The NNPC Retail Limited says that its attention has been drawn to a recent video clip making rounds on social media (X to be precise) concerning a fuel pump attendant in one of NNPC filling stations.
Managing Director of NNPC Retail Ltd, Mr. Huub Stokman
In the said video, customers were coerced to purchase lubricants or engine oil as a prerequisite for purchasing or dispensing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.
Still in the video, the attendant alleged that this was a directive from NNPC Retail Management.
“NNPC Retail wishes to state unequivocally that the allegation is entirely false and does not represent the Company’s Customer Service Charter. At all NNPC Retail filling stations, customers are not obligated to purchase lubricants or engine oil or other products as a precursor to buying PMS (petrol),” declared the organisation in a statement.
Speaking further on the incident, Managing Director of NNPC Retail Ltd, Mr. Huub Stokman, said: “We are dedicated to providing clear, transparent and quality service to all our customers, guaranteeing that their needs are met without any recourse to unnecessary and unscrupulous conditionalities.”
The organisation advised the public to disregard the information in its entirety and report any such occurrences to the appropriate authority.
In the meantime, NNPC Retail Limited has launched an investigation into the incident and assures that appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against the culprit(s).
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals, (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has called on State and Local Governments as well as the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to double their efforts in the quest to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the global community seeks to accelerate the implementation of the Global Agenda in the Decade of Action for the Goals.
SSAP-SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire (right), with Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, during the the Advocacy and Sensitisation Meetng on Accelerating the SDGs
The Presidential Aide made this call at the ongoing Advocacy and Sensitisation campaign in Kano and Ondo states.
A statement issued by Desmond Utomwen, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the SSAP-SDGs, noted that with the global community lagging behind in the efforts to attain the SDGs and with Nigeria facing various challenges, the need for all stakeholders, particularly State and Local Governments, to accelerate progress has become more imperative.
According to Orelope-Adefulire, despite the commitment and efforts as a country, Nigeria is faced with issues and challenges in the desire to achieve the SDGs. She noted that, partly due to the now Triple C Crisis – COVID, Climate Change, and Conflicts, the implementation is off-track globally, and only 15 percent of the SDGs targets are on track as of 2023.
“In Nigeria, the Multidimensional Poverty Index Report (2022) shows that about 63 percent or 133 million Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor. The report shows that poverty levels vary significantly across the states and the geopolitical zones. Specifically, multidimensional poverty is higher in rural areas, where 72 percent of people are poor, compared to 42 percent in urban areas. Overall, the report revealed that 65 percent of poor people live in the North, while 35 percent live in the South.
“Relatedly, the National Bureau of Statistics’ Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Report (2022) shows that the Under-5 mortality rate, which represents SDG 3.2.1, is 102 per 1,000 live births – with Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, and Jigawa recording the highest, and FCT, Benue, Kwara, and Ebonyi states recording the lowest.
“On SDG 4, quality education among children and adolescents aged 7-14 years, only about 27 percent have foundational reading skills, and 25 percent have foundational numeracy skills. This translates to a low out-of-school rate found in Ekiti State at (2%) and Imo (1%), while the highest rates are found in Kebbi (65%) and Zamfara and Bauchi states both at 61%.
The SSAP-SDGs noted that the Federal Government has demonstrated strong commitment towards the implementation of the SDGs in Nigeria and requires the sub-national governments to match these efforts, particularly as the tier of government closest to the people. She noted that institutional frameworks have been established at the national and sub-national levels to guarantee effective implementation of the SDGs.
The SDGs require a whole-of-society approach and clearly cannot be achieved with stand-alone policies and projects. They must be carefully integrated into national and sub-national policies and development plans.
“As we approach the 2030 deadline, we must recommit to accelerating the implementation of the SDGs, especially at the state and Local Governments level. As part of the transformative actions needed to deliver on the SDGs, we need the expertise and resources of the public and private sectors, the UN Development System, development partners and the donor community, academia, civil society, and concerned citizens in support of the SDGs,” Orelope-Adefulire stated.
In his remarks, the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, maintained that the Sustainable Development Goals are a blueprint for a better future for all, addressing global challenges like poverty, inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation.
Ondo State is said to be naturally endowed and positioned to achieve these goals of the SDGs. The state is blessed with abundant natural resources, a vibrant population, and a rich cultural heritage. He expressed his commitment and optimism that, through continued partnerships with the Federal Government and other stakeholders, Nigeria can deliver on the SDGs.
“I am confident that through seamless collaboration and innovation, we can make significant progress towards achieving the SDGs at the sub-national level. On our part, the Ondo State Government is committed to playing its part in achieving the SDGs. We recognise the importance of these goals and are actively working to integrate them into our policies. Together, let us build a future that is sustainable, equitable, and prosperous for all,” the Governor stated.
In the same vein, the Governor of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Shehu Shegagi, maintained that the state is committed to delivering on the Targets of the SDGs, while leaving no one behind.
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) in partnership with Continental Reinsurance Company on Friday, June 28, 2024, planted 2,000 trees to boost environmental sustainability.
The Lekki Conservation Centre, head offices of the NCF in Lagos
The tree planting which took place at the Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC) in Lagos, NCF’s head offices, is said to be critical in challenging the impact of climate change within the Lekki Epe corridor.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of NCF, Dr Joseph Onoja, noted that the month of June is a very special month for nature with many events aimed at nature conservation.
Represented by Mr Uchenna Achunine, Director, Business Development and Communications, NCF, Onoja extolled the quality of the partnership between the NCF and Continental Reinsurance.
“Though our partnership has not been for many years, we have become a family.
“They have treated us very well as partners,” Onoja said.
He said that the insurance company with presence in six African countries has an ambitious project of planting one million trees in Africa.
“The company invited us to speak at their ninth Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) summit in Zimbabwe in May, thus giving us the opportunity to talk about nature conservation to insurance CEOs.
“We are working out all the details of playing a key role in that sector and how it can be achieved,” Onoja said.
He noted that the NCF is the foremost environmental conservation organisation in Nigeria and has been advocating environmental sustainability and nature conservation for over 44 years.
Onoja said the foundation launched the Green Recovery Nigeria (GRN) project in 2017 with an ambitious target of restoring and recovering Nigeria’s lost forest cover to 25 per cent.
“Today Nigeria’s forest cover hovers around four to eight per cent.
“It is still a far cry from where it is supposed to be,” Onoja said.
In his goodwill message, the Group Executive Director, Technical Operation, Continental Reinsurance, Mr Chukwuemeka Akwiwu, said that the tree planting event was in line with the GRN project of the NCF.
“We are pleased to support this noble goal with a donation of 2,000 trees for now.
“It is my intention of having this conversation on an annual basis,” Akwiwu said.
He noted that, following the participation of the NCF at the ninth CEOs Summit in Zimbabwe, Continental Reinsurance would continue the advocacy for climate change in the insurance industry.
“We will mobilise key players in this regard. These trees are not just ceremonial trees, but a symbol of hope in combating climate change,” Akwiwu said.
According to him, NCF’s participation at the ninth CEOs summit inspired the audience of insurance industry leaders by showcasing what NCF does.
He added that the input of NCF at the summit demonstrated how the company can support such impactful work of the foundation.
“Today’s event is a significant milestone of broader goal of achieving our environmental target as Continental Reinsurance.
“Working together we can amplify our impact and drive meaningful change in environmental conservation.
“At Continental Reinsurance, we are unwavering in our commitment to make a positive difference in our environmental future.
“We believe that through collaboration and shared effort, we can create a lasting impact,” Akwiwu said.
The climax of the event was the tree planting exercise at the conservation area of the LCC.
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Mr Ridwan AbdulRazaq, a renewable energy expert, on winning the 2024 Prince’s Trust Global Sustainability Award.
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria at UNGA 2023
Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, in a statement on Friday, June 28, 2024, said President Tinubu commended the Nigerian green-solution pacesetter.
AbdulRazaq was honoured for advancing solar energy system design and deployment in Nigeria, especially in off-grid rural communities.
Tinubu stated that AbdulRazaq’s achievement reinforced the long-held conviction that Nigeria’s climate goals, and his administration’s green industrial vision were realisable with the active participation of the nation’s gifted youths.
“The President affirms that Nigeria can lead Africa and even the rest of the world in science, technology, cutting-edge manufacturing, and other spheres of human pursuits with the composite ingenuity of the youth.
“Tinubu enjoins Nigerians not to relent in applying the resources of their talents in any given area as his administration remains committed to providing support and giving flight to their dreams,” said the statement.
The Kano State Government, through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, has unveiled plans to plant three million trees to address climate change and environmental degradation in the state.
Dr Dahiru Hashim, coordinator, ACReSAL project
Speaking during a news conference in Kano on Friday, June 28, 2024, Dr Dahiru Hashim, coordinator, ACReSAL project, emphasised the critical need to address climate change and environmental degradation in the region.
The project coordinator explained that the programme would beautify the state and secure its environment.
He said the initiative, tagged “Three Million Trees Planting (3MTP)”, driven by ACReSAL projects, aimed to address climate change, environmental degradation, and deforestation in the region.
“Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf, a strong advocate for environmental sustainability, emphasised the vital role of trees in maintaining ecological balance.
“The programme will involve avenue planting, afforestation projects, and shelter belt establishment, engaging community organisations, NGOs, and civil society groups. Training sessions will ensure effective tree planting and maintenance,” he said.
According to him, legislative measures are also being developed to prevent indiscriminate tree felling and enforce penalties for violations, ensuring the long-term survival of the newly planted trees.
“Early efforts under the initiative include the planting of 5,000 seedlings along key roads such as State Road, Ahmadu Bello Way, and BUK Road.
“The programme also plans to plant an additional two million trees through afforestation projects and the establishment of new shelterbelts to combat desertification and promote food security,” Hashim added.
He said a safe environment was key to the continued survival of humanity, adding that the need to preserve the environment was non-negotiable.
The project coordinator called on residents to participate in this historic initiative, contributing to a greener, more resilient state.
A total of 2,659 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) across Nigeria have been pre-qualified for the final phase of the NNPC Foundation Business Pitching Exercise.
Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe
Billed to hold from July 2 to 10, 2024, the exercise is an integral part of the NNPC Foundation’s Financial Literacy Programme for Nigerian youths that witnessed the engagement of over 284,000 corps members, who underwent rigorous training and assessments.
Speaking on the exercise, the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Mrs. Emmanuella Arukwe, said the selection criteria would focus on the feasibility and sustainability of the business idea, market relevance, competitive edge and innovation, scalability, potential impact on the community and the entrepreneurial spirit of the corps members.
“We have identified these 2,659 individuals who are ready to present their business ideas to a distinguished panel of assessors,” Arukwe stated.
Arukwe informed that the Financial Literacy Programme is aligned with the NNPC Foundation’s mission of equipping young Nigerian graduates with necessary skills for personal and professional development.
“By educating corps members on financial management and entrepreneurship, the programme aims to empower them to become economically self-sufficient and to contribute positively to society,” she added.
During the pitching exercise, projects that standout will receive startup packs, business advisory services, and opportunities to scale their ventures.
In a related development, the management of NNPC Foundation has facilitated a significant 50% reduction in the registration fee for corps members’ businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The NNPC Foundation is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of NNPC Limited. Its initiatives focus on enhancing Nigeria’s socio-economic development through targeted interventions in education, health, the environment, access to energy and youth empowerment to foster economic empowerment, promote entrepreneurship, and support sustainable development across the nation.
The Economic Community of African States (ECOWAS) has said that collaborative efforts of member states towards an integrated water resource management (IWRM) is crucial to sustainable regional socio-economic development.
Participants at the event on Friday in Abuja
ECOWAS Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Sediko Douka, made this known at the 5th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee (MMC) of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in West Africa on Friday in Abuja.
Douka, noted that water-related problems were detrimental to the economic and social development of the West African countries, said that there was urgent need to move to new forms of water management.
This, he said, was already contained in the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Sustainable Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992.
The Commissioner said that, since 1998, ECOWAS member states had been fully committed to the IWRM process, which culminated in the adoption of a regional action plan in 2000 and a permanent coordination and monitoring framework (PCMF).
“This commitment to sub-regional cooperation stems from a shared political vision by all member states, as expressed in the “Ouagadougou Declaration” of 1998.
“These broad lines have successfully guided our efforts in integrated water resources management for almost three decades now,” he said.
Douka explained that the Abuja event aimed to revitalise the PCMF of IWRM and assess the implementation status of the West Africa Water Resources Policy (WAWRP) adopted in December 2008 by ECOWAS leaders.
“The WAWRP represents a unique experience in the development of a common sectoral policy for West African regional integration organisations (ECOWAS-WAEMU-CILSS).
“The meeting agenda will address issues of crucial importance for the promotion of IWRM and sustainable development in West Africa.
He described ECOWAS’ Regional Initiative for the Development, Resilience, and Valorisation of Water Resources (DREVE), as an ambitious structuring and innovative programme that is supported by the World Bank and other West African integration organisations.
Douka expressed confidence that its implementation would positively change the profile of the ECOWAS bloc in terms of sustainable development.
Also speaking, Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said that West Africa’s abundant water resources were the potential cornerstone for development.
He said that the water resources would impact positively on health, education, tourism, food security and energy, if properly harnessed and coordinated.
The minister said that by working together, ECOWAS member states could address challenges like climate change, poverty, unemployment and inequality.
With just six years remaining, current progress falls far short of what is required to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Without massive investment and scaled up action, the achievement of the SDGs – the blueprint for a more resilient and prosperous world and the roadmap out of current global crises – will remain elusive, warns The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024, launched on Friday, June 28, 2024.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
A world in great upheaval
The report reveals that only 17 per cent of the SDG targets are currently on track, with nearly half showing minimal or moderate progress, and over one-third stalled or regressing. The lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating conflicts, geopolitical tensions and growing climate chaos have severely hindered progress.
According to the report, an additional 23 million people were pushed into extreme poverty and over 100 million more were suffering from hunger in 2022 compared to 2019. The number of civilian deaths in armed conflict skyrocketed in 2023. That year was also the warmest on record, with global temperatures nearing the critical 1.5°C threshold.
A moment of choice and consequence
“This report highlights the urgent need for stronger and more effective international cooperation to maximise progress starting now,” said UN Secretary-General, António Guterres. “With more than six years left, we must not let up on our 2030 promise to end poverty, protect the planet and leave no one behind.”
Urgent priorities:
Financing development: The SDG investment gap in developing countries now stands at $4 trillion per year. Developing countries require more financial resources and fiscal space. Reforming the global financial architecture is crucial to unlocking the volume of financing required to spur sustainable development.
Peace and security: The number of forcibly displaced people has reached an unprecedented level, nearly 120 million by May 2024. Civilian casualties spiked by 72 per cent between 2022 and 2023 amid escalating violence, highlighting the urgent need for peace. Resolving ongoing conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy is essential.
Implementation surge: Massive investment and effective partnerships are needed to drive critical transitions in food, energy, social protection, digital connectivity and more.
Success stories and opportunities for action
The report spotlights examples of success and resilience that can be built upon through decisive action.
The remarkable recent strides in deploying renewable energy, for example, highlight a clear pathway to a just energy transition. Girls in most regions have achieved parity and even pulled ahead of boys in completing schooling at all levels. Increasing internet access by about 70 per cent in just eight years also illustrates how rapid transformative change is possible. Similarly, decades of progress against HIV/AIDS provide a template for overcoming other pandemics through global solidarity and funding for scientific breakthroughs.
“Time and again, humanity has demonstrated that when we work together and apply our collective mind, we can forge solutions to seemingly intractable problems,” said Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.
Key moments for the SDGs
The Summit of the Future, taking place from September 22 to 23, 2024, at UN Headquarters in New York, will be pivotal to getting the world back on track to achieving the SDGs. Deliberations at the Summit will include addressing the debt crisis that is holding so many developing countries back and the urgent need for reform of the international financial architecture.
According to the report, both the Financing for Development Conference and the World Summit for Social Development in 2025 will be key moments to drive SDG momentum.
But as Mr. Li stressed: “The time for words has passed – the political declarations must urgently translate into actions. We must act now, and act boldly.”
Key findings:
For the first time this century, per-capita GDP growth in half of the world’s most vulnerable nations is slower than that of advanced economies.
Nearly 60 per cent of countries faced moderately to abnormally high food prices in 2022.
Based on data collected in 2022 in 120 countries, 55 per cent of the countries lacked non-discrimination laws that prohibit direct and indirect discrimination against women.
Increased access to treatment has averted 20.8 million AIDS-related deaths in the past three decades.
Progress on education remains of grave concern, with only 58 per cent of students worldwide achieving minimum proficiency in reading by the end of primary school.
Global unemployment hit a historic low of 5 per cent in 2023, yet persistent roadblocks remain in achieving decent work.
Global capacity to generate electricity from renewable energy has begun expanding at an unprecedented rate, growing at 8.1 per cent annually for the past five years.
Mobile broadband (3G or higher) is accessible to 95 per cent of the world’s population, up from 78 per cent in 2015.
Record high ocean temperatures have triggered a fourth global coral bleaching event.
External debt stock levels have remained unprecedentedly high in developing countries. About 60 per cent of low-income countries are at high risk of debt distress or already experiencing it.
In one of the statues along the coast of the city of Santos, in São Paulo, we see Father José Anchieta portrayed in a grandiose manner and an indigenous man crouching at his feet. It is estimated that there were between 600 and 1,000 different ethnic groups when the Portuguese arrived in Brazil, with the current census accounting for 270 ethnic groups.
Surge Africa’s partnership with Instituto Procomum puts things into perspective
The statue demonstrates that the most effective way to make a way of life dominant is to exterminate, repress, or rape other forms of life. When we talk about worldview, this is what we are talking about.
There were many worldviews that inhabited the world before the process of colonisation of the majority of the world by a European elite. The fact that one worldview has become hegemonic is also the reason we have gotten to where we are. The climate crisis is above all a crisis of a way of thinking and acting. It is the result of assumptions that shape our choices as a society
A view that nature is inanimate and at our disposal. And yet, the discussion about climate change often stops at technocracy. How can we then expand our understanding of ways of life, since the one we live is just a possibility?
The same countries that were colonised are also those that emit the least carbon dioxide, the main component of global warming. Countries outside Europe that had natural resources became cursed. As writer Amitav Ghosh tells it, the island of Bantam, where nutmeg was born, went from being a gift of nature to a colonial curse and the reason for the murder of thousands of people and the ruin of a territory, a people, a place, a language, a way of being.
Last year, during a call with industry colleagues, there was a round table on Pan-Africanism and the principles that should or should not underpin this concept. Many contributed, but we had difficulty agreeing that this versatile and diverse concept should be restricted only to the borders of Africa.
We believe that Pan-Africanism, if applied well, can build bridges and disrupt social and cultural systems in a way that amplifies the voices, impact and identity of Africans both within and beyond the continent. To achieve this, we must reach out to the peoples and cultures with whom we share intrinsic similarities in terms of social norms, political and historical struggles, and aspirations for a better world.
For this reason, Surge Africa’s partnership with Instituto Procomum puts things into perspective. It shows that we have moved forward and achieved a goal. This unprecedented action of simply bringing together allies from Nigeria and Brazil represents two continents coming together with diversity in culture, history, social structure, religions and endless possibilities of what can be achieved through strategic partnerships and collaboration.
For us at Surge Africa and the Procomum Institute, the goal is to shape a global majority movement together with our allies, where grassroots voices and activists across the global south can access opportunities, reinvent concepts, and create new ideas around social structures, and inclusive governance that integrates sustainable and inclusive development. At the heart of this are cultural organisations that shape narratives and amplify grassroots struggles through cultural and knowledge exchange, campaigns, deliberate and strategic communication, ensuring that our vision for change is well illustrated to define the future we want.
The event “Climate Narratives Lab: The Global South at the Centre of Solutions for Good Living” is a call to expand understanding of the problem. We believe that solidarity and cooperation between peoples, territories and communities, and the meeting of knowledge that this generates, is what will take us further. Researchers with public managers, community leaders, localised experiences that can be disseminated.
We can no longer just think globally and act locally, we need to think and act globally and locally. Thinking about solutions for us is above all thinking about forms of organisation, other institutionalities where non-hegemonic knowledge plays a preponderant role and where power is effectively distributed. Once the rules are clear, then we can talk about policies, as we will have shared information, resources and decisions.
By Nasreen Al-Amin (Founder and Director of Surge Africa) and Georgia Nicolau (General Director of the Procomum Institute)
The International Climate Change Development Initiative (ICCDI) and the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) have pledged their support to various state governments in championing a just transition in the country.
Participants at the ICCDI workshop on just transition in Osogbo, Osun State
This commitment was the central theme of a recent daylong workshop on empowering communities through inclusive and just transitions, which took place in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.
To guarantee a just and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities, the government of Osun State has reportedly been seeking ways to transform its economy.
The term “just transition” refers to transitioning from an economy that is dependent on fossil fuels to one that is sustainable and employs renewable energy sources, all while assuring the protection of workers’ rights and the participation of communities that have been excluded.
The ICCDI brings the conversation to the state to ensure its inclusion in the transition to a low-carbon and environmentally sustainable economy.
“There has been a significant amount of discourse on the transition in Nigeria, and as an organisation, we are committed to extending this conversation to communities. This is why we are in the state, to develop a roadmap for them on just transition. Our goal is to bring a community-based approach to the issue of climate change and transition,” Mr. Olumide Idowu, Executive Director of ICCDI Africa, said, as he emphasised the workshop’s role in bringing the conversation about just transition to communities.
With the support of ICCDI, the government of Osun State will be able to implement projects that harness renewable energy, adopt environmentally responsible agricultural practices, foster the growth of green industries, and create employment opportunities aligned with social justice and environmental sustainability.
This collaboration, said ICCDI, promises a brighter, more sustainable future for the people of Osun State.
“Just transition should advance climate actions and ensure decent work and economic growth,” Jummai, a representative of the NCCC, said on efforts being made to involve every state in the issue of climate change.
“Mr. Governor’s goal is for the state to soon be the first and leading subnational entity in the design and implementation of a climate action plan. The ultimate focus is to emerge as the most climate-adapted and resilient state within the African subnational space. The state government says it is open to partnerships to address the challenges of climate change,” said Mr Rasheed, the Govenor’s Spokesperson and Chairman, Climate Council, Osun State.
“The benefits of just transition. The things that we’ve been able to hear is to understand the benefits of just transition, ensuring that we move from the current practices as far as energy is concerned and then advance to the next level as far as energy is concerned,” disclosed Tolulope, one of the participants.
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Nigeria supported the workshop in partnership with the Coalition for Socioecological Transformation (COSET).
By Rukayat Odebiyi, Peoples Operations, ICCDI Africa
