begin scrambling to salvage what possessions they could.

“The demolition squad began demolishing their homes using three excavators, one of which was a “swamp buggy” specially contracted by the State Government to demolish all the structures built on water – a traditional building technique used by Egun fishing communities along the Lagoon. Later in the day, a fourth excavator joined the squad. Two ‘Black Maria’ mobile detention vehicles were on site throughout the demolition as a warning against any resistance.

“By early evening, all the homes and businesses built on land had been destroyed, rendering an estimated 4,698 residents – including children and the elderly – homeless in a matter of hours. There was no prior notice, no consultation, and no alternative shelter or resettlement offered.

“It will be recalled that the threat to the Lagos waterfronts began when Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode announced to the media on 9 October 2016 the government’s intention to ‘start demolishing all shanties on waterfronts across the State within seven days.’ Based on mapping and profiling done by the Federation in informal settlements across Lagos, we believe at least 40 communities and over 300,000 residents fell under this threat of imminent eviction.

“Accordingly, more than 20 Federation member communities joined together to write to Governor Ambode calling for retraction of the threat and requesting for dialogue to explore alternatives to eviction. Two peaceful protests brought thousands of waterfront residents to the gates of the Governor’s office and the State House of Assembly, but to no avail. To the contrary, the Lagos State Government proceeded to demolish Ilubirin on 15 October 2016. Finally, the threatened waterfronts had no option but to proceed to court to enforce their fundamental rights.

“On 7 November 2016, Honourable Justice S. A. Onigbanjo of the Lagos State High Court granted an injunction restraining the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Police Force from proceeding with any demolition of the waterfronts. Despite this order, on 9-10 November 2016, Otodo Gbame community was demolished and over 30,000 residents forcibly evicted by arson attack and an excavator that began working in the dead of night while residents were sleeping.

“The November demolition of Otodo Gbame has been broadly condemned as a forced eviction and a gross violation of human rights, including by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, Amnesty International, and countless others.

“On 26 January 2017, Honourable Justice Onigbanjo delivered a landmark ruling in the case brought by waterfront residents. His Lordship found that demolitions on short notice without provision of alternative shelter constitute cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in violation of the right to dignity enshrined in Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Rather then entering final judgment, Honourable Justice Onigbanjo then ordered the parties to attempt mediation through the Lagos State Multi-Door Courthouse and ordered them to maintain the status quo – refraining from any evictions – during the pendency of the mediation and the suit.

“With the ongoing litigation and the protection of the court order, a fraction of Otodo Gbame evictees whose homes were demolished in November 2016 were able to rebuild, providing themselves with basic shelter from the elements and spaces in which to carry on their livelihoods.

“These are the homes and business that were, once again, brutally and unlawfully demolished by the Lagos State Government on 17 March 2017 – just a week after the waterfront communities was sitting in a mediation session with the government to try to discuss alternatives to eviction.

“We condemn such impunity and brazen disregard for the rule of law, which is incongruous with a democratic society and Lagos’s aspiration to be a center of excellence and global megacity.”

NiMet warns of above-danger heat stress, malaria in 2017

Michael Simire
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NiMet warns of above-danger heat stress, malaria in 2017

NiMet, in its 2017 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction, said heat for too long could cause heat stress, which may in turn lead to several illnesses, collectively referred to as “hyperthermia”

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted that many Nigerians will likely experience “above-danger heat stress” this year due to combination of heat and humidity.

heatwave
Above-danger heat stress: A man cools off amid searing heat wave

NiMet, in its 2017 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction, said heat for too long could cause heat stress, which may in turn lead to several illnesses collectively called “hyperthermia”.

The agency warned that older people could have a tough time dealing with heat and humidity, as most people who died from hyperthermia globally each year were over 50.

NiMet highlighted some of the heat related complications to include heat syncope, heat cramps, heat edema, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, adding that Nigerians were no exception.

According to the agency, heat syncope is a sudden dizziness that can happen when one is active outdoors in hot weather.

It said: “Heat cramps are the painful tightening of muscles in your stomach, arms or legs which can result from hard work.

“Heat exhaustion is a warning that your body can no longer keep itself cool as people might feel thirsty, dizzy, weak, uncoordinated and nauseated accompanied by lots of sweating.

“Heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke where people need to get medical help right away.

“Older people and people who become dehydrated or those with chronic diseases or alcoholism are at most risk.”

On malaria, NiMet said it had continued to make the forecast to sensitise citizens, advising the health sector to be better prepared to deal with the deadly disease.

The report said that plasmodium falciparum, a protozoan parasite that causes malaria found in Nigeria, was the most dangerous of the malaria parasites.

According to NiMet, the process of mosquito birth and bites is directly influenced by rainfall, temperature and humidity that give rise to differences in stability of disease transmission and seasonal variations.

NiMet said: “In 2017, locations including Benin City and to its north are likely to experience high to extreme mosquito population throughout the year.

“To the north of Benin City, risk in mosquito population is expected to grow with rainy season months.

“In 2017, we expect lowest mosquito population risk occurring in areas north of Yelwa, Zaria, Bauchi and Yola axis.

“NiMet hopes to develop partnership with health sector and others involved in malaria control through partnership on data collection on mosquito population and infected population to improve its malaria forecast model.”

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that NiMet predicted that neutral El-Nino Southern Oscillation, variation in winds and sea surface temperatures phase, was most likely to dominate the January to June weather system across the country in 2017.

It said that the ENSO phase was expected to give way to a dominant El-Nino phase through the end of the year.

Solar minigrids can unlock Africa’s off-grid market – Report

Michael Simire
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Solar minigrids can unlock Africa’s off-grid market – Report

Minigrids, small isolated distribution networks increasingly powered by clean energy, could capture an increasing share of the $740 million sub-Saharan off-grid market, according to a report released by Rocky Mountain Institute on Monday, March 20, 2017.

Tesla-solar-Hawaii
Solar panels

“The minigrid market has the potential to reach $1.5 billion annually and could include many millions more people if product manufacturers and services providers along with development agencies and African governments take action,” said Stephen Doig, MD, Rocky Mountain Institute.

While the potential for the minigrid market is undeniably strong, the uptake of minigrids has been slow – even in leading markets such as Kenya. Minigrids provide electricity access for residents and businesses that are either positioned far from the existing grid or where the current grid is not reliable. To tap into this market in a cost effective and efficient way, a coordinated effort between the private sector, development partners, and national governments is required, added Doig.

The report recommends the following next steps to accelerate minigrid adoption and innovation.

Private sector

  • Focus on continued cost-reduction and service improvements. Opportunities include better site selection, integrated hardware and software packages, modular capacity, specialised local project development and management expertise, aggregated finance.
  • Focus on end-use service instead of power consumption to take advantage of and share the cost savings of of high efficiency lamps and other appliances.

 

Development partners

  • Play a coordinating and financing role by facilitating discussion between governments and the private sector, and providing carefully placed technical assistance and advocacy for a clear set of minigrid enabling policies.
  • Blended finance, coordinated by development partners, can begin to leverage outside investment while supporting efforts to better understand the due diligence and de-risking that will be required for full handoff to commercial financiers.

 

National Governments

Provide predictable enabling environments for minigrids. Reduce regulatory risk for companies and their investors with:

  • Clear, comprehensive off-grid energy plans;
  • Streamlined import procedures;
  • Dependable incentives for renewables and energy efficient appliances; and,
  • Education and awareness campaigns that communicate to citizens the role of off-grid products, and minigrids in particular.

Scientists demand emphasis on how trees impact water cycles, climate

Michael Simire
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Scientists demand emphasis on how trees impact water cycles, climate

Scientists are demanding that the impact of trees on water cycles and climate be given a closer look as, according to them, effects of trees on climate through rainfall and cooling may be more important than their well-studied capacity of storing carbon

Vincent-Gitz
Director of FTA, Dr Vincent Gitz

Forests and trees are said to play a major role on water cycles and cooler temperatures, contributing to food security and climate change adaptation. In recent decades, the climate change discourse has looked at forests and trees mostly as carbon stocks and carbon sinks, but now scientists are calling for more attention on the relation between trees and water in climate change.

Scientists suggest that the global conversation on trees, forests and climate needs to be turned on its head: the direct effects of trees on climate through rainfall and cooling may be more important than their well-studied capacity of storing carbon. A new publication and a symposium try to shed new light on the debate.

The research paper tited: “Trees, forests and water: Cool insights for a hot world” compiles older knowledge and new research findings pointing at the important effects of trees on helping to retain water on the ground and to produce cooling moisture, which in turn have a positive impact on food security and climate change adaptation.

Authors are also participating in a two-day virtual symposium hosted by FTA, the CGIAR Research Programme on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry. On the occasion of the International Day of Forests (March 21) and World Water Day (March 22), this virtual symposium will serve to discuss the findings of the paper and to new areas of research about the linkages of forests with water and climate.

 

Trees for food security and climate change adaptation

“The role of trees widens,” said the Director of FTA, Dr Vincent Gitz. “This is very important in the context of the Paris Agreement, which recognised climate change is not only about mitigation, but also about adaptation.”

“The influence of trees on water cycles has important consequences on the global agenda for food security and climate change adaptation, at different scales,” Dr Gitz explained. “With trees, there is no tradeoff between adaptation and mitigation, but a synergy.”

“Carbon sequestration is a co-benefit of the precipitation-recycling and cooling power of trees. As trees process and redistribute water, they simultaneously cool planetary surfaces,” said Dr David Ellison, lead author of the study.

“Some of the more refined details of how forests affect rainfall are still being discussed among scientists of different disciplines and backgrounds,” Dr Ellison remarked, “but the direct relevance of trees and forests for protecting and intensifying the hydrologic cycle, associated cooling and the sharing of atmospheric moisture with downwind locations is beyond reasonable doubt.”

 

Science collaboration for climate

This emerging area of research combines the knowledge of many fields of science: biology, chemistry, climate science, geology, hydrology and social science.

The paper and symposium are a good example of interdisciplinary research and collaboration which is necessary to address the issue of climate change adaption from multiple science and policy angles.

CAF Champions League: Rangers, Rivers United crash out

Michael Simire
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CAF Champions League: Rangers, Rivers United crash out

Two Nigerian football teams over the weekend crashed out of this year’s CAF Champions League.

Rivers-United
Rivers United of Port Harcourt, along with Rangers International of Enugu, have been eliminated from the CAF Champions League

Enugu Rangers International Football Club defeated Zamalek FC of Egypt by 2-1, but failed to achieve the target of advancing to the group stage, in the return leg clash of the competition, played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu in Enugu State.

The Nigerian side was eliminated on a 3-5 aggregate, having previously lost the first leg of the encounter 4-1 in Cairo.

The exit of Rangers is followed by that of another Nigerian side, Rivers United, after losing by 3-4 on aggregate to Sudanese team, El-Merreikh.

Both Rangers and Rivers United will now play for honours in the CAF Confederation Cup, where they have another chance to make the group stage of the continent’s second tier football competition.

Rivers United lost 0-4 to Al-Merreikh in Omdurman on Saturday, March 18, 2017 after winning 3-0 in the first leg in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

By Felix Simire

Biotechnology, ‘scientists’, ‘experts’, government agencies and patriotism

Michael Simire
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Biotechnology, ‘scientists’, ‘experts’, government agencies and patriotism

The need to interrogate what patriotism means in the context of the challenges of the push of modern agricultural biotechnology into Nigeria and Africa has been instigated by an article by a Lagos-based research scientist titled “Biotech agencies NIREC report and unpatriotic activism.”

Nnimmo Bassey
Nnimmo Bassey

That article opened with this claim: “Recently, a group representing the National Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) issued a press release with the intention of misleading the public and pursuing an alien agenda.” I have personally not seen the “statement” that was supposedly released by NIREC and probably would not have learned of the publication in Daily Trust, but for the strident responses from the government agencies and their proxies. I also have strong doubts that the Daily Trust publication was a press release “from a group representing the National Inter-Religious Council (NIREC).” The source of the story, however, is not our concern here.

Generally, when we speak of patriotism we evoke a sense of ‘nationalism’ and ‘loyalty’ to one’s nation or group. From the perspective of some commentators, patriotism means endorsing without question anything that a government or government agency suggests or does. Permit me to equate that to the Warrant Chief mentality of the colonial era. The colonial governments would have seen those chiefs as epitomes of patriotism. But we do know that they were loyal to foreign interests rather than the interests of our peoples or nations. We can further say that the mind-set that holds that government action is always right and must be supported willy-nilly is a very dangerous mind-set.

For an immediate modern day example by which we can examine the puerile claim that government (agency) worship is equal to patriotism, we only need to look at the current resistance to the travel ban proposed by the president of the United States of America. The president proclaimed a ban, the world was aghast, legal challenges were instituted, the government lost and a revised ban was issued. As we write, a court has blocked that new presidential order. It is our guess that those who object to the travel ban can be labelled unpatriotic, after all the orders were issued by a president. No applause for such logic. We must ask ourselves why biotechnology proponents find it hard to accept that their ideas can be questioned and that they could be wrong, as they often are. The falsehood of the myths of the biotechnology industry have been demonstrated continuously and shown for what they are. Moreover, Nature repeatedly trumps the myths – through super weeds, superbugs, etc.

Let us linger a bit more on criticism as lack of patriotism. What is patriotic about foisting on Nigeria a technology that has failed woefully in Burkina Faso, a neighbouring country? How come we are wishing away the fact that the quantity and quality of cotton harvests in Burkina Faso has picked up since they escaped the GMO hoax?

What is patriotic about forcing down our throats, a system that was sold as revolution for small scale farmers in Makhathini Flats, Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa in 1998 but failed woefully?

We will look at other issues in the article written by the Lagos-based scientist who apparently must be an insider in one or both of the agencies defended in the article. The scientist appears to have the voice of Jacob, but the hands of Esau.

The argument that anyone opposing GMOs is doing so for pecuniary reasons, or is acting as someone’s stooge, is laughable. That same argument can be extended to those of us opposed to criminal oil pollutions, toxic dumps and the like. The same can be said of those of who fought against military dictatorship in Nigeria, against apartheid in South Africa or slavery in the USA. It is a weak, poor and worthless argument that does not even merit a response. What would the Lagos-based scientist say of the web of actors and sponsors that are openly funding and pushing for the deployment of GM crops in Africa?

The committee that NIREC set up to review the GMO situation in Nigeria was an advisory one made up of academics, researchers and people of faith. To my knowledge, apart from secretariat support, members were/are not part of NIREC. The committee invited the two key institutions promoting or overseeing the “deployment” of GMOs in Nigeria.

Finally, the Lagos based scientist stated in the article under reference and we quote: “Nnimmo Bassey was an active player in the processes that cumulated in the establishment of the NBMA, so to turn around and say that the Agency is a brain child of NABDA questions his credibility and integrity.” (our emphasis).

Let us go back to what we wrote in the article that drew the ire of the Lagos-based scientist. Here is it: “A preliminary comment that is of important at this point is that these two agencies operate like conjoined twins. And that may be so because NBMA is purportedly the brainchild of NABDA. No, that is not my imagination.”

Note that I used the word “purportedly” and then added that I did not imagine that curious supposition. The fact is that the disclosure that NBMA was a brainchild of NABDA was stated by the official that represented one of the agencies when they appeared before the NIREC committee. We do not think it is important to say who among the two made that incredible claim. But if anyone really wants to know the information it can be shared. This writer did not imagine, claim or say it. The revelation unveils the foundational flaw of the GMO scaffold.

In any case, those who promoted the NBMA Bill have their logos printed on the back of the document that was distributed at the Public Hearing on the Biosafety Bill Organised by the Joint Committee on Science and Technology and Agriculture, Abuja, 9th December 2009, at the National Assembly. To suggest that this writer ever endorsed what was signed into law by our former president is an incredible distortion of the truth. When we recognise that we have a bad product, two of the ways to respond is dropping it or reviewing it. One of the organisational flyers of NBMA carries the names of individuals, including those from CSOs that are totally opposed to GMOs but attended one of the meetings in the preparatory stages of the bill that has become law. Why are those names listed on a promotional flyer? To gain credibility? To silence opposition? Did their attendance indicate that they endorsed the bill? Top officials of NBMA and NABDA had in time past been invited to our events, we would never put their names in our flyers or be under any illusion that they are no longer promoting the ‘deployment’ of GMOs in Nigeria because we invited them to our events. We know they would not flip their script.

In conclusion, let us just state that no law is cast in concrete, although even concrete cannot last for ever. No matter what the current GMO promoters say, believe or defend, the fact remains that a defective piece of legislation ultimately will be reviewed or jettisoned. The same will be the terminal point of a technology whose obsolescence is already appearing.

By Nnimmo Bassey (Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation – HOMEF)

Advocacy takes centre stage as Lagos drafts Wetlands Policy

Michael Simire
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Advocacy takes centre stage as Lagos drafts Wetlands Policy

If the new Policy on Wetland Conservation and Management being developed by the Lagos State Government eventually sees the light of the day, advocacy will be a major strategy towards ensuring its effective application.

The National Arts Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos is bothered by a wetland

Being a low-lying coastal city, Lagos displays wide-ranging water bodies like oceans, lagoon, rivers, swamps and creeks, all endowed with wetland ecological assets.

Wetlands are areas that have acquired special characteristics from being wet on a regular or semi-regular basis. They are also referred to as areas where some plants and animals have become adapted to temporary or permanent flooding saline or freshwater.

However, wetland and its resources in Lagos are being adversely affected by the state’s rapid urbanisation, such that wetlands are being encroached upon by the day through reclamation, leading to flooding, loss of biodiversity as well as depletion of wildlife.

The scenario has apparently led to the development of the policy, which aims at ensuring a sustainable management of wetlands and their resources towards enhancing the ecological and socio-economic attributes.

According to a source close to the government, the policy is geared towards restoration of degraded wetlands, ensure sustainable development through conservation and preservation of the existing pristine wetlands as well as their biological diversity.

“The overall policy statement shall be to promote conservation, protection and restoration of wetlands and their eco-system services in Lagos State,” said the source.

However, the state intends to promote public awareness and understanding of wetland resources and encourage active participation of the public, government authorities, communities and institutions.

In this regard, the authorities are considering measures and strategies such as:

  • An integrated public awareness campaign programme involving the State, Local Government Areas (LGAs), Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), Community Development Associations (CDAs), Schools, as well as other stakeholders;
  • Awareness campaign and information dissemination on the importance of wetlands and its biodiversity through leaflets, posters, radio, television and other media;
  • Guidelines on sustainable use of wetlands and conservation of their biodiversity made available to the public;
  • Education of local communities through project demonstrations to enhance their capacities for better management of wetland resources in a sustainable manner; and,
  • Associations such CBOs (community-based organisations) and NGOs (non-governmental organisations) with interest in wetlands management and biodiversity conservation encouraged to partner with the state in the area of monitoring and management of wetlands.

It was gathered that, for the effective implementation of the policy, the Lagos wetland management will be funded by governments at the federal, state and local levels, international development agencies, NGOs, as well as corporate and private sector players.

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