25.2 C
Lagos
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Home Blog Page 223

GMOs not safe for Nigerians, CAC ambassador tells NASS

Michael Simire
-
0
GMOs not safe for Nigerians, CAC ambassador tells NASS

A renowned brand manager and ambassador for the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Mr. Michael Nwabufo, has urged the National Assembly to take a decision against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) foods in Nigeria.

GMOs rally
The GMO rally in Lagos

There have been controversies around the health safety of GMO plants, being propagated by Bill Gates, the American businessman and philanthropist best known for his roles at Microsoft Corporation.

Nwabufo, popularly known as Mike Premium, made the call when he appeared before the House of Representatives on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, over a video production on the danger of GMO foods.

He urged the National Assembly to act decisively to protect Nigerian people and preserve the nation’s sovereignty.

“I stand here today as a patriot and a servant of the people, committed to building a healthier and more self-reliant Nigeria.

“I believe in the resilience of this National Assembly to make decisions that prioritise the welfare of Nigerians.

“I am glad that the House of Representatives are standing by us to kick against Genetically Modified Organism called GMO foods,” Nwabufo said.

He urged the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, to rescind his support for GMO foods in the country.

According to him, the minister cannot take decision of such magnitude that bothers on Nigerians’ wellbeing without recourse to the people and their representatives in the parliaments.

Nwabufo called on the minister to engage in thorough scientific and evidence-based researches in certified laboratories to check the safety of GMO foods in Nigeria, before giving in to the proponents and defending plants.

According to him, some farmers have been brainwashed in Nigeria about GMO seeds.

He said that such people and farmers in their defence of GMO seeds, were saying: “It is better to eat GMO foods and die than not to see food to eat”.

Nwabufo said a lot of Nigerians seemed to be in the dark when it comes to food security.

He added: “Whoever controls our food controls our life forget every other thing and focus. This danger is looming!

“I believe the NASS knows what to do with the information we have brought, I believe in your capacity to end this.

“I want to hit the nail on the head, I believe none us wants to die young.

“With the threat of Genetically Modified Organisms, without any form of contradictions, Bill Gates and his foundation have invested heavily in our agriculture and healthcare sectors, introducing GMOs to Nigeria.”

According to him, for example “Tella maize” created in laboratories, have been banned in several countries, including Russia, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia, and some parts of the UK, such as Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

He said that some of these nations had taken such steps due to some concerns.

Nwabufo said that such concerns included the fact that “if you plant these seeds in our soil, you won’t be able to replant them again but depend on Bill Gates to always supply nations with his lab-made seeds instead of the one created by God.”

Nwabufo, who noted that GMOs had health risks and environmental impact, among others, urged the NASS to assess and regulate them through conducting thorough research and risk assessments before approving their widespread use in Nigeria.

He called for promotion of transparency in healthcare, investment in local solutions and safeguard of the nation’s biodiversity.

“There are potential dangers to human health, including reduced lifespan and vulnerability to diseases.

“GMOs can harm ecosystems, disrupt biodiversity, and threaten traditional farming practices because their long-term safety remains unproven.

“There is the need to ensure that all healthcare interventions are subjected to rigorous safety checks.

“We must support the development of indigenous agricultural and medicinal practices to reduce reliance on foreign entities.

“We must protect Nigeria’s rich agricultural heritage and natural ecosystems.

“Indigenous crops, which are a critical part of our heritage, are at risk of being overshadowed by lab-engineered alternatives,” Nwabufo said.

According to him, in countries like India and even parts of America, there have been reports linking GMO usage to harmful effects on both people and the environment.

“Bill Gates is a billionaire in dollars, why does he think he can make more money investing in a country like Nigeria at this time if he does not have ulterior motive?

“He has spend millions of dollars pushing this agenda I personal tag population control,” Nwabufo said.

Expressing concerns about Bill Gates interventions in Nigeria’s healthcare, the CAC ambassador said that the nation must critically examine the foundation’s involvement.

He said: “There have been cases where vaccines, such as the polio vaccine, caused unintended harm instead of saving lives.

“While modern medicine has its place, we must ensure transparency and safety in any foreign interventions.

“Our ancestors lived long, healthy lives relying on natural remedies, herbs, and clean water.

“I am not advocating for a complete rejection of modern science, but I believe in preserving and modernising our traditional practices to build a sustainable and healthy future for Nigeria.”

By Mercy Omoike

Africa’s progress on SDGs faces mounting challenges – ASDR report

Michael Simire
-
0
Africa’s progress on SDGs faces mounting challenges – ASDR report

The African Sustainable Development Report (ASDR) 2024 restates that progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063 has continued to mount challenges.

SDGs
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The ASDR 2024 report was unveiled on the sideline of the African Economic Conference in Gaborone, Botswana.

The report was jointly produced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the African Union.

The report was presented by Dr Oyebanke Abejirin, Officer-in-Charge, Development Planning, Macroeconomics Finance and Governance Division of ECA.

Abejirin quoted the report as saying that less than six per cent of the 32 measurable SDG targets are on track for achievement by 2030.

“Amid economic headwinds like high debt burdens, inflation, and limited financing, the report underscores an urgent need for accelerated action to address poverty, hunger, climate change, governance, and partnerships.

“The ASDR 2024 provides a comprehensive analysis of Africa’s progress using the latest available data, albeit with notable limitations due to data lags.

“The report examines SDGs and Agenda 2063 goals through regional lenses and aligns its thematic focus with the annual high-level political forum themes.

“This year, the focus is on SDG 1 (poverty), SDG 2 (hunger), SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 16 (peace and justice), and SDG 17 (partnerships),’’ she said.

She said the report findings indicated that Africa was regressing on key indicators as poverty remained a significant challenge, with over 55 million Africans pushed into poverty in 2020 alone.

Abejirin said more than half of the global poor now reside in Africa, and extreme child poverty was alarmingly high, with seven out of ten of the world’s poorest children living on the continent.

According to her, employment, often seen as a remedy for poverty, offers little reprieve as one in three employed Africans remains poor, compared to a global average of 6.38 per cent.

“Food insecurity and hunger have worsened post-COVID-19, with 61 million additional people facing undernourishment and 60 per cent of Africa’s population experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity.

“The cost of healthy diets has risen significantly, compounding the crisis. Climate change presents a mixed picture.

“Africa’s per capita emissions remain low at one ton versus a global average of 4.7 tons, yet the continent bears significant impacts from climate events,’’ she said.

The AfDB stated that climate finance had remained woefully inadequate, covering just 11 per cent of the 277 billion dollars needed annually to address the crisis.

Abejirin said while African nations have made strides in signing strategic frameworks like the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, implementation remains inconsistent.

She said: “Governance challenges persist, with corruption and illicit financial flows siphoning 88.6 billion dollars annually.

“Reports of bribery have surged, and conflict-related deaths, although reduced by 86 per cent, are overshadowed by an increase in the number of conflicts across the continent.

“On a positive note, female representation in African parliaments has grown, surpassing Agenda 2063 targets. Partnerships for development face significant hurdles,’’ she said.

The AfDB official stated that official development assistance (ODA) had remained below the 0.7 per cent target, and foreign direct investment, though rebounding to 83 billion dollars in 2021, lagged behind its 2014 peak.

According to her, debt distress has also weighed heavily on African economies, complicating development efforts.

Abejirin said the ASDR’s policy recommendations included scaling concessionary financing, integrating SDG and Agenda 2063 goals into national plans, strengthening agricultural infrastructure, and leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“These strategies, if implemented, can help reverse negative trends and place Africa on a more sustainable trajectory,” she said.

Abejirin said the ASDR 2024 serves as both a wake-up call and a roadmap for African nations and their development partners to accelerate progress amid growing challenges.

By Lucy Ogalue

Wars, extreme weather conditions displace 35m people in Africa – Report

Michael Simire
-
0
Wars, extreme weather conditions displace 35m people in Africa – Report

Wars and extreme weather conditions have driven up the number of people in Africa who are fleeing within their own country.

WHO IDP camp
Internally Displaced Persons queuing up for water at Muna IDPs camp. Photo credit: WHO/CE.Onuekwe

A report by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), published in Geneva on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, says around 35 million Africans are living as refugees and displaced people within their own countries as of 2023.

The number of internally displaced people has tripled within 15 years, according to the report.

Almost half of all internally displaced people worldwide live on the African continent.

Most of them, or 32.5 million people, have fled from violence and armed conflicts.

Five countries – Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Somalia – accommodate 80 per cent of the refugees and displaced people.

Many of these people are forced to flee over a longer period or multiple times.

However, extreme weather conditions such as droughts and floods are increasingly becoming causes of flight.

According to the report, the number of internally displaced people rose from 1.1 million in 2009 to 6.3 million at the end of last year.

Since more extreme weather events are expected as a result of climate change, the number of people fleeing from natural disasters is likely to continue to rise.

In some countries, such as Somalia and Sudan, the causes of flight also overlap, with people first fleeing from conflict, and later from flooding, for example. 

Water, Power ministries sign MoU on $500m irrigation, hydropower project

Michael Simire
-
0
Water, Power ministries sign MoU on $500m irrigation, hydropower project

The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, and the Ministry of Power have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project.

MoU
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev (right), signing the MoU with Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, in Abuja on Tuesday

The $500 million World Bank SPIN project aims to enhance dam safety and improve water resource management for hydropower and irrigation across 25 states.

At the signing ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said that the joint effort reflects the synergy required to implement transformational projects.

Utsev stated that the ministry’s mandate includes boosting food production, creating jobs for women and youth, and strengthening Nigeria’s economy.

“Today’s occasion marks another step towards achieving these goals and repositioning the country,” he stated.

He said that the initiative, approved by President BolaTinubu, reflected the administration’s commitment to inter-ministerial collaboration for delivering democratic dividends to Nigerians.

Utsev also acknowledged the ongoing support of the World Bank, describing it as a trusted partner in Nigeria’s development journey.

He cited initiatives like the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project, concluding in January 2025, as foundations for innovative solutions in water and agriculture.

“We are confident that the SPIN project will build on this legacy by boosting food production and meeting the irrigation needs of our growing population,” he added.

As Chairman of the SPIN Preparatory Team, Utsev assured stakeholders of the ministries’ and partners’ full commitment to the successful implementation of the project.

“Our collective efforts have brought us to this significant moment, and I am confident that SPIN will deliver the tangible benefits Nigerians are eagerly anticipating,” he said.

Earlier, the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, noted the importance of the partnership in achieving sustainable hydropower development and enhancing energy security across Nigeria.

He noted that while Nigeria is rich in water resources across its river basins, only about 2 per cent of the country’s estimated 14 gigawatts of hydropower potential has been harnessed.

“The signing of this MoU is a key step in ensuring Nigeria’s energy future is powered by clean, renewable sources, in line with the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan.

“We aim to optimise our natural resources, diversify our energy mix, and tackle climate change,” Adelabu said.

He emphasised that fully exploiting this potential could transform Nigeria’s energy landscape and providing sustainable power for millions.

He said under Tinubu’s leadership, the administration has committed to addressing energy challenges by prioritising energy’s vital role in economic growth and job creation.

“As part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, the government has introduced several legislative and policy measures, including the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralises the electricity market and allows subnational governments to participate.”

Adelabu also stressed the role of distributed energy systems in enhancing reliability.

“Decentralised power generation enables local governments and private investors to develop embedded energy systems, reducing risks to national grid infrastructure.

“This, alongside our renewable energy potential, especially in solar and hydropower, forms the foundation of our sustainable energy strategy.”

He pointed out that Nigeria’s northern states, with eight to 12 hours of sunshine daily, offer opportunities for solar power, while hydropower remains key to the energy mix.

Adelabu reaffirmed that harnessing hydropower potential and fostering partnerships would ensure a reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy future for Nigeria.

Twenty-five states have shown interest in SPIN project, and they include Benue, Katsina, Akwa Ibom, Niger, Gombe, Sokoto, Enugu, Bauchi, Cross River, and Nasarawa.

Others are Ekiti, Kebbi, Plateau, Ebonyi, Zamfara, Abia, Kwara, Imo, Taraba, Kano, Delta, Osun, Jigawa, Edo, and Kogi.

By Tosin Kolade

Nnimmo Bassey: Recovering our taste buds

Michael Simire
-
0
Nnimmo Bassey: Recovering our taste buds

Welcome words by Nnimmo Bassey at HOMEF’s Food Festival held in Benin City on Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Food plays a critical role in the life of any community or nation. Food is at the centre of our cultures. Agricultural and food systems generate songs, dances, drama and other art forms that moderate the pulse of any community. Agricultural and food systems drive economies, identities and spirituality.

Nnimmo Bassey
Nnimmo Bassey

Centre of origin of certain crop varieties simply highlight locations where Nature places those particular crops, for instance. Such crops are climate smart through years of adaptation to those locations. The foods they yield are prepared in particular ways based on the social realities and the preferences of the people. The mode of preparation and presentation are markets of cultural identities tied to the taste buds of the people.

There has been a distancing of our people from our cultural foods. We lost our taste buds to colonialism which promoted cash cropping and plantation agriculture rather than the mixed cropping that assured our forebears of nutritious mix of foods. Today we have a massive assault on African food by reckless introduction of genetically modified foods, some of which are best known as pesticides.

These crops do not only kill our soils and biodiversity, but they also directly assault our food systems and taste buds. That is why some agents of toxic foods can openly declare that “it is better to eat and die, than to not eat and die.” Such talks are declarations of intent to poison Nigerians without any compunction. As we always say, what we eat must not eat us!

Our food is Nigerian, is African, campaign aims to take us back to the place of recovering our taste buds. It is a call to celebrate our culture and to appreciate the bounties of Nature in our localities. Most communities are known for certain foods. Same with nations. Where the foods cross borders there can be fierce competition over who cooks it best, like the legendary competition between Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal over who cooks the best jollof rice.

When we speak of amala, a Nigerian can easily identify which is the region of origin. Same when ofe nsala is mentioned. The same happens when one speaks of tuwo, starch or afang or edikang ikong. When you speak of akara, suya or bole, you are speaking of foods and snacks that have literally diffused into all cultures in Nigeria.

The liberation of our taste buds from artificial and sometimes toxic foods is a push for recovery of our health and economies. African foods directly connect consumers to producers. We share seeds, have festivals linked to farming, fishing and hunting. Our foods are best enjoyed when shared. Food is at the centre of families and communities. A family that eats together lives happily together.

Take out foods and you’ve taken the best part of us.

Bring back our foods. Celebrate our food. Recover our stories. Rebuild our communities. Awake our taste buds! Let’s go.

Bassey is Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF)

Tinubu celebrates P/Harcourt refinery revival, directs NNPC to reactivate Warri, Kaduna refineries

Michael Simire
-
0
Tinubu celebrates P/Harcourt refinery revival, directs NNPC to reactivate Warri, Kaduna refineries

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on the successful revitalisation of the Port Harcourt refinery, marked by the official commencement of petroleum product loading on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

President Bola Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria

The disclosure was made by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, in a statement on Tuesday.

He disclosed that the President acknowledges the pivotal role of former President Muhammadu Buhari in initiating the comprehensive rehabilitation of all our refineries and expresses gratitude to the African Export-Import Bank for its confidence in financing this critical project.

Onanuga stated that President Tinubu commends the leadership of NNPC Limited’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mele Kyari, “whose unwavering dedication and commitment were instrumental in overcoming challenges to achieve this milestone”.

According to Onanuga, with the successful revival of the Port Harcourt refinery, President Tinubu urges NNPC Limited to expedite the scheduled reactivation of both the second Port Harcourt refinery and the Warri and Kaduna refineries. 

These efforts, the President said, would significantly enhance domestic production capacity alongside the contributions of privately-owned refineries and “make our country a major energy hub, with the gas sector also enjoying unprecedented attention by the administration”. 

The President underscores his administration’s determination to repair the nation’s refineries, aiming to eradicate the disheartening perception of Nigeria as a major crude oil producer that lacks the ability to refine its own resources for domestic consumption.

Highlighting the values of patience, integrity, and accountability in the rebuilding of the nation’s infrastructure, President Tinubu calls upon individuals, institutions, and citizens entrusted with responsibilities to maintain focus and uphold trust in their service to the nation.

In alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda focused on shared economic prosperity for all, the President reaffirms his administration’s commitment to achieving energy sufficiency, enhancing energy security, and boosting export capacity for Nigeria.

COP29: AIM for Climate Innovation Sprints in Nigeria direct investments in climate-smart agriculture

Michael Simire
-
0
COP29: AIM for Climate Innovation Sprints in Nigeria direct investments in climate-smart agriculture

The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), said to be the largest global coalition at the intersection of food security and climate change, spearheaded by the United Arab Emirates and the United States, on Monday, November 18, 2024, announced nearly double the investments, partners, and Innovation Sprints in transformative climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation.

AIM for Climate
AIM for Climate COP29 event at U.S. Centre

The announcements were made at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan under the theme “In Solidarity for a Green World.”

AIM for Climate partners turn ambition into action, driving climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation to tackle the climate crisis, build resilience, and deliver co-benefits for people and the planet.

Building on a record year at COP28, investments have surged from $17 billion to an unprecedented $29.2 billion, over a 2020 baseline. The addition of 52 new Innovation Sprints, bringing the total to 129, further underscores AIM for Climate’s transformative impact. With AIM for Climate expanding from 600 to over 800 partners worldwide, the initiative reflects the urgency and strength of its mission.

The investment increase comprises $16.7 billion from 56 Government Partners including Nigeria and $12.5 billion from the accelerated investments of 129 Innovation Sprint Partners, driving change in climate-smart agriculture and food systems. The growing number of high-impact, private-sector, and public-private partnership-led projects deliver solutions to today’s climate and food challenges.

Aligned with COP 29’s priorities of climate finance, emission reduction, and developing adaptive solutions for climate-related loss and damage, these initiatives focus on one or more of AIM for Climate’s focal areas: Smallholder Farmers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries; Emerging Technologies; Agroecological Research; and Methane Reduction.

AIM for Climate’s impact in Nigeria is substantial, with increased investments being directed toward climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation through new Innovation Sprints active in the region. These investments demonstrate AIM for Climate’s commitment to supporting climate resilience and food security in Nigeria and beyond.

Nasarawa Assembly set to identify, reprimand erring mining companies

Michael Simire
-
0
Nasarawa Assembly set to identify, reprimand erring mining companies

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly is set to conduct a fact-finding visit to Abuni and Uke districts in Awe and Karu Local Government Areas respectively after receiving a petition jointly signed by the Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) and the Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF) detailing the state of the mining communities in the two local governments.

Nasarawa
Philip Jakpor (left) engaging Adamu Omadefu during the meetin

In the petition dated October 3, 2024, the groups are calling for a comprehensive environmental audit of Abuni and Uke districts and their source of water, revocation of the mining license of any company found wanting, and need for scrutiny of the agreements reached between the mining firms and traditional rulers in the communities, among others.

The plans to carry out the fact-finding visit was disclosed by the Chair of the Environment Committee, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Adamu Omadefu, in a meeting in Abuja on Sunday, November 24, with civil society and newsmen where he vowed that despoilers of the environment in the state would not go scot-free.

Omadefu revealed that the committee on the environment which he heads has written already to the State Ministry of Environment to furnish it with a comprehensive list of the mining firms operating in Nasarawa as the starting point of investigation.

While commending the lawmaker for taking the bull by the horn by his decision to lead the fact-finding visit, Executive Director of RDI, Philip Jakpor, said that the developments in the mining communities in Nasarawa State are frightening as the environment and water sources have been adversely affected by indiscriminate extraction.

Jakpor drew the attention of the lawmaker to Abuni where locals complained that the mining firm operating there channeled its wastewater into the Rafin Jaki River that the locals depend on for consumption and other domestic use.

He opined that the situation in the mining communities in Nasarawa is a ticking time bomb which will explode soon except something urgent and meaningful is done about the situation, going further to state that the oil curse in the Niger Delta is being replicated in sordid form through solid minerals extraction in the north.

EDEN Executive Director, Barrister Chima Williams, commended the lawmaker for his passion to nip the situation in the bud, maintaining that only someone who loves the people and believes in them can take up the challenge of addressing their concerns.

Williams reiterated that the civil society community in Nigeria is not against foreign or local investments that make life meaningful for host communities, even as he stressed that such investments must respect the rights of the people, respect their environment and respect the laws of the country.

Echoing similar sentiment, EDEN Deputy Executive Director, Comrade Alagoa Morris, said that the sad developments in the Niger Delta after oil started leaving behind a trail of death and destruction must not be allowed to happen in the solid minerals sector.

Beyond what can be seen physically, in the Niger Delta oil has affected the life expectancy of most individuals leaving them vulnerable to illnesses, Morris added. 

Crude oil spills in Ogboinbiri community in Bayelsa now a routine, group alerts

Michael Simire
-
0
Crude oil spills in Ogboinbiri community in Bayelsa now a routine, group alerts

The incessant oil spills in Ogboinbiri Community in Southern Ijaw LGA of Bayelsa State has now
become a monthly occurrence, with the most recent happening on Friday, November 15, 2024.

EDEN
Oil spill at Ogboinbiri community in Bayelsa State

Since the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) divested its shares in the Joint Venture
totally to Oando, the company’s Ogboinbiri/Tebidaba pipeline within Ogboinbiri community
environment has experienced four spill incidents from four different spill points.

The first spill occurred on September 5, 2024, and two incidents happened in October 2024. Following the report from the community on November 20, the Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) team in Yenagoa led by Nimiemi Morris and Alagoa Morris mobilised and visited the affected area on Thursday, November 21, 2024, and was led to the site of interest by community guides.

A native of Ogboinbiri community, Bosin Izonakpo, who spoke to the EDEN team, stated that the community has been living in devastation because of the rate of spills in the area. He revealed that the community suffered greatly during the October spill which occurred during the flooding season, spreading the crude all over the environment, destroying aquatic life and damaging their farmlands.

Izonakpo said: “We want to tell everybody, including the government, that the spill is massive. These spills that have taken place within this year have been really massive and devastating. If you can come to Ogboinbiri and see the environment, you will see the damage it has done to the environment, including the aquatic environment. When there is flood this entire (pipeline) environment is covered with water. So, it really affected the aquatic environment and also plants within the impacted areas. We used to have a lot of farms. But since this pipeline came and the spills continued, we have not been able to farm.

“Even if you farm, the yields are not encouraging, very poor harvest. When you come for fishing during the flood, the catch would be poor because crude oil has chased away the fishes from the environment. And this has affected the local economy and livelihood of the indigenes of the community. So, everything possible should be done to clean up the impacted environment and pay damages.’’

Another community member, Esinkumor Richard, who was also one of EDEN guides to the spill area, stated that the excavated area which is about 6 feet deep has been filled with crude oil, which has polluted the environment, making it unfit for life to exist there.

He lamented that the spills have affected the sources of livelihood of the Ogboinbiri people, throwing them into deep hardship, as lands have been lost and even animals are running away from the environment.

Richard said: “The whole environment has been polluted. Investigation showed that it is an equipment failure related incident. So, it means that Oando has work to do. They should come and cleanup, pay compensation and then they should try as much as possible to repair their pipelines and other facilities because it cannot continue like this. The people are suffering. The proceeds of the crude oil and gas are feeding the whole Nigeria and then a few individuals who are hosts to oil installations would be suffering all these negative effects. As it stands it has affected our means of livelihood due to the pollution.

“We are now hungry. Oando should rise up to their responsibilities and do the needful. Otherwise, when the people rise up in anger, they should not blame anybody. Nigeria is benefitting but indigenes of Ogboinbiri are suffering from the negative impacts of these incessant oil spills.”

According to the field report, which was signed by Nimiemi Morris and Alagoa Morris, the crude
oil spill was caused by equipment failure, which makes three out of the four spills recorded in
the area. It was also observed that none of the previous spills that impacted the environment have been cleaned up. Only recovery of spilt crude oil has been done.

Speaking on the issue, the Executive Director of EDEN, Chima Williams, called on Oando to take
immediate and adequate steps to clean up the present spill site and all previously impacted
environments, and to replace the aged oil-bearing pipes within the environment, to put an end to these monthly oil spills and further environmental degradation.

Williams also admonished government regulatory bodies at the Federal and State levels to do the needful by ensuring proper cleanup/remediation and replacement of aged pipelines. He charged the people of Ogboinbiri community to continue to remain vigilant in terms of monitoring their environment peacefully and legally demand for environmental justice from Oando and the Federal Government.

No disparity between NNPC’s, NUPRC’s crude oil production figures – NNPC

Michael Simire
-
0
No disparity between NNPC’s, NUPRC’s crude oil production figures – NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has said that its crude oil production figures tallied with that of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Company (NUPRC).

Mele Kyari
NNPC Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari

Mr. Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd. stated this in a statement on Monday, November 25, 2024.

Soneye gave the clarifications against the backdrop of reports insinuating that the 1.54 million barrels per day (mbpd) for September cited by NUPRC was far below the 1.8mbpd for November cited by NNPC Ltd.

He said the seeming disparity was as a result of the difference in the period of coverage in the reports, stressing that the NNPC Ltd.’s figure was the peak production for October 2024, whereas the NUPRC’s figure was the average production for September 2024.

The spokesman said that the fact was confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer of NUPRC, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, at the recent 42nd Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists Annual International Conference and Exhibition in Lagos.

He said that the NUPRC boss disclosed that Nigeria’s crude oil output, including condensate, increased by 16.56 per cent to 1.8mbpd million in October 2024, from 1.54 million bpd in September 2024.

The statement quoted Komolafe as saying that: “This represents an increase of 253,710, bpd to reach 1.8 million bpd in October, up from 1.54 million bpd in September 2024, representing 16.56 per cent month-on-month rise”.

He said the NUPRC also confirmed at the NAPE event that the 1.8mbpd feat pushed Nigeria’s production beyond the 1.5mbpd quota of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

“There is, therefore, no disparity or discrepancy in the production figures by NNPC Ltd. and the regulator. NNPC Ltd is working closely with relevant stakeholders to boost production to 2mbpd and above by the end of 2024.”

1...222223224...2,293Page 223 of 2,293

TV Report

Archives

2025 EnviroNews Nigeria. All Rights Reserved.

×