WaterAid Nigeria with funding support from Kimberly Clark Corporation is implementing the Integrated Hygiene and Health Programme (I-HHP) project to reduce maternal and child mortality and morbidity incidence through improvement in sanitation and hygiene services and behaviours in communities and healthcare facilities in Ikorodu North and Ojodu Local Council Development Areas (LDCs) in Lagos.
Participants at the inception and planning meeting for the KC-2 project, in Lagos
Mrs. Grace Uwadiale, Consultant on Kimberly Clark Sanitation and Hygiene Implementation Project in Lagos State, who made this known at the inception and planning meeting with stakeholders in Ikeja on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, disclosed that the I-HHP leverages achievements, structures and mechanisms of the Sanitation and Hygiene Improvement (SHI) project which was targeted at improving hygiene behaviours among nursing mothers and the most vulnerable communities in Ikorodu and Ojodu LCDAs.
Uwadiale said: “In Lagos State, despite being one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s fastest growing urban coastal cities with a population of 22 million, access to quality WASH services has not kept pace with rapid growth. The 2021 Water Sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping (WASHNORM) reported that only 15% of the population have access to safely managed sanitation and 29% with limited coverage in healthcare facilities. The lack of access has severe implications for hygiene, particularly in healthcare settings where inadequate infrastructure contributes to increased rates of infant mortality and waterborne diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery and typhoid fever.
“So, the objectives of the project is to improve water and sanitation facilities in Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), integrate and sustain hygiene and sanitation behaviour change campaigns within PHCs in the two LCDAs, strengthen the capacity of Ward Health Committee Officers in charge and healthcare workers to sustain hygiene behaviour change and WASH facilities maintenance, re-enforce hygiene and sanitation behaviour change campaign communities, and advocate for prioritisation of WASH in Lagos State.”
With I-HHP project, WaterAid Nigeria will upgrade and rehabilitate water and sanitation facilities provided in the first phase of the project as well as upgrade two primary healthcare facilities with health equipment.
WaterAid will provide 30,000 pregnant and nursing mothers, patients and their caregivers with water, sanitation and hygiene services while 20,000 people in communities will also be given basic sanitation and hygiene services during the intervention programme.
WaterAid Nigeria will be implementing the I-HHP project with Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO), Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board (LSPHCB), WASHCOMS, LCDAs, CDAs, CSOs and WASH Media Network.
Ghana made history on Thursday, July 25, 2024, with the commercial release of her first ever biotech crop, “the Pod Borer Resistant Cowpea” (PBR Cowpea). It is developed to specifically resist the Pod Borer pest, scientifically known as “Maruca vitrata,” which destroys yields by boring the pods.
The launch of the PBR Cowpea at the premises of CSIR-SARI in Nyankpala, Ghana’s Northern Region
The release of the PBR Cowpea, which is a new variety of the black eye beans, follows 12 years of extensive regulatory, laboratory and field-testing processes by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) under the PBR Cowpea Project – a public private partnership coordinated by the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF), to promote technological interventions that will optimise cowpea productivity and utilisation in sub-Saharan Africa.
Referred to as “Songotra T,” the PBR Cowpea’s commercial release on Thursday became possible following its recent approval for release and registration in Ghana for commercial cultivation by the National Seed Council. This was after the National Biosafety Authority (NBA)’s approval of the application submitted by the CSIR for the PBR cowpea’s environmental release and placement on the market.
The release event took place on Thursday at SARI’s premises in Nyankpala, in Ghana’s Northern Region.
Cowpea
CSIR committed to cutting edge science
The Director-General of the CSIR, Prof. Paul Bosu, described the event as “a great day for Ghana’s agriculture and food security drive …, a historic and significant development for African agriculture, with the CSIR setting the pace and making history….”
In an interview, Prof. Bosu noted that the CSIR has a long history of delivering the best to the nation in the area of technology development and dissemination. He stated that “the Songotra T is one of such technologies” and therefore urged farmers “to take advantage of it to increase their cowpea production and thereby increase their wealth.”
The Director-General pledged the commitment of CSIR and its various institutes to continue using cutting-edge science to tackle all challenges that militate against national development. He emphasised that, “in agriculture, CSIR is committed to safely using biotechnological approaches such as the genetic modification techniques, where necessary to solve food security challenges.”
He commended the Director, management and research team working on the PBR Cowpea for their tenacity and resolving to make sure that farmers have access to the best.
Prof. Bosu also celebrated the collaboration between the CSIR and its partners that has resulted in the success of the PBR Cowpea Project in Ghana. The partners include: the AATF, the Australia based Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIRO), USA-based Danforth Plant Science Centre, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) based in Zaria, Nigeria, and the Institute for Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA) in Burkina Faso.
Ghana’s PBR Cowpea release a dream fulfilled
For his part, the Special Advisor to the Programme for Biosafety System (PBS) in Ghana and former Director-General of the CSIR, Prof. Walter Alhassan, says the release of the PBR cowpea in Ghana “is a fulfillment of my long-standing dream for the launch of a safe biotechnology product in Ghana.”
In an interview, the visibly jubilant ardent advocate for safe biotechnology in agriculture in Africa and especially in Ghana, stated: “I’m thrilled about this development.” He recalled that work to advance the application of safe biotechnology in Ghana for him, started way back in 2005 with the concentration on biosafety assisted by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Programme for Biosafety Systems (PBS) based in Washington DC.
Prof. Alhassan noted that, in all the years in his advocacy for biotechnology in Ghana, he had had a problem answering the farmer’s question “Where is the product?” He was thankful that the release event has finally given him an answer: “Now the product is here and will certainly advance the cause of food security in Ghana.”
In a conversation with a Senior Research Scientist & Entomologist, at CSIR-SARI, Nyankpala, Dr. Jerry Nboyine, who is also the current Principal Investigator on the PBR Cowpea Project, recounted some of the processes the implementing team had to go through.
He said the Songotra T Cowpea variety has undergone rigorous biosafety review and risk assessment, after which it was approved by the National Biosafety Authority as safe for use as food and feed. From the biosafety approval, it underwent extensive field trials in all the major Cowpea growing ecologies in Northern Ghana.
Subsequently, a dossier was submitted to the National Seed Council after the National Variety Release and Registration Committee inspected release plots at CSIR-SARI. The members of the Committee were satisfied, and approval was granted this year (2024) for it to be used as a Cowpea variety for cultivation in Ghana.
Dr. Nboyine explained that the PBR cowpea was developed in response to cowpea farmers woes of low yields caused by the legume pod borer, extensive use of pesticides to protect the crop from the pod borer, the health hazards for the farmers and consumers as well as the negative impacts on the environment.
Other scientists that worked on the project were: Ms Gloria Adazebra, Cowpea Breeder; Philip Agrengsore, Seed Scientist; Frederick Anaman, Technical Officer; Haruna K. Ali, Chief Technical Officer; and Dr Francis Kusi, Principal Scientist, all of CSIR-SARI.
The work was initially started under Dr. I.D.K. Atokple, the first Principal Investigator, who handed over to Dr. Mumuni Abudulai, the second Principal Investigator.
Scientists commend Ghana
Meanwhile, scientists and scientific institutions involved in biotechnology related fields are commending Ghana for making this significant progress in agricultural biotechnology.
On behalf of the African Genetic Biocontrol Consortium, Dr. Willy Tonui congratulated Ghana for taking such a bold step towards environmental release of such an important crop.
“This is no mean achievement, but a result of a robust biosafety regulatory framework that has been put in place by the Government of Ghana,” he observed in a telephone interview.
Dr. Tonui noted that having a functional National Biosafety Authority (NBA) is testimony of the commitment of the Government of Ghana to support adoption and advancement of novel biotechnologies in the country.
He applauded the CSIR-SARI research team and the institutional leadership for the success story and said having a community that is also accepting new technologies is a great step towards building trust in these new technologies.
He assured Ghanaians of the safety of this new cowpea, because internationally and regionally the scientific community has adopted sound procedures and guidelines that promote safe assessments and decision -making processes for evaluating GMOs.
“Therefore, the consumers of this new crop should feel confident that the crop is safe,” Dr. Tonui added.
The Deputy Director, Administration, Teaching and Learning, of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) of the University of Ghana, Dr. Daniel Dzidzienyo, has welcomed the development as a significant milestone in the nation’s agricultural biotechnology landscape.
“This step,” he said, “aligns Ghana with other African countries like Nigeria, which have also adopted GM crops to address agricultural challenges.”
Dr. Dzidzienyo, who is also a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Biotechnology Centre, said the event reflects years of research and development aimed at improving crop productivity and food security through the PBR cowpea enhanced with a gene that provides resistance to the Maruca vitrata, which causes substantial yield losses.
“So, the GM cowpea promises to enhance yields, reduce the need for chemical pesticides, and offer economic benefits to farmers,” adding, “this is particularly crucial for Ghana, where cowpea is a staple food and an important source of protein.”
Dr. Dzidzienyo, however, pointed out that the launch of this new cowpea variety calls for intensified public education and dialogue to address any concerns about GM technology. He noted that “transparent communication about the benefits and safety of the PBR cowpea will be key to gaining public trust and acceptance.”
Consulate-General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Nigeria, Weert Borner, has reiterated his country’s commitment to partnering with Nigeria and supporting renewable energy transition.
Consulate-General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Nigeria, Weert Borner, with Gov Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State
Borner gave the assurance at a seminar series of the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Lagos State University (LASU), on Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
The theme of the seminar was: “Africa-Europe Roundtable on Renewable Energy”.
Borner said that it was important for Nigeria to build its own or transit totally to renewable energy because it was a business model to improve more energy grid.
“It will also save greenhouse gas emissions.
“Germany is in a unique position to drive forward the transformation of the energy system in Europe.
“We are driving forward the energy transition. Wind energy and PV systems with a capacity of 17.5GW were newly commissioned.
“Almost 10,100km of grid were installed in the past six years, and in 2023, 1.23 million electric vehicles were already driving on Germany’s streets,” Borner said.
He added that Germany worked with a growing number of countries to support global energy transition.
“Renewable electricity is cheaper than conventional, and our security of electricity supply remains one of the highest worldwide.
“The energy transition is the guarantor of a secure, climate-neutral, economically successful future and reduces our dependence on fossil fuel import.
“Also, renewable energy expansion creates jobs, stimulates investments and creates economic growth. There is massive evidence for such expansion in Germany,” Borner said.
Mr Chibeze Ezekiel, Coordinator of Strategic Youth Network for Development, called for support from European countries to equip African youth leaders with capacities and platforms to engage in actions to improve climate resilience and energy access.
Ezekiel, also the Chair of Youth, Natural Resource and Environmental Governance platform, said that coal was cheap.
“Another advantage of renewable energy is that it promises more jobs for young people.
“Youth environmentalists can be supported with grants and technical support,” he said.
Mrs Outi Luova, lecturer at the University of Turku, Finland, said that universities could aim to reach environmental sustainability champions worldwide and offer them support on how to promote sustainability on campuses.
“We need to jointly organiseinteractive online courses and approach sustainability issues from a practical perspective through case studies,” she said.
Dr Tobi Oshodi, lecturer at the Department of Political Science of LASU, said that Africa must design deliberate and measurable strategies to localise its technology for tapping into renewable energy resources.
“It means that while European and Chinese technologies are increasingly becoming available in Africa, conscious efforts must be made to domesticate local technologies.
“Africa is endowed with enormous capacity for renewable energy.
“We have sunlight, water and wind that are not only sufficient for our industrialisation but huge enough to be shared with others.
“For instance, we have the natural resources to produce batteries to power solar panels and electric vehicles,” he said.
Access to clean water is a fundamental basic human need, yet many remote communities continue to struggle with securing this vital resource.
The 20,000-litre solar-powered borehole donated by BATN Foundation
Based on the foregoing, the BATN Foundation built and commissioned a 20,000-litre solar-powered borehole infrastructure to provide clean potable water in Ndeabor, Aninri LGA, Enugu State.
At the flag-off event, Oludare Odusanya, General Manager of BATN Foundation, announced that they stood at the brink of commissioning the life-changing borehole facility.
He emphasised the critical role that access to clean water plays in the overall well-being of a community, noting that it is not merely about quenching thirst but also about empowering individuals, promoting health, and fostering economic growth.
The facility is equipped with four solar panels, a robust 2.2Hp water pump, and two 10,000-litre storage tanks, demonstrating the Foundation’s dedication to environmental sustainability and community well-being.
The General Manager opined: “BATN Foundation is harnessing the power of the sun which ensures a consistent supply of clean water, promoting improved health, economic growth, community empowerment and sustainable development.
“This landmark initiative provides a reliable source of clean water, marking a significant milestone in the community’s journey towards sustainable development. “This project stands as a testament to our dedication to sustainable initiatives that positively impact the lives of rural communities.
“The project reflects the power of collaboration between the Foundation, government bodies, and the community” however extended heartfelt gratitude to the Enugu State’s Commissioner of Water Resources and the Permanent Secretary for their unwavering support. The roles played by community leaders and residents were also celebrated, highlighting the patience and cooperation that were vital to the project’s success.”
He also appreciated Eco-lead Imperial Engineering and Global Resources Limited, the implementing partners, “whose tireless efforts ensured the project was completed to the highest standards. Their dedication and expertise were instrumental in bringing this vision to life,” he said.
“This solar-powered borehole project is a testament to the Foundation’s mission to create sustainable and impactful solutions that address the needs of rural communities,” he added.
The BATN Foundation, while reaffirming its commitment to the socio-economic and agricultural development of smallholder farmers and women in Enugu State, also announced upcoming water project in Gwadabawa, Sokoto State.
Airports across Europe faced disruption on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, as civil resistance groups blocked runways and departure gates in what looked like a coordinated stunt.
Climate campaigners
Activists stopped air traffic at airports in Cologne and Oslo, blocked security gates in Helsinki, and blocked main roads outside airports in Zurich and Geneva. Meanwhile activists were intercepted at Heathrow in the UK and Barcelona-El Prat Airport in Spain.
Flights resumed after long delays and cancellations that began when campaigners cut through a fence at Germany’s Cologne-Bonn Airport at 5am and glued themselves to the runway.
A runway was breached in Norway and security gates were blocked in Finland as the campaigners declared an ‘international uprising’ to end the use of fossil fuels.
Activists at London Heathrow and Barcelona’s El Prat Airport were intercepted by police before they could disrupt air traffic.
Organisers warned Wednesday’s action was “just the start” as they seek an end to coal, oil and gas extraction by 2030 under a legally binding climate change treaty.
They said campaigners had received “training in non-violence” and would take “all possible steps” not to threaten airport safety.
The protest began at 5am when intruders with bicycles and skateboards cut through chain-link fence at Cologne-Bonn and stuck themselves to a runway.
“Airports such as this are a place of injustice. We are here demanding that governments sign a fossil fuel treaty,” said Malte Nierobisch, 21, one of five protesters at Cologne-Bonn Airport in Germany.
The German airport said flights had resumed but disruptions and cancellations “are to be expected during the course of the day” after a hole was cut in a perimeter fence.
The climate action led to the cancellation of flights
Three people breached another fence in Oslo shortly before 6am and sat down next to the runway. Nine people blocked the security area at Helsinki, holding up a banner reading “fossil fuels are killing us”.
Roads were blocked on the way to Zurich and Geneva’s airports in Switzerland, disrupting passengers as they entered the departures and arrivals terminals. Five people were arrested.
Rita Straub, a 74-year-old activist in Switzerland, said she was “ashamed of the state of the world I am leaving to my great nieces and nephews”.
In Barcelona, five people were intercepted by police while taking action at El Prat Airport, with fines handed out on the spot, campaigners said.
London’s Metropolitan Police said Heathrow’s operations were running as normal after nine people were arrested. “These arrests have prevented significant disruption to the airport and the travelling public,” it said.
More airport protests are expected this weekend, Dutch activists said. Oil Kills campaigners said airports were targeted as a “key pillar of the global fossil fuel economy”.
“By taking non-violent direct action at airports, we are disrupting business as usual on an international scale that can’t be ignored,” said the group, which calls itself an “international uprising to end oil by 2030″.
The protests come days after Germany’s government proposed two-year prison sentences for people convicted of disrupting air traffic.
A sentence of up to five years would be possible in cases where intruders force their way into an airport with banned objects such as a knife or toxic substance.
Activists have previously shut down Berlin’s main airport, and the Last Generation is planning a new “wave of protests” this autumn.
Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, had accused people gluing themselves to runways of putting others at risk and causing delays to tens of thousands of travellers.
In Britain, a group of Just Stop Oil protesters were sentenced to four to five years in prison last week after conspiring to block traffic on London’s ring road motorway.
A judge said the “exemplary sentences” were a necessary deterrent because activists appeared to believe that the criminal law “really doesn’t matter”.
“The plain fact is that each of you has some time ago crossed the line from concerned campaigner to fanatic,” the judge said.
While not involved in the organisation, nor responsible for any of the actions that took place at the airports on Wednesday, the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative says it stands in solidarity with citizen’s rights to carry out peaceful demonstrations of protest.
“It is critical that governments listen to these demands and act swiftly to end fossil fuel expansion and support a global transition away from coal, oil and gas.
“These activists are far from the first to call for governments to negotiate a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, a proposal spearheaded by 13 nation-states on four continents, and endorsed by over 3,500 organisations and institutions including the World Health Organisation, the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.
“Previous treaty proposals to ban nuclear weapons or phase out landmines have become a reality after a diverse global movement advocate for governments to take action, and we hope to see people from all walks of life join the call for countries to complement the Paris Agreement by negotiating an international treaty to phase out oil, gas and coal production in a fast and equitable manner,” submitted the group.
Tzeporah Berman, Chair of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative, stated: “History will see the people who have been taking part in these protests as heroes not criminals. If our governments were taking the necessary action to stop expansion of oil, gas and coal and manage a fair phase out of fossil fuels to keep citizens safe, people wouldn’t need to do these protests. Instead of jailing citizens who are fighting for a liveable future, governments should be prosecuting oil companies and committing to work towards a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.”
Alexandre Naulot, Head of Europe Advocacy and Campaigns for Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative, said: “Self-declared climate leaders like Canada, the United-States and Norway have no plans to phase out their fossil fuel extraction, and in the UK, it is only the brand-new government that has just committed to ending new oil and gas licences. In fact, many wealthy countries are more likely to expand their oil and gas production than wind it down. In the context of this failure of political leadership, citizens are increasingly frustrated and will continue to push their governments to do more.
“Meanwhile on the other side of the world, thirteen nation-states from the Global South are already seeking to negotiate a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. These brave, peaceful actions demonstrate that the growing global demand for climate justice is only going to escalate. We urge all governments to listen to their citizens and join the global call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.”
Civil resistance groups involved with the international uprising include activists Letzte Generation in Germany, Folk Mot FossilMakta in Norway, Extinction Rebellion Finland, Futuro Vegetal in Spain, Just Stop Oil in the UK, Drop Fossil Fuel Subsidies and Act Now-Liberate in Switzerland, Last Generation Canada, Extinction Rebellion Netherlands, Extinction Rebellion Boston and Scientists Rebellion in the United States.
The Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) has identified the lack of systemic enforcement and standard regulations as the root cause of the country’s frequent building collapses.
Dr. Samson Opaluwah
According to the group, this has led to the use of unqualified staff, inferior materials, disdain for proper construction standards, non-compliance with planning approvals, and failure to follow professional best practices.
In the first half of the year, there have been over a dozen documented incidents, three of which have happened in the last week alone. These building collapses were reported: on July 14, 2024, a one-story structure collapsed in Osogbo, Osun State; on July 13, 2024, a two-story residential apartment collapsed in Kubwa, Abuja; and on July 12, 2024, Saints Academy collapsed in Busa Buji, Jos, Plateau State.
Others include the three-story building at Plot 32, Udensi Housing Estate, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, which collapsed on June 18, 2024; the five-story Dennis Memorial Grammar School building in Onitsha, Anambra State, which collapsed on June 12, 2024; and the three-story building collapse in Obingwa, Ukwa West, Abia State, which occurred on June 8, 2024. The Unity House Building in Garki, Abuja, was another.
Dr. Samson Opaluwah, the chairman of CORBON, expressed his organisation’s displeasure over the recent spate of activities in the construction industry that continue to endanger investment security, injure citizens in a variety of ways, and claim several innocent lives.
Opaluwah, who criticised the conduct in a press circular dated Wednesday, July 17, 2024, stated that the frequent incidents of building collapses serve as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for tighter enforcement and the enactment of relevant legislation to regulate the construction sector.
He went on to explain that the Council’s position on the state of affairs is based on its research, study of numerous reports, and review of available records of cases of building collapse across the country from 1970 to date. It was observed that this problem has continued to encourage quackery among active participants in the building construction process, as well as the proliferation of substandard building materials in the sector.
“The Council is deeply saddened by the series of building- collapses that have occurred in Nigeria, especially considering the fact that most of them are from preventable, man-made errors,” he said.
To avoid the future recurrence of these tragedies, he advocated for non-destructive testing to be performed on buildings where there is no proof that standards were followed during construction or where unauthorised alterations have been made.
CORBON, the builder hinted, is looking forward to working closely with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to develop imaginative ways of dealing with substandard building materials in the market. It is also committed to working with governments at all levels, regulatory agencies, professional bodies, and the public to prevent future building collapses.
This, he elaborated, validates their belief that by taking proactive measures and ensuring adherence to the national and state building regulations, such tragedies can be avoided.
“CORBON calls for immediate action and the enforcement of past recommendations on building collapses,” Opaluwah said, “to ensure the safety of Nigerians and the diligent prosecution of people who have been found culpable by various investigative bodies to serve as deterrents to potential offenders and maintain the integrity of our built environment.”
Shelter is one of the basic necessities of man. Shelter was meant to provide protection for man against stronger primates in the jungle, and a cover against elements. The cave served that purpose.
Scene of a collapsed build at Ebute-Metta in Lagos
It has evolved to serve man in various areas. Today, it serves as a place of worship, work, education, recreation, sports, entertainment and business, among others.
The more the need for shelter the more it is designed to fit those needs. The desire to minimise land use, celebrate aesthetics and elegance led to building taller structures.
Today, high rise buildings dot the landscape all over the world. In Nigeria and in many developing countries, what is meant to solve man’s special need has become a source of nightmare to many families.
Many families have lost their loved ones in building collapse in various parts of the country.
Those who survive it are left with physical and or mental scare. Businesses are ruined and several billions of naira lost in these unfortunate incidents.
A report by The Brookings Institution showed that, between 1974 and 2019, more than 211 buildings collapsed in various parts of the country, with more than half of the incident occurring in Lagos State.
According to the Think Tank, between 2000 and 2021, Lagos State recorded 167 incidents with 78.4 per cent being residential buildings and 12.8 per cent commercial building while the remaining 8.8 per cent were institutional buildings.
The incidents displaced no fewer than 6,000 households with an estimated loss of $3.2 trillion worth of property.
The recent gale of building collapse calls for urgent attention from stakeholders to address the challenge.
On July 13, four persons were rescued from the rubble of a collapsed two-storey building in Kubwa area of Abuja, according to Mrs. Florence Wenegieme, Acting Director FCT Federal Emergency Management Department.
Earlier, on July 10, seven persons were pulled out of the rubbles of a collapsed another two-storey building at Mushin area of Lagos State on Wednesday.
Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), was quoted by the media as saying that those rescued consisted of three females and four males.
In Kano State, on April 26 three persons died following the collapse of a three-storey building in the Kuntau area of Gwale Local Government Area of the state, according to Dr Nuradeen Abdullahi, Kano Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency.
On June 17, 2011, three persons died as a building under construction at University of Nigeria, Nsukka, caved in. Five construction workers were rescued and taken to the intensive care unit of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu.
Yet on July 13, the city of Jos, Plateau was thrown into mourning following the collapse of Saint Academy, Jos school building. No fewer than 22 persons, mostly students died, and 154 others injured, according to official account.
The Nigerian Institute of Civil Engineers (NICE) says the country has recorded 41 building collapse in the last 17 months.
Observers wonder why what is supposed to be a place of safety should be become a death trap. Questions are raised as to how it should be reduced to the barest minimum.
Mr Paul Erubami, the Chief Executive Officer, Max-Migold, a physical property management firms, says effective facility management sector can stem the tide of building collapse in Nigeria.
“It starts with knowledge; it starts with skills, and these are how to put the right processes in place,” Erubami said.
Prof. Samson Duna, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI), attributed building collapse to use of substandard materials, among others.
According to Duna, 80 per cent of building collapse happens during rainy season due to some natural causes and because the materials were substandard it gives in.
He, therefore, recommended training and retraining of engineers and professionals in the construction sector should attend refresher course to refresh their knowledge.
He said the government and professional bodies should sensitise the general public on the steps to follow when embarking on building projects.
“All professional bodies should strengthen its arm of monitoring, to ensure they function effectively during project supervision.
“The professionals must be involved in monitoring and evaluation of building projects and funds for the supervision should be incorporated in the cost of the project,” Duna said.
The Nigerian Association of Technologists Engineering (NATE) blames the challenge on the failure to keep to the ethics and codes of building, cutting corners in terms of the required materials are the main causes of building collapse.
Mr Dominic Udoatan, the national president of the association, however, expressed hope in the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) determination to work on the issue through closed monitoring.
He said it was important that only professionals were saddled with the responsibility of erecting buildings.
The Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NIStructE) also points accusing fingers at COREN.
President of the institution, Dr Kehinde Osifala, said that non-regulation of the practice by COREN was at the root of incessant collapse of buildings and structures in Nigeria with many quacks operating freely.
He pledged the institution’s readiness to partner with COREN to flush out quacks from the building industry and save the nation from the agony of building collapse.
Then Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mahmuda Mamman, gave COREN a marching order.
“I urge you to strategise and hatch out a plan to stop this menace of building collapse. There should be no more cases of building collapse and this lousy situation be brought to a stop,” he said.
He also directed the conduct of thorough checks, registrations, and mandatory monitoring of construction activities to ensure Nigerians live in well-built, solid buildings without any fear of building collapse, no matter the weather.
Mr Sadiq Abubakar, industry regulator, COREN, said for instance, there were complexities involved in prosecuting cases of building collapse and called for the involvement of trained investigators and regulatory reforms.
“Once you go to a tribunal, you need diligent steps to gather evidence. Building collapse has different causes, and without proper sampling and investigation, it becomes challenging to prosecute,” he said.
The COREN president said another challenge to effective supervision was economic. He said the issue of substandard materials and construction practices could be caused by economic pressures such as the rising cost of cement.
“There is a direct correlation between the price of cement and building collapses. When costs rise, clients often cut corners, leading to compromised building integrity,” he told newsmen.
Abubakar suggests the training and certification of professional investigators in the construction sector to enhance prosecution of suspects in building collapse.
He also canvassed decentralising investigation panels and tribunals to ensure timely and effective responses to building collapses.
“We must train investigators who are qualified, competent, and can even go to other countries to investigate. This we don’t have now, but we’re working towards that,” he said.
“We have identified gaps in the regulatory and legal framework and are packaging amendments to address these issues.
“There is the need for collaborative efforts among all actors in the building environment, including architects, builders, and surveyors. We must work as a team to ensure compliance and accountability,” he said.
Nigeria is ranked among the countries that are most vulnerable to climate change impacts according to multiple reports and indices. With an estimated population of 230 million people inhabiting 923,769 square kilometres, it is impossible to address Nigeria’s climate change challenges from a single central government. This presents an opportunity for multilevel approaches whilst aggregated subnational climate change action becomes imperative.
Malam Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment
Indeed, the visible gaps between federal-level climate action and subnational climate action hugely impacts on Nigeria’s efforts at addressing climate change. While there are several policies at the federal level, the impacts of these policies are not been felt across the country due to the disconnect between the national actions and the subnational. This failure at holistic action is a nagging problem which underscores the importance of subnational action in complementing the national actions.
As a federating State, Nigeria’s governance system is structured such that efforts from the subnational must combine and feed into federal efforts, for a holistic goal towards achieving national targets. It follows then that with climate change being mostly felt at the subnational, genuine efforts at addressing climate impacts must include strategic and well-intentioned subnational actions to effectively achieve national and international goals.
By leveraging on State-level polices and action plans, Nigeria’s subnational can effectively address climate change from the community-level up, and this cannot be overemphasised. As it stands, none of Nigeria’s national climate change goals can be attained without corresponding efforts and actions by the States and Local Governments.
It is therefore imperative that urgent attention must be shifted to subnational climate change governance especially the important roles of climate change policies and action plans at the subnational levels towards the attainment of the short- and long-term climate change goals and sustainable development aspirations of the country at large. Therefore, these visible gaps created by lack of effective climate action is unacceptable and must be addressed urgently.
In essence, with differing impacts of climate change in the constituent 36 States and 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) which make up Nigeria’s subnational; States and LGAs are better positioned to identify necessary actions, which they must undertake to address climate change within their respective geographical locations. These actions which should be adaptive in nature can then be complemented by mitigation actions which will further feed into national greenhouse gases emissions reduction plans in order to forestall future climate change impacts. One effective way of achieving this is through the development and implementation of climate change policies and action plans.
In a bold move to galvanise climate awareness and encourage greater climate action at the subnational, the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria, undertook the first-ever rating and ranking of the climate governance performance of the 36 States of Nigeria. The ranking of climate governance performance of Nigerian states was based on five themes: i) Climate change institutional arrangements and administrative structure, ii) Climate policy and action plan, iii) Climate budget and finance, iv) Climate change project Implementation and monitoring and v) Online visibility with reference to climate action.
The report identifies key climate change governance criteria, reveals a gap in subnational climate change policies and action plans amongst Nigeria States, and ultimately provides key elements for an effective climate change governance system for Nigeria’s subnational. This effort is critical to boosting climate action in the country, meeting the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions, address salient developmental issues, and ultimately drive towards Nigeria’s 2060 net zero ambitions which is hinged on green growth.
On Thursday, July 25, 2024, key stakeholders on climate change in Nigeria, ranging from State Governors, Ministers, Heads of Climate Change Councils and Departments, Environment and Climate Change Commissioners, members of the academia, civil society, community and youth groups, women and persons living with disabilities, the media, will converge on the Abuja Continental Hotel to share ideas, recognise top performers review and evaluate, for the first time, the nature of climate change governance in Nigeria’s subnational during the High-Level event. This event, once launched, becomes an annual evaluation metrics aimed at bolstering subnational actions for the good of the country.
By Nnaemeka Oruh, Senior Policy Analyst, Society for Planet and Prosperity, @_Oruhnc
Connected Advocacy, with support from LEAP Africa and Nigeria Youth Future Funds, commenced the Bayelsa Climate Ambassadors programme with a one-day capacity development workshop on youth community consultation, climate change education and local leadership for resilience in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
Participants at the Bayelsa Climate Ambassadors programme
Themed “The Solution is Indigenous, building local youth capacity to tackle climate crisis in our communities”, the workshop focused on youth community organisation, the imperative for climate change education, strategic advocacy and team building for results.
The event aimed to empower the shortlisted Ambassadors with the knowledge and skills necessary to address climate change and promote sustainable practices within their communities.
In his opening remarks, Mr Jeremiah Daganawho, Director of Climate Change, Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, charged the Ambassadors to be worthy representative of their communities. He encouraged them to go back with the knowledge they will gain here to empower their communities that climate change concern affects all and no one should be left behind. Messages highlighted the critical role of local leadership and youth involvement in climate action, reinforcing the importance of the day’s discussions.
Prince Israel Orekha, Executive Director of Connected Advocacy and convener of the event, attempted an overview of the session, explaining the objectives and the importance of grassroots engagement in climate action.
The moderator, Mr Henry Adike Coker Joseph, field officer in SACA and Communication and Brand Officer of the project, introduced the Monitor and Evaluator of the Bayelsa Climate Ambassador who is the Executive Director of SACA, setting the stage for an informative and engaging session with responses from the ambassadors. He later took them through the various monitoring and evaluation sessions.
Dr. Ayodele Oyedeji from institute of Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Watershed, Niger Delta University, spoke on the concept and science of climate change and global warning. He provided a foundation for participants, emphasising the importance of understanding climate science to develop effective local solutions.
This was followed by a pre-test to gauge participants’ initial knowledge of climate-related issues, which helped tailor the subsequent sessions.
Wakedai Davidson Ere of the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment who was represented by Mr Charles Iriakuma Ayebaesin, scientific officer, Department of Climate Change, gave an extensive discussion around climate change and how it affects local communities, sharing light on vulnerability, methodology to ensure environmental sustainability with local solutions. He also highlighted relevant works within the Niger Delta region and why everyone needs to be onboard.
Anayio Augustine Ngode, another facilitator, focused on community organisation using the smart advocacy model, covering the essentials of advocacy: what it entails, where it should be applied, and how to execute it effectively. This session equipped ambassadors with crucial advocacy skills, enabling them to promote climate action in their communities.
The ambassadors were divided into six thematic working groups, with each group focused on a specific climate-related issue: Just Transition/100% Renewable Energy, Deforestation/Food Systems, Environmental Pollution/IOC Divestment, Open Defecation, Plastic Pollution/Marine Litters, as well as Disaster Risk/Loss and Damage Financing.
The ambassadors identified issues, root causes, opportunities, immediate solutions, long-term solutions, and methods to ensure the sustainability of their proposed solutions. They also discussed the role of ambassadors in implementing these solutions and planned to return to their communities to further identify, create awareness and advocate to address these issues.
The Bayelsa Climate Ambassadorship Programme, according to the promoters, increased participants’ understanding of climate change, provided them with essential advocacy skills, and inspired them to take proactive steps toward sustainability in their communities.
The event, they added, underscored the importance of indigenous solutions and local leadership in addressing global climate challenges, setting the stage for continued grassroots climate action in Bayelsa State.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will meet for its 61st Plenary Session from July 27 to August 2, 2024, in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, where delegates of 195 member governments will discuss important matters related to production of IPCC reports during the seventh assessment cycle which began last July with the election of the new Chair and new IPCC Bureau members.
Jim Skea, IPCC Chair
This is the second plenary meeting of the current cycle.
Among other issues, the Panel will consider the strategic planning schedule which will define a detailed production timeline for all the IPCC reports planned for the seventh cycle and the draft outlines of the Special Report on Climate Change and Cities and the Methodology Report on Short-Lived Climate Forcers. Based on the Panel’s earlier decision, these two reports are scheduled for release in 2027. The Panel’s busy agenda will also include discussions about the lessons learned from the sixth assessment cycle.
The 61st Plenary Session of the IPCC will be ceremoniously opened at 10.00 a.m. local time in Sofia on Saturday, July 27, at the Grand Hotel Millenium Sofia.
Delegates representing IPCC member governments and observer organisations will be addressed by the IPCC Chair, Jim Skea; the President of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Abdulla Al Mandous; the Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Elizabeth Maruma Mrema; Bulgarian Minister of Environment and Water, Petar Dimitrov; the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nevyana Miteva; and the Mayor of Sofia, Vassil Terziev.
The opening will also include special video messages from the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Simon Stiell, and the Deputy Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organisation, Ko Barrett.
Except for the opening segment, IPCC Plenary Sessions are closed meetings.
