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N9.2bn cookstoves: Lawsuit is a distraction

Michael Simire
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N9.2bn cookstoves: Lawsuit is a distraction

Hamzat Lawal’s Follow The Money, in a recent reaction to the saga, says the lawsuit involving government and the contractor is an unnecessary distraction   

The cookstoves imported under the N9.2 billion FG project
The cookstoves imported under the N9.2 billion FG project

In November 2014, the Federal Government of Nigeria approved a N9.2 billion initiative aimed at providing healthier, cleaner cooking alternatives to rural women in Nigeria and curbing the spread of desertification caused by excessive firewood use for cooking. The clean cookstoves contract was awarded to Integra Renewable Energy Limited to procure 750,000 clean cookstoves and 18,000 Wonderbags in the first phase of the clean cookstoves campaign.

On the 5th of August 2015, Follow The Money team was informed that Integra Renewable Energy Ltd had filed a lawsuit against the Federal Ministry of Environment citing the cause as the apparent termination of the initial contract between the government and Integra Renewable Energy Ltd. According to sources, the Federal Government has agreed to meet with Integra Renewable Energy Ltd in court and settle the matter through the appropriate legal avenues. This news has been met with public outrage with allegations of fraud being levied against both the Federal Government and Integra Renewable Energy Ltd.  However this lawsuit also potentially threatens to destabilise the progress that has been made in the procurement and distribution of these clean cookstoves and Wonderbags to the women and communities that require this intervention. As such, Follow The Money seeks to ensure relevant information remains available to the public and stakeholders associated with the clean cookstoves campaign.

Follow The Money Team was activated in December 2014 to monitor the procurement efforts of Integra Renewable Energy Ltd, the distribution mechanisms by the Ministry of Environment, and other aspects of the initiative. Furthermore, Follow The Money Team organised and facilitated regular stakeholder meetings to provide interested and affected parties with the opportunity to learn more about the initiative and remain updated about progress that had been made. It also launched a media campaign to increase awareness about the benefits of the Clean Cookstoves campaign and promote transparency and accountability in all aspects of the initiative. As such, Follow The Money has been made aware of, and can verify the following facts:

  • Clean Cookstoves reduce firewood consumption for cooking by 80%
  • As of November 2014, the Clean Cookstoves campaign was given a 12 week timeframe to achieve completion
  • As of May 2015, according to Follow The Money independent estimates, only approximately 45,000 clean cookstoves, mostly LPG cylinders, had been imported into the country and were being stored at the National Stadium in Abuja, Nigeria.
  • As of May 2015, the Ministry of Environment had received N5 billion from the Ecological Fund Office for the initiative, and had disbursed only N1.3 billion to the contracting company. N3.7 billion still remained in the Ministry’s accounts and N4.2 Billion with the Ecological Fund Office
  • In May 2015 the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment mentioned that the Ministry of Environment might cancel the official contract with Integra Renewable Energy
  • The clean cookstoves initiative was formally launched by the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, on the 26th May 2015.

Though the Federal Ministry of Environment eventually responded to a Freedom of Information request made by Connected Development (CODE), further information regarding the progress of the initiative has remained withheld from CODE and other stakeholders on the specifics of the contract awards and distribution mechanism.

Follow The Money Team is concerned that the following lawsuit could potentially detract from the procurement and distribution of the 750,000 cookstoves and 18,000 Wonderbags. Furthermore, this cancellation of the contract and lawsuit could lead to more opportunities to increase the timeframe required to complete this initiative. As healthcare advocates and environmentalists, Follow The Money Team is determined to continue monitoring this initiative, providing insight to stakeholders, and collaborating with multiple agencies to ensure transparency and accountability are practiced by all involved agencies.

It’s important to note that as this case takes more time, our mothers and their children in local communities are at risk of losing their lives due to unclean smoke from cooking with firewood. Also, further delays will cause even more loss from our already dilapidated forest cover due to increased felling of trees for firewood which also leads to desert encroachment and threatens the Great Green Wall programme already instituted by the federal government.

We aim to ensure that the courts of justice, which represent the rights of every Nigerian, will also encourage transparency and have both parties make the contract document available to the public and ensure accountability in the entire process moving forward. 

Nigeria to implement global agenda on reducing disasters

Michael Simire
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Nigeria to implement global agenda on reducing disasters

Nigeria has set in motion processes to implement the newly adopted global framework to curb the risk of natural disasters.

Nigeria Country Director of UNDP, Dr. Pa Lamin Beyai. Photo credit: ng.undp.org
Nigeria Country Director of UNDP, Dr. Pa Lamin Beyai. Photo credit: ng.undp.org

Tagged: “Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR),” the agenda was endorsed last March in Sendai in Japan, replacing the 10-year Hyogo Framework of Action (HFA) that came to an end this year.

The SFDRR will however span 15 years (2015-2030), while emphasising a shift from disaster management to disaster risk management and recognising the importance of a well-functioning health system.

At a two-day forum held last week in Abuja at the instance of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), United Nations Development Agency (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), participants attempted an overview of the outgone HFA and explored avenues and priorities of action to be taken to implement the SFDRR.

While operational, the HFA had influenced the establishment of the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), mainstreamed DRR into the nation’s disaster management policies and programmes as well as professional institutions, and developed a DRR and climate change curriculum for schools.

The HFA likewise established Centres for Disaster Risk Management and Development Studies in six universities across the nation’s six geo-political zones, and decentralised DRR through the establishment of Zonal and Operational Offices across the country.

In the light of experiences gained through the implementation of the HFA, NEMA has underlined the need – the course of implementing SFDRR – for focused action in priority areas listed to include: Understanding disaster risk, Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk, Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience, and Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response.

“The document is expected to help us in developing strategies to further reduce risk and build nations and communities resilient to disasters. It therefore presents us yet another unique opportunity to commit more efforts towards disaster risk reduction and resilience building in Nigeria. We must recognise that one driving force in achieving the goals in this framework is strong commitment towards political leadership and will,” declared The NEMA Director General, Muhammad Sani Sidi.

The Country Director of UNDP, Dr. Pa Lamin Beyai, Beyai noted that the HFA achieved its objectives, stressing that the new framework is targeted at helping communities mitigate inevitable disasters they face before, during and after they occur.

While applauding NEMA for taking the lead in designing a national strategic plan towards implementing the Sendai framework, Beyai reiterated the UNDP’s commitment in supporting Nigeria in her implementation plan.

He however noted that, in implementing the framework, Nigeria must make sure that she combines disaster risk reduction with building resilience by developing the capacity of communities to bounce back from shocks.

“We must find local solutions because they are very crucial to disaster risks reduction. What works in one community may not naturally work in another.

“We must also promote inclusion. We all know that during disaster, women, youths, the elderly and people with disabilities are often affected the most. Everyone needs to be included. The elderly with their wisdom and unique perspectives and the youths with their strength and courage to tackle issues at hand,” he added.

On his part, the ECOWAS Commission’s Principal Disaster Reduction Officer, lamented that Africa is the most vulnerable continent to natural disasters with negative impact on the economy and the social development of the entire continent.

He stressed that based on the foregoing, stakeholders must shift from the fire brigade approach and focus more on prevention while also ensuring better management of disaster and reduction.

Ibrahim, therefore, pledged ECOWAS Commission’s continued support to Nigeria in designing a national framework for disaster risk reduction.

“I’m reaffirming ECOWAS commitment to member states and most especially, the federal republic of Nigeria to promote the actualisation of the four priority areas of the Sendai framework on disaster reduction,” he said.

Sidi said the SFDRR would help the country in developing strategies to further reduce disaster risk and build her resilient to disaster.

“We must therefore work to prevent new risks and reduce existing ones and, where we cannot prevent, we must be ready to build back better,” he added.

UNICEF, media dialogue on child malnutrition

Michael Simire
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UNICEF, media dialogue on child malnutrition

A two-day media dialogue on child malnutrition with the theme: “Spend more money on nutrition” – #StopChildMalnutritionNigeria, ended on Friday in Kano.

A malnourished child. Photo credit: ghp.usa.org
A malnourished child. Photo credit: ghp.usa.org

The dialogue, organised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), was facilitated by communication specialist, Geoffrey Njoku. It was attended by representatives of the traditional and online media.

It is coming ahead of new figures on child malnutrition due to be released soon by UNICEF. Malnutrition is widespread in Nigeria and is said to be killing over 1,000 children daily.

Speaking, UNICEF Chief of Communication, Doune Porter, stressed the need for media partnership so as to attract the necessary intervention to stop child malnutrition in the country.

Porter said a new figure on child malnutrition would be released by UNICEF soon, saying healthy and well-nourished children are needed for the future of Nigeria, calling on the media to sustain the partnership.

In his presentation on “An overview of malnutrition in Nigeria and its impact on children, UNICEF’s Chief Nutritionist, Arjan De Gwat, spoke extensively on the nutrition values of foods that he classified as macronutrients and micronutrients.

He said 55 percent of child deaths are attributed to malnutrition, adding that malnutrition of the mother could result in disability of the child or miscarriage.

Arjan, said malnutrition could also lead to reduction in mental capacity and ultimately poor education of the child, advising mothers to embrace exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months.

“Exclusive breastfeeding has the potential to save more children’s lives than any other preventive intervention,” he said.

Coordinator, African Centre for Media and Information Literacy, Chido Onuma, made a presentation on media advocacy required to keep the issue of child malnutrition on the front burner.

He spoke on how the media can support advocacy for increased resources for nutrition programming.

Onuma, therefore, charged the media to sensitize governments at all levels to increase resources to enhance child nutrition. He also charged them to do more of features, special reports and editorials to sustain focus on child malnutrition in the country.

Dr. Chris Osa Isokpunwu of the Federal Ministry of Health also made a presentation on Nutrition Situation in Nigeria.

Political undertones trail planned clean-up of Ogoniland

Michael Simire
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Political undertones trail planned clean-up of Ogoniland

Political undertones have trailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent move to fast-track the clean-up of Ogoniland in accordance with the report and recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

John Odey, former Minister of Environment
John Odey, former Minister of Environment

While officials of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) seem to be ‘milking’ the situation by heaping praises on Mr President while tacitly condemning the outgone President Goodluck Jonathan, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has somewhat reacted, claiming that, indeed, past PDP presidents had set the stage for the implementation of the report.

For instance, the Rivers State branch of the APC has described President Buhari as the true son of the Niger Delta, even though he is not from there, by the recent move.

In a media statement, the party’s Chairman, Dr. Ibiamu Ikanya, said Mr. President, has proved to be a better son of Rivers State and the Niger Delta than immediate past president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.

“The news of President Buhari not only directing the cleaning up of Ogoniland but also the fast-tracking of the process came to us as a great relief, particularly considering the fact that former President Jonathan in demonstration of his hatred and disdain for Rivers State and its people ensured that this exercise did not see the light of the day throughout his ill-fated regime which was more of a curse to Rivers State people and the Niger Delta region.

“President Buhari has demonstrated by this act that he is a better son of Rivers State and the long-suffering Niger Delta than Dr. Jonathan and Chief Wike who, though from the region, instead, teamed up to ensure that the region was under-developed and even ceded our oil wells to other states while also ensuring that no Federal Government presence was felt in Rivers State throughout their evil regime.”

The Rivers State chairman commended President Buhari for what he called “this brave and patriotic step in cleaning up Ogoni land.”

He added: “President Buhari has proved that he is truly a God-Gift to Nigeria at this particular time to right the wrongs, injustice and wickedness Rivers State and Niger Delta under the regime of Dr. Jonathan Goodluck.”

But PDP chieftain and erstwhile Minister of Environment, John Odey, countered Dr Ikanya, saying that, though President Buhari deserves commendation for his bold decision, President Jonathan did no wrong and should not be condemned.

In a recent posting on his Facebook page, Odey submitted: “Nobody should condemn GEJ (Goodluck Ebele Jonathan) on Ogoni clean up. We don’t read. We don’t research. President Obasanjo set up the Remediation of Ogoni committee in the Ministry of Environment under the Chairmanship of Bishop Kuka with the professional team and expertise of UNEP.

“As Minister of Environment, myself, Bishop (Mathew) Kuka, UNEP and all the stakeholders met several times to work on the report. We received great contribution from Governor Rotimi Amaechi. He provided all the logistics and most of the materials UNEP needed for the study – security, transportation and accommodation. He personally escorted us to Ogoni for inspection of sites.

“We started the study under President Yar’adua and completed it under President Jonathan before I left office in 2011. The next Minister after me presented the report to GEJ and it was adopted. This is work in progress. The bold step by President Buhari is commendable. The ministry of Petroleum Resources after the report delayed this process. This is another matter to be addressed later.

“This is work in progress and the four Presidents I have mentioned above should be commended. What is significant is the bold step President Buhari has taken to set the ball rolling again.”

Cautious optimism greets government’s plan to implement UNEP report

Michael Simire
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Cautious optimism greets government’s plan to implement UNEP report

A barrage of applause has greeted President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to clean-up the extensively polluted Ogoniland in the Niger Delta region by implementing the much-vaunted report on the community prepared by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Dr Godwin Uyi Ojo of ERA/FoEN
Dr Godwin Uyi Ojo of ERA/FoEN

But the voices of commendation are being cautious, saying that certain things don’t seem right and that they should be urgently addressed before the project commences in earnest.

For instance, the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) applauds Mr. President, saying that the delay in implementing the four-year-old plan is unconscionable by all standards. The civil society group notes that the process leading to this had some consultations and that some structures have been established for its execution.

HOMEF, however, believes that the body saddled with the task of cleaning up Ogoniland should be addressed.

“Certainly, government does not wish to ‘restore pollution’ as the name Hydrocarbons Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) suggests. The object is to remediate the environment, not to restore pollution,” says Nnimmo Bassey, the HOMEF executive director.

His words: “HOMEF recommends that the name be changed to Hydrocarbons Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) or Hydrocarbons Clean-up Project (HYCUP). Better still, the body should be renamed as Ogoni Environment Restoration Agency as recommended by UNEP. If the idea is to pave way for an agency that serves the entire Niger Delta, the needful thing to do, while having a specific project for Ogoniland, would be to rename the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) as Niger Delta Environment Restoration Commission.

“There are rough edges that still require smoothening for a smooth take off of the clean-up project. A significant aspect is the non-inclusion of at least one representative of civil society in the structures set up by the President. The role and deep stakes of civil society in the struggle for the clean-up of Ogoniland and the Niger Delta cannot be overlooked. Their inclusion is essential for oversight reason.

“HOMEF also recommends that the new HYPREP or HYCUP should ensure that verified debts owed workers and staff of the defunct body are settled. In terms of the budget to commence the immense tasks ahead, in addition to the $10 million from the Federal Government, the polluter, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), should place the $1billion estimated by UNEP as a start-up sum on the table now without further prevarications,” Bassey adds.

But the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) believes that Hydrocarbons Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) should be scrapped in its entirety and replaced with a new body that will reflect the provisions of UNEP and have the backing of the Ogoni people.

Godwin Uyi Ojo, executive director of ERA/FoEN, discloses: “We commend and support President Buhari’s decision to implement the UNEP report. It goes a long way to show that he is sincerely willing to tackle this problem.

“However, we are not comfortable with the fact that HYPREP is to oversee this project. HYPREP is a government agency domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. The UNEP in the report recommended an independent body, which HYPREP isn’t. Also, it has no statutory backing.

“We therefore recommend that HYPREP should be abolished and an entirely new independent body established urgently. This body will have the backing of the Ogoni people.”

HOMEF, nonetheless, wants the new body it recommends to engage in urgent and transparent consultations to agree on steps to be taken, the competences to be employed in the clean-up and the milestones to be targeted.

“This laudable step of President Buhari should be followed with a commissioning of environmental audits on other devastated territories in the Niger Delta, in line with the call for one by the people of Egi Land. These should be the starting point for an urgent and thorough auditing of the total state of the Nigerian environment, from the South to the North and from the East to the West,” says George Awudi, a member of the governing board of HOMEF.

He adds: “HOMEF applauds the Ogoni people for their consistent and dogged struggles to ensure that their environment is cleaned up. With this coming in the year that marks the 20th anniversary of the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni martyrs, the sacrifices made by the Ogoni people justify the stanza of our national anthem that declares that the ‘labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain’.”

Town planners inaugurate 10-man examination board

Michael Simire
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Town planners inaugurate 10-man examination board

National President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Dr Femi Olomola, has inaugurated the institute’s Examination Board, which comprises 10 members who are mostly academics.

National President of the NITP, Dr. Femi Olomola (third from right), with some members of the Board
National President of the NITP, Dr. Femi Olomola (third from right), with some members of the Board: Dr Wale Alade (second from left), Mrs Taiwo Olurin (third from left), Dr Ezirin O. N. (second from right) and Mrs Esuabana E. A. (right). National Secretary of the NITP, Alex Ogbodo, is in white on extreme left

The Board was inaugurated on the Friday, July 31st 2015 in the NITP Board Room of Bawa Bwari House, Abuja with all Management Board members of the Institute in attendance.

In his inauguration speech, the Dr Olomola emphasised that members were selected purely on merit, academic pedigree and commitment to the planning profession as well as activities of the Institute.

“You should assist in bringing sanity to the conduct of the examinations and restore honour to the profession,” said the NITP president.

Members of the 10-member Examination Board are: Tpl (Town Planner) Mrs Taiwo Olurin; FNITP (Chairperson), Tpl (Dr) Ezirim O N.; MNITP (Secretary), Tpl (Mrs) Esuabana E A; FNITP (Member), Tpl (Dr)  Mrs Helen U. Anazia; FNITP (Member), Tpl (Dr) Wale Alade; MNITP (Member), Tpl  (Dr) A.O Afon; MNITP (Member), Tpl (Prof) Dung-Gwom Jy; MNITP (Member), Tpl Yekeen A Sanusi; MNITP (Member), Tpl (Dr) Edund Iyi; MNITP (Member) and Tpl (Dr) Peter Uyanga; MNITP (Member).

Due to flight cancellations and delays, four of the Members could be physically available for the inauguration. Other members sent in their apologies.

Those in attendance were: Tpl Mrs Taiwo Oluri; FNITP (Chairperson), Tpl (Dr) Ezirim O N.; MNITP (Secretary), Tpl (Mrs) Esuabana E A; FNITP (Member) and Tpl (Dr) Wale Alade; MNITP (Member).

The Board’s terms of reference (TOR), amongst others, are:

1)    Be responsible for the conduct of all examinations of the Institute

2)    Make regulations for the approval of the Council regarding:

  1. a)    Examinations
  2. b)    Preparation, security and distribution f question papers
  3. c)    Dates, centres and invigilation of by local Examiners
  4. d)    Assessment of answer scripts and publication of results and
  5. e)    Disposal of cases of examination malpractices and complaints

The Board has a four-year tenure which commenced on 31st July, 2015 to expire on 1st August, 2019.

In her acceptance speech, the Chairperson, Tpl Mrs Taiwo Oluri; FNITP thanked the National President and Management, assuring them of the committee’s continued loyalty and dedication to the development of the noble profession in general and the conduct of the Professional Examinations in particular.

She went further to register her appreciation to the out-going Examination Board members under the leadership of Tpl (Dr) Ohakwe as, according to her, she worked with the team as one of their examiners.

She also pledged the new board’s commitment to ensuring that issues between NITP and the Town Planners Registration Council (TOREC) are resolved amicably.

Finally, she on behalf of the Examination Board Members assured the National President and Institute of their loyalty and commitment that a high and up-to-date standard of planning education is maintained.

How to avoid being infected by deadly virus, MERS

Michael Simire
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How to avoid being infected by deadly virus, MERS

Dr. Ashraf Allam, Regional Vice President, Mundipharma Middle East and Africa region provides tips to protect yourself against MERS infections

Dr. Ashraf Allam, Regional Vice President, Mundipharma Middle East and Africa region
Dr. Ashraf Allam, Regional Vice President, Mundipharma Middle East and Africa region

Are you avoiding people in your surroundings with that hacking cough, cold, or flu? Do you draw your hand back from every doorknob?

From a few sniffles to a chesty cough, headache and runny nose, any changes to air-conditioned environments, temperature and a population of constant travelers are culprits often slapped with the blame of the commonly known virus known Middle East Respiratory Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), a coronavirus which causes acute respiratory illness in infected patients.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that approximately 36 percent of patients suffering from the respiratory infection have died, since it was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

Practitioners across the world are cautioned to look out for symptoms of the virus to stop it from spreading. As there is no available vaccine or specific treatment for MERS, the best way to protect yourself is to maintain personal hygiene. This is one of the reasons why the WHO along with many healthcare authorities in different countries, including the U.S., Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Australia, are placing a heavy emphasis on hand hygiene.

Dr. Ashraf Allam, Regional Vice President, Mundipharma Middle East and Africa region, provides tips to protect yourself against MERS infections:

  1. Wash your hands frequently

Wash your hands frequently with antiseptic soap and water. This is particularly important in public toilets, when travelling, in hospital or in restaurants.

  1. Avoid touching your face

Avoid touching your face with your hand to prevent spreading the virus after touching dirty surfaces

  1. Practice proper hygiene at home and in public places: Use a handkerchief

When you sneeze or cough use a handkerchief or tissue to cover your nose or mouth. Dispose of the tissue immediately.

  1. Wear a surgical mask

Wear a surgical mask when visiting people with the illness

  1. Disinfect items in public space

When travelling, carry alcohol-based disinfectant wipes to sanitize your surroundings (overhead compartment latch, seatbelt, in-flight entertainment screen and controls, tray table)

  1. See a doctor

If you come in close contact with someone who has the MERS infection and you have fallen sick with fever, go see your doctor immediately.

Remember the initial symptoms of MERS are similar to the common cold – fever, cough, shortness of breath. As the disease progresses, though, victims may develop pneumonia or kidney failure.

  1. Build up your immune system by making healthy food and beverage choices

Replace immune-damaging beverages like alcohol, sodas (regular and diet), and energy drinks with plenty of fresh, purified water.

A strong immune system can protect you against so many common ailments.

Muhammadu Buhari orders clean-up of Ogoniland

Michael Simire
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0
Muhammadu Buhari orders clean-up of Ogoniland

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the commencement of the environmental clean-up of Ogoniland in the Niger Delta region, even as he inaugurated the Governing Council of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) as well as the Board of Trustees for the Trust Fund.

Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria
Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria

This was one of the actions which the President approved on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, aimed at fast-tracking the long-delayed implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland.

According to a statement from the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President’s actions, which are in tandem with his avowed commitment to working for the development and well-being of all Nigerians, were also based on recommendations to him by the Executive Director of UNEP, the UNEP Special Representative for Ogoniland, Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministries of Environment and Petroleum Resources, and other stakeholders, include the amendment of the Official Gazette establishing the HYPREP to reflect a new governance framework comprising a Governing Council, a Board of Trustees and Project Management.

The President further approved that the HYPREP Governing Council should be composed as follows:

  • Ministry of Petroleum Resources (One Representative)
  • Federal Ministry of Environment (One Representative)
    Impacted States (Rivers)
  • One Representative Oil Companies & NNPC
  • 4 Representatives Ogoniland
  • 2 Representatives United Nations System
  • One Representative Secretariat Headed by Project Manager

President Buhari also approved the composition of a Board of Trustees for the HYPREP Trust Fund as follows:

  • Federal Government (One Representative)
  • NNPC (One Representative)
  • International Oil Companies (One Representative)
  • Ogoniland (One Representative)
  • United Nations System (One Representative)

The statement from Adesina said that after a meeting held on the directive of President Buhari, it was also agreed that a contribution deposit of $10 million will be made by stakeholders within 30 days of the appointment of members of the  Board of Trustees for the  Trust Fund who will be responsible for collecting and managing funds from contributors and donors.

It said that a new implementation template has also been evolved at the instance of President Buhari.

Photos: ERA/FoEN seeks implementation of Ogoniland UNEP report

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Photos: ERA/FoEN seeks implementation of Ogoniland UNEP report

At a day-long stakeholders’ workshop held on Tuesday, August 4, 2015 in Abuja, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (FoEN) formally demanded that the Federal Government should urgently commence the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland in the Niger Delta, which has suffered decades of land, air and sea degradation as a result of pollution from oil exploration. The UNEP report is four years old.

The event featured dignitaries such as Kingsley Chido (MOSOP representative in the National Assembly), Warder Ayibakuro (woman leader), Colin Roche (FoE Europe), Wale Okediran, Prof. M. T. Okorodudu-Fubara (of the Obafemi Awolowo University), Dr Tunde Akani (of the Lagos State University), Prof. Fidelis Allen and Yusuf Leke Zambuk.

Presentation during a technical session
Presentation during a technical session

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr Godwin Uyi Ojo, executive director of ERA/FoEN, leading a protest march
Dr Godwin Uyi Ojo, executive director of ERA/FoEN, leading a protest march

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Academic-turned-activist: Dr M. T. Okorodudu-Fubara, a Professor of Environmental Law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
Academic-turned-activist: Dr M. T. Okorodudu-Fubara, a Professor of Environmental Law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The women take the centre stage...
The women take the centre stage…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Solidarity!
Solidarity!

 

 

Prof Eli Bala: How cheap, renewable energy is transforming rural lifestyle

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Prof Eli Bala: How cheap, renewable energy is transforming rural lifestyle

Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Professor Eli Jidere Bala, in an interview, sheds light on the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative, which the ECN is implementing in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). According to him, the aim is to ensure that rural dwellers have access to modern energy services by utilising the in-situ (locally existing) renewable energy sources.

Prof Eli Jidere Bala, Director General/CEO, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN)
Prof Eli Jidere Bala, Director General/CEO, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN)

The project is the implementation of the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative in Nigeria and it is being handled by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN).

We (ECN) have been their (UNDP’s) focal point for sustainable energy development in Nigeria and this particular project really is to provide some basic amenities to the rural communities around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) here that will change their lifestyles, and improve their standard of living.

Living in health and education, and by social amenities around you and these things are driven by energy. Unfortunately, these rural communities are not grid-connected and even those which are grid-connected supply is epileptic and not regular to sustain a good standard of living.

Fortunately, these areas are endowed with some energy sources within their own communities and these are referred to as renewable energy, like the sun, wind and the biomass that is available to them within the area.

So, they can utilise these with modern technology to enhance their standard of living. So, what we did around these villages around Bwari Area Council is to provide them with clean water supply, using clean water supply from underground, driven by solar energy. When you drill a borehole and you get water; it has to be lifted up, it needs energy to bring it up and so the energy we use is solar energy.

Solar energy is there with them, using solar panel to drive the submersible pump to lift the water up to tank level, and this provides them with clean water to drink and for sanitation which is basic to improve the standard of living.

Secondly, we are also able to provide light to clinics in rural areas. There are clinics in the rural area that do not have power. Those who built the rural clinics did not make provision for energy supply for light.

And you discovered that deliveries were done in the night without light and of course it is injurious and dangerous to our mothers and sisters. So provided them with light from energy again and we have solar panel mounted on the roofs of those clinics stored in the batteries and utilised this light in the night.

They also use electricity from the solar PV to drive refrigerators to store vaccines; refrigerators that vaccines are stored in so that their potency will be maintained and to use in polio vaccination, so and so forth. It also provides ventilation; electricity to power fans to ventilate the rural clinics.

Over 65 per cent of the energy utilised in this country is for cooking and it is derived from biomass which is the wood cut from the forest. Now, substitute has not yet been provided, so we cannot stop people from cutting the forest as a source of fuel. We know the effect of cutting the forest, it increases the risk of desertification, as well as erosion.

So, the best we can do now for our people is provide them with cook stoves that are efficient and readily available and which they can manipulate by themselves, not high tech cook stoves. And, by this, we simply modified the conventional clay type.

Our (the ECN) Sokoto energy research centre has been doing a lot of research into improving the efficiency, its heat retention and also, redirecting the smoke which is dangerous to our mothers while they are cooking. The technology redirects the smoke outside the home; even in the rainy season, they can cook indoors.

The technology was brought from Sokoto and imparted into the rural women, who took part in the moulding, designing and installation of these stoves in their own homes.

It can also provide warmth for the people during the rain. There are two benefits, they will be warmed during rainy season and also their health will be improved.

The other thing we did is to install lights in the town halls and town centres where people congregate in the night – either in the mosque or in the church or in front of the district heads, where people come together and interact. It enhances commercial activities and keeps the youths busy. We also provide street lights to enhance security.

All entail conversion of renewable energy to electricity, and conversion of renewable energy into heat for improvement in the standard of living of our own people.

Now, this energy resource is in-situ, it is not brought from other places. If it is petrol or kerosene lamps, they have to bring the kerosene from somewhere else and it is costly and its accessibility is poor.

We believe that this project can be replicated in various locations in Nigeria for the benefit of the people.

Now, remember that the entire world is now changing from Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The MDGs have so many goals relating to health, infant mortality and others. But, to drive this, energy is required and energy was never a goal in the MDGs.

The SDGs have goals 17 or 7 as one that underlines the importance of sustainable energy supply to drive health, education and to drive other goals.

The role the community will play is to ensure that these systems are safe. If there is any problem they should report to us through their community maintenance committee that has been developed with the community. If it is beyond them they can report to us.

Members of the committee had been trained alongside the installation. UNPD provides the funding but the exact amount can be obtained from them. The ECN is to provide the expertise and ensure that the project is well implemented within our country.

The challenges are maintenance aspect of it –because when they report back to us, you will discover that we are also under funded by the Federal Government, our overhead cannot sustain this project. The communities are also financially incapable. Finance is the basic challenge to most of government grant funded projects.

As regards plans to extend the project to other parts of the country, It can be extended but subject to government funding it.

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