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Eko Atlantic City: Villain or saint?

Michael Simire
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Eko Atlantic City: Villain or saint?

Some fundamental legal issues regarding the construction of the Eko Atlantic City as well as the veil of secrecy surrounding the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report have come to the fore, just as key players continue to advance contradictory positions regarding the project.

Model of the development

The real story is unfolding on the heels of glaring inconsistencies in the positions being taken by the Lagos State Government/South Energyx Ltd, the proponents and executors of the project on one hand, and the representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment, which is constitutionally empowered to ensure all projects comply with the EIA Act of 1992.

Recent revelations by government officials about the new city being built on land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean confirmed various reports by this writer since November 6 last year. One of the reports had stated categorically that the Eko Atlantic City project was being done with very little respect for due process.

One of the stories won the CNN/Multichoice Highly Commended Award in the environment category at the 2012 Africa Journalist of the Year award, which held in Lusaka, Zambia.

A representative of the Federal Government caused a stir at a recent forum on the project when he remarked that there was a lot of lawlessness in the process that led to the execution.

Land reclamation at the site of the project

He also talked about the futility of looking for foreign-driven solutions from experts who are unaware of the geography and geology of the local terrain.

Indeed, startling facts about the Eko Atlantic City project came up at two separate events recently. The first was organised in Lagos by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment. The second was put together by the Heinrich Boll Foundation, an NGO affiliated to the Green Party in Germany. The event was held in collaboration with Environmental Law and Research Institute and Community Development and Development Initiative.

Ironically, the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Victoria Island, venue of the second gathering of stakeholders, is the very place where various age long researches puncturing the EIA, which the executors of the Atlantic City project claimed they had done, originated from. The impact assessment, it was claimed, was carried out, by an Institute in Denmark.

Layout plan of the estate

Investigations spanning over nine months revealed the several natural forces hidden beneath the Atlantic Ocean bed, the genesis of erosion at Victoria Island and the deadly ocean surges that have occurred in the state in the last decade. The results of the investigations eventually triggered a discussion on the desirability of the Atlantic City project and the exact nature of the EIA submitted by Lagos State Government
and South Energyx Ltd.

At the UNDP event, which had: “Challenges of Sea Level Rise Induced Flooding in Nigeria: Coastal States in Focus as its theme, Commissioners for the Environment from Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ondo, Ogun, Delta, and Rivers states attended or sent their representatives. Papers were delivered by: Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo, Prof. Jide Alo, Prof. Labode Popoola, Prof. Niyi Osuntogun, Prof. Francis Adesina, Dr. Victor Fodeke, Dr. Taofeek Afolami and Special Adviser to Governor Fashola.

Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru, who was to deliver a paper titled: “Eko Atlantic City: A formidable Adaptation Strategy to Rise in Sea Level Induced Erosion in Lagos State” did not do this at the event                                                                                   .

Oniru, however, showed up at Heinrich Boll Foundation Roundtable the following week. Despite the heavy rainfall in Lagos on the day, the event was well attended. The UNDP Deputy Country Representative, Jan Thomas Hiemestra, was in attendance. Others who attended include Prof. Larry Awosika, a renowned Marine Geologist and UN expert on Oceanography; and Prof. Mrs. M. T. Okorodudu-Fubara, foremost Environmental Law Professor at the Obafemi Awolowo University and Consultant to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), was also there.

An impression of the development upon completion

Mr. David Frame, Managing Director of South Energyx Ltd was also there, alongside Mr. Abass Suleiman of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja. It was at this event that the Federal Ministry officials debunked the claim by Lagos State officials at the UNDP event that they (federal officials) were solidly behind the EIA that was drafted on the Eko Atlantic City.

Lagos State Environment Commission, Mr. Tunji Bello, had said at the first UNDP parley that it was when the Federal Government abandoned its responsibility in finding lasting solutions to the problem of the Bar Beach that the Lagos State Government approached former President Obasanjo. He said the former President then gave his nod for solutions to be found. Bello lamented that previous governments had been dumping sand in the Atlantic Ocean to replenish the Beach at huge costs.

He said: “We know that the kind of Federal Government we have is highly unresponsive. It does not respond to anything. They don’t have the capacity, the mentality and they don’t even think about it (problems posed by the Atlantic).

“But being a state government, we know we don’t have land, and that we are the smallest. During the administration of Governor Bola Tinubu, it was a running battle between him and Obasanjo. They were just pumping sand. Every year, they spent N9 billion pumping sand into the Atlantic Ocean. Within six months, the sand would disappear and they would pump sand again.”

Bello continued: “Governor Tinubu said we can do something about this. We can build a defence wall instead of spending that amount of money on pumping sand. He wrote a letter to Obasanjo. It was a running battle. Eventually, he (Obasanjo) said, Give it to them.

“If you go to Bar Beach now, the Ahmadu Bello Way, which had totally disappeared, when Asiwaju (Tinubu) now decided to build that defence wall that side was saved. In fact, almost all the state’s liaison offices were almost eaten up by the erosion. They were no longer using their buildings. Today, the defence wall has restored normalcy to that area.

“The features of Eko Atlantic City, is to protect Victoria Island from ocean surge, give Lagos a facelift by transforming it into one of the best tourist centres in the world and create job opportunities.”

When the issue of the EIA was raised, state officials said the Federal Government was responsible for the EIA, which Eko Atlantic City based its construction work on.

However, a week after at the Heinrich Boll Foundation Roundtable, Prof. Okorodudu-Fubara picked holes in the manner Lagos State seemingly circumvented laid down regulations with respect to the construction of the estate.

Okorodudu-Fubara, one of the legal minds that put in place the EIA Act in 1992, expressed regret that the purpose for which the law was made had not been adhered to in the construction of the Eko Atlantic City.

She said the EIA Act prohibits the execution of private or public industrial development under the mandatory list schedule to the statute without prior consideration of the environmental consequences of such a proposed action, in the form of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and a certificate in writing by the Federal Ministry of Environment signifying approval to commence.

“The statute legally forbids such erring projects. Is the Eko Atlantic City Project EIA Act 1992 compliant? All indications point to the fact that the answer is a big No.”

According to the renowned professor, Section 61 of EIA Act of 1992 states: “Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and, on conviction, in the case of an individual to N100,000 fine or up to five years imprisonment and in the case of a firm or corporation to a fine of not less than N50,000 and not more than N1, 000,000.”

A view of the estate on completion

She continued: “Any corporate body, which contravenes the Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not less than five million naira (N5,000,000). In addition to the penalty provided, a person/body corporate found guilty shall be required to carry out remediation work.”

The professor stunned the gathering, precipitating a pensive mood, when she submitted: “Eko Atlantic City project, a fantastic idea, but it triggers off a wide range of extant critical statutes and regulations.

“The proponents must be brought back to conformity and compliance in accordance with due process. The individuals and firms involved in the project may be found guilty of offences under section 61 EIA, 1992.”

Prof. Okorodudu-Fubara recommended that an Executive/Administrative order of prohibition be placed on the proponents of the project pending due compliance with all the applicable laws.

On the way forward, she called for a two-track solution on legal and political basis, to examine civil or criminal violations of extant laws triggered by the Eko Atlantic Project.  She also called for a thorough investigation of individuals and firms involved and the prosecution of those found culpable.

“A prohibition order could be placed on the proponents of the project to compel total compliance with EIA Act, 1992. and no further action until an approval is obtained.”

On the political side, the professor recommended mediation by Federal Government and Lagos State Government, a process she said must be against the backdrop of the applicable laws, essentially the constitution and all other relevant federal laws.

She concluded that Lagos and the Federal governments should carry all stakeholders along in the overall public interest.

From the presentation, it was gathered that the current position on the project is that there is no EIA at all because the Federal Government has withdrawn the draft impact assessment, which was put up by Lagos State because they had too many reservations about it.

The professor cited the case of Attorney General of Federation V Attorney General of Abia & 35 ors, wherein the Supreme Court declared, “the continental Shelf is not part of the territory of a state contiguous to it.”

During the roundtable, Prince Oniru said the problem of coastal erosion and the dangers of sea level rise were not peculiar to Lagos shoreline alone. He explained that the entire coastline of Nigeria was being affected and as such the solution had to be found collectively.

Oniru told his audience that the situation in Lagos was the result of the constitution of the East and West Moles in the early 20th Century to prevent sand from blocking the Lagos harbour. He noted that this piece of engineering on the moles was responsible for erosion of Bar Beach, which is, however, being corrected by Lagos State.

Discussants at the roundtable also threw more light on the status and nature of the Environmental Impact Assessment. Officials of the Federal Ministry of Environment pointed out that the EIA put on display was for dredging activities. Officials had also noted that dredging commenced in 2008. The EIA was only put on display in 2011.

However, permission was granted through certification from the Federal Ministry of Environment. Mr. Abass Suleiman, Assistant Director, Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja said that a certificate was granted to South Energyx Ltd for dredging activities by Royal Haskoning, but that this was a provisional approval pending the outcome of the EIA. Suleiman admitted the EIA submitted by the Lagos State was one of the best he had ever seen and that the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography Marine Research (NIOMR) contributed to it.

Strangely, however, Mr. Victor Imevbore of Environmental Resources Managers Limited, denied that he had ever been associated with the EIA. Imevbore was unhappy that his name had appeared in the EIA document without his knowledge. According to him, technically, he believes that the construction of the sea wall, or revetment would be feasible even if he had doubts as to the ensuing impacts on other coastal areas, adjacent to Bar Beach.

Imevbore regretted that despite the good work being done by Governor Fashola in Lagos State, the Eko Atlantic City Project was ill advised.

Prof. Larry Awosika of NIOMR, confirming what Suleiman said, recalled being consulted on the EIA; and that the NIOMR made its views known to the Federal Government. He, however, did not disclose the observations or advice the agency made about the dredging and the proposed Atlantic City Project.

On his part, marine biologist, Ako Amadi, said the essence of any EIA is to demonstrate how to reduce risks and manage potential disaster emanating from a project. As in the case of the Eko Atlantic City, he said, the EIA was not necessarily about how dredging companies carried out their work in building a sea wall. Amadi said that the EIA submitted by Royal Haskoning on the dredging activities only made peripheral statements on safety issues and did not go into the forensics of climate change impact, nor did it offer any palliatives should unmitigated environmental disasters occur in the future.

During the roundtable, Prince Oniru was asked to give his views on the social impacts of the forceful eviction of residents of Makoko and Bar Beach, after a 72-hour ultimatum. Some other guests also wanted to know whether the proposed Eko Atlantic City made provision for low-cost housing.  Oniru denied that the eviction notices gave only 72 hours, a position that contrasted testimony given by one of the lawyers of the evictees, Mr. Felix Morka.

This reporter also saw copies of the notices, which were signed by Ministry of Water Front Infrastructure Development.

Oniru told the gathering that the Eko Atlantic City Project was envisioned as a high profile development that would not be housing poor people. This, he explained, is the case in similar places all over the world.

But other experts at the gathering challenged him, saying that the world has started moving towards sustainable cities, which take low-income groups into consideration. Mrs. Kofo Adeleke cited London as an example while Prof. Mrs. Okorodudu-Fubara mentioned New York as another example.

Other participants at the roundtable shared their thoughts on this very controversial project. Their views are captured below:

Prof. Larry Awosika, United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf; Marine Geologist, Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR): “Many times we are besieged by the government and people on this particular issue and we say in most cases, we are not carried along. I am happy that the Honourable Commissioner said they have a holistic plan for coastal erosion mitigation along the coastline. We are happy to hear that.

“But what we will like to say is that (NIOMR) is mainly saddled with experts, though they may be local experts, they are also international experts. They should also be brought on board to assist the government not as contractors but as experts and agency of government to ensure that the job is done to specification. We give scientific advice. We do for other states, we do that for other countries and I see no reason why we cannot do it for our country.”

Mr. David Frame, Managing Director, South Energyx Ltd,: “I just want to say that people have short memories. I have been a Lagosian for 24years. I am talking as someone who has made Lagos my home. We forget that Ahmadu Bello Way blasted into the sea in 2005. We have forgotten that. It’s past. But it’s very relevant to what we are saying; as a gentleman said earlier; Victoria Island is not protected. So, please bear that in mind. We also talked about approval by the Federal Government; the Commissioner touched on that earlier.

“And I will reconfirm that Lagos State was approached by President Obasanjo in 2005. He gave them consent to construct a permanent solution to the erosion at Bar Beach. That permanent protection is Eko Atlantic Project. The fact is that project had to start immediately. If we had not done that, Lagos, Victoria Island will not exist as it is today. We will not be sitting in this room right now. That’s my message.”

Prince Adesegun Oniru, Commissioner for Water Front Infrastructure and Development: “Lagos State will continue to work to protect lives and property along our coastline. Everything that has been said is noted. I will pass on most of your comments to his Excellency, the Governor of the State. I will just like to touch on one thing that we didn’t talk about which (environmental activist) Desmond Majekodunmi knows very much about. And that’s the cases of abandoned vessels and shipwrecks along our coastline. It’s a major problem. Shipwrecks worsened the erosion of Maiyegun and Alfa Beach.

“That Atlantic Ocean is our national boundary. We have an agency saddled with the responsibility of pulling the wrecks out. That agency is the Nigeria Maritime Authority and Safety Administration (NIMASA). It’s a shame that nobody from NIMASA is here. But be that as it may, we in Lagos State will continue to look for proper and holistic solution to the threats to our coastline, alongside other states that have boundaries with the Atlantic Ocean.”

Victor John, Federal Ministry of Environment: “We need to re-study the domino effect of the (Eko Atlantic City) project. It is very important. I am a Lagosian and from the things I am seeing, I need to look at the design again to know what other mitigation efforts we need to put in place. But I am happy that the Commissioner said Lagos State Government is coming up with other measures for the shoreline. It is very important. We don’t want to get involved in the project at all. But as Lagosian who lived on the project, any time there is any problem, be sure
that we will be there.”

By Tunde Akingbade

Flood victims turn violent in Yenagoa, Jonathan adjusts plans

Michael Simire
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Displaced persons of the flood from six communities camped in Bishop Dimeri Grammar School (BDGS), Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, became violent, threatening to attack NEMA officials and visiting church leaders.

Displaced persons in one of the camps in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

Their action forced the presidential team to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from coming to the BDGS camp to address the victims but rather diverted to the Samson Siasia Stadium, where the displaced persons were more organised and humble.

Their action according to them was as a result of abandonment, lack of food, medication, mattresses and generally being left to their fate.

Some of the victims who were ready to burn the truck of NEMA, complained that only the chairman from Sagbama Local Government gave them N300,000 and other relief materials while the rest have turned their backs on them.

Some of the victims said they were divided into six communities with relief materials representing each of the local government.

They complained of their representatives both in local government chairmen, commissioners, lawmakers both in state and federal government not visiting the camp to have first hand information of happenings in the camp. They claimed that those who managed to come stopped at the gate of the camp and turned back.

One of them said, “Let them come together and help us. At most, in two months this problem will be over. We have not seen any of our representatives, no local government chairman, no commissioner, no lawmaker both at federal and state level to come and see first hand what we are suffering here. The condition here is not conducive for us.”

The displaced persons turned violent at BDGS apparently to prevent a church service that was to be conducted in the camp by some Christian leaders.

They broke the glass doors of the venue of the service and chased away the church ministers.

They argued that they were not in the position to listen to the word of God with empty stomachs as not much had been done by the authorities to alleviate their sufferings.

Those who spoke also accused the church officials of being more interested in the collections they would get from the worshipers rather than their comfort.

However, the Bayelsa State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Israel Ege, blamed the problem on the demand by the displaced persons for cash in place of the food that they were being served.

“If you give them cash, how will they share it? Some people will just grab it and go away,” he said.

The NEMA Zonal Coordinator South South Zone, Port Harcourt, Emenike Umesi, blamed their agitation on the fact that they are displaced from their homes and not because they are not receiving relief materials as they claim.

He said NEMA has divided the teams into groups with each handling one single commodity for distribution.

The items include garri, rice, beans, condiments, beverages, toiletries, medicines, mattresses, clothing, and groups specifically handling items for kids.

While revealing that there were over 40,000 registered displaced persons in the various camps in Bayelsa State, he spoke of threats from militants who are calling to demand for accommodation and relief materials or would be forced to mobilise and attack the camps.

The NEMA also revealed that those not displaced having been coming into the camp to make away with mattresses and food items and go and sale outside.

The camps are presently being attended to by volunteers from UNICEF, boys brigade, girls guard, red cross, ministry of health, military.

Umesi also said the decision by the state government to divide the displaced victims into local government has brought about discrimination with some claiming persons from a particular local government were getting more relief materials than others.

He said NEMA was against segregation of victims as even tents have been set up for non indegenes, which is against the spirit of disaster management in the world.

Niger Delta challenges examined at Environment Outreach Magazine lecture

Michael Simire
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The 3rd Environment Outreach Magazine Public Lecture/Environmental Awards ceremony was held at the Conference Hall of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State of Nigeria on Friday, the 28th of September 2012. The Lecture, with its theme: “The Petroleum Industry and the Niger Delta Environment: Blessing or Curse?” was delivered by Kingsley Chinda, former Commissioner for Environment, Rivers State and Member of the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja. He was represented by Professor Michael Horsfall, Professor of Environmental Chemistry of the University of Port Harcourt.

Pollution and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Tarila Tebepah, who is also Chairman of the NDDC Board of Directors, thanked the Publisher, Mr. Noble Akenge, for hosting the 3rd Outreach Public Lecture at a time when the country was facing a lot of environmental challenges like oil and gas pollution, coastal erosion, massive deforestation etc and also witnessing one of the worst flood disasters in recent times. He called on all Nigerians to take environmental issues more seriously and advised the Publisher to continue to create the needed environmental awareness needed to make a change through his publication and Public Lectures such as this.

He further thanked all those who made it to the occasion, stressing that his Commission would continue to collaborate with public and private organisations in the provision of infrastructure and services needed badly for the development of the Niger Delta region. He advised Nigerians to be environmental conscious in view of the massive environmental challenges facing the country.

In his lecture at the event, the Guest Speaker, Kingsley Chinda, who spoke on the theme “The Petroleum Industry and the Niger Delta Environment: Blessing or Curse?” stated that the issue of whether the Petroleum industry is a curse or blessing the Niger Delta depends on where one is standing or looking at the issue from.

He said: “From an economic view point and particularly for multi-national oil corporations and other Nigerian beneficiaries of the petroleum industry in Nigeria, especially with respect to the staggering oil revenues that accrues there from, access to international loans, fat bank accounts, large scale acquisition of wealth and development of massive infrastructure in the country, it is a blessing.

“However, for every true democrat, every Niger Deltan, it is clear that the petroleum industry in Nigeria vis-à-vis the Niger Delta environment epitomises a ‘resource curse’ as evidenced by collapse of basic Infrastructures in the region; Disruption of the peoples livelihood pattern and survival; abject poverty – 80 percent live below poverty line; lack of evident development within the region; high unemployment rate; hunger, disease  and untimely deaths; rise of militancy, kidnappings, armed robbery; pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering activities in the region, oil and gas pollution and severe damage to the environment that has affected the livelihood of the people.”

In the search for solution to the problems facing the Petroleum industry in Nigeria, therefore, he suggested that the most important and foundational thing to do is to amend the constitution by expunging S.44(3) and replacing the words “thirteen percent” in the proviso to S.162 (2) with “fifty percent” in the section that deals with Revenue Allocation so that more resources are injected into the development of the region.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Publisher/Host of the event, Noble Akenge welcomed all the guests present and stated that the main objective of the Environment Outreach magazine is to bring to the attention of policy makers and the public domain, the problems of the Environment sub-sector and how efforts are being made to solve them. He said that the institutionalisation of Public lectures by the magazine was another way of meeting the objectives of the magazine in creating awareness of environmental issues in the populace.

He stated that in Nigeria today, the downturn of the economy and lack of political will to tackle the various economic, social, political and environmental problems of wastes disposal, massive deforestation; oil and gas pollution, industrial pollution, flooding and coastal erosion has caused massive destruction of lives and properties, social dislocations in families and distorted our entire lifestyles.

He further called on the Federal and States government to do something fast to ameliorate the victims of the recent flood disasters that is ravaging the entire country at the moment. He also used the forum to express the magazine’s appreciation to Professor Akpezi Ogbuigwe of UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya and Governor Peter Obi  of Anambra State who were guest speakers at the 1st and 2nd Environment Outreach Public Lectures held in Port Harcourt and Abuja in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

The occasion also featured goodwill messages from eminent persons like Mercy Almona-Isei, former Chairman of the House of Representatives committee on Environment and the Senior Special Assistant to the Bayelsa State Governor on Research and Social Media, Dr. John Idumange and the presentation of “2012 Environmental Awards” to several persons who have distinguished themselves in the field of environment and development in Nigeria.

The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia and the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Tunji Bello bagged the “2012 Environmental Governance Award” while Mrs. Mercy Almona-Isei, a former three-term Member of the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja and Chairman, House Committee on Environment received the “2012 Environmental Legislative Excellence Award”.

Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu FNES, President of the Nigerian Environmental Society; Professor (Mrs.) Ayebaemi Spiff OON, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Chemistry, Uniport; Professor Mynepalli Shridhar, a Professor of Environmental Health of the College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State; Hon. Furoebi Akene, Hon. Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Bayelsa State; Prince Lekan Fadina,Executive Director,  Center For Investment, Sustainable Development, Management & Environment (CISME), Lagos; Mr. Mathew P. O. Dore, CEO of Phyllodendron Nigeria Limited, Benin-City;  Mr. Woyengikuro Agadah, Director in the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment  all bagged the “2012 Environmental Stewardship Award”.

Mrs. Aisha Bello Mustapha, the Environment Reporter of the NTA; the African Independent Television (AIT), Africa’s leading private TV station bagged the “2012 Environmental Awareness Creation Award” while Living Earth Nigeria Foundation won the  “2012 Community Development and Nature Conservation Award”.

In recognition of their persistence and sustained advocacy for a better deal for the Niger Delta environment and human rights, Ms. Annkio Briggs of Agape Birthrights, Port Harcourt; Mr. Alagoa Morris of Environment Rights Action (ERA); Comrade Chief Nengi James Eriworio,Chairman, Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Bayelsa State and Mr. Patterson Ogon of the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Abuja won the “2012 Defender of the Environment Award”.

Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Mailafia, speaking through her representative, Mr. Godwin Atsegwasi of NESREA, Abuja, thanked Akenge for the recognition and honour done the awardees for their modest contributions towards the protection and sustainability of the environment. She said she was humbled by the award and urged the Publisher to keep up the good works of bringing environmental awareness to the people of our great country, Nigeria. She also called on the people to keep patronising the magazine for the ultimate benefit of our environment. She urged all citizens of Nigeria and foreigners living in the country to continue to respect the laws of the land concerning the environment.

The occasion was attended by His Royal Majesty, King Godwin G. Igodo, the Ebenibe of Atissa Kingdom and Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers;  His Royal Highness, Maxwell Clarkson-Kikile, the Ebeneken (Paramount Ruler) of Yenagoa;  the Special Assistant to the Minister of Environment, Mr. Salisu Dahiru and Coordinator National REDD+ programme. Also in attendance were the Reps of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Senator Paulker Emmanuel ;  The Pere of Iduwini Kingdom of Delta State,HRM King Joel E. Ibane, Obiobo IX and Dr. Barclays Ayakoromo, the Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation represented by the Zonal Director, South-South Zone of NICO, Mr. Imohiosen James. The Special Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Fred Agbedi was represented by Mr. Freston Akpor, former Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor.

Also in attendance through their representatives were Ms. Ibim Princewill, Hon. Commissioner for Information, Rivers State and Chike Ogeah, Commissioner for Information, Delta State; Mr. Dike Onyije of the River State Ministry of Information and Communications and the General Manager of Delta Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Tunde Omonode respectively; Dr. Kevin Idehen  of the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun,

Delta State; Mr. Paul Akporowho, Delta State Chairman of the Nigerian Environmental Society and former Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of River State, Mr. Paulinus Nsirim.

Other dignitaries present at the occasion were the Senior Special Assistant to Bayelsa State Governor on Research and Social Media, Dr. John Idumange, Dr. Edet Edet of Community Health Dept, SPDC, and Dr. Ethel Ebere Obiakor of the AIT, representing High Chief Aleogho Raymond Dokpesi.

The occasion was also attended by persons from all walks of life including top Government officials, Representatives of various Federal and States’ Ministries and Agencies,  Environmental groups, the Organised Private Sector, traditional rulers; former Local Government Chairmen; the oil companies.

ECN, UNDP step up action on sustainable energy initiative

Michael Simire
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Against the backdrop of the official launch of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative (SE4ALL) a couple of months ago, the Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has stepped up action towards developing a National Action Plan that will lead to the realisation of the initiative.

President Goodluck Jonathan had in August launched the SE4ALL, which is aimed at doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency, ensure universal access to modern energy services and double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by the year 2030.

Essentially, each country is expected to undertake a Rapid Assessment and Gap Analysis on SE4ALL towards developing a National Action Plan on the initiative.

To this end, the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) and the UNDP last Thursday in Abuja held a one-day stakeholders awareness and consultation on the SE4ALL, where the Report of Rapid Assessment and Gap Analysis on SE4ALL in Nigeria by UNDP consultants was presented and analysed.

While presenting the report, Huzi Mshelia, a UNDP consultant, said the report is focused and that whatever gaps identified would be incorporated into the final report.

He listed some of the identified gaps to include: policy, political and potential market risks, natural gas supply constraints, over dependence on oil and gas, funding risks, international cooperation, lack of adequate man power in the energy sector and energy governance, among others.

Mshelia said countries that have increased their energy access are experiencing increase in Gross Domestic Products (GDP).

Director- General of ECN, Prof. Abubakar Sambo, represented by Director of Energy Planning and Anaysis in the organisation, Joseph Ojosu, an engineer, submitted that renewable energy is inevitable as it reduces greenhouse gases (GHGs) and brings about green jobs.

He said implementation of SE4ALL would be done locally and involves all the stakeholders, while the citizenry would be more sensitised on the programme.

Sambo, who commended the UNDP for supporting the programme, said that, for Nigeria to be one of the world’s leading economies by year 2020, the issue of low carbon economy must be taken seriously.

Deputy Director of ECN, Okon Ekpenyoug, an engineer, in his presentation on SE4ALL : contents, progress and next step, said achieving sustainable energy for all is an ambitious but achievable goal, adding that the work of achieving sustainable energy for all will not be completed in a single year, or even in the four-year term of a President.

“But we must begin somewhere,” he stated, adding that the Nigerian energy sector is endowed with abundant energy resources such as hydro power, uranium, and crude oil, among others.

While scrutinising the reports in the three groups (energy access, renewable energy and energy efficiency), participants identified several gaps. Ekpenyong promised that all gaps identified have been addressed by the consultant.

The workshop was attended by civil society groups, government officials from parastatals and agencies, as well as media and academia.

By Kayode Aboyeji

Projects completion, initiation mark Gov Fayemi’s two years in office

Michael Simire
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A spate of development initiatives were brought to the fore last week as Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State marked his second year in office.

Gov Fayemi

While numerous projects scattered far and wide within the state were formally completed, several others were likewise officially initiated.

In what seemed like a busy week that commenced on Tuesday – and even continues today and ends tomorrow – the governor was on the road, personally commissioning completed projects and laying the foundation for fresh ones. The programme had “Reclaiming the trust: Delivering the promise” as its theme.

The projects on focus spanned road construction and rehabilitation, renovation of schools and construction of new ones, development of fresh institutional buildings, electricity/power, as well as water and tourism facilities.

For instance, a collection of novel schemes supposedly designed to advance development and leave a lasting legacy in the state – tagged “Legacy Projects” – were officially flagged-off on Tuesday. They are all located within Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, and include Data Centre, Government House, Governor’s Office, Civic Centre, State Pavilion, the Samsung Engineering Academy and Oluyemi Kayode Stadium.

On completion of the new Governor’s Office, the present facility in use for that purpose – originally designed as a hotel – will revert to that use.

Ijan-Ilupeju Rural Electrification project

On Wednesday, the focus was on Ekiti South Senatorial District, where the Grand Tower Mall will be built and in respect of which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed. Other projects were: foundation laying for Omuo-Oke, Omuo-Oke Grammar School, foundation laying of Life Academy Foundation (Iluomoba), Enterprise Development Centre (Aisegba), Ilupeju-Ijan Electricity Project, Ijaloke Grammar School (Emure) and Science Laboratory at Obada High School.

Indeed, Dr Fayemi on Thursday commissioned 10 major roads totalling 103 km, in an apparent fulfilment of the resolve of his administration to make all the communities in the state accessible by motorable roads by 2014.

Efon-Alaaye Water Treatment Plant

The governor also commissioned five water treatment plants as part of people-oriented projects.

The 10 roads which are located in Ekiti Central Senatorial District include: 14.3 km Erijinyan-Ilawe Road, 12km Odo Owa- Oke Ila Road, 6.25km Awo-Iyin Road, 24km Ikogosi-Efon Road, 11.5km Ado- Ilawe  Road, and 5km Fajuyi-Basiri-Police Headquarters Road.

Others are 1.65km Fajuyi-Teaching Hospital Road, 10.75km Ado-Afao Road, 2km Ijigbo-Isato Road and 13km Osun-Iloro Road.

Okemesi Water Treatment Plant

Commissioning the various roads, Fayemi said the construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the roads became necessary following their deplorable condition which had given “motorists nightmarish experiences traversing the roads”.

According to the governor, the government decided to award the roads, especially those leading to Ado Ekiti in November 2011in order to ameliorate the sufferings of motorists and also to give the State capital a face-lift even as Fajuyi-Teaching Hospital Road was planned to link the on-going Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki Road with Fajuyi Park.

He added that government is rehabilitating 16 other roads within the township to make Ado-Ekiti an enviable state capital.

While commissioning the Ado-Afao Road, the Governor said the rehabilitation of the road would be a great relief to motorists using the road especially, those going towards Ikole and the northern part as it is a shorter link than the Ado-Ifaki Road.

Fayemi, who noted that the road was constructed by Ayo Fayose in 2005, added that the road did not last and became a hideout for miscreants.

He stated that the rehabilitation would enhance the economic activities of the residents along the road.

The five water treatment plants and reservoir commissioned are located at Ipole Iloro, Efon, Ido Ile, Okemesi and Mary Hill Ado Ekiti.

Fayemi said the water projects are to achieve the target of his administration to provide potable water to at least 80 percent of the state population by 2014.

He said concerted efforts are being put in place to ensure that all the four dams in the State become functional as a bulk of the 2013 budget will be expended on water.

Meanwhile a new dawn is now experienced by the people of Odo Uro, a communtiy in Iyin Ekiti, as the governor commissioned a rural electrification project for the community.

The scope of work done involved about 0.1km Inter Town Connection (ITC), 1.8km Township Distribution Network (TDN), a 300KVA transformer and street lighting.

Fayemi, who commissioned the project, said government realises the importance of electricity supply to the economic and social development of rural communities hence the prime place of Infrastructural Development in the administration’s Eight-Point Agenda.

A health centre at Ido Ile and a Skills Acquisition Centre at Iropora Ekiti which were carried out under the State Community and Social Development Agency were commissioned.

Speaking on Fayemi’s achievements, the Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji, commended the governor and urged him not to be discouraged by criticisms but should see such as a “tonic” that would spur him to work more for the development of the state.

The traditional ruler lauded Fayemi for the rapid and evenly distributed dividends of democracy that has got to virtually all communities in the state, saying that the gesture is unprecedented.

West African govts cautioned against impacts of mining

Michael Simire
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Mr Salif Lamoussa Kabore, Burkina Faso’s Minister for Mining, Quarries and Energy, has called for effective regulation of mining activities in the West African Sub-region to prevent environmental degradation.

Miners

He said although mining contributed to the socio-economic development of countries in the sub-region, “it does not come without environmental impact for our nations”.

Mr Kabore noted that the rate, at which mining was being operated in West Africa recently, ‘’leaves much to be desired due to governments’ quest to open up private investment.’’

He said notwithstanding the fact that mining contributes to foreign exchange earner for some countries; it has to be operated not at the expense of the environment and people.

The Minister said this in a speech read on his behalf by the Technical Advisor, Mr Bassirou Ouedraogo at a five-day regional workshop to build the capacity of the Media on mining issues, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, recently.

The event that was held on the theme: “Mining and the Protection of the Environment and Natural Resources in West Africa”,  attracted 30 journalists from West African countries such as Ghana, Benin, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Mali, Niger, Guinea, Senegal and Burkina Faso, and another participant from Cameroun, and Bukinabe Parliamentarians.

It was jointly organised by The Global Water Partnership (GWP),  West Africa, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN-PACO) of the West and Central Africa regions.

Mr Kabore said: ‘’we do not have to sit down unconcerned, till we start having acid rains from pollutants or downstream water becomes so contaminated and cannot be used for domestic, agricultural or industrial activities.

He called on governments, media and other stakeholders to raise the awareness of decision makers and the people on the need to preserve the environment and to promote the process of mitigating the impact of the exploitation of minerals.

The Minister lamented that mining, including illegal mining, resulted in water pollution, deforestation, and acid rain.

The chairman for GWP, West Africa, Mr Hama Arba Diallo, noted that the Media and Parliament were important institutions for information sharing for development.

He said the workshop was aimed at giving the chance to  the countries to create awareness on consequences of the mining.

“Open, artisanal or illegal mining is being done at great cost to countries and the issue must be looked at critically because it is done in a disorganized way,” Mr Diallo said.

Dr Aime Yameogo, official of IUCN-PACO, said the institution was working to help find pragmatic solutions to environment and development challenges.

He said:  ‘’the dilemma of countries to preserve natural resources and the need for exploitation of these resources for foreign exchange has affected many countries, and there is the need for decision makers to do their best in the interest of the people they serve.’’

By Dzifa Azumah

LAWMA, CCDI initiate Yaba LGA recycling bank

Michael Simire
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Moves to activate the waste recycling bank given to the Yaba Local Government Council by the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) have commenced, courtesy of a recent brainstorming session organised by the Community Conservation and Development Initiatives (CCDI). Yaba is said to be only the second LGA, after Amuwo Odofin, to have such a facility.

Yaba LGA Chairman, Olajide Jimoh

The CCDI has been working with Yaba LGA on the “Mobilising Local Government for Climate Action” project, which also involves two other local governments and is being supported by the Heinrich Boll Foundation. The main objective of the project, according to Kofo Adeleke, CCDI’s Director of Programmes, is to create awareness, build capacity and develop common participatory positions on climate change within local governments and their communities.

For Yaba LGA, one of the priority areas for action was waste management, she pointed out in a press statement, adding that CCDI contacted LAWMA and an agreement was made to place a waste separation bank for recycling in the Yaba LGA secretariat, which in turn gave its commitment to use it properly and cooperate with LAWMA.

The handover ceremony involved introductory remarks by Adeleke, who gave the background to the partnership between CCDI, Yaba LGA and LAWMA. Yaba LGA Chairman, Olajide Jimoh, gave the welcome address.

Tolulope Adeyo, the recycling manager at LAWMA, stated the purpose of the waste bank and the importance and benefits of recycling waste and how the local government health officers would work with LAWMA to manage the bank.

Olumide Thompson of Midori Environmental solutions provided a practical demonstration of a small scale, locally fabricated, hand-operated briquetting machine, which turns sawdust and other waste residue in to briquettes suitable for fuel. Teni Majekodunmi, Executive Director of EcoXchange, spoke about funding opportunities for recycling.

Jimoh thanked LAWMA and CCDI for their assistance in bringing these initiatives to the local government and said that all members of staff must start separating waste and directed that they should all start immediately by bringing plastic bottles to the waste bank. He also expressed a desire to establish a small briquette making industry for youths within the community.

Federal Govt votes N17.6b to states, agencies for flood

Michael Simire
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Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Jonathan, has allocated the sum of N17.6 billion to states and agencies to cushion the effect of floods in many parts of the country.

Jonathan

The breakdown of the figure shows that N13.3 billion goes to the affected states, while agencies involved in tackling the disaster will receive N4.3 billion.

The president made the announcement on Tuesday morning in a national broadcast on the state of the nation.

He also raised a committee on flood relief and rehabilitation headed by Business mogul, Aliko Dangote and former president of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA Olisa Agbakoba.

The National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation has Dr. Mike Adenuga, another business mogul as the chief fund mobiliser.

The committee has one year to conclude its tasks among which is to raise funds in support of government’s efforts to provide urgent relief for victims of floods across the country.

The affected states were categorised into four groups based on the present assessment.

Category A states will receive N500 million each, while states in category B and C will get N400 million and N300 million respectively.

The government splashed N250 million each on states in category D.

States in the A Category are – Oyo, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Adamawa, Delta, Bayelsa and Anambra.

While Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Taraba, Cross River, Edo, Lagos and Imo are pooled in category B.

Kwara, Katsina, Gombe, Ogun, Ondo, Ebonyi, Abia and Rivers are the states in category C.

The category D comprised Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Yobe, Enugu, Ekiti, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Borno and the Federal Capital Territory.

The committee which is also expected to advise government on the judicious utilization of funds raised has been authorized by President Jonathan to co-opt any other persons or organizations that it may find useful in carrying out its assignment.

The committee members are expected to operate from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Flood: Fears of famine as East-West highway is threatened

Michael Simire
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The Delta State Government has expressed fears that, following the extensive flooding being experienced in the state, famine is looming, and that the East may be cut off from the rest of the country.

A flooded community

The over two weeks of ravaging flood in the state, besides claiming the lives of a traditional ruler as well as over 10 others, has submerged houses, markets, hospitals, banks and other facilities.

The flood, which has inundated over 100 houses, is also threatening to take over the busy Onitsha-Asaba-Benin Expressway at the River Niger bridge end at Asaba, and cutting the Eastern part of the country from the rest of Nigeria.

Deputy Governor, Professor Amos Utuama, disclosed that the worst is yet to come, saying that the fact that the month of River Niger is in Asaba confirms the notion that the calamity would be more than this since all the water in the northern part of the country finds its way to Delta.

He stated that despite the fact that more camps are being created to accommodate the over 10,000 displaced people, the naval base in Delta has been contacted to rescue people trapped in the flood, just as he said clinics have been opened in the camps to treat people with river borne diseases contacted through contaminated water.

Delta State Commissioner of Information, Chike Ogeah, while inspecting the extent of damage caused by the flood, said the Asaba-Onitsha Road could suffer the fate of the Lokoja-Abuja Road (which was submerged) if the government does not urgently do something.

He said the disaster is overwhelming, considering the number of the displaced persons, even as he pleaded with the Federal Government to immediately put machinery in motion to arrest the trend, warning that the East will be cut off from other parts of the country as a result of the rising water level.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Misan Ikubehinje, emphatically said famine is imminent considering the damage done to farmlands, livestock and all aquatic lives, saying most affected are farmers who have farms that link the tributaries of River Niger.

According to him, most hardly hit are the fish, crop and pig farmers who have lost their fishes, an indication that there could be shortage of food. He expressed regret that 90 per cent of the farmers did not insure their farms and farm yield, “an indication that that have lost everything to the disaster.”

Meanwhile, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has directed the heads of the flooded Local Government Areas of the state to drive the efforts to evacuate victims of the current flooding in the state within two days.

Uduaghan, who directed all political appointees to return to their LGAs to assist in the evacuation and rehabilitation efforts during a meeting with members of the flood disaster committee, political appointees and Heads of Personnel Management (HPM) of the affected local government areas, said those trapped by the flood must be evacuated within two day.

In particular, he said a comprehensive report of the flooding detailing every community affected, number of displaced persons, those trapped, casualties, rehabilitation camps, problems and challenges faced should be ready within the same period. He noted that the welfare of the displaced persons was paramount to the state government, stressing that his
administration was putting everything in place to make the rehabilitation camps conducive.

“We are asking for assistance from other organisations and groups because everybody needs to be involved whether they are from the affected areas or not., So far, I have refused financial assistance from people, if any group or person has money to help the displaced people, they should convert it to tangible goods,” he said.

A victim, Chief Patrick Onyeobi, who is former Secretary to the State Government in the old Bendel State, lamented the flood that has sacked his family from his house in Asaba, saying the flood is like a warzone and that if the water does not recede Asaba would be cut off.

Corroborating Onyeobi, Okocha Paul, President, Ewulu Progressive Union (EPU), said the water covered his house just as he said his children are living on the tree for the past three days while the rest of his family are stranded in an unknown place.

In a related development, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has inaugurated a State Emergency Response Flood Management Committee to co-ordinate immediate evacuation of flood victims and provide relief materials in the eight LGAs of the state.

The committee is headed by Deputy Governor, John Jonah, while Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Edmund Allison-Oguru, would serve as Secretary.

Membership of the committee comprises over 20 officials including special advisers, government special representatives of LGAs, representative of Commissioner of Police, Special Adviser on Security, House of Assembly Committee chairman on Environment and Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Yenagoa.

Chairmen of LGAs would serve as chairmen of their respective Local Flood Relief Sub-Committees as well as Commandants of camps. The Committee is also saddled with the responsibility of evacuating victims of all the flood ravaged communities to relief camps to be built on high land locations.

Dickson charged the committee to interface with all relevant agencies of government and other international relief agencies to provide succour for all victims in the camps and work out a post-flood relief and possible mitigation measures to forestall adverse effects on the state’s economy.

According to the governor, government had designated the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa as camp for people displaced by the flood.

Save 80 stove: Curbing desertification, carbon emission

Michael Simire
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There is no doubt that the entire world and indeed Nigeria has started feeling the impact of the much talked about climate change. The current devastating flooding which has ravaged almost every part of the country is a clear indication that climate change is real. On a daily basis in recent weeks, it has been tales of flood ravaging one community or the other, washing away houses, farmlands, crops , animals and human beings  just as hundreds of thousands of people have been rendered homeless. With this ugly development, nobody needs to be told that climate change is real

Yahaya Ahmed with the Save 80 stove

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Another environment issue that has not received serious attention from our policy makers is the matter concerning clean energy and environment degradation. For some time now, the issue of clean energy is being discussed at various levels of governance and privately but the unfortunate thing is the fact that the policy makers appeared not to have really understood what the issue is all about. And if they understand, it seems that they may not be interested in it. Be it as it may, our government at all levels, especially in the Northern part of Nigeria, should wake up from slumber and confront the issue of clean energy in the region head-on.

It is no exaggeration to say that the entire land in the far North is being taken over by desertification. From Maiduguri to Yobe, Jigawa to Kano, Katsina to Zamfara, Sokoto to Birnin Kebbi and now to parts of Kaduna and Niger states, desertification is gradually enveloping the land. In addition to this natural disaster, due to non-availability or high cost of energy for domestic use, trees are being felled for firewood for domestic cooking as alternative energy. Where kerosene is available, the rural dwellers may not be able to afford the price just as the cost of cooking gas is out of the reach of the masses.

It was against this backdrop that the management of Developmental Association of Renewable Energy (DARE), a Kaduna-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), has embarked on an aggressive sensitisation and enlightenment of the rural populace on the use of the Save 80 Fuel Wood Stove that conserves the use of firewood. In fact, over 80 percent of rural populace in the Northern part of Nigeria use firewood as alternative source of energy. No wonder, therefore, that the incident of tree felling is more pronounced in the North despite the fact that desertification is threatening the region.

Chief Executive Officer of DARE, Yahaya Ahmed, who spoke recently to some members of African Adaptation Programme (AAP) Nigeria Media Network during a visit to DARE facilities (as part of the Network’s tour of the nation’s approved Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project sites) in Kaduna, said Nigeria has abundant clean energy that could serve the entire nation for both domestic and industrial use.

The Save 80 Fuel Stove is one of the five approved Nigerian CDM projects by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Others include: Recovery of Associated Gas (that would otherwise be flared) at the Kwale Oil-Gas Processing Plant, owned by AGIP; Pan Ocean Gas Utilisation Project in Ovade-Ogharafe; Asuokpu-Umutu Marginal Field Gas Recovery Facility, owned by Platform Petroleum; and, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Composting Project in Ikorodu, Lagos State, registered December 2010 and owned by EarthCare Nigeria Limited.

Ahmed said: “What the nation needs is to key into the new technology and our energy problem will be a thing of the past. In fact, the cost of kerosene to cook for a family is too high that the people cannot afford and that is why we came out with the cook stove which  we call ‘Save 80’. The ‘Save 80,’ in a nutshell, saves 80 percent of the firewood normally used on the traditional stove. Apart from the fact that using ‘Save 80’ cook stove saves money, saves the environment health wise, the smoke that comes out of this stove is very little; unlike the traditional firewood smoke which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised alarm over its devastating effect on women.”

According to him, this year, DARE has registered the pilot scheme and, after verification by United Nations auditors, “we have registered for another big project for the whole of Nigeria because the first pilot project was successful. At the end of this project, emission reduction will be very high because, in the small scale project, we are supposed to save 30,000 tons per annum for using 12,500 stoves while in the new project which we are thinking of producing a minimum of 100,000 stoves, we are expected to save over 1,120,000 tons of emission reduction per annum if the entire project takes off.”

Obviously, the efforts of DARE in the provision of alternative energy can only be appreciated when one visits the CDM project site. Key players in the power sector can take advantage of the revolution taking place at DARE with a view to ensuring development in the sector especially in terms of energy efficiency towards the protection of the environment.

The notion is that if the Nigerian government can collaborate with the organisation, the country would be able, to a considerable extent, address its energy-related challenges. Again, if the country is to achieve the desired goal of being among the first 20 economies in the world by the year 2020 (20:2020), the leaders have to be seriously thinking towards collaborating with groups that have the technology and manpower to realise this goal. It is not an exaggeration to say that the current energy crisis in Nigeria today is lamentable.

Conducting the environment reporters round the project site, Ahmed described efforts being made by his organisation towards taking clean energy to the grassroots. Apart from sensitising the rural populace on the advantages in using the Save 80 stoves, prices of the products, he disclosed, are heavily subsidised just as they (the stoves) are of a variety which can be purchased at affordable price.

According to industry experts, Nigeria needs more environment-friendly source of energy to curb pollution and land degradation by embracing modern technology that enables the reduction of carbon emission into the atmosphere.

By Thomas Adejo

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