27.1 C
Lagos
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Home Blog Page 2011

CODE: Need for urgent remediation of Shikira community

admin
-
1
CODE: Need for urgent remediation of Shikira community

Over 300 children in Shikira living with high lead level in their blood and need urgent medical treatments, says Hamzat Lawal, Chief Executive of connected Development (CODE) and Co-Founder, Follow The Money. The campaigner is clamouring for the contaminated community’s speedy clean-up

Environment Minister, Amina J. Mohammed, during a visit to the community
Environment Minister, Amina J. Mohammed, during a visit to the community

We are highly shocked over the Federal Government’s inability to announce a specific date when remediation of Shikira will commence one year after the lead contamination that ravaged the small rural mining community located in Rafi LGA in Niger State.  And this is even more worrisome considering the fact that the Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed, recently visited the area and declared it a national disaster.

It is noteworthy to highlight here that the minister during one of her meetings with civil society bodies and other relevant stakeholders in the sector disclosed that the sum of N300 million has been included in the 2016 budget to clean-up the contaminated site, but the truth is that time is running out as the rainy season has just begun and most likely disrupt the exercise. The contamination could spread to other neighbouring communities if remediation activities do not commence immediately.

Also, it is on record that the Follow The Money team after discovering the epidemic in April 2015 alerted necessary pubic officials of the incident and called for urgent intervention to enable occupants of the community adapt to the ugly event that claimed 28 lives and infected over 300 children mostly those below five years of age.

It is exciting that Doctors Without Borders, a specialised body that renders humanitarian services, has indicated interest to provide free health services but on the condition that the environment must first be cleared of any contaminant.

While we acknowledge the minister for the move demonstrated by visiting the impact site to assess the level of devastation, a sign that reinforces hope that work may begin soon, we are also very concerned about when the funds would be released to commence the clean-up exercise.

Furthermore, we want the government to be open, transparent and accountable on how the funds are to be utilised, including a work plan specifying project timeline, data and concrete steps on execution of the exercise.

While we laud the Senate for swiftly passing a resolution compelling the Executive arm of government to urgently embark on total clean-up of Shikira following the outbreak, the Follow The Money team is, in addition, calling the lawmakers who recently committed to reviewing the 2007 Mining Act to ensure empowering artisanal and small scale miners so as to mitigate risks and ensure safety in mining practices in Nigeria.

We also want government to prosecute individuals who are outrightly reckless about their jobs and possibly put them behind detention to serve as deterrent to others and foster sanity in the system.

On our part as an organisation, we will continue to pressure the government on the need to release the fund for the project and ensure that we provide the public with timely and accurate information of how the funds are been utilised to capture the voices of marginalised citizens.

Electric cars rally towards zero emissions for 1.5-degree

admin
-
0
Electric cars rally towards zero emissions for 1.5-degree

Europe’s largest electric vehicle rally, bringing 75 teams from 13 nations, entered its finishing phase at Geneva, Switzerland on Friday on the Place des Nations, part of a 1,300km traverse from Bremerhaven, Germany with a simple objective: zero emissions for 1.5 degrees.

Michael Moller, Director-General of United Nations Office at Geneva
Michael Moller, Director-General of United Nations Office at Geneva

Michael Moller, Director-General of United Nations Office at Geneva, said the world’s leaders agreed to pursue efforts to limit global temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, recognising that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change.

He said: “And I expect that parking so many electric cars in the formation of ‘1.5’ at the gates of the UN in Geneva will help to remind the world of this commitment.”

Louis Palmer, founder of the World Advanced Vehicle Expedition (WAVE) and UNEP Champion of the Earth, said the WAVE rally is the advance ripple of a gathering tide that is transforming the world’s automobile industry. “There is no reason why every car cannot already be electric, zero emissions and renewably powered,” he said. “Electric vehicles are here, they are here to stay, they are fun, attractive and the obvious choice. They are the future.”

Philippe Ramet of the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations said an agenda of solutions emerged from the climate change negotiations in Paris. “What we have here today is a clear demonstration of real action the was inspired by the Paris Agreement.”

Wolfgang Jamann, Secretary-General and CEO of CARE International, a partner of the #1o5C campaign, highlighted its work with the poorest and most vulnerable communities that are also the hardest hit by climate change impacts. “The 1.5-degree limit is a Paris Agreement message of hope, and we call on governments to urgently translate that hope into action for a future free of poverty and harmful greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

Wael Hmaidan, Director of Climate Action Network International, a group of some 900 civil society organisations, said the world was changing fast, including the transportation sector. “The fossil fuel car will soon be obsolete, as the numbers of the electric car exponentially increase,” he said, adding: “The world needs to be running on 100% renewable electric transportation before 2050, if we want to protect vulnerable communities from impacts of climate change.”

Amid the electric cars, a black cube represented the carbon emissions that would have entered the atmosphere from each car during the two days of the rally had the vehicles not been electric.

Cleantech21, a sustainability-focused Swiss foundation participated in the event. Cleantech21 CEO Nick Beglinger said when there is no price on carbon, market distortions will result and the 1.5 target will not be reached. “Leading economists and businesses understand that putting a price on carbon as part of the national regulatory frameworks of Paris Agreement signatory nations will be both the most efficient and the most market-friendly way to seriously address climate change,” he added.

Several organisations partnered to organise the public campaign: The World Advanced Vehicle Expedition (WAVE), both the UN Environment and Development Programmes (UNEP and UNDP), the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), the World Alliance of Cities Against Poverty (WACAP) CARE International, the Climate Action Network (CAN), and the Cleantech21 Foundation.

China, UNCCD to curb desertification along drought-stricken belt

admin
-
0
China, UNCCD to curb desertification along drought-stricken belt

China and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on Friday (17 June 2016) in Beijing, China launched the Joint Action Initiative to combat desertification, rehabilitate degraded land and mitigate the effects of drought (JAI). The initiative aims to make the whole region along the “Silk Road” environmentally sound and ecologically sustainable.

unccd
Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD. Photo credit: www.iisd.ca

The countries expect to prepare adequately for drought, create ecosystem stability and protect desert, steppe, pasture and oasis biodiversity and developing infrastructure.

Together, countries will monitor and evaluate sand and dust storms. They will rehabilitate new and emerging source areas and those affected by disaster. They will revegetate mining and industrial wastelands and create shelter belts to protect vital infrastructure.

JAI provides the framework for conducting joint research and technical exchanges and for sharing information and demonstration projects.

Ms. Pan Yingzhen, Director General of the National Bureau to Combat Desertification in the State Forestry Administration and the UNCCD National Focal Point of China, launched the initiative during the global observance of the World Day to Combat Desertification in Beijing, China.

The Silk Road Economic Belt starts from China and runs to the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean via Central and West Asia, geographically linking the continents of Africa, Asia and Europe.

Many of the countries along the Belt are affected seriously by desertification, land degradation and drought and traditional and new sources of financing will be needed to deliver on ambition.

Ms Monique Barbut, UNCCD Executive Secretary, said through solidarity and engagement China has brought millions of people out of poverty through massive scale land restoration efforts.

She encouraged China to spearhead work in achieving land degradation neutrality and ensure it becomes humanity’s defining achievement in the 21st Century, noting, “it will mark China’s legacy in green development.”

Globally, more than two billion hectares of the terrestrial ecosystems are degraded, with nearly 170 countries affected by land degradation and drought. Scientists are also increasingly concerned about human activities such as mining, infrastructure development and drying water beds that may be contributing to sands and dust storms.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a video message to the high-level gathering that was attended by China’s Vice-Premier and 11 ministers and vice-ministers from Africa, Asia and Latin America, said: “Over the next 25 years, land degradation could reduce global food productivity by as much as 12 per cent, leading to a 30 per cent increase in world food prices.

“Without a long-term solution, desertification and land degradation will not only affect food supply but lead to increased migration and threaten the stability of many nations and regions. This is why world leaders made land degradation neutrality one of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals. That means rehabilitating at least 12 million hectares of degraded land a year.”

Since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) last September, more than 90 countries have signed up to set their voluntary national targets on land degradation neutrality.

Ms Barbut said: “Actions to avoid, halt and reverse land degradation must begin now with everyone fully engaged. If we procrastinate the prospect of land degradation neutrality grows dimmer. But it shines brighter each time a person or country joins the campaign to restore degraded land or the battle against the degradation of new land.”

During the event, the International Resource Panel of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released a report titled, Unlocking the Sustainable Potential of Land Resources: Evaluation systems, strategies and tools, offering tools that can help land users to assess their land potential in order to match it to the best uses.

JAI is linked to the 2030 global target of achieving land degradation neutrality agreed under the Sustainable Development Goals. Through actions that promote healthy and productive land, the initiative also aims to alleviate poverty and improve the livelihoods of the people in the region.

In line with this year’s theme for the World Day to Combat Desertification, a core principle of JAI is “people’s engagement at all levels, in particular land users at community level, in a participatory process.”

With a rallying call to “Protect Earth. Restore Land. Engage People”, this year’s observance aims to raise public awareness about the urgency for land users to secure productive land by avoiding degrading more land, on the one hand, and rehabilitating and restoring all productive that can be recovered, on the other.

World Day to Combat Desertification is observed every year on 17 June in all countries of the world.

Row, criticisms trail Makoko Floating School collapse

admin
-
0
Row, criticisms trail Makoko Floating School collapse

A row has broken out over architect Kunlé Adeyemi‘s award-winning Makoko Floating School following its recent collapse, with a community leader in Lagos claiming pupils were evacuated three months ago over safety concerns and architecture critics questioning its credentials.

The Makoko Floating School, Lagos before its collapse
The Makoko Floating School, Lagos before its collapse

Noah Shemede, headmaster of a nearby school whose pupils made use of the water-borne facilities, told Dezeen that the three-storey, prism-shaped wooden structure was “not strong”.

“I moved the kids from the school because I believed it would cause danger to the kids,” Shemede told Dezeen via Facebook. “I moved for the safety of the kids.”

Shemede’s claims contradict comments made by Nigerian architect Adeyemi, who said the school was decommissioned after three years’ successful service to make way for an improved version.

NLÉ, Adeyemi’s studio, issued a statement earlier this week titled “Makoko Floating School comes down for upgrade” which claimed the prototype school “had been out of use in anticipation of reconstruction.”

“After three years of intensive use and exceptional service to the community, the first prototype structure Makoko Floating School has come down on June 7, 2016,” it said, adding that it was working on a new version.

The statement, issued in response to reports that a storm had destroyed the structure, confirmed that the school had suffered an “abrupt collapse.”

However, Shemede said the school had only been in use for a few months.

“I started using the school last year, in October 2015, and I moved the kids from the school in March this year because of the safety,” said Shemede, who is head of the nearby Wanyninna Primary School in Makoko, an informal neighbourhood built on stilts over the Lagos Lagoon.

“The (floating) school is not strong,” he added.

Adeyemi responded by saying that media reports of Shemede’s views were “unfortunate”.

“It’s unfortunate that at this stage they take the view point of an individual to represent that of a community on a structure that belongs to the community,” he told Dezeen.

Built of timber struts and floating on a platform made of 250 plastic barrels, Makoko Floating School became a symbol of hope for the deprived area, which is home to 100,000 inhabitants but which has few facilities and has been described as “the world’s biggest floating slum”.

The international attention it garnered helped protect the community it served from eviction by the Nigerian government, which in 2012 declared the stilt district illegal.

The school also promised to provide much-needed educational facilities, as well as elevating the reputation of its architect.

But Shemede downplayed the importance of the much-lauded project, which has won several architectural awards. “The school can only accommodate less than 60 kids,” he said.

The destruction of the school and the ensuing row has led to a rapid re-evaluation of its credentials, with some suggesting its role in helping the community had been exaggerated.

An article in The Guardian this week described the collapse as “a serious blow to the future of the remarkable floating city,” and reported frustrations in the community over its delayed opening and its small capacity, despite being taller than the typical single-storey structures in the slum.

Writing in AR magazine, architecture professor Tomà Berlanda described Adeyemi’s statement as “worryingly misleading”.

“The fact is that the prototype’s load-bearing structure fell apart, and with it the hopes of the community,” wrote Berlanda, a professor at the University of Cape Town’s architecture school.

Berlanda said that the photogenic project had captured the imagination of architects around the world but added: “At this stage, you are left wondering how much of the use of the building as a school was staged.”

Phineas Harper, deputy director of the Architecture Foundation in London, wrote on his Facebook page that the architecture media “fell into a PR trap” over the school.

Harper said the building’s collapse brought “critical lessons for architectural journalists.”

“We fell into a PR trap, which hinged on sexy Iwan Baan photographs and respected publications not having the budgets to properly investigate their features thoroughly,” he wrote.

Asked to respond to the criticisms, Adeyemi told Dezeen: “We are meeting with the community leaders (on Saturday) and we will be in a position to give a much more comprehensive and consolidated report next week to avoid he said/she said scenarios. I therefore have no comments at this point.”

Meanwhile a crowdfunding campaign has been launched to build extra facilities at Shemede’s Whanyinna Primary School in Makoko to replace those lost in the storm.

“It will be a tragedy if we can’t turn this setback for the community into something meaningful and use the publicity to build something more sustainable,” says the text accompanying the campaign.

“So, instead of doing an architectural project that puts the community interests in second place, we’re proposing to do something simpler that is being requested by the community.”

Adeyemi, 40, is currently exhibiting his improved prototype of the school, called MFS II, at the Venice Architecture Biennale. Last month, he was awarded the Biennale’s prestigious Silver Lion for the project, which is “more robustly engineered” and “adapted for easy prefabrication”.

Courtesy: Dezeen Magazine

Why Ghana must shun coal energy, by Oilwatch

admin
-
0
Why Ghana must shun coal energy, by Oilwatch

In commemoration of the World Environment Day 2016, Oilwatch Ghana joins the No Coal Energy campaign in the West African nation, stressing that, given its abundance and available renewable energy endowment, Ghana does not need to go far looking for another energy source

Ghana is proposing to establish a coal-fired plant in Ekumfi Aboano
Ghana is proposing to establish a coal-fired plant in Ekumfi Aboano

During the UNFCCC climate change conference held last December in Paris, France (COP21), climate negotiations pertaining energy-related talks were stroked by renewed commitment to renewable energy. According to WWF press statement circulated in December 2015, not only is this ambitious but a commitment that largely emerged from Africa.

Undoubtedly, Africa has a responsibility to harp the benefit of renewable energy on the global community platform and at home. Setting itself in the track of renewable aligns with popular   Ghanaian (ethnic Ewe) adage which contends that “In the face of a threatening snake, the rod in hand must be the one to strike the snake.” In context, African does not need to go far looking for another energy source, given its abundance and available renewable energy endowment.

Therefore, deepening investments in renewable energy should be seen as duty call, particularly in the light of a growing global climate crisis, with unacceptable negative consequences for human existence and cost implications for all sectors of the economy – health, security including labour and employment.

Transiting to renewable energy future can only be driven by a strong political will, commitment   and resilience. This must encourage local government policy development planning and action to addressing the challenges of energy poverty, such that locally developed off-grid energy systems, distribution and ownership will be on stage.

The outcome of the G7 meetings in 2015 serves additional impetus, cast in the agreement that the world transit from fossil energy to renewable though the G7 consider this transition in a long distance term. In a similarly way, the Africa Progress Panel report (2015) supports this position. These and others endorse Oilwatch’s age-long energy and development message.

Over two decades now, Oilwatch Africa/International has been consistent in extolling the values enshrined in this slogan, contending that this holds the key for a transformative and progressive human society and well-being. Transiting to renewable energy presents a useful solution to the current energy poverty imposed by structural arrangements, set in motion by   capitalist mode of production and distribution.

An encouraging development is seen in recent times with growing pattern of renewable energy initiatives. The Ayitepa wind farm in Pram Pram – on the coast of the greater Accra region being a good case. This is on the south eastern coastal area Tema in the Greater Accra Region. Other commendable instances include Ghana’s Energy Commission/UNDP/New Energy solar powered irrigation project for farmers in the North. Therefore, harnessing the coordinated value of such initiatives will be the track to ending energy poverty.

However, recent developments focused at establishing a coal fired plant in Ghana is NOT only disappointing but on course to undermine the momentum rise on renewable energy. The dire socio-economic, environmental, health and safety concerns associated with coal-fired plants makes it more problematic. Especially, these impacts will be costly to communities and peoples of Ekumfi Aboano, the location planned for this coal plant. Social and environmental challenges associated with port construction, coal-induced emissions arising from poisonous pollutants like mercury and sulphur dioxide have potential lasting damaging effect for fisheries that the locals rely on for their livelihood and can lead to birth defects and respiratory problems.

Partnership between Ghana’s state owned energy entity, the Volta River Authority and Chinese based Shenzhen are behind the coal plant initiative planned to be located in Ekumfi Aboano in the central region. This project stands as a pacesetter for similar developments in the West African sub-region since this will be the first of its kind in the region. Proponents contend that coal energy will deliver affordable power price based on low power generation costs and better on-grid price advantage. Ultimately, electricity demand growth in Ghana is projected as 3652MW, 4960MW and 7000MW for 2020, 2025 and 2030 respectively.

Oilwatch Ghana recalls with admiration earlier submissions made by Ghana Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas in one of its publications in 2015, regarding why Ghana should not thread the path of coal energy. Unreservedly, we restate that the social and environmental hazards associated with coal is well documented, therefore global movements towards dismantling coal plants is no new information. Ghana must not act in isolation from global aspirations. Today, voices from the world over including South Africa, Canada and Indonesia represent ample examples of the multiple cost and destructiveness associated with coal-fired plants. Ghana must refrain from coal. The coal dream is a disaster in search of a solution.

Is the AfDB forgetting off-grid in its New Deal on Energy?

admin
-
0
Is the AfDB forgetting off-grid in its New Deal on Energy?

A new senior job posting by the African Development Bank (AfDB) suggests that “business as usual” approaches at the bank will continue with regard to energy access, despite a clear rationale for more decentralised renewable approaches, writes William Brent, Director, Communications at Power for All

Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank. Photo credit: res.cloudinary.com
Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank. Photo credit: res.cloudinary.com

In an advert this week in The Economist, the African Development Bank posted an opening for a Vice President of Power, Energy and Green Growth (VP of PEGG), who it said “will champion the New Deal on Energy for Africa and will lead the Transformative Partnership on Energy for Africa to achieve universal energy access in Africa.” Great news, right?

Not so fast. The position’s key requirements were listed as being a “thought leader with a track record in large-scale electrification, mega project execution across borders and more broadly, energy systems capacity building.”

“Large-scale” and “mega”? Zero mention of decentralised renewable energy solutions, which are critical to achieving energy access for Africa’s more than 600 million people with no electricity, the vast majority of whom live in remote areas that are not conducive to big, expensive, and slow-to-deploy centralised grid solutions.

The total absence of decentralised in the job description is curious, since one of the pillars of the New Deal is an ambitious carve out for “off-grid” solutions. Specifically, AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina said that the New Deal would include 75 million “off-grid” connections, as well as 130 million on-grid connections. Never mind that the AfDB’s target was the inverse ratio recommended by the IEA (which suggest two-thirds off-grid vs. one-third on-grid), it was still seen as a major step towards recognising the importance of decentralised solutions in achieving universal energy access.

The importance of the new AfDB hire is not trivial, since he or she will oversee the $35 billion the AfDB will invest over the next 10 years, as well as an additional $45 to $50 billion the bank hopes to leverage for energy investments during that period.

The bias among multilateral development banks for big centralised electricity projects is well documented. As of 2014, none of the big banks, including the AfDB and the World Bank, spent more than two percent of their energy investments on decentralised renewable solutions. Yet, according to the World Bank’s own internal audit, their average power projects take nine years to complete. So if universal energy access in Africa is to be achieved by 2025, which is AfDB’s publicly stated goal, decentralised must be a core pathway (see Power for All’s deeper analysis of the “time to access” issue in its recent report, “Decentralised Renewables: The Fast Track to Universal Energy Access“).

Another perhaps troubling development for decentralised solutions in Africa was a senior AfDB hire earlier this year, when Frannie Leautier joined as a senior vice president after more than a decade with the World Bank, mostly focused on big infrastructure. The few AfDB champions of decentralised solutions are doing great work, advancing smaller-scale renewables through the Sustainable Energy for Africa programme, and pushing ahead on a green mini-grid development programme, but the champions are too few, and the programmes are de minimus to the needs and opportunities for innovative, non-“business-as-usual” solutions.

Largely free from legacy infrastructure, the AfDB has a chance to design the energy infrastructure of the future in Africa. Yet initial signs indicate that they may be embracing solutions that were first developed in the 19th century and have remained largely unchanged. Let’s not let the power of inertia trump the rapid, cost-effective and transformative power of decentralised renewables.

Nigeria advised on solid minerals exploitation

admin
-
0
Nigeria advised on solid minerals exploitation

As the country seeks to diversify the economy to non-oil base following dwindling oil price, Nigeria has been advised not to be in a hurry to exploit its rich solid mineral deposits while facilities to process the resources are yet to be in place.

Dr Kayode Fayemi, Solid Minerals minister
Dr Kayode Fayemi, Solid Minerals minister

Advisor, Business Development Unit, West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) Prof. Douglason Omotor, who gave the advice at a forum in Lagos, explained that exporting solid mineral in its raw form would rob the country of huge revenue and job opportunities that would have accrued to it if the commodities were locally processed.

He noted that exploiting the solid mineral in their primary forms would amount to the repeat of the mistake in the oil sector, in which the country exports the raw crude, while the refining process, which creates more job opportunities, is lost.

“It should be done with caution. Looking at the value addition when we exploit it. Rather than exporting it in its raw form as a primary commodity. Looking at the state at the international market, it is not the best for us because Nigeria as a country is a price taker and primary commodity exporters are price takers and because they are price takers, they don’t determine the price of these commodities. Over time experience has shown that the price of these commodities are subjected to cycles. They increase today, tomorrow their prices decrease and when they decline they decline very fast. And so, what we should do in terms of the exploitation of solid mineral is that we put in place a mechanism that will add to the value in terms of its creation. So, rather than export it raw, we should export the processed part and, in processing it, many hands will be involved and by the time many hands are involved, we are talking of job creation, revenue generation and we are talking of higher standard of living in the country. So we have to be very careful so that we don’t make the mistake we made in the exploitation and exportation of crude oil what we are suffering from because it will not be different from that unless we begin to add value to these minerals.”

Prof. Omotor said the country should rather start the economic diversification with agriculture, housing development and expansion of tax collection which, according to him, are both sustainable and have the prospect of creating massive job opportunities.

Nigeria is heavily with over 44 solid mineral deposits spread across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

Estimated to be in billions of metric tons, the country’s solid mineral deposit is estimated to generate more revenue and job opportunities than crude oil.

Among the solid minerals that are in commercial quantity include iron ore, titanium, gold, tin, uranium, lead, zinc and coal.

According to participants at the gathering, some countries have been able to survive by one or two of the solid minerals. The stresses the need to preserve the environment which they described as the greatest asset that mankind has.

One of the speakers who raised the concern was the President, Association of Retired Paramilitary Officers, Dr. Wale Oloyode, who said that while it was necessary to start harnessing solid minerals to take the country out of its economic misery, the environment should be protected at all times for it to continue to support life.

“It is a good thing to explore what God has given us such as gold, limestone, zinc and many other solid minerals, to get extra resources to fund government expenses. But, unfortunately, exploitation of these mineral resources has its implications. So we need to thread softly. We don’t need to rush things. We should explore it in a manner that it will be useful to us to create useful employment and preserve our environment. All we need to do is proper assessment of what is going on and be proactive about the implications of unrestricted and uncontrolled mining that is going on all over the country.”

Director, New Nigeria Foundation, Professor Ajibola Obafemi, said the group was to begin the massive engagement of state governments to help them sustainably create generate revenue to among other things protect the environment.

“We intend to start engaging state governments to ensure an inclusive way of diversifying their economy. As we all know, a lot of states are in serious trouble now because they do not have enough resources within them. It is an aberration in Nigeria that people depend on the central government to be sending oil money. What about the countries that don’t have oil? The states in these countries, how do they manage? The use resources within the state.”

A board member of NEITI, Gbenga Onaiga, had in a separate forum at the Lagos Business School vowed that the agency more than ever before was determined to ensure that resources in the country were sustainably harnessed to ensure improved living standards for Nigerians.

“We have been talking about diversification of the economy for many years. But more than ever before, the people led by the media should ensure that the diversification is real. If this country must survive, it must pay attention to agriculture. We must also pay attention to exploiting the enormous solid minerals that we can find in every local government areas of this country. We in NEITI must ensure that natural resources in this country are carefully, decently and sustainably exploited to translate into improved living standards for most Nigerians,” he disclosed.

Illegal mining of solid minerals activities, with their attendant consequences including pollution of water sources and destruction of ecosystems, have been on for years and still going on in different places across the country.

By Innocent Onoh

Biosafety law not compliant with UN biodiversity pact, says group

admin
-
0
Biosafety law not compliant with UN biodiversity pact, says group

The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) Act 2015 is not compliant with the Cartagena Protocol to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the Global Prolife Alliance (GPA) has said.

Rufus Ebegba, Director-General and CEO of the the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA). Photo credit: climatereporters.com
Rufus Ebegba, Director-General and CEO of the the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA). Photo credit: climatereporters.com

The Owerri, Imo state-based group made the submission against the backdrop of its opposition to the NBMA’s issuance of permits for the development of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the country.

The permits include:

  • Permit for Commercial release/Placing on Market of Cotton (MON 15985) genetically modified for lepidopteran insect pest resistance” with Permit No: NBMA/CM/IM/001;
  • Permit for Confined Field Trial (CFT) of maize (NK603 and MON 89034 x NK603) genetically modified for insect resistance and herbicide tolerance with Permit No: NBMA/CFT/001.

The two permits are posted on the NBMA website, signed by its Director-General, Rufus Ebegba, on May 1, 2016 and reportedly issued to Monsanto Africulture Nigeria Limited.

Nigeria is a signatory to the binding UN Treaty along with 168 countries. It came into force on 11th September, 2003. According to Dr Philip Njemanze, the UN Convention is based on the Precautionary Principle designed to protect human health, the environment and biodiversity from the risks posed by GMOs.

He disclosed in a statement that, as a way to further improve biosafety laws in the continent, African leaders also drafted an African Model Law on Biosafety, to give guidance to African governments, in the drafting of their national laws on biosafety.

“The African Model Law sets a higher benchmark for biosafety for Africa. Nigeria was party to the African Union (AU) Summit in July 2003, where Member States were formally urged to use the African Model Law on Safety in Biotechnology as a basis for drafting their national instruments on biosafety. However, undue interference from international biotechnology companies through corruption in government in Nigeria has led to permits for unhindered introduction of GMOs foods with no thorough health and environmental impact studies,” he disclosed.

He described the recent actions of the management of the NBMA as clear manifestations of the undue interference by biotechnology firms who dictate the actions of their government regulators, saying: “These actions of the NBMA are dangerous and unpatriotic. They are in violation of food and environmental safety laws in Nigeria. These actions of NBMA display total incompetence and unprofessionalism by the management, and calls into question their fitness to administer such a crucial job of securing the food security of the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

While calling on President Mohammadu Buhari to dismiss the management and board of the NBMA, Dr Njemanze described the NBMA action as being in total disregard for the food safety concerns regarding GMOs crops expressed by leading governments around the world who, according to him, have had first-hand experience with genetically modified maize.

His words: “These governments, including eight EU member states (France, Germany, Poland, Italy, Luxemburg, Austria, Hungary and Greece), have banned the same insect-resistant corn variety citing environmental concerns.

“The German Agricultural Minister Ilse Aigner announced she was banning not only the cultivation of GMO corn but also the sale of its seeds, saying she has ‘legitimate reasons to believe that MON 810 posed a danger to the environment’.

“French scientists headed by Professor Gilles-Eric Seralini have established that the effects of GMO crops were similar to that of pesticides, including inflammation disorders and severe toxicity to liver and kidney.

“Hungarian scientists headed by Professor Bela Darvas of Debrecen University have shown that Monsanto MON 810 is lethal to two Hungarian protected species and one insect classified as rare. Maize is a wind-pollinated plant so could cause serious devastation to the environment, since wind that can transport GMO pollens or seeds would contaminate the entire environment.

“The recklessness in approval of use of pesticides and GMO crops in Nigeria led to dangerous contamination of food in Nigeria. These approvals were granted despite warnings from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

“In August 2015, the European Page 2 Food Safety Authority detected a 460 times above lethal limits of a very toxic and cancerogenic pesticide in food import from Nigeria. The levels detected ranged from concentrations of 0.03mg per kilogramme to 4.6mg/kg of dichlorvos pesticide, when the acceptable maximum residue limit is 0.01mg/kg.

“These dangerous levels of pesticides for GMOs sink to the water aquifer killing aquatic life and poisoning drinking water for humans and animals. Consequently, the European Union banned many food imports from Nigeria, resulting in loss of millions of USD in revenue in hard currency and hence the under performance of the entire agricultural sector with regard to contribution of the National Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”

Zambia, China, Finland ratify Nagoya Protocol

admin
-
0
Zambia, China, Finland ratify Nagoya Protocol

China, Finland and Zambia are the latest countries to ratify the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation, bringing the total number of ratifications to the treaty to 78.

The second meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP2) serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol is scheduled to take place in Cancun, Mexico, from 4 to 17 December 2016
The second meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP2) serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol is scheduled to take place in Cancun, Mexico, from 4 to 17 December 2016

All three countries ratified the Protocol during the past month. Zambia acceded on 20 May 2016, Finland accepted on 3 June 2016 and, most recently, China acceded on 8 June 2016. The treaty will enter into force for each of these countries 90 days after the date of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

Nigeria signed in 2012 but is yet to ratify the ground-breaking treaty.

As Parties to the Protocol, China, Finland and Zambia will be able to contribute to decision-making at the second meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol, scheduled to take place in Cancun, Mexico, from 4 to 17 December 2016.

“These recent ratifications demonstrate the truly global support for the Nagoya Protocol. I congratulate the governments of China, Finland and Zambia, and look forward to more ratifications in the coming months,” said Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). “The acts by these three governments move us closer to reaching our goal of 100 ratifications before the important meetings of the Convention and its Protocols to be held in Mexico later this year.”

The 2010 Nagoya Protocol is a supplementary agreement to the CBD, and contributes to global efforts on sustainable development. Building on the access and benefit-sharing provisions of the CBD, it provides a legal framework which can contribute to transparency and clarity for the various actors involved in access and benefit-sharing agreements.

In addition to China’s accession, Finland’s acceptance and Zambia’s accession, ratifications this year have come from the Czech Republic, Germany, Senegal, Togo and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The Protocol entered into force in 2014.

Greenpeace urges Michelin to stop patronising deforestation-friendly rubber growers

admin
-
0
Greenpeace urges Michelin to stop patronising deforestation-friendly rubber growers

Michelin Group, world leading tyre manufacturer and first world buyer of natural rubber, recently published a zero deforestation procurement policy based on the methodology High Carbon Stock (HCS) Approach.

Cécile Leuba, forest campaigner, Greenpeace France
Cécile Leuba, forest campaigner, Greenpeace France

Reactions have however trailed the development with, for instance, Greenpeace commending the action but demanded that the tyre manufacturer should do more.

Cécile Leuba, Forest campaigner for Greenpeace France, submitted: “The announcement by the Michelin group to commit to a zero deforestation natural rubber procurement policy sends a strong signal to the entire rubber sector: it will soon be more difficult to sell natural rubber that contributes to deforestation.

“This zero deforestation commitment is just the first step: Michelin must now ensure its implementation and quickly stop sourcing from rubber growers who refuse to commit to producing zero deforestation rubber. This starts with Socfin which, is an important supplier for Michelin’s natural rubber.”

In February and May 2016, Greenpeace France published two reports, with the support of investigations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Cameroon and Liberia highlighting how Socfin’s concessions included primary forests, but also secondary forests that store significant amounts of carbon. But the company refuses to make a Zero Deforestation commitment worthy of the name, notes Greenpeace.

The group adds that Michelin’s commitment to protect all “High Carbon Stock” (HCS) forests confirms that the HCS Approach is today the only standard enabling corporations to implement a real “zero deforestation” commitment.

“After the Zero Deforestation commitment of more than 75% of the palm oil sector, as well as major pulp and paper producers in tropical areas, it is now the rubber industry stakeholders who are adopting this methodology,” says Leuba. “The decision of the Michelin group increases the risk for Socfin of being marginalised and the risk to find themselves in non-compliance with procurement policies of their major customers.”

Greenpeace France calls on all Socfin’s customers, palm oil and natural rubber consumer, to ensure that their commercial relations with Socfin continue only on the basis of implementation of a zero deforestation policy based on the HCS Approach methodology.

1...2,0102,0112,012...2,216Page 2,011 of 2,216

TV Report

Archives

2025 EnviroNews Nigeria. All Rights Reserved.

×