The nation’s Heads of Anti-Corruption Agencies on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 converged on Abuja for daylong meeting to review the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and adopt a Draft National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
Photos: Adopting an anti-corruption strategy
How overfishing and climate change intensify ocean threats
Millions of people and billions of dollars depend on healthy oceans, but human actions create complex interactions that endanger oceans
The combination of overfishing and climate change may be putting the oceans’ health – and our own wellbeing – at risk. As State of the World 2015 contributing author Katie Auth explains, protecting lives and livelihoods will require urgent and concerted action to improve the oceans’ condition.
“Our sense of the oceans’ power and omnipotence – combined with scientific ignorance – contributed to an assumption that nothing we did could ever possibly impact it,” writes Auth. “Over the years, scientists and environmental leaders have worked tirelessly to demonstrate and communicate the fallacy of such arrogance.”
Three billion people worldwide depend on fish as their main source of animal protein, essential micronutrients, and fatty acids. The livelihoods of millions of people in both developing and high-income countries rely on the multi-billion-dollar fisheries industry – a sector that accounted for 1.5 million jobs and more than $45 billion of income in the United States alone in 2010.
“As our negative impact on the oceans has grown, so has our understanding of the myriad ways in which the health of the marine environment determines our own,” writes Auth. “The combined stresses of human activities like overfishing and climate change now pose distinct and intensified threats to marine systems.”
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reported that the global share of marine stocks considered to be fished “within biologically sustainable levels” fell from 90 percent to 71 percent between 1974 and 2011. Of that 71 percent, a large majority (86 percent) of stocks are already fished to capacity. Rapid human population growth and rising incomes are increasing the demand for food fish and pushing wild fish populations to the brink.
Climate-related changes in the marine ecosystem are also affecting the oceans. Over the last 40 years, the upper 75 meters of the world’s oceans have warmed by an average of more than 0.1 degrees Celsius per year. Temperate species are responding to this change and other stressors, such as pollution and fishing pressures, by moving toward the poles, possibly increasing competition with polar animals.
Further, increased carbon in the atmosphere is triggering ocean acidification. About a quarter of human-caused carbon dioxide from the atmosphere has been absorbed into seawater. This changes the chemistry of the water and makes it more difficult for some marine organisms (such as oysters and corals) to form shells and skeletons. Once these populations are affected, entire food webs are threatened.
“Marine ecosystems and individual organisms that already are weakened by overfishing become less resilient and more vulnerable to disruption, especially because environmental change is occurring so rapidly,” writes Auth.
Yet Auth believes that there is still hope. “Conservation efforts aimed at improving system resiliency have proven effective in addressing the nexus between fishing and climate change,” she writes. Changes in fishing policies, equipment, and techniques that result in less damage to ocean-bottom habitats and that reduce bycatch also would diminish fishing stresses. Finally, revamping the global energy system away from fossil fuels would curtail the rise in ocean temperatures and carbon dioxide levels.
Worldwatch’s State of the World 2015 investigates hidden threats to sustainability, including economic, political, and environmental challenges that are often underreported in the media. State of the World 2015 highlights the need to develop resilience to looming shocks.
Applause as Islamic Climate Declaration calls for fossil fuel phase-out
Islamic leaders from 20 countries on Tuesday in Istanbul, Turkey launched a bold Climate Change Declaration to engage the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims on the issue of our time.
Adopted by the 60 participants at the International Islamic Climate Change Symposium (Istanbul, 17-18 August), the Declaration urges governments to deliver a strong, new international climate agreement in Paris this December that signals the end of the road for polluting fossil fuels by creating architecture that will give us a chance of limiting global warming above pre-industrial levels to 2, or preferably 1.5, degrees Celsius.
The Declaration presents the moral case, based on Islamic teachings, for Muslims and people of all faiths worldwide to take urgent climate action. It was drafted by a large, diverse team of international Islamic scholars from around the world following a lengthy consultation period prior to the Symposium. It has already been endorsed by more than 60 participants and organisations including the Grand Muftis of Uganda and Lebanon. The Declaration is in harmony with the Papal Encyclical and has won the support of the Pontifical Council on Justice and Peace of the Holy See.
The Declaration calls for a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels and a switch to 100% renewable energy as well as increased support for vulnerable communities already suffering from climate impacts. It can be seen as part of the groundswell of people from all walks of life calling for governments to scale up the transition away from fossil fuels. Wealthy and oil-producing nations are urged to phase out all greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. All people, leaders and businesses are invited to commit to 100% renewable energy in order to tackle climate change, reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development.
Amongst keynote speakers at the Symposium were three senior UN officials – from the UN Environment Programme, the secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UN Secretary-General’s climate change team. Presentations were also made by scientists, NGO leaders and academics. Also attending were religious leaders from many other faith traditions.
That the Symposium was held in Istanbul is significant – just two weeks before the Paris Summit, for the first time in history, the G20 summit will be organised by the presidency of Turkey, a country with a majority Muslim population. Leaders from the world’s largest 20 economies will gather in an attempt to reach agreement on how international financial stability can be achieved. The economic implications of climate change and the huge amounts of subsidies given by G20 countries to the polluting fossil fuel industry will also be on the agenda.
Expectedly, the development has attracted a barrage of reactions from all over the globe, as eminent persons welcome the declaration.
Din Syamsuddin, Chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulema: “On behalf of the Indonesian Council of Ulema and 210 million Muslims we welcome this Declaration and we are committed to to implementing all recommendations. The climate crisis needs to be tackled through collaborative efforts, so let’s work together for a better world for our children, and our children’s children.”
Dr Saleemul Huq, Director of Institute of Environmental Studies: “I am proud to be associated with the Islamic Declaration on Climate Change released in Istanbul today. As a Muslim I try to follow the moral teachings of Islam to preserve the environment and help the victims of climate change. I urge all Muslims around the world to play their role in tackling the global problem of climate change.”
Fazlun Khalid, Founder, Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Sciences: “The basis of the declaration is the work of world renowned islamic environmentalists, it is a trigger for further action and we would be very happy if people adopted and improved upon the ideas that are articulated in this document.”
His Eminence Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Vatican City: “It is with great joy and in a spirit of solidarity that I express to you the promise of the Catholic Church to pray for the success of your initiative and her desire to work with you in the future to care for our common home and thus to glorify the God who created us.”
Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC: “A clean energy, sustainable future for everyone ultimately rests on a fundamental shift in the understanding of how we value the environment and each other. Islam’s teachings, which emphasise the duty of humans as stewards of the Earth and the teacher’s role as an appointed guide to correct behavior, provide guidance to take the right action on climate change.”
Wael Hmaidan, International Director of Climate Action Network: “Civil society is delighted by this powerful Climate Declaration coming from the Islamic community, which could be a game changer, as it challenges all world leaders, and especially oil producing nations, to phase out their carbon emissions and supports the just transition to 100% renewable energy as a necessity to tackle climate change, reduce poverty and deliver sustainable development around the world.”
Lies Craeynest, Food and Climate Justice lead at Oxfam International: “Today’s declaration is an unprecedented call by Muslim leaders to end the destruction of Earth’s resources. It follows the recent encyclical issued by Pope Francis – the head of the Catholic Church – which warned of the need to prevent catastrophic climate change and stem growing inequality.
“Muslim leaders single out wealthy nations and oil producing states to lead on a fossil fuel phase out and provide support to those less well off to curb emissions and adapt to a changing climate. They also call on big business to stop their relentless pursuit of growth, change their extractive models and provide greater benefits for people and the climate.
“As leaders of the two largest global faiths express grave concern about our fragile climate, there is no justifiable way political leaders meeting in September and December can put the interests of the fossil fuel industry above of the needs of people, particularly the poorest, and of our planet.”
The Declaration:
3.1 We call upon the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Kyoto Protocol taking place in Paris this December, 2015 to bring their discussions to an equitable and binding conclusion, bearing in mind –
- The scientific consensus on climate change, which is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate systems;
- The need to set clear targets and monitoring systems;
- The dire consequences to planet earth if we do not do so;
- The enormous responsibility the COP shoulders on behalf of the rest of humanity, including leading the rest of us to a new way of relating to God’s Earth.
3.2 We particularly call on the well-off nations and oil-producing states to –
- Lead the way in phasing out their greenhouse gas emissions as early as possible and no later than the middle of the century;
- Provide generous financial and technical support to the less well-off to achieve a phase-out of greenhouse gases as early as possible;
- Recognise the moral obligation to reduce consumption so that the poor may benefit from what is left of the earth’s non-renewable resources;
- Stay within the ‘2 degree’ limit, or, preferably, within the ‘1.5 degree’ limit, bearing in mind that two-thirds of the earth’s proven fossil fuel reserves remain in the ground;
- Re-focus their concerns from unethical profit from the environment, to that of preserving it and elevating the condition of the world’s poor.
- Invest in the creation of a green economy.
3.3 We call on the people of all nations and their leaders to –
- Aim to phase out greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible in order to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere;
- Commit themselves to 100 % renewable energy and/or a zero emissions strategy as early as possible, to mitigate the environmental impact of their activities;
- Invest in decentralised renewable energy, which is the best way to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development;
- Realise that to chase after unlimited economic growth in a planet that is finite and already overloaded is not viable. Growth must be pursued wisely and in moderation; placing a priority on increasing the resilience of all, and especially the most vulnerable, to the climate change impacts already underway and expected to continue for many years to come.
- Set in motion a fresh model of wellbeing, based on an alternative to the current financial model which depletes resources, degrades the environment, and deepens inequality.
- Prioritise adaptation efforts with appropriate support to the vulnerable countries with the least capacity to adapt. And to vulnerable groups, including indigenous peoples, women and children.
3.4 We call upon corporations, finance, and the business sector to –
- Shoulder the consequences of their profit-making activities, and take a visibly more active role in reducing their carbon footprint and other forms of impact upon the natural environment;
- In order to mitigate the environmental impact of their activities, commit themselves to 100 % renewable energy and/or a zero emissions strategy as early as possible and shift investments into renewable energy;
- Change from the current business model which is based on an unsustainable escalating economy, and to adopt a circular economy that is wholly sustainable;
- Pay more heed to social and ecological responsibilities, particularly to the extent that they extract and utilize scarce resources;
- Assist in the divestment from the fossil fuel driven economy and the scaling up of renewable energy and other ecological alternatives.
3.5 We call on all groups to join us in collaboration, co-operation and friendly competition in this endeavour and we welcome the significant contributions taken by other faiths, as we can all be winners in this race
وَلَكِن لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِي مَا آتَاكُم فَاسْتَبِقُوا الْخَيْرَاتِ
He (God) wanted to test you regarding what has
come to you. So compete with each other
in doing good deeds.
Qur’an 5: 48
If we each offer the best of our respective traditions, we may yet see a way through our difficulties.
3.6 Finally, we call on all Muslims wherever they may be –
- Heads of state
- Political leaders
- Business community
- UNFCCC delegates
- Religious leaders and scholars
- Mosque congregations
- Islamic endowments (awqaf)
- Educators and educational institutions
- Community leaders
- Civil society activists
- Non-governmental organisations
- Communications and media
To tackle habits, mindsets, and the root causes of climate change, environmental degradation and the loss of biodiversity in their particular spheres of influence, following the example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him),and bring about a resolution to the challenges that now face us.
‘Controlled diabetes, hypertension can curb renal failure’
A specialist in internal medicine, Dr. Yiliji Kumtap, has said renal diseases and failures, prominent in hypertensive and diabetic patients, can be curtailed if effectively managed.
Kumtap told the News Agency of Nigeria in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Monday that most patients suffering from hypertension and diabetes could develop renal disease and eventually renal failure in not controlled.
He identified two types of renal failures as acute and chronic, saying that acute renal failure usually occurred suddenly.
He said: “It is the sudden loss of the kidney function, which occurs within days or weeks.
“On its part, chronic renal failure is in stages; it starts from a decrease in the glomerular filtration rate.
“As the kidney function declines, waste products can build up in the blood, causing a condition known as uremia.”
Kumtap added that the symptoms included fatigue, fluid retention, swelling, changes in urine colour and sleeping disorder while kidney pain could be felt in the back.
He advised that patients with high blood pressure and are diabetic should stick to their doctor’s advice.
He said: “Patients who are hypertensive and diabetic should ensure that they go for regular medical checkups, do regular exercises and control their diets.
“They should also take their routine drugs as and when prescribed.”
Kumtap also advised such persons to take lot of water as that could control and prevent kidney diseases such as kidney stones.
Kumtap advised the public to inculcate regular medical checkups to enable experts to diagnose any kidney issue at an early stage when it could be treated or effectively managed.
Concern as 1,000 Nigerian children die daily from malnutrition
The Government of Nigeria and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have announced they have reached more than a million Nigerian children with a highly successful and cost-effective treatment for acutely malnourished children, saving over 200,000 lives in the past six years.
Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition was piloted in Gombe and Kebbi States in 2009 and has now been introduced in 11 northern Nigerian states where malnutrition poses the greatest threat.
CMAM treats acutely malnourished children from six months to five years old on an out-patient basis.
More than 830,000 children have been cured in the programme with the cure rate rising steadily – currently standing at 85 per cent.
Of the remaining children, about two per cent do not respond to treatment and are referred to hospitals.
The current mortality rate is just one per cent, while the other children have defaulted from the programme.
“We must scale-up CMAM in Nigeria. It is a proven high-impact intervention that is saving lives and helping Nigerian children reach their full potential through a good start in life,” noted UNICEF Nigeria Representative Jean Gough. “We need greater investment in Nigeria’s future by investment in good nutrition,” Gough added.
There are approximately 1.7 million severely acutely malnourished children under five in Nigeria – accounting for a tenth of the global total.
Nearly 1,000 Nigerian children die of malnutrition-related causes every day – a total of 361,000 each year.
Acute malnutrition also leads to stunting of children, causing life-long physical limitations and can reduce intellectual capacity.
“The Government of Nigeria is committed to reaching more children with CMAM,” said Linus Awute, Permanent Secretary of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health. “We cannot accept that Nigerian children continue to die of malnutrition and that our potential future leaders should be diminished by its effects.”
CMAM is carried out during weekly appointments over approximately eight weeks at primary health care centres.
It includes education of parents and caregivers on nutrition, the importance of continuing breast-feeding and the role of hand-washing and hygiene.
The nutrition status of the children is assessed during the CMAM sessions and children are given a health screening; if necessary, they are also treated for other illnesses.
Children are given highly nutritious Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food during the sessions and mothers and caregivers are provided with supplies of RUTF to feed the child at home.
The cost for CMAM is just $160 for each child treated, including US$76 for the RUTF.
The remaining US$84 covers all other costs, including staff time and training, transport and storage of supplies, and basic medicines.
UNICEF and the Government of Nigeria are scaling up the CMAM response and UNICEF is advocating for increased investment in CMAM from both the Government of Nigeria and external donors.
Over the years since its introduction in 2009, financial support for the programme has been provided by the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, DFID, ECHO, the European Union, USAID, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and JICA.
Miner reports successful Ivory Coast exploration drilling
The drilling programme confirmed extensions of mineralisation in the West pit area and has delineated the higher grade zones at Beta and Gamma
The firm of Endeavour Mining Corporation in a recent report on its drilling results from several areas at Agbaou Gold Mine located in Côte d’Ivoire has confirmed extensions of mineralisation in the West pit area and has delineated the higher grade zones at Beta and Gamma.
Neil Woodyer, CEO, stated: “The majority of this new mineralisation at Agbaou is oxides and the next phase of our 2015 programme will focus on ensuring that these zones are brought into reserves at the end of this year and also continue testing strike extents. Intersecting high grade mineralisation including 16.47 g/t over 8.3 metres at Beta and 12.15 g/t over 9.4 metres at Gamma confirms the exciting potential we have to continue to extend mine life at Agbaou.”
Of the 220 holes totalling 22,004 metres completed in this programme, 78% intersected mineralisation. The results demonstrate continuity of grades and widths and have confirmed the interpretation of the Omega and Sigma mineralised zones as extensions of the mineralisation along the same structures that host the West pit mineralisation. Oxidation extends to between 40 and 60 metres depth throughout much of the area.
The Beta and Gamma zones were previously identified in a 2014 exploration programme. The Beta zone (previously referred to as the P2 target) extends southwest of the North pit and drilling highlights include 8.3 metres at 16.47 g/t gold (including 2.1 metres at 42.43 g/t gold), 13.1 metres at 3.95 g/t gold (including 3.6 metres at 10.63 g/t gold), 26.7 metres at 3.68 g/t gold (including 5.3 metres at 10.9 g/t gold) and 16.9 metres at 2.40 g/t gold (including 2.7 metres at 8.49 g/t gold).
The Gamma zone (previously referred to as the P4 target) is a result of follow up drilling of widely spaced holes completed in 2014 on a sub-parallel mineralised trend. The Gamma zone is approximately 600 metres long, moderately to steeply dipping southeast. Intersections include 9.4 metres at 12.15 g/t gold (including 4.3 metres at 20.03 g/t gold) and 11.9 meters at 3.18 g/t gold (including 0.9 meters at 12.14 g/t gold). The mineralisation is still open to the southwest and the strike extent will be further tested during the next phase of drilling.
Drilling results in the Sigma zone included 10.2 metres at 3.52 g/t gold (including 0.9 metres at 15.71 g/t gold) and the best intersection at the Omega zone was 13.3 metres at 2.83 g/t gold (including 1.7 metres at 8.29 g/t gold).
The drill programme included 198 RC holes for 19,750 meters and 22 diamond drill holes for 2,254 meters. This additional data will be incorporated into year-end mineral resource and reserve estimates.
A follow-up drill programme has commenced and includes a total of 21,800 meters of RC and diamond drill holes. The programme includes infill drilling, further exploration of the Gamma and Sigma zones as well as testing geophysical targets southwest of Sigma and also in the Agbaou South area. Agbaou South is 3 km southwest of the South Pit and is on a separate north east-trending geophysical anomaly and strong geochemical anomaly.
All sample preparations and standard 50-gram gold fire assays were performed by Bureau Veritas Laboratories, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Endeavour consistently employs a rigorous quality control and assurance programme comprising regular insertion of certified reference standards, blanks and duplicates.
Nigeria debt management template excites African countries
In its nearly two decades of existence, Nigeria’s Debt Management Office (DMO) has not ceased to attract public interest in the discharge of its statutory duties.
Coming at a time when the country was battling with stifling foreign and local debt, it was natural that the attention of the world was glued to the DMO from its inception in 2000. Such interest has remarkably remained till date.
Primarily established to centrally coordinate the country’s debt, which was earlier handled by various agencies without positive result, the DMO has been on the track of ensuring good debt management practices that make positive impact on economic growth and national development, particularly in reducing debt stock and cost of public debt servicing in a manner that saves resources for investment in poverty reduction programmes.
Like during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo when the DMO in partnership with the finance ministry, facilitated the debt relief Nigeria got from creditor nations, the agency is at it again with the proposal to restructure the debt owed by state governments.
The aim is to extend the life span of such loans while reducing their debt-servicing expenditures.
This policy action which now left Nigeria’s insolvent states with enough resources that would have been removed from their accounts by the banks they are indebted to, has attracted divergent positions from financial experts.
While some applauded the initiative, others simply gave it knocks. Those in support of the move believe it is the best option available, given the near insolvent state of the nation’s economy.
The argument of the antagonists is that the DMO debt relief would further entrench corruption in the system. They argued that while it is true that the national economy is experiencing a downward trend, most of the states actually compounded the situation through unbridled financial recklessness. Bailing them out would, therefore, amount to promoting and commending their perceived corrupt tendencies.
But other industry players are quick to discountenance the opinions of the antagonists as probably ill-informed of the workings of the DMO in this regards. They agree that states have been extremely reckless over the years in both spending and borrowing; particularly in the areas refusing to see how to improve Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), they are however quick to add that the DMO should be greatly commended for instilling fiscal discipline amongst the states by way of establishing Debt Offices in all the 36 states of the federation.
Dr Anthony Olawale, an economist, said: “The establishment State Debt Management Departments (DMD) have built a very robust and effective tool for states to know their state stock, which hitherto were not known to most of the states.”
“As you know, the DMO conducts debt sustainability analysis at the central level. Now that states have adequate capacity for public debt management having established their DMDs,” he concluded.
Nonetheless, the success of debt package and other interventionist programmes informed the recent study visit by the Financial Markets Department in the Bank of Uganda in June, 2015.
The aim was to understudy the workings of Nigerian government securities markets as well as have an in-depth understanding and practical workings of the OTC Market for FGN Bonds.
Though the DMO had in 2005 received requests from Uganda, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe for their Debt Management Offices, Central Bank and National Planning to learn from Nigeria’s experience in public debt management, the latest visit attested to the widely held belief that the DMO is becoming a model in Africa.
It was gathered that Uganda had twice visited Nigeria for same reasons, which had impacted efficiently on the economy of the East African country.
The first, it was learnt, was in November 2006 when a delegation came to learn from the DMO model as a basis for institutional arrangement.
Towing same line, a delegation from Sudan also came on a study tour to Nigeria on two occasions.
Disclosing this, the President of Heritage Savings, Mr. Adegboye Ikiola, who has a deep knowledge of the workings of DMO, said: ‘’The first delegation came in December 12-16, 2005. Similarly, another delegation from the External Debt Management Unit in the Central Bank of Sudan and Domestic Debt Unit in the Ministry of Finance of Sudan, visited the DMO for a month secondment programme from Monday, June 23 – Tuesday July 15, 2014. The core objectives of both visits by the Sudanese teams were to learn from the Nigeria’s debt relief and restructuring phases as well as Nigeria’s debt management experiences prior to the establishment of the DMO.”
Another instance, he said, was a visit by “a delegation from the Ministry of Finance and National Planning of the Republic of Zambia undertook a one-week study tour of the Debt Management Office, Nigeria, from 20th – 24th September, 2009. The purpose of the study tour was to enable the Zambians learn how the Debt Management Office, Nigeria is structured, the functions of the Office and how it carries out its responsibilities of managing the country’s public debt and issuance of the FGN Bonds.’’
“I can continue with the examples, because we have to understand what the DMO is doing at this time. A seven-man team from the Zimbabwe Aid & Debt Management Office (ZADMO) in the Ministry of Finance of Zimbabwe visited the DMO for a week study tour from July 17 to 27, 2011 to understudy the processes of establishing and running an effective debt management office in its efforts to set up a centre of excellence in debt management in Zimbabwe.”
Another industry expert, Chief Gabriel Nwonuma, noted that the DMO has been outstanding on debt management, calling for the sustainability in service delivery.
“Governance is a continuum; the DMO should sustain what it is doing considering the economic crisis in the country. I am happy that they have a very competent team that can sustain its service delivery framework. DMO staff are frequently invited as resource persons to various training programmes workshops, seminars and conferences by international organisations including the United Nations and World Bank.”
Industry players are of the opinion that, given the successes of the DMO, the Nigerian model should be extended to other African countries to emulate in order to strengthen their debt management profile.
They are as well quick to add that the Office should be encouraged to sustain the training and equipping of her staff for the challenges ahead, particularly in this period that the nation is facing some economic challenges.
By Amarachi Eshiogu (amarachi@channelkoos.com)
Predicted flood: Government urged to build buffer dam
A call has been made by stakeholders in the environment sector, urging the authorities to build a buffer dam in Adamawa to curtail the excess water being released from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
The call is contained in a communiqué issued on Thursday, August 13, 2005 in Abuja, at the end of a daylong stakeholders’ roundtable for the management of the 2015 predicted flood. The roundtable was organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment for stakeholders.
The communiqué which was read by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs Nana Mede, called for the completion of the dam, known as the Datsin Hausa Dam, in the next three to four years.
A couple of weeks ago, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) in Abuja warned that 12 states might experience high flood this year. Director-General of the agency, Dr Moses Beckley, made the disclosure at the presentation of the 2015 Annual Flood Outlook.
Commenting on the highlight of the report, Beckley listed the states as Niger, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Anambra, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kogi and Benue.
Beckley said that probable risks areas in the country had been classified into: High Risk, Medium Risk and Low Risk Flood areas. He listed River Basins of Sokoto-Rima, Niger-Benue and Anambra as those that might experience high flooding.
Beckley also said that local areas in Shinkafi, Biase, Chikum, Munya, Bukuru, Bonny, Etiosa among others might experience moderate flooding. He added that Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and Lagos are expected to experience coastal flooding due to the rise in sea level and tidal surge.
However, last Thursday’s communique also called for the adoption of a policy on waste separation and recycling to reduce flood associated with indiscriminate dumping of waste on drains, canals and waterways.
The communiqué observed that the expected flood from release of water from the Lagdo Dam would affect the Benue river basin, Adamawa and all the Niger Delta states.
It, however, said that flood in other major cities across the country could result from poor solid waste management, and called for gradual phase out of non-biodegradable plastics in the country.
To mitigate effect of the 2015 flooding, the communiqué called for the relocation of anticipated and victims already affected as quickly as possible.
“Intervention funds should be made available to states that are affected by flood from the ecological fund to help improve and construct necessary infrastructures, and provide support for already displaced,” it said.
The document underlined the need to complete the construction of ongoing Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps, even as it urged affected states to identify areas where they could construct artificial lakes.
The communiqué called on the Ministry of Environment and stakeholders to set up a committee to monitor application of intervention fund and make effort to update flood vulnerability map of the country.
According to it, flood early warning/forecast should be communicated to the States and Local Government Areas, and should be matched with early action.
Earlier, Mede noted that the tragic effect of recent flood in the country could have been prevented or at best mitigated if land use activities and urban development were properly addressed.
She said the roundtable was necessitated by government commitment to address expected flood to avert loss of lives and property.
Also, Mr John Adeniyi, Director, Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zones Management Department, Federal Ministry of Environment, said that annual floods ravaging the nation and its attendant effects need to be holistically addressed.
Adeniyi urged all stakeholders to join hands in addressing the problem in the best practices.
No fewer than 100 stakeholders, including Commissioners for Environment from Benue, Kogi, Delta, Lagos, Katsina and Kano, as well as military and para-military personnel attended the roundtable.
Fondly referred to “a shock-absorber dam”, the “Dasin Hausa Dam”, besides cushioning the effect of the Lagdo Dam flooding, will generate some 300mw of electricity and irrigate about 150,000 hectares of land (and provide crop tonnage of 790,000 tons in Adamawa, Taraba and Benue states). Similarly, it was meant to provide employment opportunities for 40,000 families and make available navigational route of the Benue River to the Niger Delta.
The project site is the Dasin Village of Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Zambia to host climate fund board meeting
Zambia has been awarded the opportunity to become the first African country to host the board meeting of the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
Secretary to the Treasury, Fredson Yamba, said the choice of Zambia as the host of the important gathering of over 300 delegates was in recognition of the country’s positive image in international community.
“I am pleased to announce that Zambia has been awarded the opportunity to become the first African country to host the board meeting of the Worldwide Green Climate Fund (GCF),” Mr. Yamba said.
He said Zambia being given an opportunity to host the conference was consistent with the policy of government to facilitate job and wealth creation in all spheres of Zambia’s socio-economic endeavour.
Mr. Yamba said the aim of the GCF was to help developing countries reduce emissions and enhance investments in adaptation.
“In this regard, Zambia is expected to share its experience and raise awareness to the world about the impacts of climate change in the country’s regions considered as most vulnerable to climate change,” he said.
Mr. Yamba said apart from preparing for the meeting, Zambia was also taking active steps to become one of the first beneficiaries of the GFC.
He said during the forth-coming meeting to be held in November 2015 in Livingstone, the GCF Board would approve some financing request proposals, just in time for the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP 21) to the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) scheduled for Paris, France towards the end of the year.
Mr. Yamba descried the GCF as an important avenue for the country to scale up existing initiatives such as the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR), the Scaling-Up Renewable Energy Programme (SREP), Forest Investment Programme (FIP), Zambia Integrated Landscape Management Project (ZILMP) and the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA).
“I am confident about the prospects for wealth creation and sustainable livelihoods embedded in above listed climate change impact mitigation programmes as they all present our citizens, especially the youth, with unmatched job-creation opportunities. If we get our act together, Zambia is definitely able to surpass the 500, 000 [Five-Hundred-Thousand] jobs target announced by President Edgar Lungu during Wednesday’s launch of the Youth Policy and the Action Plan for Youth Empowerment & Employment,” he said.
Mr. Yamba said the delegates for the Livingstone 2015 GCF gathering would comprise GCF board members, observers from civil society, the private sector, and various international organisations
By Vwambanji Nakamba
LUPAR blueprint will be ready for Ilorin conference, says NITP president
National President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Dr Femi Olomola, has said that a draft of the Land Use Planning Report (LUPAR) will be made ready in time for the institute’s next national conference and annual general meeting coming up in October in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Dr Olomola, a Fellow of the NITP (FNITP), made the disclosure recently during the institute’s 17th edition of the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Programme (MCPDP) that held in Kaduna, Kaduna State. The two-day forum had: “Development of a Multi User Template for Land Use Planning and Analysis Reporting (LUPAR) in Nigeria” as its theme.
The Kaduna MCPDP is the third and last leg of the NITP’s MCPDPs in 2015, with Port Harcourt, Rivers State (June 18th – 19th) and Ibadan, Oyo State (July 1st – 2nd) previously hosting the event. All the MCPDPs discussed the same theme.
“Be rest assured that a draft of the LUPAR will be prepared and made available in time for our next conference in Ilorin in October. All suggestions bothering comments, observations and corrections made during this MCPDP and the previous ones in Port Harcourt and Ibadan will between now and October be looked into and possibly adopted so that will have a robust LUPAR that we will present to a full house of the NITP in Ilorin,” submitted Dr Olomola while delivering a keynote address during the opening of the well-attended workshop.
While describing LUPAR as a novelty that seeks to expand the frontiers of Site Analysis Report (SAR) applications beyond the tradition of planning approvals, the NITP president submitted that the MCPDP is aimed at building consensus on the new template among the practitioners and to allow for inputs before the report will be presented in October.
Conceived by the Femi Olomola-led administration, the LUPAR will also build on the existing SAR processes and procedures, as well as adding details of geographic references and further information relating to building types and conditions, title deeds, the local land use and development setting, and the permits granted on property.
The expanded areas of its application cut across various sectors of the economy, many of which have direct relevance to the financial sector and regulatory agencies.
According to the town planners, the new format LUPAR, in addition to other benefits, can become a very useful and authentic instrument that supports applications for opening of corporate bank accounts, process bank loans, make requests for Insurance cover, and incorporate/register new companies with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Besides, it will also address the traditional requirements of applications for building plan approval/permits, issuance of certificates of occupancies (C-of-Os), and potential value to security and regulatory agencies with oversight functions on crime and enforcement of standards, among others.
“With LUPAR, it is hoped that 95% of all problems related to lack of data, inadequate personnel and stress on development control will be significantly addressed. This shall lead to situations where our colleagues in government can now rely on LUPAR as a companion in their decision making processes. A combination of two or three LUPARs in the same neighbourhood will, if carefully joined together, provide an updated base map of the neighbourhood at zero cost to the Town Planning Authority,” said Dr Olomola.
While expressing satisfaction at the turnout of members at the MCPDP, Chairman of the Kaduna State Chapter of the NITP, Muhammad Lawal Ubale, disclosed that Kaduna has been fortunate since its inception in having plans for its development.
He said: “The first plan was draw in 1913. Kaduna master plan was prepared in 1967 to cover the planning period from 1961 to 2017. In 2010, the master plan was reviewed and Kaduna Spatial Development Framework was prepared for a planning period from 2010 to 2050.
“You may also wish to know that Kaduna became the administrative capital of Northern Nigeria from 1917 to 1959. It became the regional headquarters of Northern Nigeria from 1960 to 1966. In 1969, Kaduna became the capital North Central State up to 1975. Kaduna also became the capital of old Kaduna State which included the present Katsina State.
“Finally, Kaduna became capital of the present Kaduna State from 1989 to date. The experience of Kaduna as a regional capital and the role it is playing in Northern Nigeria and Nigeria in general cannot be overemphasised.”