The world confab on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development better known as Habitat III was held in Quito, Ecuador from October 17-20, 2016. The city of Quito hosted the conference while the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) anchored the conference and provided the secretarial backup. At the last count, over 36, 000 delegates from 167 countries and 10,000 global participants were in attendance. The attendance at the conference, according to the organisers, was the largest participation ever recorded by local authourities, civil societies and other stakeholders at a United Nations conference.

The corollary of the Conference was a document titled New Urban Agenda(NUA) which  over 100 member countries of UN-Habitat endorsed as the guidelines on how issues and challenges posed by urbanisation would be addressed in the next two decades. It was projected that by 2050, 70% of the world’s population will be living in cities worldwide. This is a frightening figure. It, therefore, calls for a concerted effort by governments to develop a sustainable plan for a rapidly urbanising world. The NUA “seeks to create a mutually reinforcing relationship between urbanisation and development.” On the basis of this concept, the NUA has come up with “an aspirational framework (not legally binding) that will seek to guide U.N member states how best to ensure that urbanisation is sustainable, inclusive and operationalised for the benefit of people.”

The Nigerian delegation to the Habitat III Confab was led by the Federal Minister of Power, Works, and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), who addressed the assembly of member nations during the opening session of the conference. The snippets from Fashola’s address accessed online are recapitulated as follows: “that more than half of the global population already living in cities; that the urbanisation rate has been rising fastest in Africa; that about half of Nigeria population now lives in urban centres; that rapid urbanisation poses some problems and challenges; that cities play a crucial role in our lives, and are crucial engines of growth for the economy; that urbanisation can help to jump-start industrialisation and manufacturing; and that the incipient urbanization must, therefore, be exploited to unlock its economic potentials, and provide a solution for rapid transformation of our urban centres.”

Is Nigeria ready for urbanisation?This writer is quoting copiously part of the text of the Hon. Minister’s address for the purpose of this article. Having addressed  a world assembly about Nigeria’s view on rapid urbanisation, its challenges, and the oppourtunities derivable from the process, one is tempted to ask: Is Nigeria really ready to deal with or confront the present problems and future challenges of the country’s rapid urbanisation?

Judging from the manifestations in Nigerian cities from the intermediate towns, the large cities, the metropolises and the pioneer megacity of Lagos, it cannot be truly confirmed that the preparedness and capability to deal with the country’s rapid urbanisation is real and firmly on the ground. Since the spin-off of Nigeria’s rapid urbanisation in the 1970s and post-oil boom era till date, the capability to plan and manage the cities effectively has been overwhelming. The rate of rural-urban migration, which is the main cause of the increase in urban population was never controlled either deliberately through policy fiat or program interventions.

While the influx goes on, there was little or no proactive approach to planning the urban centres in the true sense of urban planning. Where a semblance of urban planning was made, it was feeble and did not respond adequately and quickly to the ambulatory speed of  urban expansion, thereby leading to a situation where planning was running after development instead of vice versa. Consequently, Nigerian cities were bombarded with the proliferation of slum settlements where migrants live under very deplorable and health-threatening conditions.

Till date, the situation remains pathetic while the speed of urbanisation is still gaining momentum. For example, “the population of Lagos in 2000 was six million and, in the year 2011, the population was 12.5 million and, by 2014, it has morphed from a metropolis to a megacity of over 21 million people and still growing.” Other cities within the country are also having a net increase in their populations.

“By 2020, the country’s population is projected to reach 203.7 million with an urbanization rate of 56.8 per cent. By 2025 and 2050 the latter is further projected to rise to 60.3 percent and 75.4 percent respectively,” says Nigeria’s Report for Habitat III, 2016. What all the statistics reveal is that rapid urbanisation will continue to be on the upward swing, which is typical of a developing country such as Nigeria.

Future challenges of urbanisation in Nigeria are very apparent. As pointed out earlier in this piece, over 70 percent of Nigeria population will live in cities across the country by the year 2050. Currently, Nigerian cities are debilitated by the problems associated with urbanisation to such an extent that the cities are left unfunctional in the provision of basic services and infrastructures, mobility and unsightly due to environmental unwholesomeness. The shortage of housing is steadily on the increase and finance is in short supply to cope with the essentials of planning and city management. It is therefore safe to imply that with a higher percentage of urban population, the challenges which the cities in Nigeria would contend with in the future will be mega and multi-dimensional. It is in these urban settlements that the battle for sustainable urban development will be won or lost. As a nation, therefore, we should begin to chart a course for the country’s urban future.

It is important to understand the inter-relatedness of the various problems posed by rapid urbanisation. The inherent problems often associated with rapid urbanisation are of consequence and inter-related. Meaning one problem is a causative factor of another problem. In terms of a solution, all the problems arising from incipient urbanisation in Nigeria cannot be treated in isolation from each. Both must be addressed in a holistic  cause-and-effect approach. Furthermore, the pervasive and destructive nature of urbanisation problems in Nigerian cities cannot be overemphasised. Uncontrolled and not well-managed urbanisation has wrecked havoc in the urban centres.

For example, rural-urban migration triggers urban population increase and human congestion in cities. It increases the demand for housing and in a situation of the housing shortage and prohibitive house rent, people usually resort to self-help and improvise for their shelter. They prefer to live in overcrowded shanty towns despite the high health risk and their vulnerability to epidemics. The problem of vehicular congestion in cities is also connected to the sudden increase in the number people driving on the city roads causing air pollution through fumes from vehicle exhausts.

From this illustrated scenario, the connectivity of each of the problem is apparent. Therefore, addressing the root cause of urbanisation is pivotal while managing the problems is also of necessity since the process is unstoppable. This calls for the quick-fix and long-term interventions by the government and private sector initiatives in order for Nigeria’s teeming urban population most especially the marginalised migrants, to benefit from living in the cities.

New urban age calls for New Urban Agenda (NUA). That the world is in the fast lane of urbanisation is an incontrovertible reality. Echoes from the Habitat III Conference have further confirmed that the entire global community must realise that homo sapiens have woken up to a new dawn of rapid urbanisation and urbanism where the destination of most people is to migrate and live in the cities.

And that the choice of where people decide to reside is a personal decision, not governmental. Rather than misconstrue urbanisation as a burden, member nations must also consider the positive aspects of the human settlement transformation and get ready to deal effectively with the future challenges that urbanisation could pose.

The beginning of the journey to properly manage urbanisation is the well-articulated and far-reaching guidelines contained in the New Urban Agenda, which all member countries of the United Nations have endorsed and pledged to implement its provisions. The NUA is replete with a gamut of suggestions on how to successfully manage urbanisation by ensuring sustainable urban development, good urban governance, participatory urban planning, urban design, urban economy, urban ecology and environment, inclusive urban prosperity and equal oppourtunities for all and the coordination of urban and rural development strategies. The application of innovative technology forms part of the very detailed provisions of the NUA.

The domestication of the New Urban Agenda in Nigeria and the framework for its implementation must begin in earnest. The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing should go the extra mile to reproduce the 24-page NUA document and ensure its distribution to all the states of the federation and to the 774 local governments by way of wider dissemination of the provisions and sundry information contained in the NUA. The NUA must not be to the exclusive knowledge of the technocrats at the Federal level.

The document must also be circulated to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to enable these institutions to have a clear knowledge of the exact role(s) they are expected to play in the implementation of the NUA document. For example, I foresee the Ministry of Environment, Transportation, Finance, Tourism and Culture, Health, Power, Works, Science and Technology, National Bureau of Statistics and National Planning Commission among others whose expected/essential roles are implicit in the document. Unless these institutions are brought into the picture of what their roles are supposed to be, they might be oblivious and remain complacent. This is the more reason why the anchor ministry responsible for Housing and Urban Development at the federal level which also doubles as the country’s secretariat for Habitat III should do the necessary follow-up so that all stakeholders are adequately informed and mobilised to be part of the implementation process.

By extension, all institutions of higher learning must not be left out of the distribution chain, most especially those offering a degree course in urban and regional planning. The NUA will serve as a guide for their curriculum review and updating. In line with what the NUA suggested, these institutions could develop a new programme of studies in urbanisation tailored toward the needs of urban managers, technocrats and other municipal officials who work for the state or local governments in the country.

The same case is also made for the organised private sector, the civil society, professional bodies and other desirable stakeholders. This all “inclusive approach” will go a long way in educating what to expect and how to respond to the challenges of future urbanisation. One of the cardinal principles of the NUA is: inclusiveness.

Finally, the entire document must be put on the Ministry’s website for ease of access by the reading public. The citizenry must have a shared mission and vision of the country’s urbanisation challenge and promise.

By Yacoob Abiodun (Urban Planner and Planning Advocate; wrote from Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos)

Multiple water protectors and their allies who stand in support of the efforts to halt the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline in the U.S. were arrested on Friday at the Kirkwood Mall in Bismarck.  These water protectors had gathered to hold a prayer circle, raise awareness with shoppers and disseminate information on the human and environmental impacts of the pipeline.  Heavily weaponised and undercover police were said to have physically assaulted and arrested close to 50 protectors within minutes of gathering peacefully.

Kandi Mossett of the Indigenous Environmental Network commented, “As a person born and raised in North Dakota, I’m ashamed at the violence against water protectors who wanted only to circle up and pray for the water that sustains life for all of us. This violence and racism isn’t new to me as a Native person, but it still angers me that this kind of attack, by locals and police, would happen because people don’t want an interruption to their shopping day. The climate crisis will interrupt life and destroy all of us unless we wake up to what is happening.”

“The actions by the police today further expose the interests of the state in protecting corporate interests over human life,” said Angela Adrar, Executive Director of the Climate Justice Alliance, who is in North Dakota this week as part of a delegation of 100+ community leaders who are acting in solidarity with the indigenous leaders at Standing Rock. “What we witnessed today was the violent and unwarranted response that law enforcement has consistently had toward those who are acting within the law to raise awareness of the devastating impacts that the Dakota Access Pipeline could have on indigenous communities and this entire region.”

If completed, the Dakota Access Pipeline would transport oil across 1,134 miles of Native prairie land, valuable farm land and critical waterways, including the Missouri River. The pipeline most acutely endangers the drinking water for the Oceti Sakowin and Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Nation, however a spill from the oil pipeline poses an economic and environmental threat to communities across the region.

“Our delegation represents people from across the country who have suffered the impacts of environmental degradation in our own communities. We came to the mall today to show the residents of Bismarck that, while we are particularly concerned about issues of sovereignty and survival for indigenous people, we’re also here out of concern for the safety of the entire area and our future generations who will have to pay the price of the pipeline,” said Cindy Wiesner, National Coordinator of the Grassroots Global Justice Alliance.

In a news release, North Dakota’s Bismarck Police said 33 people had been arrested for “criminal trespass,” stating that Kirkwood Mall is “private property.” Police arrived at the scene at 12:48 p.m. and reported 100 protesters were gathered. According to police, protesters formed a prayer circle. Those who didn’t leave the premises after being told to do by police were arrested.

“Kirkwood Mall management advised BPD they would not allow any protest activities, nor any open prayer services in or on their property,” said police. “Kirkwood Mall informed police that if any of these activities occur on or in their property that any individual(s) involved need to be told to leave Kirkwood Mall property.”

Videos of the protests and subsequent arrests show at least one protester on the ground shouting “Water is life” while being arrested. Amnesty International tweeted a video of the arrests saying: “Following arrests at a North Dakota mall today, we reiterate our demand for police to respect the right to peaceful protest.”

Shortly after the conclusion of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP22) in Marrakech, the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Patricia Espinosa, visited Norway, where she met with government and local leaders and gave a speech at the 2016 Zero Emission Conference in Oslo. Hosted by the Norwegian NGO ZERO, the conference was designed to show that it is possible to create a thriving, modern society without the use of fossil fuels or fossil-based materials, and with zero greenhouse gas emissions. In her speech, Espinosa summed up the central outcomes of COP22, along with outlining the next steps for international, national and local climate action, and addressed the issue of what specifically Norway can do to help implement the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

Let me start by thanking the Zero Emission Resource Organisation for the invitation to join the 2016 Zero Emission Conference. I’d also like to thank you all for coming and discussing what is expected from Norway, and indeed from every country around the world, now that the Paris Agreement has entered into force.

The question of what’s next has certainly been in thoughts of many individuals and institutions.

As I am sure you know, we just wrapped up COP22 in Marrakech. This latest climate change conference gave some good insight into what’s next. Let me share a few insights from Marrakech.

First, I saw unparalleled political will to act on climate change. The momentum that carried us from hundreds of thousands of people in the streets at the People’s Climate March in 2014… to an ambitious agreement in Paris last year has not diminished.

Political will brought the Paris Agreement into force just days before this year’s conference in Marrakech, setting a tone for the meeting and allowing us to hold the historic first Conference of the Parties to the Paris Agreement.

Second, Marrakech featured close cooperation to advance critical issues, which can be seen in the conference outcomes. Governments took a crucial step towards writing the rules of the Paris Agreement. They outlined the finance, technology and capacity building support that enables the developing world to move to low-emission development and build resilience. Marrakech featured long-term de-carbonisation plans from major emitters and medium-income countries.

The Marrakech Action Proclamation unites nations in the determination to implement the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.

This is all very positive and shows that governments are willing to work together. It also sends a strong signal that we have unstoppable global momentum on climate change and sustainable development.

Third and finally, Marrakech shined a light on movement in markets and in the private sector. And it highlighted climate actions by local governments.

In markets, we see a transformation to low-emission. The clean energy market is growing and now it makes more sense to choose renewable energy over all others. Investors are moving to cleaner, greener assets to secure stable returns. Throughout the private sector, we see high efficiency operations, sustainable supply chains and products that reduce consumer’s climate footprint.

Local governments are moving in the same direction. From cleaner air and adequate water to educated workers who can thrive in the green economy, community-level climate action clearly benefits people.

This is why what comes next is so important – our actions over the coming months and years will make a positive difference in the lives of billions of people.

So what is next?

We now need all nations to ratify the agreement and quickly act on their national contributions to the agreement. Norway is a leader in this regard.

Norway was the first industrialised nation to ratify the Paris Agreement and has set an ambitious target. The government here plans to reduce emissions by 40 percent by pointing energy, transportation, agriculture and industry at low-emission models.

The intention is to accomplish this by 2030, which is also the year Norway plans to be carbon-neutral. This is at least 20 years sooner than the long-term goal in the Paris Agreement to be climate neutral in the second half of the century.

This nation has a strong history as a leader and serves as an example for how overachieving can be done by a developed country. This leadership is clearly seen in Norway’s donor support for the intergovernmental climate process, and in your support for climate action in developing countries.

In this new implementation phase, the climate change Secretariat will face many challenges to adapt to our new global realities. We need your continued support, as do many countries around the world.

Achieving an ambitious transformation requires a rapid move towards zero-emission solutions. The Paris Climate Change Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals agreed last year provide the direction we need to go and a framework for solutions.

And friends, many solutions are needed.

This is where you can make a significant difference. You can help Norway capitalize on this leadership opportunity by spreading low-emission – and no-emission – solutions across the world.

The best and brightest minds, the innovators and influencers in public and private sectors, now need to step up and lead.

You have the opportunity to deploy technology that shows that a move to zero-emission personal and public transportation is possible for an entire country. You can accelerate the transformation to your own green economy through financial innovation and cooperation.

You can support other countries as they look to do the same. Procurement that protects forests is a great start, but there is so much more than can be done. For example, you can continue to research and work on solutions like carbon capture and storage that can align the fossil fuel infrastructure we cannot avoid with the zero-emission future we absolutely need.

Norway is truly positioned at the forefront of action. And now is the time to act.

The Paris Agreement and SDGs must promote these solutions and more, here and in every country. Zero-emission solutions should be integrated into all national development plans, all business models and into the everyday lives of all citizens.

This is what’s next – improving the lives and livelihoods of people in local communities, while making significant gains towards our common global goals.

We must build on progress made to date. We must work together to spread these solutions around the world, across societies and sectors of the economy.

Together we can deliver a future that is peaceful and prosperous for all, using low-emission solutions that keep our planet healthy and livable.

Jatropha, a rugged shrub which grows in a wide range of terrains including wasteland, sandy and saline soils, is seen as the preferred non-food plant for biofuel production in Nigeria.

The plant, which can survive up to three years of no rain and needs little or no pesticide application as it itself serves as pesticide, is said to hold great potential in checking desertification, providing sustainable energy, and enabling the economic empowerment of rural dwellers, among other benefits.

Analysts hope that the full harnessing of opportunities in Jatropha plant would enable Nigeria to not only address its power problem in a sustainable manner, but also liberate itself from economic recession.

Their reason is that the country has large arable lands for growing the plant which is even endemic in many regions of the country.

As part of measures to cut greenhouse gas emission and assist Nigerians adapt to devastating impacts of climate change, the Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, said the Federal Government would grow Jatropha in 20 states to develop bio-fuel to replace fossil fuel.

“The project would serve as alternative to fossil fuel, provide jobs for the local communities and diversify the economy. Ultimately, this will result in the establishment of an African Clean Energy Hub in Nigeria. Jatropha also has potential to impact on five key elements of the COP21 Paris Climate Change Agreement,” she said recently in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Also recently, a Malaysian company reportedly expressed willingness to invest in Nigeria’s growing Jatropha business, a project described in a document as capable of not only ensuring clean energy to promote quality of lives, but also would accelerate job creation.

The document says, “A huge investment promised by Malaysian company, Bionas, could provide some room for Nigeria to maneuver. About $2.5 billion is to put into creation of a whole new industry for the production of a green alternative to traditional fuels. A value chain running from extraction to processing and output distribution will be created, generating thousands of jobs. At the centre of this initiative is a seed-bearing plant – Jatropha.”

The ruggedness of the Jatropha plant in surviving under dry and harsh weather makes it a choice plant for checking desertification, while its oil-rich seed is used in producing bio-fuel as well as cream, oil and soap.

Records show that a typical Jatropha farm has a life span of up to 40 years.

A hectare of its farm produces fruit of 1.5 tons in the first year, 3.5 tons in the second year and five tons in the fifth year.

A field trip to a Jatropha demonstration farm in Morocco by Fellows of the Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) to the just concluded UN climate Change Conference (COP22) in Marrakech revealed interesting dimensions of the plant.

The coordinator, Centre for the Development of Jatropha Project in Morocco, Professor Abdelkader Outzourhit, listed many uses of the plant to include production of bio-diesel to power diesel engines, and for making oils for creams which has the ability to smoothen the skin and remove wound scars.

According to Outzourhit, although the processing of Jatropha seeds was yet to begin in Morocco, a similar crop, Argan, with the same characteristics was been used for the purposes.

“They make several Argan oil-based products like soap, oil and bio-fuel. But you can also make them from Jatropha. Jatropha oil is very soft for the skin,” he said.

He added that the project has passed a critical stage as the plants which were brought from Mali, India and Mexico were able to adapt to the Moroccan climate, pointing out that the next stage of development would be the partnership with rural communities for their acceptance of the project, which would be followed by training the people on how to extract diesel from the jatropha seed as well as producing other commodities.

“We have some genotypes from Mexico, India and Mali. For now, we are just looking at the adaptability of the genotypes. But there are laboratories that develop other genotypes. They modify the genes so that they can adapt into a given climate. The genotype from Mali is well suited here.”

Asked about the oil content of Jatropha, he said, “One hectare can give you about one thousand litres of oil. There are two ways of extracting the oil. You just crush the dry fruit to remove the seeds. The seeds are then put in a press and the oil comes out. There are other special oil extractors. But the easiest way is, you crush the grains and press the out the oil. This technology is well known in this area because they use it. We have a lot of Argan oil productions.”

Clearing the air on claims that Jatropha development negatively affects agriculture as it takes away farmlands, the officer in charge of Moroccan Jatropha development said, “The crops should be planted on parcels of land that are not good for farming. Also, the shrubs can be used as fence, so that you use the land to grow other crops.”

At one of the Argan processing centres in Morocco, youths and women in rural towns were seen employed as breakers of the Argan nut to remove the seed, some were extracting the oil using local machines while yet others were selling the final products including Argan cream, oil and soap.

Morocco, Egypt and Algeria are among three countries that benefitted from the European Union Jatromed initiative of using the Jatropha plant for generating renewable energy and to address poverty and rural unemployment with the Jatropha value chain, a project with a total budget of EUR 1.82 million and spanning between 2011 and 2015.

As Nigeria also plans to develop its own Jatropha industry, it is interesting to note that some private sector organisations in the country are already tapping into the field.

One of them is the Landmark University in Omu-Aran, Kwara State, which is said to have begun to produce diesel from Jatropha biofuel seeds planted on 534 hectares of farmland.

Now mainstreaming Jatropha project into the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI), which Nigeria is a beneficiary. It is seen as a practical step towards sustainably solving the country’s perennial epileptic power situation and also enhances the living standards among the people.

The AREI, a project aimed at lighting up Africa is set to achieve at least 10 GW of new and additional renewable energy generation capacity by 2020, and 300 GW by 2030.

But grappling with recession following flat fall in oil price since its economy is wholly dependent on petroleum export, analysts say, the country on its own cannot fund its climate change adaptation and mitigation projects in line with the Paris Agreement.

The government has therefore resolved to launch a Sovereign Green Bond by the first quarter of next year to raise part of funds to implement its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs).

At a forum during the COP22, President MohammaduBuhari who was represented by the country’s Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, said that part of the country’s target was to ensure regular power, 30% of which would come from renewable sources.

“Nigeria submitted its ambitious INDCs. We have now pledged a 20% reduction of greenhouse emission by 2020 and 45 conditional commitment which can be achieved with financial assistance, partnerships, technology transfer and building capacities. And to share with you the progress that we have made since COP21 in Paris. We have prepared an NDC implementation road map, detailed roles of responsibilities around mitigation, adaptation, monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions and putting in place government structures. We are developing central plans for the five main economic sectors in Nigeria namely power, oil and gas, agriculture, transport and industry. We are ensuring full of the commitment to the NDCs by the relevant ministries, departments and agencies .This multi central collaboration is crucial to delivering results.

“Inspite of the global downtown in our own constraints domestically, we are committing a reasonable part of our 2017 capital budget to this effort. In addition, we are set to launch our first ever green bond in the first quarter of 2017. This is intended to fund the series of projects targeted at reducing emission and greening our economy as embedded in our NDC.

“On the issue of renewable, our priority is to achieve, energy access, energy security and develop renewable resources for energy. We are strengthening policy in regulatory base. In this regard we have developed a system of energy for all action agenda and national renewable energy action plan, among other policies. The policies contained in our vision 303030, aims to increase capacity. Our expectation is that 30% of this capacity would come from renewable energy.”

So say the lists, Nigeria seeks partnership and supports in terms of technology and finance to implement its INDCs for addressing climate change, and to achieve that the country should be prepared to spend about $142 billion dollars to derive estimated national benefits of $304 billion, based on World Bank’s calculation.

To this end, stakeholders in the UNFCCC COP say the onus is on developed nations to fulfill their pledge to donate $100 billion annually among other monies and new pledges, to assist developing countries to plan and execute climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives, especially renewable energy sources development, one of which is the Jatropha plant.

By Innocent Onoh

The British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) has reiterated its commitment to the welfare of its employees, saying that it is part of its internal human rights policy.

The tobacco manufacturer, in a reaction to a cover story published on EnviroNews on Wednesday, November 23 2016, whereby ex-staffers at a media conference in Lagos claimed that they were unfairly dismissed after falling ill while at work, attempted to clarify issues in a statement issued on Thursday, 24 November 2016, and endorsed by Oluwaseyi Ashade, the BATN’s Head of Corporate Affairs.

The firm stressed in the statement that it has existed in Nigeria for over 100 years and extremely proud of its heritage and positive relationship with Nigerians.

The statement reads: “Our attention has been brought to certain allegations that were made by a group of former employees and anti-tobacco NGOs against our company.

“These allegations are based on labour issues which were managed according to our policies and ranged on various issues, which included poor performance, disciplinary issues as well as health related redundancy. All these cases were objectively determined in line with our internal processes, global policies and all extant Nigerian Laws.

“However, some of these former employees wished to serve their self-interest by making demands which are not acceptable under Nigerian Laws. In addition, they have continued to make veiled and written threats against us with the intention of causing reputational damage.

“Our expectations will be that if there are any grievances with the process and procedures for disengagement, such grievance will be heard and determined under existing employee/employers dispute resolution mechanism including taking such grievances to the relevant Court and trusting the judicial system to hear both sides before making a judicial pronouncement.  As it stands, one of the employees has a case in court against us and we are unable to comment on the specifics of this case in deference to the Court.

“We therefore note with bewilderment that the former employees involved anti-tobacco NGOs who have over the years openly advocated for the closure of the legal tobacco industry in Nigeria to suddenly become the vanguard for tobacco employees.

“We wish to emphasise that British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) has reiterated its commitment to the welfare of its employees, as part of its internal human rights policy.”

According to Freddy Messanvi, Legal & External Affairs Director and Oluwaseyi Ashade, “British American Tobacco Nigeria has existed in Nigeria for over 100 years and we are extremely proud of our heritage and the positive relationship we have enjoyed with the Nigerian people.

“As part of a global operation with a local footprint in Nigeria, we are focused on placing a high premium on our human capital and great talent pool. We are also mindful of providing great and safe place to work as we understand the impact of our people in the growth and sustainability of the company. We invest in our people as we understand that they are a competitive advantage and their welfare is taken very seriously.

“Over the past five years, we have maintained zero incidence of no work place injury and are very firm with our environment, health & safety policy implementation which applies to not just employees but also contractors, visitors and suppliers in our factories and offices.

“We abide by the local laws and are compliant with not just the local regulations as required by all relevant local agencies but we also benchmark ourselves against the requirements for labour practices globally, such as the OECD guidelines for Multinational Enterprises as provided for by our parent company.

“Our commitment to Nigeria remains consistent. Our people are our biggest asset as an employer of labour. We will continue to invest to enhance their capacity and to ensure that they are completely provided for in all aspects of their welfare including their safety at work.”

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday, November 23, 2016 terminated the monthly environmental sanitation exercise which hitherto held for three hours on the last Saturday of every month.

A main feature of the clean-up programme was that it restricted movement in Nigeria’s main commercial hub for the three hours (7am-10am) that it lasted.

The government, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said the decision to cancel the monthly exercise followed a resolution arrived at during Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting which approved the need for a robust review of the environmental laws and procedures in the state in order to meet the present day challenges and to promote a clean and healthy environment.

The government noted that, considering the present economic situation in the country, it was no longer appropriate to restrict movement of people for three hours in a mega city like Lagos at a time they should be pursuing commercial and entrepreneurial activities.

According to government, in the last two decades, Lagos has grown exponentially into a mega city with the attendant huge environmental problems associated with managing a population of over 20 million people.

But sadly, the environmental laws, policies and procedures being practiced in the state have not been able to match the phenomenal growth and the dream of a 24-hour economy, hence the need for the reform.

The programme had been declared unconstitutional in a March 2015 ruling by a federal court, because it infringed on free movement and liberty of citizens.

Ayorinde said the state government was not unaware of a recent Court of Appeal judgment.

According to him, the thrust of the fresh initiatives, among others, is to promote holistic and modern solutions to the unique environmental challenges confronting the State, while encouraging citizens to voluntarily partner with government to achieve the desired goals.

The statement said: “After a careful consideration, the State Executive Council has therefore resolved that the present economic climate can no longer support the continued lock down of a mega city like Lagos, when the citizens should be free to engage in commercial and entrepreneurial activities that can promote economic growth and prosperity.

“Furthermore, government will also accelerate the introduction of fresh reforms through the passage of the new harmonised environmental laws that will drive meaningful changes in areas of harmonised billing, waste management, modern landfill sites, noise pollution, introduction of an Environmental Trust Fund and an Environmental Advisory Council.

“The government wishes to reiterate its strong commitment to a clean and secure environment for the benefit of its citizens, and will continue to provide the necessary leadership to meet the environmental challenges of a mega city like Lagos. Lagosians and visitors alike are therefore urged to embrace these changes and imbibe a culture of voluntarily maintaining and preserving their environment to create a beautiful and healthy city that we all can be proud of.”

The statement added that the state government would henceforth be tougher in ensuring expeditious enforcement against contraventions of its policies and regulations and as such, residents should voluntarily comply with the necessary laws and support government in its bid to have a clean and healthy environment.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has said that it will part-pay some of the insurance premiums due to African nations who are being covered under the African Risk Capacity (ARC) insurance scheme.

AfDB president, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, made the disclosure on Tuesday 15 November, 2016 in Marrakech, Morocco during a side-event titled: “Africa at the forefront of climate change: Game changer through innovation” at the UN climate change talks (COP22) that held recently. The side-event was organised by the AfDB, ARC, African Group of Negotiators (AGN), and the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN).

Dr Adesina, who stressed that the AfDB would take the leadership in ensuring African member states are adequately covered through ARC insurance mechanism, called on its partners to ensure that the ARC succeeds by being fully funded.

“There’s no doubt that Africa is suffering from the impacts of climate change, therefore building resilience is critical. We have to now ensure that the ARC does not fail, we must make sure that it is fully funded. We will consider part payment of some of the insurance premiums to African countries. We also want others to pay their roles as well. Africa contributes to GHG emissions and also suffers disproportionately from it. The time for talk is over and the time for action is now,” he declared, even as he called on the Global Climate Fund as well as Global Environment Facility (GEF) to follow suit and in the part payment of insurance premium to needy nations.

An insurance premium is the amount of money that an individual or business must pay for an insurance policy.

Recently, the African Risk Capacity Insurance Company Limited (ARC Ltd) (the business arm of the ARC) announced  it was processing an insurance payout of approximately $8.1 million to the Government of Malawi to support its response to the drought which resulted from the poor 2015/16 agricultural season.

The payout will be released to Malawi as soon as the Government’s plan on how the payout will be used to respond to those affected by drought – known as the Final Implementation Plan – is approved by ARC. This is standard practice for ARC payouts, and is expected to take place by the end of November.

In a response to Dr Adesina’s submission, the GEF Chairperson and CEO, Dr Naoko Ishii, said however that, rather than assist the ARC in paying premiums, GEF would rather prefer to create the capacity for knowledge and information exchange.

She underlined the need for cities to be made more resilient, in the face of growing threat of climate change and its impact. According to her, adequate funding is key.

Her words: “However, finance for sustainable urban infrastructure is hindered by many of the same barriers faced by sustainable infrastructure in general, including market failures, short-term thinking, and a lack of bankable projects and capacity at the urban level to prepare projects. Many cities around the world are constrained in their ability to tap local revenue sources, take on debt, invest in major projects and engage in public-private partnerships.”

Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair, Board of ARC, who moderated the session, described the ARC as a specialised agency of the African Union (AU) which operates an extreme weather insurance scheme designed to help AU member states resist and recover from the ravages of drought.

“We’re here with one mechanism of the African continent, and what are the key priorities that we are articulating for Africa in COP22, and how does Africa Risk Capacity fit in?” she demanded, referring to the panellists comprising Dr Ishii, Rhoda Peace Tumusiime (AU Commissioner for Rural Economy & Agriculture), Prof Kevin Urama (AfDB Senior Advisor), the Assistant Environment Minister of Egypt, Ms. Yasmine Fouad.

Ms Tumusiime said: “The ARC is an important instrument for us. In 2015, Heads of States adopted the Agenda 2063; it is our blueprint and we are implementing the same. For us in Africa, the driving framework is Agenda 2063. Africa is experiencing a lot of challenges. Africa has made a lot of progress. In agriculture, we have seen an annual growth rate of 4%, but all these will be undermined by the challenge of climate change.

“We need something to hold on to, and in this case we have insurance. The AU Agenda 2063 is people centred. You can’t have growth without ensuring those aspects which are undermining growth are attended to. Climate change will not allow our growing economies to move forward; our growing economies will be undermined if we do not grow resilience in agriculture, for example.”