The National Conference, which began on March 17, came to an end on Thursday morning.
The series of meetings the Confab chairman, Idris Kutigi, held with zonal leaders on Wednesday paid off as the delegates agreed on a position on the controversial draft constitution.
The confab ended with a minor amendment to the third volume of the confab report by replacing the draft constitution to read “Resolutions of the conference as draft amendments to 1999 constitution.”
The amendments to the third volume was moved by Maina Waziri.
Richard Akinjide moved the motion for the adoption of the confab report. The motion was seconded by Yadomah Mandara.
In this first of a nine-part serial, EnviroNews Nigeria examines the implications of the Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on the African continent
The Fifth Assessment Report presents strong evidence that warming over land across Africa has increased over the last 50 to 100 years. This warming trend is very likely to continue. Surface temperatures have already increased by 0.5–2°C over the past hundred years (Figure 1). However, as shown by the white space covering much of the map in Figure 1, over large areas of Africa there is not enough historical data to show observed trends. The absence of this data is problematic. Planners have to deal with considerable uncertainty about future conditions.
Figure 1: Change in annual average temperature in Africa (1901-2012), and Figure 2: Change in annual average rainfall (1951-2012)
Investment in strengthening climate services – such as climate monitoring and national meteorological agencies – is assumed to be money well spent.
Most areas of Africa lack sufficient data to draw conclusions about trends in annual rainfall over the past century. But where data is available, these indicate that rainfall patterns are changing. A very likely decrease in average annual rainfall has occurred in some parts of western Africa, with an observed drop in average annual rainfall of approximately 25–50 mm each decade from 1951–2010.18 Some parts of southern and eastern Africa have very likely experienced increases in average annual rainfall of 5–50 mm each decade (Figure 2). However, rainfall trends in eastern Africa vary greatly over time and location. Some assessments suggest that wet seasons will be more intense and droughts less severe over eastern Africa by the end of the century, which indicates a reversal of the observed increase in droughts and heavy rainfall during the past 30 to 60 years.
The implication of the changing rainfall trends is that it will become increasingly important to put adaptation measures in place to manage and reduce the risks of changing rainfall on productive systems such as agriculture and forestry – and to build resilience.
Even today, climatic risks threaten lives and prosperity across many parts of Africa and there are clear signs that the impacts of climate change are already being felt. The health, livelihoods and food security of people in Africa have been affected by climate change. There is evidence that temperature changes have played a role in the increased incidence of malaria in parts of eastern Africa, and have already driven changes in the practices of South African farmers. Production of wheat and maize in parts of Africa has been impacted by climate change, as has the productivity of fisheries of the Great Lakes and Lake Kariba and fruit-bearing trees in the Sahel.
The impacts from recent weather-related extremes, such as heat waves, droughts, floods, cyclones and wildfires, reveal the exposure and vulnerability of some African people and economies to climate. Following droughts in the 1970s and 1980s, recurrent droughts and floods affected the Sahel in the 1990s and 2000s, often destroying crops and compounding food security problems. Floods in the Zambezi River Valley displaced 90,000 Mozambicans in 2008, some permanently. The experiences of extreme weather events in different parts of Africa highlight the risks to human wellbeing. The Fifth Assessment Report expects such events to become more frequent and more intense as the climate changes, though with large regional variations and differing degrees of confidence depending on the type of climate event. The economic losses due to extreme weather events are also rising with the increasing frequency of events and increasing exposure of assets.
The impacts of recent extreme weather events also demonstrate the vulnerability of some African ecosystems. The geographic range, seasonal activities and migration patterns of many terrestrial, freshwater and marine species have shifted in response to ongoing climate change. The abundance of species has changed, as have interactions among species. The pace of change has been rapid. Climate change has already led to changes in freshwater and marine ecosystems in eastern and southern Africa, and terrestrial ecosystems in southern and western Africa.
An Upper Area Court, Kuje , FCT, on Wednesday sentenced three men, Micheal Adibe, Ogunlade Micheal and Warya Terso to two months imprisonment each for drunkenness and public nuisance.
The presiding officer, Mr Adamu Wakili, convicted the men after they pleaded guilty to a one-count charge of public nuisance.
Wakili, however, gave each of the convicts an option to pay a fine of N3, 000 or remain in Prison for two months.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Niyom Ishaya, had earlier told the court that the matter was brought to Kuje Police Station on Aug. 12 by a team of police men on patrol led by ASP. Alfa Musa.
Ishaya said the convicts, of no fixed address and who could not give satisfactory account of themselves, were arrested by the police at odd hours of the day.
“On Aug.11, at about 12:30 a.m., A team of police men on patrol led by ASP Alfa Musa arrested Adibe, Micheal and Terso at Liquor shop popularly known as “Ogogoro joint”.
“The three men were shouting and disturbing the neighborhood and when they saw the police approaching, they tried to escape.
The prosecutor said the convicts were in the habit of disturbing the neighborhood.
He also said that the offence contravened Section 183 of the Penal Code.
The convicts, however, begged the court for leniency, saying: “We promise not to disturb at late hours again; we are sorry.” (NAN)
An interesting twist came into the impeachment saga against the deputy governor of Enugu State, Sunday Onyebuchi as he slumped before the impeachment panel today.
Onyebuchi, while testifying before the impeachment panel which is probing allegations of misconduct against him by the State House of Assembly allegedly on the orders of the governor, Sullivan Chime, had to be rushed out of the court hall shortly before 12 noon.
With his wife, Nneka Onyebuchi and children present at the hearing, Onyebuchi had to be rushed out by family members and aides for urgent medical attention.
Having arrived the court in company of his lawyers this morning, the deputy governor, who alleged offences include raring poultry in his official quarters, began his testimony at 9.30am collapsed a little over 2 hours after.
One of his lawyers, Peter Eze, said the deputy governor slumped five minutes after the chief of staff, Ifeoma Nwobodo and the state’s attorney general, Anthony Ani (SAN) came into the court.
The deputy governor’s collapse led to the suspension of proceedings tentatively till later in the day.
An aspirant seeking to represent Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in 2015, on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Olayinka Oladimeji Segelu has said candidates’ pedigree, antecedents, personal achievements and records will count in the forthcoming 2015 general elections.
Hon. Segelu gave this indication in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The House of Reps hopeful noted that given the new paradigm in the politics of Nigeria, and the current level of political awareness among the people, he was sure that the people of Akinyele, Lagelu and Nigerians in general will not vote for politicians with shady character, questionable past and well known criminal records that have put such people on the wrong side of the law.
Segelu, who is an aide to Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman further expressed confidence that the people of his constituency know all the aspirants, including those who have very bad criminal records and will never vote for such politicians who are only seeking political power to shield themselves from public scrutiny.
The one-time Personal Assistant in the office of Speaker of House of Representatives under Dimeji Bankole also implored eligible voters in Akinyele/Lagelu constituency and Oyo State at large to come out en masse to obtain their Permanent Voters Card (PVC), as Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC commences distribution on Friday this week. He called on those who have attained 18 years of age after the last registration exercise to take advantage of this new opportunity to register in order to qualify to vote for candidates of their choice in the February 2015 elections.
Osita Okechukwu, publicity secretary of the Conference of Nigeria’s Political Parties has blamed the strike embarked upon by doctors for the death of his undergraduate son last weekend.
Okechukwu, who was left embittered, urged the Federal government and Nigeria Medical Association to do all within their powers to resolve the impasse.
The doctor’s industrial action, which is mainly based on their demands for improved welfare packages in the health sector, has gone on for many weeks now without any end in sight.
Okechukwu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said the lingering strike by the doctors contributed immensely to the death of his son, Matthias Koso Okechukwu, a third year Law student at Baze University, Abuja.
The young man took ill and was rushed to a private hospital in Abuja, his situation was said to have become even more critical but the specialists’ attention which the young man required at the National Hospital was not readily available.
While recounting how his son might have been saved, Okechukwu said “If there was no doctors’ strike, perhaps my son would have made it.
“Matthias actually suffers from Muscular Dystrophy and developed crisis on Saturday 9th August and was quickly rushed to a private clinic at Garki and the doctor on duty referred us to National Hospital Abuja, saying that the machine capable of restoring his normal breathing can only be found at the National Hospital.
“On getting to the National Hospital, the only doctor found on duty battled to save Matthias but couldn’t as she couldn’t reach the equipment in the Pediatric Department to resuscitate Matthias. So had it not been for the strike adequate attention could have been paid to him, “he said.
“I therefore passionately plead that the government and the doctors should in the interest of Nigerians quickly resolve the impasse, ” he added.
The dreaded Ebola virus disease has led to the death of another member of staff of the Economic Community of West African States, following the death of Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian who brought the disease into Nigeria.
The name of the West African body’s staff was given as Jatto Asihu Abdulqudir as the sub-regional organisation announced his passing today. The late Abdulqudir, a 36-year old, was stationed at the Lagos Liaison Office.
Said to be a Protocol Assistant at the office, he was one of those charged with assisting Sawyer to a regional meeting before his death from the devastating disease in Lagos on July 25.
A statement released on Tuesday said the commission expressed its gratitude to the Nigerian Government authorities and others who contributed to managing the late official who was under quarantine before his death.
“The Management of the Commission wishes to commiserate with Mr. Abdulqudir’s family and colleagues and prays for the repose of his soul.
“Before this sad event, the Commission working in collaboration with Nigerian health authorities, had disinfected all the facilities of the ECOWAS Lagos Liaison Office as part of precautionary measures to safeguard the health, safety and security of staff members, and will continue to monitor the situation.
“Management has also intensified awareness campaign among staff on the deadly virus and uses this opportunity to invoke the spirit of solidarity and mutual assistance.
“The Commission wishes to reassure staff of all Community Institutions all over the entire region that it is taking all necessary steps to guarantee their health and safety.
“Furthermore, Management enjoins all staff members and community citizens in general to intensify the observance of personal hygiene. They should also report any suspected case to health facilities and seek medical advice or attention for the effective containment and defeat of the Ebola disease.”
Mr Mike Omeri, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), has advised Nigerians to use hand sanitisers and wear gloves to curb the spread of Ebola virus.
Omeri gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja
He said that the agency would sensitise Nigerians on the need to use the hand sanitiser as a necessary measure to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
He said: “We want to also emphasise on personal hygiene, use of hand sanitisers and other remedial measures that will stop the spread which is the most effective way of stopping Ebola.’’
Omeri further advised Nigerians to make wearing of glove a habit, adding that the measure should not be taken with levity.
“We are not trying to be make the citizen agitated, where a citizen will rush to obtain or buy gloves we just want to sensitise the citizen to be personally aware of what could facilitate the process of contracting the disease,” he said.
According to him, the minister of health is working with the state and local governments as well as the NOA to ensure that effective public awareness is createdin the rural areas.
“This will ensure that citizens at that level imbibe the culture of hand-washing with soap and environmental cleanliness, and avoid contact with carriers including bats and monkeys,” he said.
He said that the agency was a member of technical committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to fight the dreaded disease.
“As part of the team we will intensify on grassroots sensitisation.
“We have been working with the primary health care agencies toward sensitising the populace on maternal care, health care and some other diseases that have been there with us, including polio.
“We will concentrate on the rural community with special focus and interest on Ebola virus,’’ said Omeri.
The director-general also advised shop owners and operators of recreational centres and individuals to imbibe the habit of keeping their environment clean at all times to prevent diseases. (NAN)
A 23-year-old professed Celestial Church prophet, Adewale Adeleke, on Tuesday in Lagos, appeared before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court for alleged fraud and rape.
Adeleke, who resides at No. 2 Ajibola Street, Agbado Ijaiye, Lagos was arraigned on a four-count charge of stealing, obtaining by false pretext, impersonation and rape.
Prosecutor Chris Takim told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 26 at 6 p.m. at the premises of Original Inn Hotel, Ebute Meta.
Takim said the accused approached his victim claiming to be spiritually informed about her problems and had solutions to them through a scheduled prayer session.
He said the complainant met him at the hotel on the scheduled appointment were he obtained her mobile phone and N13, 000 as mobilisation fees.
“Adeleke collected her phones and N13, 000 to begin the prayer session with her and later forced her to strip naked as a prerequisite for her prayer to be answered.
“Adeleke, thereafter unlawfully assaulted her and had sexual intercourse with her without her consent,’’ the prosecutor said.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 258, 285, 312 and 378 of the Criminal Laws if Lagos State, 2011.
Section 258 prescribed life imprisonment for any man who has unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman or girl, without her consent.
He, however, pleaded not guilty.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Ariike Oshibayo, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Oshibayo adjourned the case till Aug. 16 for further hearing. (NAN)
A Spanish missionary who contracted the Ebola virus while working in West became the first European to die from the disease on Tuesday, succumbing to the virus in a Madrid hospital five days after being evacuated from Liberia.
More than 1,000 people have died in Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria since the outbreak was first reported in February.
Miguel Pajares, 75, a Roman Catholic priest, was airlifted back to Spain from Liberia last week with a nun who tested negative for the virus.
For the past few days he had been treated with an untested, experimental drug, Zmapp.
“It is confirmed. He died at 9:28 am (0728 GMT),” said a spokeswoman for the Spanish capital’s La Paz-Carlos III hospital.
“We hoped he would be able to overcome the disease but it was not to be. It is as God wished,” the priest’s sister-in-law Carmen Romo told Spanish radio station COPE.
A World Health Organization (WHO) panel in Geneva has meanwhile approved the ethics of using Zmapp.
According to the Reuters news agency, the panel said it was ethical to combat the Ebola outbreak by offering drugs or vaccines whose side-effects and efficacy had yet to be proven.
The priest was part of a Catholic order at St Joseph’s Hospital in the Liberian capital, Monrovia.
The hospital has now been closed because of the outbreak.
A Congolese nun died there on Saturday, days after its director, Patrick Nshamdze, also died.
The hospital is run by the Juan Ciudad ONGD charity, established by a Spanish Roman Catholic order, the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God.
Its spokeswoman, Adriana Castro, told AFP on Monday that an earlier test had wrongly shown the late director of the Liberian hospital to be free of Ebola.
The National Conference, which began on March 17, came to an end on Thursday morning.
