The Lagos State Government has reiterated commitment to inclusive planning and ensuring that the Badagry Sub-Region Master Plan reflects the needs and aspirations of its stakeholders.
Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, stated this in a statement issued by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs Unit, Mr Mukaila Sanusi, on Monday, August 5, 2024, in Lagos.
According to the commissioner, the ministry is holding a stakeholders’ meeting on the review of the Badagry Sub-Region Master Plan on Aug. 8, at the Lagos State University, Ojo.
Olumide described the stakeholders’ engagement as an integral part of the plan preparation process in Lagos State as well as an avenue to promote inclusiveness and ownership.
“We are seeking first-hand information on action areas and proposals in the reviewed plan.
“Also, we aim to encourage stakeholders’ active participation in the upcoming meeting,” he said.
The commissioner emphasised the importance of stakeholders’ engagement in the planning process.
“In Lagos, we plan with the people and not just for the people. The review process has undergone various stages of engagement, aligning with the T.H.E.M.E.S. Agenda of Lagos State,” he said.
The COP29 climate talks in Azerbaijan’s Baku is the world’s only chance to bridge the gaps in climate action and finance which is crucial to “rebuild trust” among countries and protect lives and livelihoods, Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, has said.
Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland
In an interview with PTI via Zoom, Scotland said it is important to have the fossil-fuel producers as allies in the fight against climate change.
“We are nearing the cliff, the critical 1.5 degrees Celsius limit. In fact, some of our scientists say that we are there now. Our home, our planet, is literally on fire. Instead of action, we see the gaps in emissions, finance, and justice widening. It is our duty to bridge those gaps, and COP is our only chance. It comes at a moment of immeasurable urgency,” Scotland said.
She said rich countries promised to provide $100 billion (one billion =100 crore) in 2009. It’s only a drop in the ocean but “we still haven’t got it”.
Rich countries, historically responsible for the climate crisis, in 2009 pledged to mobilise $100 billion per year by 2020 to help developing countries address climate change. However, this target has not been fully met, with much of the financial aid provided as loans at market rates, increasing the debt burden on poor and vulnerable countries. These nations now require trillions to effectively combat the climate crisis.
According to the UNFCCC’s Standing Committee on Finance, $5.8 trillion to $11.5 trillion is required by 2030 to meet the targets set by developing countries in their national climate plans (Nationally Determined Contributions or NDCs).
The 2023 UN Adaptation Gap Report estimated adaptation costs in developing countries to be 10 to 18 times greater than current international adaptation finance flows, which are $21.3 billion.
Financial support to help middle-income and poor countries fight climate change will be at the centre of the UN climate conference in Baku, where the world will reach the deadline to agree on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), the new amount developed nations must mobilise every year starting in 2025 to support climate action in developing countries.
But achieving consensus will not be easy, given the disappointing progress made on the issue at the mid-year UN Climate talks in Bonn, Germany.
Scotland said fulfilling the NCQG will “rebuild trust” and support the developing countries in protecting lives, livelihoods and ecosystems.
Asked about her expectations from COP29 host Azerbaijan, a major fossil fuel-producing country, Scotland said: “It is a good thing that they are in the spotlight.”
The Commonwealth Secretary-General said it’s important to have the fossil-fuel producers as allies in the fight against climate change.
“We have to work together. This is not about them or us – it’s about all of us. Without a global solution, we have no solution at all. Developed countries and major producers must seriously engage in this conversation because COP29 needs to provide accessible climate finance so that developing countries can adapt and build resilience,” she told PTI.
“Expectations are very high for Azerbaijan to balance its role as a major fossil fuel producer with the global need for sustainable energy. We hope Azerbaijan will use its leadership to promote useful and practical discussions on reducing dependence on fossil fuels,” she added.
Scotland said the slow approval process for climate funds, especially for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), must be improved. The current system, where it takes four to five years for project approval, is insufficient.
She said the Commonwealth has utilised artificial intelligence and geospatial data to expedite the process of securing climate finance. Normally, it takes years to get an application approved and funds disbursed. However, by using these technologies, the Commonwealth managed to secure $5.7 million for Fiji within a year to build a nature-based wall.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General said that this approach has also facilitated a successful application for $63 million in Namibia’s Zambezi region.
Scotland also called for enhanced collaboration among Commonwealth space agencies to better analyse data and develop targeted climate solutions.
She said solutions like methane reduction should be scaled up, as they can have a significant impact on global warming.
Scotland said that the time for promises and words is over. “Now is the time for concrete actions.”
The COP29 will take place in Baku from November 11 through 22, 2024. During this event, Azerbaijan’s capital is expected to welcome approximately 70,000 to 80,000 international visitors.
Developed countries participating in the Kyoto Protocol’s second commitment period (2013–2020) achieved an average annual emissions reduction of 22% compared to 1990 levels, marking a significant step forward in the fight against climate change.
Greenhouse gas increases are leading to a faster rate of global warming. Photo credit: earthtimes.org
This achievement comes to light as the reporting and review process for the Kyoto Protocol’s second commitment period concluded successfully in June 2024.
The conclusion of this exercise highlights a push by Parties to reverse the trend of rising emissions, a drive which started almost 35 years ago, with the European Union reducing average emissions between 2013 and 2020 by 23% compared to 1990. Notably, 10 countries, including nine EU member states and the UK, achieved reductions exceeding 30% compared to 1990. Seven countries, however, saw an increase in average annual emissions.
The reductions by most developed nations under the Kyoto Protocol are an indication that countries can take the necessary steps to meet the more ambitious emission reduction targets outlined in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. This agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre‑industrial levels, ideally striving for 1.5°C.
“The completion of the Kyoto Protocol’s second commitment period paves the way for enhanced climate action by countries,” said Don Cooper, Director of the Transparency Division at UN Climate Change. “This momentum is crucial as we strive to significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change.”
Expert Review Teams Ensure Accurate Reporting
The review process by teams of expert reviewers is a crucial characteristic of the Kyoto Protocol, ensuring transparency, accuracy, consistency, and comparability of data on emissions, removals and overall trends. Similar processes are established under the Convention and the Paris Agreement.
The review of reports submitted by Parties under the Kyoto Protocol covers greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sectors including energy production, industrial processes, agriculture and waste, as well as the net emissions or removals achieved by land-use activities such as afforestation and reforestation.
The review of GHG inventories was one of the pillars of the measurement, reporting and verification system established before the Paris Agreement. Over 500 experts from 100 developing and developed countries participated in reviewing GHG inventories over the past two decades. This experience lays a solid foundation for building further systems under the Paris Agreement that guarantee a rigorous and transparent climate reporting system.
The Board of the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage selected the Philippines as its host country at the Board’s second meeting in Songdo, South Korea, a couple of weeks ago on July 12, 2024.
Board of the Fund for responding to Loss and Damage meeting in Songdo, South Korea. Photo credit: UN Climate Change
The development is seen as a major milestone, as the Philippines hosting the Board will grant the Board the legal personality needed, for example, to negotiate and enter into a hosting arrangement with the World Bank, which will be the interim trustee of the Fund, operationalise the financial intermediary fund, and host of the Fund’s secretariat.
The Fund, which was operationalised at the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in December 2023, was established to help vulnerable countries recover from climate impacts.
The Board expressed its gratitude to the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Barbados, Eswatini, Kenya, Philippines and Togo who submitted proposals to host the Board in response to the Call for Proposals issued in May 2024.
In announcing the decision, the Co-Chairs thanked all countries that put forward generous proposals and particularly the Philippines for its willingness to host the Board. The Board looks forward to working closely with the Philippines to ensure that the Board can fulfil its objectives promptly.
In the coming months, the Co-Chairs of the Board, supported by the interim secretariat, will undertake negotiations with the Government of the Philippines to finalise the Host Country Agreement.
An indigenous renewable energy company, SunPawa Energy Ltd., says plans are underway to distribute 30,000 Solar Home Systems across the six geo-political zones of the country, and in rural communities.
The Managing Director, SunPawa Energy Ltd, Mr Odera Ozoka, presenting solar home systems products to a beneficiary in Katsina
The Managing Director of the company, Mr Odera Ozoka, who disclosed this in an interview on Monday, August 5, 2024, in Abuja, said the aim was to provide solutions in the renewable energy space.
He said it was equally to bring relief to Nigerians who live in darkness, especially those in the rural communities.
“As an entrepreneur, we look for ways to make people have access to reliable electricity, thereby increasing Nigerians economic growth exponentially.
“The initiative will help curb the power shortages across the country,” he said.
Ozoka restated the company’s desire in ensuring that off-grid electricity would get into the homes of many Nigerians.
“The company’s goal is to distribute Solar Home System products and off-grid that will benefit widows, students and farmers.
“We have launched the products in six states – Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna, Kwara, Kogi and Delta as the pilot states.
“Recently, we launched the initiative in Katsina, with the aim to distribute 30,000 Solar Home Systems across the six geopolitical zones in a roll out manner,” he said.
SunPawa Energy is among the shortlisted energy firms by the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria for the Solar Home System Output Based Funds component.
The initiative, under the Nigerian Electrification Project, is to provide nationwide energy access to rural communities at uncommon affordable rates.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has announced the introduction of Utapate crude oil blend, a new oil grade into the international crude oil market.
NNPC Group Managing Director, Mele Kyari
The NNPC Ltd. said from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13, fully operated by NEPL, NNPC Ltd’s upstream subsidiary, the Utapate crude oil blend commenced operations in July 2024, as its first cargo headed for Spain.
The Utapate crude oil blend is located offshore Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria.
The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd., Olufemi Soneye, in a statement on Monday, August 5, 2024, explained that Utapate’s current crude oil production is at 28,000 barrels per day (bpd).
Soneye disclosed that it has potentials to increase its production to 50,000 barrels per day while the sulphur content of the new crude is 0.0655 per cent.
“Spanish oil giant Repsol, won the tender for the initial cargo of 950,000 barrels of the new crude blend which is comparable to the much sought after Amenam crude.
“Gulf Transport and Trading, another leading crude oil dealer, have also secured the cargoes’ tenders for Aug. and Sept. 2024,” he said.
During the Argus European Crude Conference in London 2023, the NNPC Ltd. announced the inauguration of Nembe crude oil, produced by the NNPC/Aiteo operated OML 29 Joint Venture (JV).
Similar to the Nembe crude oil grade, the Utapate crude oil blend has a low sulphur content and low carbon footprint due to flare gas elimination, fitting perfectly into the required spec of major buyers in Europe.
This achievement signals the commitment of the NNPC Ltd. to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production and grow reserves through the development of new assets.
In its editorial of August 2, 2024, the BusinessDay newspaper, characteristically, launched another scurrilous and baseless attack on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd). In the editorial entitled: “NNPCL: Liability or Asset to Nigerians?”, the newspaper set out to paint the picture of NNPC Ltd that is a liability to Nigeria instead of an asset that it should be.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Mr Mele Kyari
It chronicled a litany of issues which in its estimation have made the company to lose its place as an asset to the nation. As to be expected, all the issues it raised were either outright lies or unfair misrepresentation of facts. Let’s take a look at them one by one.
According to the newspaper, NNPC Ltd.’s status as an asset is undercut by the opacity of its operations and corruption. The truth, however, is that this is a regurgitation of age-long allegations that have since been overtaken by the emergence of Mr. Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the company and the transition of the old NNPC as a corporation into a limited liability company under the Petroleum Industry Act.
One of the key thrusts of the Kyari-led management since 2019 has been its focus on transparency and accountability. This was what gave rise to the Transparency, Accountability and Performance Excellence (TAPE) management philosophy under which the company’s audited financial statements began to be published annually since 2019. In fact, the same BusinessDay newspaper that is so bent on hanging the tag of opacity on the company actually honoured Kyari with its “Energy Executive of the Year” award in 2021 for turning the fortunes of the company around and entrenching the culture of transparency in the company.
But out of sheer mischief, the newspaper has forgotten so soon and chosen to borrow some ignoble tricks from Josef Goebbel’s playbook, that of repeating the lies of opacity and corruption against the NNPC Ltd frequently with the hope of sustaining the propaganda just so well the public would believe the lies to be the truth.
The next point made in the editorial is that of mismanagement of resources and inefficiency. In its bid to present a semblance of balance, the newspaper acknowledged the role of government interference in the company. A bulk of the legacy problems, such as the age-long lack of maintenance of the refineries, is traceable to government interference.
Any old refinery staff member of the NNPC Ltd will tell you that NNPC engineers used to carry out the turn-around maintenance of the refineries until past governments started dabbling in to influence contracts for their cronies.
However, with the PIA, all that is behind as the NNPC Ltd now operates as a limited liability company under the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA). As is presently constituted, the company is owned by the government through the Ministry of Finance Incorporated and the Ministry of Petroleum. But the PIA envisages that in no distant time, the company will be listed on the stock exchange with shares owned by Nigerians in their individual capacities.
But prior to that time, the management of the company under Kyari has instituted a management system encapsulated in the Performance Excellence element of the TAPE philosophy. Under this, the company has made great strides in moving from a position of loss in 2019 to consistent profitability. This is in spite of the fact that the company contends with monstrous odds in the form of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
The fact is: companies like Saudi Aramco, with which the newspaper tried to benchmark the NNPC Ltd, do not contend with such odds that have very practical implications for crude oil production. The newspaper is only being disingenuous in blaming the nation’s suboptimal crude oil production on inefficiency in the NNPC Ltd when it is common knowledge that the security challenges are not of the company’s making. But even at that, the NNPC Ltd has not fared badly in managing the bad situation to get the results that it has been posting in the past few years.
The truth is that the current reality of the NNPC Ltd, in terms of management and performance, does not reflect the picture of mismanagement and inefficiency that the BusinessDay tried to paint in its editorial. The question that arises from all this, which the BusinessDay must answer, is: do companies that have issues with mismanagement of resources and inefficiency make profits as the NNPC Ltd has consistently done in the past three years?
The other issue that has stymied the NNPC Ltd from being an asset to the nation, according to the BusinessDay, is its monopolistic control of the petroleum sector. Supporting its position, the newspapers states: “The corporation’s dominant position as the sole importer of petrol and the primary issuer of import licenses for diesel creates market distortions”.
This allegation, coming from a business newspaper like the BusinessDay, is very curious. For the newspaper to state that NNPC Ltd is the “primary issuer of import licenses for diesel” shows how little it knows about the oil and gas industry. It only means that the BusinessDay either does not know the difference between an industry regulator and an operator or it just wants to take its mischief to a ridiculous level, hoping that the public would swallow its lies hook, line, and sinker.
For the avoidance of doubt, NNPC Ltd does not issue import licenses for diesel or any petroleum product for that matter. This is because, NNPC Ltd, as provided in Section 64 of the PIA, is an operator just like any other company that operates in the oil and gas sector, and not a regulator. The PIA makes provision for the establishment of two regulatory agencies in the sector. They are the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The newspaper actually acknowledged these two regulatory agencies in the editorial. But how it came by the idea that the NNPC Ltd issues import licenses to marketers, a clear regulatory function, is really difficult to understand. This, however, goes to show that the newspaper and its editors know very little about the subject matter of their editorial.
On the allegation that NNPC Ltd runs a monopoly in the importation of petrol, here are the facts that the BusinessDay failed to acknowledge in its editorial. When the downstream sector was deregulated on 29th May, 2023, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration that fuel subsidy was gone, every petroleum marketer was automatically empowered to import the product and sell at whatever price(s) they chose.
NNPC Ltd only stepped in to close the gap as a supplier of last resort, a role assigned to it by the framers of the PIA to guarantee energy security for the nation. NNPC Ltd did not muscle any marketer out of petrol importation to become a monopoly. Besides, it does not look like the company is making any profit from being the sole importer of petrol which is usually the major objective of monopolists.
In fact, by playing this role of sole importer of petrol at this time when others are not able to import the product, NNPC Ltd has proved to be a huge asset to the nation- much more of an asset than the BusinessDay would want Nigerians and the world to believe!
By Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd.
The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) holding in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November 2024 must accelerate the integration of adaptation into local, national and regional planning, including the development and implementation of participatory, inclusive and gender-transformative National Adaptation Plans.
Participants at the Africa Journalists Climate Training (AJCT) in Mombasa, Kenya
Kulthoum Omari, lead adaptation negotiator with African Group of Negotiators (AGN), who made the submission at the Africa Journalists Climate Training (AJCT) held from July 29 to 30, 2024, in Mombasa, Kenya, noted that adaptation finance channels must be reformed to increase the allocation and access for those who need it most by reducing administrative barriers.
Speaking on civil society organisation (CSO) expectation on adaptation in COP29, Ms. Omari also laid emphasis on funding and supporting local institutions and women-led groups, including through operationalising key principles.
“Developed countries must keep their promise at COP26 to at least adaptation finance by 2025 – this commitment hasn’t been met yet even we are talking about the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG),” she said, adding that, according to the GAP Report, adaptation finance flows and finance gaps are running up to $370 billion per year.
While expecting that progress on mapping of existing indicators mapping is concluded at COP29, she stressed that adaptation must be premised high up as a global priority, with secure-grant based funding at global level for accelerated adaptation action at scale, through new and additional finance, capacity and technology transfer across developing countries.
According to her, the CSO community is likewise expecting advance decisions that promote the realisation for Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) Actions for greater responsiveness of climate action to those at the frontline of climate. She called on global leaders to demonstrate leadership in advancing LLA.
The AJCT, which focused on climate change adaptation, was organised by PowerShift Africa.
Climate financing will be the focus of the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), the summit’s chief executive, Elnur Soltanov, said in an interview with EFE, a leading Spanish news agency.
COP29 chief executive, Elnur Soltanov
With just three months until the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) kicks off in Baku, Azerbaijan, Elnur Soltanov emphasised that the primary goal of the COP29 Presidency is to establish a clear and ambitious “New Collective Quantified Goal” (NCQG) for climate financing, addressing the needs of all parties.
In an interview with EFE, a leading Spanish news agency, Soltanov stressed the importance of advancing “collectively on all pillars of the Paris Agreement,” with climate financing being central. The NCQG, agreed upon in 2015, needs to be defined by 2025 to support the poorest countries in their climate change efforts.
Soltanov’s strategy includes seeking political direction to resolve disagreements and accelerate summit preparations through meetings among the parties.
“We must focus on high-level discussions and intensify political engagement. We appreciate the time and commitment of our new ministerial peers in the NCQG to support us,” he told EFE.
Azerbaijan, like the United Arab Emirates, which hosted COP28, is an oil and gas producer, and the choice of venue has again drawn criticism from several climate organisations.
However, Soltanov argued for an inclusive process where all parties collaborate, stating, “We do not believe anyone, especially global energy experts, should be excluded.”
Referencing the UAE consensus from COP28, which emphasised the need for a just and orderly transition, Soltanov noted that all countries start from different points, and the requirements to decarbonise, build a renewable system, and ensure a just transition will differ according to national circumstances.
He also pointed out that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recognises a role for hydrocarbons in the global economy in its temperature and zero-carbon emissions calculations.
Optimistic about COP29, which runs from November 11 to 22, Soltanov views it as a litmus test for global cooperation and climate action. “Azerbaijan will spare no effort to unite the parties,” he said, emphasising the country’s commitment to hosting COP29 inclusively and transparently, aligned with the Convention and the Paris Agreement.
To advance this commitment, Azerbaijan will present two documents before COP29: a Transparency Report and the “Nationally Determined Contribution” (NDC), aligning the country with efforts to curb climate change. Soltanov, a former Deputy Minister of Energy, emphasised the need for shared and ambitious efforts, warning that “the margin for action is shrinking.”
He concluded: “There is still time to address the climate crisis effectively with immediate and sustained efforts. We need everyone to commit in good faith to act quickly.”
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has stressed the importance of conducting National Housing and Population Census in the attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Alhaji Nasir Kwarra
The group’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Tayo Aduloju, stressed the importance in an interview on Saturday, August 3, 2024, in Abuja.
Aduloju said reliable and timely population and demographic data are essential in monitoring SDG progress.
He added that Nigeria’s performance in the 2024 Sustainable Development Report highlights substantial challenges across various SDGs, with an overall score of 54.6, ranking 146th out of 167 countries.
He said: “Key indicators reveal high levels of poverty, undernourishment and child stunting, along with concerning health outcomes, limited education access and gender inequality.
“The SDGs report shows that nearly half the population live in poverty (31.4 per cent below $2.15 per day and 49.0 per cent below $3.65 per day).
“High level of undernourishment (15.9 per cent), stunting in children (31.5 per cent), concerning health outcomes such as maternal mortality ratio of 1,047 per 100,000 live births and a life expectancy of just 52.7 years.
“Education access is limited, with a net primary enrollment rate of 64.4 per cent, and gender equality remains a challenge, with only 3.9 per cent of parliamentary seats held by women.”
The CEO explained that census could potentially provide reliable data for about 90 SDG indicators, either directly or through population projections based on data.
He added that Nigeria’s outdated census data hindered its ability to monitor and achieve goals effectively, impeding overall progress toward sustainable development.
He noted that “another critical aspect to consider is gender and social inclusion. The lack of accurate census data affects efforts to promote gender equality (SDG 5) and social inclusion.
“Understanding population distribution by gender is crucial to addressing gender disparities, and without accurate data, efforts may be misdirected or insufficient.
“The SDGs’ emphasis on ‘leaving no one behind’ and accurate demographic data are essential to ensuring that vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, migrants and those living in slums are adequately represented in development plans and policies.
“Without up-to-date data, efforts to achieve inclusive and equitable development are undermined.”
Aduloju, therefore, noted that conducting census is crucial for Nigeria, adding that timely and successful completion of the census would address many challenges.
Nigeria conducted its last census in 2006.
According to the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action (PoA), another census should have been conducted in 2016.
In 2023, former President Muhammadu Buhari approved the census to be held from May 3 to May 7, but it was postponed, with the expectation that a new date would be set by President Bola Tinubu.
However, the Chairman of the National Population Commission (NPC), Alhaji Nasir Kwarra, said efforts are ongoing to ensure the census is conducted soon.
Kwarra said the commission is prepared and just waiting for presidential approval to conduct the headcount.
