The Ugandan police force on Monday, May 27, 2024, arrested eight activists marching to the Chinese Embassy in Kampala to deliver a protest letter against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline funding.
StopEACOP campaign
National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) says it is concerned that, instead of being engaged meaningfully, they were arrested. It says this kind of humiliation and inhuman treatment is not only a human rights abuse but also has no place in the modern world and should be condemned at all costs.
“Use of excessive force to arrest peaceful and unarmed civilians is a big shame to a civilian force like police and violates the Ugandan constitution. NAPE strongly warns and calls upon the police to stop this harassment and intimidation of environmental activists and calls for unconditional release. NAPE maintains that detaining environmentalists for protesting is unlawful, and culprits should be punished,” said Frank Muramuzi, the Executive Director of NAPE.
In any case, this EACOP and other oil development projects are public investments that should be kept under scrutiny by the citizens. If these investments are to come at a cost of denying citizens their rights, then they need to be fought at any cost, Muramuzi added.
“OilWatch Africa supports the call release of the detained activists and frowns at the harassment of citizens fighting for the rights of Africans to a safe environment as enshrined in Article 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”
The initiative will emphasise the crucial role of nature and expand nature-based solutions to combat environmental degradation. Photo credit: UNDP/Timor Leste
The initiative aims to emphasise the crucial role of nature and expand nature-based solutions to combat environmental degradation in three key sectors: urban development, food production, and tourism. Targeting 15 SIDS, the programme seeks to foster nature-positive changes.
Managed by the UNDP and funded by the GEF and partners, this effort is said to represent a new wave of support for SIDS as they embark on the Decade of Action from 2024 to 2034.
The BGI-IP will support 15 SIDS, selected through a competitive “Expressions of Interest” process, representing all SIDS sub-regions: the Caribbean; the Pacific; and the Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea (AIS).
The BGI-IP will provide communities with the resources to expand successful initiatives that solve challenges faced by local people. The programme will support sustainable agriculture and fisheries, promote nature-friendly tourism, reduce pollution, and improve resilience to extreme weather events.
In partnership with UNEP, FAO, the World Bank, WWF-US, IUCN, and UNCCD, among others, the initiative will provide a crucial and substantial means of support for sustainable economic diversification and job creation.
“SIDS are on the frontlines of climate change and nature loss as they face harsh realities of sea level rise, more unpredictable weather patterns, and degraded ecosystems, yet their unique situation also means that they are also driving forward a remarkable range of innovative and interconnected solutions,” said Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator.
“With the invaluable support of the Global Environment Facility, the Blue and Green Islands Program will serve to scale up nature-based solutions in the food, tourism, and urban sectors that help shift key sectors from nature-negative to nature-positive — improving the daily lives of people on small islands and helping to revive the health of our natural world,” Steiner added.
“Nowhere is the connection between a strong economy, a healthy environment, and a healthy people, clearer than in the SIDS. Given their unique vulnerabilities to loss of biodiversity, plastic and waste pollution, and climate and socio-economic changes and shocks, SIDS are the best incubators of innovation for sustainable development with many initiatives that can have substantial impact on the planet and the people,” said Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, GEF CEO and Chairperson.
“The Blue and Green Islands Integrated Program is designed to respond to the need for usable information on nature and ecosystems among decision-makers and securing resources for impactful initiatives, while building connections across vast oceans to create greater results,” added Rodríguez.
Selected through the “Expressions of Interest” process, the 15 SIDS, out of 39 in total, are: Belize, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Cuba, Maldives, Mauritius, Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Seychelles, Timor Leste, Trinidad & Tobago, and Vanuatu.
The BGI-IP is one of several interconnected programmes designed to move the needle toward system transformations in line with national priorities. The GEF invests in Integrated Programmes to tackle drivers of environmental degradation and address multiple systemic threats at once, such as those driven by cities, food systems, plastics, and forest land use. GEF support for a dedicated coordination platform offers technical support and national-level capacity for integrated solutions and leverages external funding opportunities for impactful outcomes across multiple scales.
Aligned with the Antigua & Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) and the next Decade of Action, the BGI-IP will target key barriers and shift levers to transform the way ecosystems are protected and sustainably managed in SIDS, generating vital global environmental benefits over time.
Dangote Cement Plc says it is committed to transitioning all its trucks to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) by 2025, as a significant step toward cleaner energy adoption in Nigeria.
L-R: Chairman, Dangote Cement Plc, Aliko Dangote; Non-Executive Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Abdu Dantata; Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Arvind Pathak; Non-Executive Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Olakunle Alake; and Non-Executive Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Devakumar Edwin, at the 15th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Dangote Cement Plc, in Lagos on Tuesday
It said that the gesture is a strategic move that aligns with the Federal Government’s agenda on promoting alternative energy for vehicles across the country, as well as reducing the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels.
Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman, Dangote Cement Plc, made the assertion during the company’s 15 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Lagos.
The President Bola Tinubu-led administration, just one year in office, had announced plans to launch 2,700 CNG buses and tricycles to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal on ordinary Nigerians.
Dangote stated that the company decided to support the Federal Government’s quest to reduce dependence on fossil fuel, thereby enhancing the nation’s energy independence and contributing to a more secure energy future.
“We are now going to start using CNG vehicles, especially with the new policy of the Federal Government, launched by the Renewed Hope Agenda by His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu.
“By the end of next year, all our trucks that are operating in the company will be running on CNG, and that is a whole lot of money that we are going to invest.
“But we are equal to the task, and we will continue to push and make sure that we continue to make our shareholders happy,” Dangote said.
He also declared an increase of 50 per cent on dividend payout to shareholders, from N20.00 per share paid in the 2022 financial year to N30.00 for the last financial year ended Dec. 31, 2023.
Dangote said that the company achieved double-digit growth in revenue of N2,208.1 billion, while group Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) reached a record high of N886.1 billion, increasing by 25.1 per cent.
He said the 2023 results showed that Africa’s largest cement manufacturer recorded improvement in all performance measurement indicators with group revenue rising by 36.4 per cent to N2,208.1 billion.
He added that the company’s Profit After Tax (PAT) was up by 19.2 per cent to N455.6 billion while earnings per share went up by 18.8 per cent at N26.47.
Dangote noted that the company’s impressive performance was in fulfilment of the promise and enhanced Return on Investments (RoI) to its shareholders and other stakeholders, assuring them that next year would even be better.
The business mogul revealed that efforts were ongoing to ramp up production with the construction of a new plant of 6 million metric tonnes per annum at Itori, Ogun State.
“This outstanding EBITDA performance was underpinned by our robust cost control measures and our diverse pan-Africa operations.
“The latter acted as a cushion, providing resilience to country-specific risks, while the former enhanced our overall profitability.
“Our pan-Africa operations now contribute 41.2 per cent to the group’s overall volumes and we made significant strides in our expansion initiatives, with the successful launch of operations at our 0.45Mta grinding plant in Ghana, increasing our total installed capacity to 52.0Mta.
“Furthermore, our 1.5Mta grinding plant in Côte d’Ivoire is making substantial progress and is nearing completion and lastly, we have commenced construction on our 6Mta Itori plant in Ogun State, a crucial step in supporting our ambitious export goals,” he said.
Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Mr Arvind Pathak, said that 2023 was yet another testament to the effectiveness of the company’s management’s diversification strategy, in spite of the challenging macroeconomic conditions.
Pathak said that in response to the heightened inflationary environment, the company implemented new and innovative business strategies that helped to drive up revenues, contain costs, and protect margins.
These initiatives, he stated, included fuel mix optimisation, propelling the use of alternative fuels to replace more expensive fossil fuels.
“We also began the phased transition from diesel power trucks to full Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks,” he said.
Mrs Bisi Bakare, Chairperson, Pragmatic Shareholders Association, lauded the company for what she described as a huge dividend payout even when many other companies could not pay their shareholders a dime because they declared losses.
She stated that the shareholders were happy, and expressed optimism that with the way the management has steered the company in the face of the current economic downturn, the 2024 dividend will be higher.
Also, President of the Association for the Advancement of Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS), Dr Faruk Umar, appreciated the company’s board and management for a job well done.
He commended Dangote for his patriotism and dedication to the cause of Nigeria and her people with his decision to reduce the prices of his petroleum products.
He expressed hope that the price of Premium Motor Spirit popularly called petrol would come down once the Dangote Refinery rolls out the product soon.
It is exactly one year today that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took the oath of office as the president of the most populous nation in the African Continent.
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria
Since his assumption to office on May 29, 2023, several policies and reforms had been introduced for smooth implementation of the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the present All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government.
A peep into climate change action and policies under the presidency of Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the last one year toward attaining cleaner energy and safer environment leaves much to be desired.
Phasing out of Subsidy Regime
To begin with, like every other candidate that sought the exalted seat of power to lead Nigeria in the 2023 general elections, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his political manifesto promised to remove the fuel subsidy, which increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor.
According to the President, subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources. We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions.
A critical look at the removal of the fuel subsidy in relation to climate action, one cannot help but concur that if properly implemented will significantly reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions especially from vehicles.
Joining World Leaders at COP28 in Dubai, UAE
Speaking at the Climate Change conference COP28, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), President Bola Tinubu said Nigeria would take a significant step towards a sustainable and eco-friendly future by introducing a pioneering initiative to deploy a fleet of 100 electric buses.
He explained that the strategic initiative was aimed at significantly reducing Nigeria’s carbon footprint and modernising the country’s transportation systems as part of a larger effort to position Nigeria and Africa as the pioneering frontier of green manufacturing and industrialisation with a focus on natural gas as a transition fuel alongside other renewable energy sources.
According to him, there is an urgent need to heal the bleeding earth, but there is also an urgent need for new investments in critical sectors to leverage Africa’s massive potential contribution to the new global green economy while enabling the continent to effectively adapt and transition.
“There is iron ore; there is investment there, too. Risk management is very key for Africa. The opportunities must be translated soonest. We are moving forward with urgency, and we will maximise the value given in return for those resources,” the President said.
However, one year down the line, these promises are yet materialise. This generated concerns amongst environmental experts, climate change enthusiasts and Nigerian populace.
Dr Michael Terungwa David
Setting Aside of N530 Billion for Climate Action
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, disclosed at a dialogue on Mainstreaming Climate Action into Nigeria’s Development Plans in Abuja that the Federal Government had allocated N530 billion for climate action.
The Minister, who spoke through his Special Adviser, Mr Bolaji Onalaja, said that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had been consistent on climate actions since inception, which he said resulted in the allocation of the fund in the 2024 budget for the implementation of the energy transition plan.
Nigeria Carbon Market Activation Plan
In March 2024, another milestone policy on climate action took place as the President announced the appointment of the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Zacch Adedeji, and the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Mr Dahiru Salisu, to co-chair the Nigeria Carbon Market Activation Plan.
The President said that the initiative would be a concrete manifestation of his administration’s unwavering dedication to a carbon-neutral future, while assuring investors that this is only the commencement of the government’s ambitious plans, with many more impactful initiatives on the pipeline.
“In further driving my commitment, I have recently approved an Inter-Governmental Committee on Carbon Markets to be chaired by the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change to drive this visionary plan.
“We recognise the imperative of fostering an environment that not only attracts investment but also upholds standardised and sustainable industrial practices.
“As a manifestation of our forward-thinking approach, we are actively looking to implement robust, enabling policies and frameworks that will serve as the catalyst for the burgeoning growth of the carbon market within our national borders,” the President said.
Tinubu, while acknowledging the pressing need for a comprehensive global collaboration on climate-related challenges, called on global partners to join hands in accelerating collective efforts towards a net-zero future.
Bold Vision for a Greener Nigeria
Acknowledging the need to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and embrace cleaner energy sources, the president gave a matching order that all future vehicle, generator, or tricycle acquisitions by the government and its agencies must use either compressed natural gas (CNG), solar power, or electric energy sources.
Constitution of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative
The Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGi) aims to roll out 800 CNG buses, 4,000 CNG tricycles, and 100 electric buses in its first phase, with over 2,500 CNG tricycles expected to be ready on or before May 29, 2024.
In keeping with the promise, just last week the Presidency said it was ready to launch about 2,700 CNG-powered buses and tricycles before May 29 when President Bola Tinubu marks one year in office.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement entitled ‘Presidential CNG initiative set for rollout.
He said the Federal Government was ready to deliver 100 conversion workshops and 60 refueling sites spread across 18 states before the end of 2024.
Onanuga said the deployment of CNG buses and tricycles and the vision to get at least one million natural gas-propelled vehicles on our roads by 2027 will mark a major energy transition in our country’s transportation industry.
This strategic move is a supposed demonstration of Government’s commitment to environmental sustainability, and also to unlock new investments in renewable energy but Nigerians are anxiously waiting to see the fulfillment of the promise.
The Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions:
The move by this administration to constitute a Climate and Green Initiatives Committee to oversee green economic Initiatives and the appointment of Special Presidential Envoy on climate action is in conflict with the act that established NCCC.
The Presidency said the Presidential Committee which had the President as Chairman, Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal as vice chairman, and Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser, as Secretary/ Special Presidential Envoy, would coordinate and oversee all policies and programmes on climate action and green economic development.
Presidency explained that the essence of the committee was to remove the constraints to coordination, foster a whole-of-government approach to climate-action programmes.
And also provide an efficient governance architecture and ensure that all relevant institutions in the sector are plugged into the President’s vision and are collectively implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda on climate action.
Combating Desert Encroachment Through Tree planting
Mobilisation of Nigerian youths to plant 250,000 trees annually to honour a pledge to plant 25 million trees by 2030 to fight back against encroaching desert across the northern region was a major bolster to climate action in the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
NDC Implementation Framework for the period 2023 – 2030:
Another strategic move by the federal government on climate action is the launching of Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Implementation Framework for the period 2023 – 2030. This initiative aims to align and harmonise key climate and development policies, targets, strategies and plans to effectively address the climate change crisis.
The director-general of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Dr Salisu Dahiru, during the launch in Abuja, said the Implementation Framework emphasises practical implementation rather than just setting ambitious goals for stronger climate action.
Dahiru said that the comprehensive NDC includes an unconditional 20 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to the business-as-usual (BAU) projection, surpassing the previous target of 45 per cent set in the 2015 NDC.
Renewable Energy Solutions
As part of measures to ensure clean energy in Nigeria, World Bank approved over $750 million for the development of renewable energy.
The World Bank also approved the Nigeria Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) project,
According to World Bank, the DARES project aims to provide over 17.5 million Nigerians with new or improved access to electricity through distributed renewable energy solutions.
Grey Areas for Climate Action Implementation of President Tinubu
There is no doubt that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration designed robust policies for climate action, but few grey areas have been identified to conflict his climate action.
The removal of fuel subsidy is impacting on the livelihoods of millions of Nigerians who are exposed to climate risk and vulnerable to environmental change. The right palliatives measures should be implemented without delay to cushion the effect on the subsidy removal and should go beyond the distribution of food items.
Allocation of 5 percent that translated to N530 billion of the total 2024 budget of N28.7 trillion to climate action is insignificant, the federal government can do better than this in the 2025 budget year by giving more allocation to Ministries for climate action.
The budget of National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) that is saddled with the responsibility to drive climate action which stands at N800 million for 2024 budget year is grossly inadequate.
The inauguration of Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economy conflicted the provision that established NCCC, and significantly reduced the power of NCCC.
The implementation of climate action is greeted with several concerns as President Tinubu seems to focus more on increase in oil production in the country without the corresponding action for energy transition in the country in line with our NDC and net zero targets.
The delay in the implementation of “Project 250k” by the federal government. The project was originally designed to engage Nigerian youths to aggressively plant 25 million trees from 2023 – 2030.
Another point of contention surrounding implementation of climate action is the inauguration of Lagos-Calabar coastal highway without engaging Environmental Impact Assessment. Environmental experts say it is a potential threat to the biodiversity.
Environmental enthusiasts look forward to seeing more in the implementation of climate action plans in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In this administration new year, this administration must effectively engage in the multilateral and international engagement to attract both quality and quantity of climate.
We need accelerated climate adaptation investment and action to advance development and climate resilience Nigeria. It is cheaper to spend one naira to prevent disaster than to spend 100 naira for disaster response.
By Dr Michael Terungwa David (Founder, GIFSEP; Africa Regional Coordinator, Citizens Climate International; and Coordinator, Vote4ClimateNG Campaign)
In its drive towards ensuring that all Nigerians, especially people at the grassroots always have access to potable water, WaterAid Nigeria has donated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities to residents of Idera and Ita-Oluwo communities in Ikorodu North LCDA in Lagos State.
Dr. Adebayo Alao, WaterAid Team Lead, and Bola Daramola, Councilor representing Odugunyan Ward, drinking from the water provided by WaterAid, with Niran Odugbesi, SLG Ikorodu North LCDA
During the project commissioning and handing-over ceremony on Monday, May 27, 2024, Dr. Adebayo Alao, WaterAid Team Lead, while congratulating the residents for taking ownership of the facilities, also appreciated The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days Saints for providing them financial aids towards making the project a reality.
He said: “In coming days, we are going to be commissioning projects like this in six different locations across Ikorodu North LCDA and this is made possible with their support. They have even promised to do more because we have signed another contract with them, maybe in another one year or less you shall be hearing from them again.
“The only way to appreciate what they have done is for us to make a very good use of these facilities because it will not be good for us to come for inspection after some months and discover that the project is being mismanaged.”
Dr. Alao, who noted that nobody can pay for water but for the production and packaging before it becomes consumable, also appealed to the Community Development Associations in Idera and Ita-Oluwo to help WASHCOM members have an account where they will be dropping a token monthly so as to enable them get money to maintain the facilities.
In his remarks, Niyi Odugbesi, Secretary to Local Government (SLG) and representative of the Executive Chairman, Ikorodu North LCDA, Adeola Adebisi Banjo, appreciated the effort of WaterAid Nigeria for executing WASH Facility projects in Ikorodu North LCDA.
He said: “Out of all the Local Government Areas in Lagos State only two are selected to be beneficiaries of this laudable projects and we are lucky to be one of them and since that time, Ikorodu North LCDA has witnessed numerous projects that have been commissioned by WaterAid Nigeria for the benefit of our people.
“I am appealing to beneficiaries of these facilities to make its maintenance their priority so as to spur WaterAid and partners to do more for the development of Ikorodu North LCDA.”
The SLG, who noted that people at the grassroots are always recalcitrant when it comes to payment of their development levies, however urged residents to pay as and when due so as to enable WASHCOM members have access to funding required for them for the sustainability of the facilities.
Prince Niran Ogunbanwo, CDC Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA, in his submission lauded WaterAid Nigeria for its intervention, saying: “I am very delighted seeing what has been put in place for us in Idera and Ita-Oluwo communities. I remember vividly how dilapidated these facilities were before the arrival and intervention of WaterAid and that is why we have set up WASHCOM who are saddled with the responsibilities of always maintaining the facilities.
“So, I am appealing to WASHCOM members to always notify us anytime they have any challenge so that we can work together in maintaining the facilities.”
In his remarks, Oluwarotimi Henry Adenigba, Executive Director, Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED), said: “This is a welcome development, we want to thank WaterAid and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days Saints for the provision of Public Water Facility for Idera and Ita-Oluwo communities.
“This project will no doubt provide clean and safe water for residents of these communities which will surely prevent further spread of water borne diseases earlier recorded before the intervention and arrival of WaterAid Nigeria in this vicinity.”
Chief Kehinde Alashe, Baale Orimedu Ashekuluyi, while appreciating the facilitator of the projects noted that “the commissioning of Ita-Oluwo Water Facility is a testament to the fact that development is gradually coming into my domain, and we are very grateful to them.
“I have drunk from the water, and I can assure you that it is very safe for drinking for all and sundry,” he confirmed.
Bola Daramola, Councilor representing Odugunyan Ward, assured facilitators of the project that the facilities being handed over to them is in safe hands as residents of the communities will do everything in their capacities in ensuring that the facilities are always in proper shape.
Dignitaries that graced the occasion included Chief Monsuru Olawale Salako, Baale Ita-Oluwo, and representatives of various CDAs.
The President, African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, says Africa will drive global agenda on renewable energy and green transitions.
Solar panels
Adesina said this at a media conference in Nairobi, on the sidelines of the ongoing AfDB Annual Meetings 2024.
The event marks the 59th Annual Assembly of the AfDB, the 50th meeting of the African Development Fund (ADF) and 60 years of AfDB’s existence
While articulating Africa’s inherent advantage in renewable energy, Adesina said the continent had abundant solar potential, and a catalyst for driving green energy initiatives on a global scale.
“Globally, we have been talking about global energy transitions. Everybody worries about continued CO2 emissions and the need to contain that through energy transitions and moving into more renewable energy.
“Africa will drive the global agenda on renewable and green energy transitions for two reasons. We have great sunshine, which has about 11 terawatts of solar potential.
“That is the highest solar potential you have anywhere in the world. And the level of solar radiation in Africa is the highest anywhere you will find in the world.
“So, therefore, as the world now transitions into renewable energy, Africa will be front and centre in terms of harnessing the power of renewable energy to drive our world,” he said.
According to Adesina, there is a lot of interest in green hydrogen, green ammonia, fertilisers, jet fuels, and other things that require renewable energy, such as solar energy.
He said that Africa’s rich reservoir of natural resources, including platinum, copper, and lithium, positioned the continent as a key player in the burgeoning Electric Vehicle (EV) market.
He emphasised the importance for Africa to harness these resources strategically for its transformation and to assert its prominence in global value chains.
“And so, Africa today has 90 per cent of all the platinum in the world. It has well over 60- 70 per cent of all the copper you have worldwide.
“Fifty per cent of all the other metals, whether nickel or lithium. Africa has a massive amount of these natural metals that will determine the future of electric vehicles in the world.
“And so how Africa harnesses that for its transformation will be critical, but also critical for how Africa positions itself globally in those value chains.
“So, there are potential, opportunities, and positioning issues for Africa within the context of your global electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems.
On agriculture, Adesina said it emerged as a linchpin in Africa’s transformation narrative.
According to him, with most of the world’s uncultivated arable land lying within its borders, Africa holds the key to global food security.
He, however, underscored the imperative for Africa to leverage its agricultural potential to meet the needs of a burgeoning global population.
Adesina said that the continent was poised to chart its course on the global stage and should ensure to shape the future of generations to come.
“So, what Africa does with agriculture will determine the future of food in the world. Africa’s transformation will have to happen not with what Africa does not have.
“It has to happen with what Africa has and how it harnesses those things, which will drive this fast-paced transformation.”
Italian police arrested 12 people in the southern region of Campania over charges of criminal association aimed at illegally disposing of waste and corruption, news agency ANSA reported on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.
President Sergio Mattarella of Italy
ANSA reported that Italian authorities had unveiled a criminal ring dedicated to the illegal disposal of special waste, of industrial origin, at the public plant in the town of Tufino on the outskirts of Naples.
According to the agency, authorities believed some 1,000 tonnes of special waste coming from Naples as well as the cities of Salerno and Benevento and the town of Avellino, in Campania.
There were illegally unloaded in the public plant by private companies aided by a criminal ring.
The investigation lasted about six months, ANSA reported.
Illegal waste disposal and other environmental crimes remain a multi-billion-euro business for Mafia groups in Italy.
Data released by Italian environmental organisation Legambiente in March showed that more than 157,000 environmental crimes were registered between 2018 and 2022.
The southern regions of Campania (23,037), Sicily (16,579), Apulia (16,282) and Calabria (13,926) recorded the most crimes across the country.
Italy’s major organised crime networks were based in those regions.
The Group President, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, said Africa is losing about seven to $15 billion annually to the ravages of climate change.
AfDB President, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina
Adesina said this during a media conference in Nairobi on the sidelines of the ongoing AfDB Annual Meetings 2024.
The meeting marks the 60th anniversary and 59th Annual Assembly of the AfDB and the 50th meeting of the African Development Fund (ADF).
Adesina said while Africa contributed minimally to global emissions, it bore the disproportionate burden of environmental degradation catastrophes.
According to him, the continent, accounting for a mere three to four per cent of emissions, is unexpectedly suffering the most severe consequences of environmental upheaval.
He said the situation would worsen if immediate action was not taken, adding that, by 2030, Africa’s annual losses to climate change could skyrocket to a staggering $40 billion.
“Africa loses seven to $15 billion a year to climate change. If that does not change, that will grow to roughly $40 billion annually by 2030.
“That means we are losing much of our potential for something we did not cause, because Africa did not account for more than three to four per cent of climate emissions.
“But it is suffering today disproportionately from the negative consequences of climate change, which can amplify the strain on already vulnerable economies,” he said.
According to the AfDB president, the unfolding events clearly portray Africa’s struggle against the elements.
“From Malawi’s worst drought in memory to Zimbabwe’s declaration of a national emergency due to severe drought, Mozambique grappling with devastating floods, the continent is besieged by extreme weather events.
Adesina emphasised the need for action that was beyond mere acknowledgement, a need for global financial support to bolster Africa’s resilience and facilitate adaptation measures.
“Africa’s economy’s future is going to depend on building resilience to these particular shocks because climate change is devastating the whole continent,” he said.
Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet), an NGO, has urged Nigerian school pupils to desist from activities that provoke climate change impacts on the society.
Children practising tree planting at Pilot Primary School Kwali in order to mitigate the impacts of climate change
Mr Paul Joseph, the Programme Officer for CSDevNet, said this on Monday, May 27, 2024, during a courtesy visit to Pilot Primary School, Kwali in Abuja while commemorating Nigeria’s Children’s Day.
Joseph admonished the pupils to imbibe climate action to ensure climate justice in Nigeria, by sweeping their environment, desisting from poor disposal of sachet water containers, practising affirmation and desisting from pollution.
He said the NGO needed to create awareness on how to mitigate climate change and make the environment conducive for everyone.
Mr Danjuma Shagi, the Headmaster of the school, said that it was a welcome development to host CSDevNet in the school for awareness creation on climate change.
Shagi, who was represented by Mr Agani Jonathan, Senior Master of the school, assured the NGO that everything that was learnt would be put into practice to ensure a friendly environment within the school.
The pupils were also urged to respect public warning that says “don’t urinate here” to maintain cleanliness in the society.
They were taught how to recycle and reuse waste which is referred to as circular economy.
Highlights of the event were planting of trees to mitigate climate change in the school and the display of arts and crafts works recycled from waste to make bags, shoes and dresses.
Stakeholders in the gas industry have called on the Federal Government to implement Nigeria’s National Gas Plan as it targets to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.
Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo
The Executive Director, Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), Faith Nwadishi, made the call at a one-day capacity development workshop tor Media and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Abuja on Monday, May 27, 2024.
The workshop, which was organised by CTA in collaboration with the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), had “Right-Sizing Nigeria’s National Gas Plans for Non-Power Uses” as its theme.
Nwadishi said that Nigeria had set ambitious targets to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, adding that gas was poised to be a critical transition fuel in this journey.
“We have an Energy Transition Plan; we have the Climate Change Act. We have always had this issue of Nigeria having a good plan but no implementation.
“To support implementation, you need to build the capacity of the people to understand what the issues are.”
She said that once those plans were in place, it was important that “you build the capacity of citizens to understand that there are issues to able to hold you accountable for what policies you are putting in place”.
“2060 is still a long way to go. But if you don’t plan toward 2060, you may continuously have a situation where government had continuously shifted the goal post for the end of gas flaring in the country.”
Nwadishi said: “We believe that by enhancing the Nigerian public’s understanding of the viability and implications of our gas utilisation plans, we can foster robust advocacy and informed public discourse.
“This, in turn, will help to steer Nigeria’s gas strategies towards more sustainable and appropriately scaled uses.”
Also speaking, Tengi George-Ikoli, a senior programme officer at NRGI Nigeria office, said the Nigerian government must make sure its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) uses of gas ambitions matched its realistic capacity for gas expansion.
“The government proposes to ramp up gas production, utilisation and export, with the aims of supporting industrialisation, boosting domestic energy supply for power and non-power uses including LPG for cooking and CNG for transport.
“By doing so, the government expects to enhance economic activity, thus improving the lives of the half of the population living in extreme poverty.”
