The Federal Government has expressed determination to reduce poverty through the Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL) project, by managing the ecosystem through a catchment plan.
Malam Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment
Malam Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment, said this in Abuja at the contract signing ceremony for the delivery of 20 strategic catchment management plans for the ACReSAL project.
The minister reiterated that catchments are vital ecosystems that support livelihoods, provide high-quality water, and sustain biodiversity.
“This catchment plan will help reduce poverty, promote sustainable agriculture, protect the environment, supporting livelihoods for generations to come.
“The Ministry of Environment under my watch has promised Nigerians of improvement in environmental sustainability interventions and initiatives.
“The Strategic Catchment Management Plan (SCMP) is a vital component of the ACReSAL project, aimed at ensuring sustainable management and utilisation of our water resources,” he said.
Lawal said that the agreement signing ceremony for the Development of Strategic Catchment Management Plan (SCMP) for ACReSAL is a crucial step towards responsible management of Nigeria’s natural resources.
“The SCMP is designed to address these issues through efficient, effective, and sustainable management practice to ensure that land, water, and related resources are developed and managed in a coordinated manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.
“Indeed, what we are witnessing today is one of the hallmarks of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s love for the restoration of nature and its attendant protected ecosystems.
“By implementing the SCMP, the ministries of Environment, Agriculture and Water Resources, will not only ensure sustainable agro-climatic and land management but also improve the living standards of communities in northern Nigeria,” the minister said.
Chuka Offodile, consultant and Managing Director of Mecon Geology and Engineering Services Ltd., said the strategic catchment management plan study of the northern parts of Nigeria begins by scientific delineation of northern Nigeria into 20 mega-catchments.
“Then the scientific assemblage and analysis of data in that framework as a planning tool with its component natural and environmental resources in an integrated manner in line with the various interacting characteristics of each notable element,” Offodile said.
He said that the notable element should lead to the recommendation of knowledge-based infrastructure and investment implementation guided by a community-based sustainable, climate-resilient solution to environmental challenges in the northern parts of Nigeria.
Mr Abdulhamid Umar, National Coordinator for the ACReSAL project, said that the catchment plan would enhance livelihood for communities.
“The plan’s implementation will help us balance human needs with environmental protection, ensuring a resilient and thriving catchment area for future generations,” Umar said.
The National Boundary Commission (NBC) has described the extension of Nigeria’s continental shelf as a significant achievement of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in its one year in office.
Director General of National Boundary Commission, Mr Adamu Adaji
Director-General of the commission, Mr Adamu Adaji, who stated this in an interview in Abuja on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, described continental shelf as the natural submerged prolongation of a country’s land territory.
He congratulated Nigeria on the extension of the country’s continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles and sovereignty over additional 16,300 square kilometres of maritime boundaries, about five times the size of Lagos.
“Just recently, Mr. President, was briefed about the activities of the high-powered Presidential Committee on the extended continental shelf, where the Boundary Commission played a very key role.
“Of course, the project started from this commission. It’s a baby of NBC but now being handled by a presidential committee.
“We want to commend the visionary leadership of the Federal Government for the support and congratulate Nigerians for the extension of our maritime territory,” he said.
The DG said that the extended continental shelf would be of massive economic benefit to Nigeria considering its rich natural and mineral deposits.
He assured President Tinubu of the commission’s continued support to the High-Powered Presidential Committee on Nigeria’s Extended Continental Shelf Project.
“Of course, the committee is still working. Whatever the government decides as the next phase of action, the boundary commission will be ready to play its part and participate in the committee’s work as much as possible.
“I want to congratulate Nigeria for this achievement and congratulate this government for the interest it is showing and the willingness to support this project to logical conclusion,
“I want to pray that the dividends of democracy, as we are beginning to see in this administration will be sustained till the end of the administration,” Adaji said.
The High-Powered Presidential Committee had on May 14 briefed the President on the approval of the extended continental shelf by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS).
The journey to extend Nigeria’s continental shelf began in 2009 with the country’s submission to the CLCS, but the project suffered setbacks due to lack of funds and other administrative challenges.
It was finally approved by the UN shortly after Tinubu assumed office.
The ninth annual global conference on energy efficiency started in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, with a call for sustainable energy resource consumption to curb the emission of planet-warming gases, including carbon and methane.
Davis Chirchir, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for energy and petroleum
The conference is convened on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Kenya’s Ministry of Energy and Petroleum.
The event would be attended by ministers, industry executives, heads of regional blocs and multilateral agencies, researchers and green campaigners, according to organisers.
It was the first time that the global energy efficiency conference was held in Africa.
Davis Chirchir, Kenya’s cabinet secretary for energy and petroleum, said the two-day conference would raise the bar in efforts to promote energy efficiency and revitalise action on the climate crisis.
“Our commitment to energy efficiency and conservation is central to realising a sustainable future.
“We must, therefore, enact enabling policies and regulations to promote sustainable energy use in the industries and households,’’ he said.
The meeting is expected to chart a new beginning in the global quest to achieve energy efficiency in line with the outcome adopted at the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai.
In Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, last December, Chirchir said.
The participation of delegates from more than 20 African countries reaffirms the continent’s attempts to embed energy efficiency in climate action, poverty eradication and livelihood transformation, he said.
Amani Abou-Zeid, the AU commissioner for infrastructure and energy, said energy efficiency is a vital tool for addressing climate change, air pollution and respiratory diseases.
She stressed that energy efficiency should be at the heart of achieving shared aspirations of peace, sustainable development, climate resilience and prosperity in Africa.
Abou-Zeid also called for the harmonisation of policies and legislation to promote energy efficiency across critical sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, transport, buildings and home appliances.
Kadri Simson, the EU commissioner for energy, said the conference should explore high-impact interventions, including fiscal incentives, to boost energy efficiency and global access.
She underscored the critical role of private sector investments, enactment of laws and public education in promoting energy efficiency to avert the worst impacts of global warming.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has promised to sensitise Kogi State residents on precautionary measures against flooding, ahead of 2024 rainy season.
Kogi State NOA Director, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Dare
The state new NOA Director, Alhaji Abdulganiyu Dare, who stated this in an interview on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Lokoja, the state capital, said that the state was among those prone to flooding as predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
He assured that the agency would collaborate with key stakeholders to sensitise the residents in order to mitigate the effects of flooding in the state.
“We will collaborate with relevant stakeholders and government agencies to sensitise residents in taking proactive measures to minimise flooding in the state,” he said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the “Renewed Hope Agenda” through the implementation of viable policies and programmes aimed at improving the well-being of Nigerians and foster development.
“I am appealing to all Nigerians to exercise little patience amidst the current economic hardships; the President is on top of the game, and there will be light at the end of the tunnel,” Dare said.
He solicited for the support and collaboration of the residents of the state towards fulfilling the agency’s mandate.
Dare also solicited for the support of Nigerians for the smooth implementation of policies and programmes of the Federal Government for the betterment of the nation.
Dare, who assumed office as state NOA Director, on May 13, commended the staff of the agency in the state for the warm reception and urged them to support him to fulfill NOA’s mandate.
“NOA is involved in collection, collation, analysis and provision of feedback from the public to Government on its policies, programmes and activities.
“We need the support and cooperation of the key stakeholders’ and the entire Nigerians in carrying out our mandate of relating government’s policies, programmes and activities to the people.
“We will consistently raise awareness for people to embrace positively change attitudes, values and behaviours; we will accurately and adequately inform them.
“We will sufficiently mobilize citizens to act in ways that promote peace and harmony in Kogi and the nation at large,” he said.
Speaking on his plans for the state, the director said he would build and consolidate on the already established structures with the collaboration of the formidable management and staff of the agency.
Dare promised to intensify beyond what was obtainable in terms of partnership with the state government as well as other relevant stakeholders in the state.
He promised to continue to interface with the people through the media, town hall meetings, religious and traditional institutions as part of the mandate given to the agency by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema, has called on southern African countries to use their resources to help countries affected by drought in the region.
President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia
Hichilema made the call on his Facebook page after participating in a virtual extraordinary summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of state and government.
He said solidarity and unity were needed to combat the humanitarian crisis caused by drought due to the El Nino weather conditions.
“Unless we collectively utilise our resource endowments to support deficit areas, our regional economies will suffer, and our economic gains could be reversed due to this humanitarian crisis,” he added.
According to Hichilema, the debilitating drought’s impact on food and energy security in the region could not be overemphasised, as no country has been spared by the crisis.
He commended the solidarity and unity displayed at the summit to combat the challenge.
Hichilema added that strategies for water harvesting and using coal as an alternative energy source should be urgently explored.
Some countries in the region have experienced droughts caused by poor rains during the 2023/2024 rainy season, which affected crop production.
Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe have so far declared states of disasters and emergencies and appealed for support to tackle the negative impact of the drought.
In an attempt to assist Nigeria in realising its just-transition goal, the GreenWaka and Carbon Literacy Project (CLP) have wrapped up preparations to launch a significant climate education initiative in the country.
GreenWaka and the Carbon Literacy Project (CLP) during a partnership meeting on the roll-out of the CLP in Nigeria
With this new arrangement in place, the two groups will work together to engage with various stakeholders, notably those in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) sectors, to lower the nation’s emissions and reach its net-zero goal by 2060.
Nigeria is a very strategic country in Africa, says Michael Mbaike, GreenWaka co-lead, in response to concerns about the partnership’s importance and how it will help Nigeria achieve its just transition ambition.
“We must understand the influence that we have when we do anything and how it affects every other country on the continent,” he stated in Abuja shortly after receiving the endorsement letter, emphasising the importance of Nigeria taking the lead in this respect.
According to him, it is vital for Nigeria, as an oil-dependent country, to consider alternative sources of income to avoid socio-economic disaster and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future for everyone.
He applauded the CLP for putting its trust in his group to pioneer this great endeavour in the country, urging all industry actors to cooperate to ensure that Nigerians become carbon literate so that they can contribute to and facilitate their path towards a just transition.
In the same vein, Phil Korbel, co-founder and director of advocacy at the CLP, believes that the need to improve the amazing skills and energy of the Nigerian people to take on this responsibility is becoming increasingly urgent.
“Nigerian solutions at all levels of society are vital if a just transition to a low-carbon economy is to be achieved,” he said.
Korbel hinted that the carbon literacy project is a globally unique, adaptable framework for a day’s worth of climate action learning and doing and has been devised so that it can be deployed anywhere.
He went on to disclose that the Carbon Literacy Trust, a Manchester-based non-governmental organisation (NGO), oversees the framework’s implementation and helps organisations provide carbon literacy training that is relevant to their people, no matter whom they are or where they live.
The CLP’s senior representative expressed confidence that GreenWaka has the potential to be a CLP pioneer in Nigeria and pledged that he and his organisation would devote both time and resources to developing carbon literacy training by Green Waka and its partners.
“We will assist them to explore the full reach and many models of our training that exist at the moment, mentor training design, and support the development of a sustainable business model for them to grow their training offer,” Korbel stated.
Concerned about what it considers as the neglect of key issues around ecological and social justice amid plans to resume oil exploration activities in Ogoniland, a team of environment activists has called on the Nigerian Government to suspend any such intention.
Fishermen sort out their fishing net at the bank of a polluted river in Bidere community in Ogoni land in the Niger Delta region. Photo credit: REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye
In a statement made available to EnviroNews on Monday, May 20, 2024, the team of 12 civil society groups submitted that the government should rather concentrate on redeeming the ecological disaster in the area, decommissioning aged oil infrastructure, replacing the lost livelihood of the people and securing justice for the countless Ogonis waiting for closure.
Lamenting that the people of Ogoni have suffered unprecedented pains and loses on account of oil extraction, the activists regretted that no apology has been rendered for the destruction of their environment, the killing of their people, the loss of their livelihoods, the destruction of their villages, the forced exile of their people and the murder of their leaders.
“To assume that the extraction of oil can commence whilst these issues remain on the front burner, is to be naïve at best and cruel at worse,” declared the campaigners.
They frowned at the government’s decision to resume oil extraction in Ogoniland when the pollution of the last decades is yet to be cleaned and the recommendations of UNEP are yet to be fully complied with.
“How does one explain the fact that a site supposedly being cleaned up will resume full oil extraction activities with all the pollution that comes with it?” they demanded, adding:
“For the avoidance of doubt, it should be noted that the Niger Delta as a whole has become the epicentre for hydrocarbon pollution in need of immediate remediation. The environmental assessment of Ogoniland report released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the May 2023 Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission (BSOEC) report both demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt the scale of destruction and the true costs of extracting oil and gas.”
The statement reads further: “In 1993, Shell was forced out of Ogoniland where it had extracted crude oil non-stop for decades with unbelievable ecological consequences. The Ogoni people, mobilised under the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), had issued a set of demands in the Ogoni Bill of Rights in 1990 which included calls to the Nigerian government to clean up the Ogoni environment and restore the livelihoods of the indigenous people.
“MOSOP had called the attention of the world to the poverty, neglect and environmental destruction which decades of oil exploitation had bequeathed on the Ogoni people. MOSOP demanded fairer benefits to the Ogoni people from oil wealth, as well as remediation and compensation for the ecological damage caused by the reckless activities of oil companies.
“The government had responded to this genuine concern with widespread militarisation of Ogoniland and the Niger Delta region, mass killings, arson and the eventual execution of environmental rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni leaders in 1995 after the recommendations of a stage-managed trial.
“As civil society organisations in Nigeria, we have keenly observed the scheming and unhindered contestations over the resumption of extraction of oil in the disputed oilfields of Ogoniland. Over the last decade, we have seen scheming by Shell and the Nigeria government – including resort to court processes – to resume drilling for crude oil with its attendant environmental, social and security recklessness in Ogoniland.
“The latest contestation follows the visit of some Ogonis to President Bola Tinubu ostensibly with the mandate of the Ogoni people to negotiate the resumption of oil extraction in the area.
“It is deeply concerning that 33 years after the Ogonis made their demands contained in the Ogoni Bill of Rights for which they were so brutally suppressed, none of their concerns and prayers have been conclusively addressed. It is disappointing and demonstrates insensitivity for the government to imagine that those concerns have simply withered away with time. Those of us who remain connected to the communities know for a fact that the Ogoni people remain resolute in their resistance to any renewed hydrocarbon extraction in their domains.
“It is particularly disappointing to see that, in the fight over OML 11 and the resumption of oil extraction in Ogoniland, there has been no mention or discussion of getting the indigenous Ogoni people’s free, prior, and informed permission. It is unclear whether any consultations have taken place with the impacted communities, or whether their rights to a safe environment and interests have been considered. We believe that these recent attempts are callous, ill-advised, and capable of inciting suspicion and conflict in an already tense and conflict-prone area.
“It is also gravely disconcerting that in the ongoing frenzy, the concerns raised by the Ogoni people 33 years ago which led to the termination of oil extraction have not been addressed. Similarly, there has been no attempt to secure justice for the countless families that lost lives, livelihoods and properties in what is still the worst attack on a peaceful indigenous population by Nigerian security forces. Persons who committed acts of genocide and abuses against unarmed populations, and boasted publicly about it, have still not been brought to justice. For the majority of Ogonis, the events of the 1990s remains an open and sour wound, begging for the healing of truth and justice.
“Critical to this is the fact that the moves to resume the extraction of oil in Ogoniland is happening against the backdrop of the contentious clean-up of polluted sites in Ogoni. In 2012, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) was setup to lead and co-ordinate the activities needed to implement the recommendations of the UNEP report on oil contamination in Ogoniland, including cleanup activities. The cleanup has been marred by concerns of irregularities, and in many instances low quality of job done and contract racketeering. These have created peculiar difficulties in the cleanup process.”
The statement was endorsed by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), We the People (WTP), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Policy Alert, Kabetkeche Women Development and Resource Centre, Peoples Advancement Centre, Peace Point Development Foundation, Nkori Rural Women Development Initiative, and Miideekor Environmental Development Initiative (MEDI).
Southern African leaders launched a $5.5 billion humanitarian appeal on Saturday, May 18, 2024, to assist over 61 million people affected by drought and flooding linked to an El Niño weather phenomenon, writes Winston Mwale
Drought in Southern Africa
The funding drive approved at an emergency virtual summit aims to augment domestic resources in impacted nations and mobilise further aid from international partners.
An addendum reflecting revised needs will be issued in August after some countries complete impact assessments, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said in a communique.
SADC also urged proactive steps to brace for potential La Niña conditions in 2024-2025.
“Summit noted the multifaceted and cascading impact of the El Niño induced drought and floods across multiple sectors…and called for coordinated, integrated, and harmonised interventions,” the statement said.
Several U.N. agencies and aid groups including the World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organisation and the International Federation of Red Cross pledged initial funding.
But with over 61 million people impacted across the region, SADC said much more support is urgently needed from the international community.
The summit was chaired virtually by Angolan President João Lourenço, the SADC chairman. He welcomed new Namibian President, Nangolo Mbumba, while mourning late Namibian leader, Hage Geingob.
Leaders also condemned an attempted coup on Sunday in the Democratic Republic of Congo, reaffirming opposition to unconstitutional power transfers and expressing solidarity with Congo’s government.
The 16-nation SADC bloc appointed Lourenço last August amid escalating regional instability from insurgencies, coups and weather disasters exacerbated by climate change.
At the time, he warned that failure to address these mounting crises could fuel displacement, hunger and recruitment by extremist groups.
The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has urged the Lagos State Government and other states in Nigeria to learn from failed water privatisation in the United Kingdom (UK) and adequately fund public sector solutions to the water crisis.
British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak
RDI made the call in a reaction to the just-released study by the Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU) of the University of Greenwich which showed that investors in England and Wales’ water sector (largely driven by profits) withdrew over £85.2 billion from 10 water and sewerage firms in England and Wales since the industry was privatised more than 30 years ago.
The new research comes amid growing public fury towards water companies over the recent Brixham poisoning scandal and rising bill prices. The report shows there is under investment in the UK’s infrastructure, which many believe has led to sewage spills and water leaks.
The research, published by the British Broadcasting Service (BBC), revealed that shareholders in some of the UK’s largest water companies withdrew tens of billions of pounds, but failed to invest, with firms planning to raise household bills to fund future spending. Between 1989 and 2023, money invested by shareholders in the largest firms shrunk by £5.5 billion when adjusted for inflation.
A spokesperson of Ofwat, the industry regulator, said it “strongly refuted” the figures even as it wholeheartedly agreed with demands for companies to change.
Water UK, which represents the industry, said investment in the sector was “double the annual levels seen before privatisation”, but David Hall, visiting professor at the PSIRU at the University of Greenwich, insisted that water companies have invested “less than nothing of their own money” and are “treating their customers like a cash cow”.
Company accounts examined by the university include Thames Water, United Utilities and Severn Trent.
Reacting to the findings, RDI Project Officer, Ifeoluwa Adediran, said: “The study has justified the argument of RDI and other water justice groups that water privatisation is a mirage packaged by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to fool developing nations to bug them down in debts. We hope the Lagos State Government and states across Nigeria can learn from this.
“Research in the last 10 years has shown a trend towards re-municipalisation in countries that have adopted water privatisation. We do not need to tread that path.”
Aside from the poor investment by the privateers in the water sector, there were 464,056 sewage spills in 2023, according to the Environment Agency, a 54% increase on the previous year. The spills came from toilet, personal washing or domestic cleaning such as from a washing machine or doing the dishes. It also includes run-off from roads.
The RDI spokesperson said the findings do not disappoint water justice groups but instead confirm long standing research across the globe that show disappointing outcomes of privatisation that have fueled a steady recourse to re-municipalisations.
“The UK example only adds to existing research that shows that the solution to the global water crisis is in the realm of a public democratically controlled and sustainably funded water sector. Privatisation in the water sector is a huge scam,” Adediran insisted.
The Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) has approved a new round of project preparation grants and set aside more than $70 million for 18 new projects in 21 countries, including 13 Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States. The approvals keep the momentum for the less than one-year-old fund housed at the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to put nature on a path to recovery before 2030.
Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, GEF CEO and Chairperson
The resources will fund action on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (the Biodiversity Plan) in Angola, Belize, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Fiji, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mozambique, Nauru, Palau, Peru, the Philippines, Samoa, Senegal, South Africa, Suriname, and Tonga.
GEF CEO and Chairperson, Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, celebrated the announcement during the week of the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB). “The approval of these grants shows the new fund commitment to allocating resources efficiently to impactful projects that will promote inclusiveness. We are part of the Plan,” said Rodríguez in a reference to this year’s IDB theme, which is a call to action for all stakeholders to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity.
The projects will advance many of the Biodiversity Plan targets – particularly 1, 2, 3, 9, 10, 13, 18, 19, 22, and 23 – and have high outcome targets for enhancing biodiversity, including support to more than 8 million hectares of terrestrial and marine protected areas.
The second round of preparation grants includes projects from six GEF implementing agencies: the Asian Development Bank, Conservation International, the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank, and WWF-US.
In March, the GBFF approved a first round of preparation grants for four projects totaling nearly $40 million in Brazil, Gabon, and Mexico. Together, the two rounds set aside $110 million for 22 projects in 24 countries, with 35 percent of this funding expected to support action by Indigenous Peoples and local communities for biodiversity. GBFF resources are allocated in a country-driven manner to projects through consecutive selection rounds open to all eligible countries.
The GBFF was launched in August 2023 during the GEF Assembly in Canada to support the Biodiversity Plan. So far, it received contributions from six countries: Canada, Germany, Japan, Luxembourg, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
