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Quelea birds: Kebbi begins aerial spray in frontline states

Michael Simire
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Quelea birds: Kebbi begins aerial spray in frontline states

Gov. Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has kick-started the 2023/2024 dry season aerial spray to control transboundary quelea birds in the 12 frontline states.

Quelea birds
Quelea birds

Kebbi hosted the programme on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, on behalf of the Federal Government among the frontline states.

During the ceremony at Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, the governor described quelea birds as inimical to agricultural productivity and national food security.

The frontline states are Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.

While appreciating the Federal Government for finding Kebbi worthy of hosting the exercise, the governor observed that Kebbi was strategic to food security in the country.

“Therefore, any support will go a long way to getting us achieve results faster and better.

“I know the Federal Government is doing a lot to assist the state develop agriculture and produce more food for the citizens of this country,” he said.

The governor described quelea birds and grasshoppers as dangerous and destructive, adding that inaction would reverse the food security efforts due to the colossal damage they inflict on food and humans.

He stressed the need for both governments to be proactive and ensure concerted, timely and intensified efforts to stem the menace of quelea birds’ attack.

The governor added that the event underscored the proactiveness of President Bola Tunibu’s administration in tackling agricultural challenges in the country. He lauded the farmer-friendly policy of the president by facing the challenges of agriculture head-on, while also appreciating the Minister of Agriculture, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, for his support and special consideration for Kebbi.

Idris said he rolled out the agricultural development agenda, “KADAGE”, as a show of sincerity, determination and commitment to bring about agricultural growth in the state.

The minister said the choice of Kebbi to host the programme was deliberate, considering the farming activities, especially the cultivation of rice and other crops as well as the support and love of the governor for agriculture.

“Your willingness to accept to host and support this programme is a clear testimony and desire to advance agricultural activities in your state and indeed the nation at large, to guarantee food and nutrition security.

“This is in line with the dynamic agenda of the Federal Government under the able people-oriented leadership of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He said the agenda was firmly committed to transforming agriculture for improved production and productivity.

“This is targeted at making food and other agricultural commodities available, accessible and affordable to all Nigerians.”

This will further enhance the livelihood of farmers and other actors within the agricultural value chain and guarantee food and nutrition security.

The minister said Nigeria was blessed with vast agricultural land, resources and great potentials for future expansion to meet national demands to the desired self-sufficiency in food and possibly for export.

He, however, lamented that transboundary and migratory birds possessed significant threat to agricultural production due to devastating effects on cereal crops like rice and wheat.

He said such acts were causing severe havoc on farmers, which remained major threats to food security.”

By Muhammad Lawal

Lagos to experience abnormal rainfall in 2024 – Commissioner

Michael Simire
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Lagos to experience abnormal rainfall in 2024 – Commissioner

Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Lagos State, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, says the state is expected to experience abnormal rainfall in 2024 with a total of 1936.2 mm predicted rainfall.

Lagos Rain
L-R: Permanent Secretary, Office of Enviromental Services, Mr Gaji Omobolaji; Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab; Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; and Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Ministry of Environment, Mr Mahmood Adegbite, during a News Conference on the 2024 Seasonal Rainfall Pattern to sensitise the citizenry on the likely impact in Lagos, on Tuesday

Wahab said this at a news conference on 2024 Seasonal Climate Predictions (SCP) and socio-economic implications for Lagos State on Tuesday, March 26, 2024.

Wahab said the average annual rainfall predicted for 2024 was 1936.2 mm, which was greater than the long-term average of 1721.48 mm with the onset date expected to be the first week of April and ceasing in the first week of December.

According to him, Ikeja is expected to have an onset date of April 4 and cessation date of December 4 with a high annual amount of 1900 mm rainfall.

He said Badagry would have a rainfall onset date of April 1 and cessation date of December 5 resulting in an annual amount of 1978 mm.

He added that Ikorodu was expected to have a rainfall onset date of April 4 and cessation date of December 4, totaling an annual amount of 1903 mm.

He said Lagos Island would have a rainfall onset date of April 3, cessation date of December 4 and an annual amount of 1936 mm.

Epe is expected to have a rainfall onset date of April 2, cessation date of December 5 and an annual amount of 1952 mm.

According to him, below normal rainfall is anticipated in the first half of the rainy season, while normal to above normal rainfall is expected in the second half of the rainy season.

He said the Ministry’s collaboration with NiMet on Seasonal Climate Prediction had been valuable as a vital weather and early warning tool for farmers, decision makers, operators of the various sectors and businesses likely to be impacted by the annual rainfall.

He said government had plans to downscale the Seasonal Climate Prediction to stakeholders and emergency workers in the state.

He added that the state had deployed and maintained its network of weather stations and river gauge stations to monitor the weather and river levels in the state and increase the preparedness for weather and flood related issues.

“We want to assure you that our state will continue to reap the benefits of a careful and rigorous execution planning, as our flood control measures are stepped up to contain any imminent rainfall.

“The Ministry has embarked on an all-year-round drainage maintenance programme for effective and efficient flood control, in addition to an efficient and sustainable solid waste management system,” Wahab said.

He noted that to effectively contain flooding in the state, government was determined to maintain the synergy and partnership with the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Authority (OORBDA).

He added that the rainfall from neighbouring Ogun, Oyo and Osun states, dams release and river water levels into the state would also be monitored.

He said the partnership ensured control and monitoring of the steady and systemic release of water from Oyan Dam to prevent flooding as it reached the Ogun River.

He said the relationship had been highly beneficial and would be sustained.

He said proactively, the state had strengthened the Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWS) to deliver reliable, timely and effective flood information at an appropriate response time.

He added that the low-lying Agiliti, Agboyi, Itowolo and Ajegunle communities would be closely monitored with respect to the likelihood of Ogun River flooding as well as all other river basins in the state.

The Commissioner explained that it was expected that the high amounts of rainfall and other contributory factors might lead to flooding in some parts of the state, and that this might lead to a rise in Lagoon level.

He explained that anytime there was high tidal movement, it could “lock up” the discharge points of drainage channels and until it receded, there would be no discharge.

He said such occurrences could cause backflow resulting to flooding and as soon as the Lagoon receded, all the generated storm water would immediately be discharged, and the roads would be free.

He stressed that it was only when storm water remained on the roads for hours that there should be reports of flooding.

He emphasised that the government had put all emergency response organisations, traffic management organisations, and other emergency-related organisations on high alert to help lessen the effects of thunderstorms and associated rains in the state.

He maintained that government would ramp up sensitisation for residents along flood plains of major rivers such as Owode, Iwaya, Makoko, Badia, Ijora, Isaalu, Pota, Shibiri to be ready to relocate to higher grounds when the need arose.

He said drainage engineers were available in all 57 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas to attend to drainage related matters during and after the rainy season.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, appealed to residents to support the efforts of the government through regular cleaning of drains to ensure free flow of storm water as well as desist from dumping of refuse into drainage channels.

He added that residents should refrain from the acts that could lead to flooding such as indiscriminate dumping of construction materials, erecting building structures within and around drainage rights-of-way and setbacks.

He also advised residents to report cases of drainage blockages, dumping of waste into canals and other unauthorised places to the resident engineers and zero tolerance offices statewide.

He urged motorists to observe prescribed speed limits on the roads to avoid loss of lives and property during rainy season.

“Residents should always do more in environment maintenance and support,” Rotimi-Akidu said.

By Fabian Ekeruche

WWD 2024: Expert underlines need for technology, collaboration in achieving sustainable water solutions

Michael Simire
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WWD 2024: Expert underlines need for technology, collaboration in achieving sustainable water solutions

The importance of technology and collaboration in achieving sustainable water solutions across Africa has been underlined.

Onyedikachi Erete
Onyedikachi Erete

Onyedikachi Erete, founder of Rector Cares Foundation, who made the submission at webinar the World Water Day 2024, highlighted the challenges faced by communities to include lack of integration, insufficient funding, and limited support.

“Technology plays a crucial role in tackling water scarcity,” Erete said. “Implementing solar-powered boreholes and deploying water purification technologies can provide reliable access to clean water.”

The webinar, which featured global water and technology experts, was titled “Innovation for Water Security and Africa’s Water Challenges.” It addressed the theme of World Water Day 2024, “Leveraging Water for Peace.”

The webinar featured prominent figures like Ernest Nwachukwu, Senior Key Accounts Manager at GRUNDFOS, and Judith Okoli, Sustainability Manager at UNICEF Headquarters, New York.

Okoli stressed the need for a comprehensive approach and collaboration to boost economic growth.

“We need effective policies and proper funding to support social initiatives like water access,” she said. “While infrastructure development thrives in city centers, environmental projects must also be prioritised.”

Nwachukwu, representing GRUNDFOS, emphasised leadership, behavioral change, and stricter regulations for project contractors as key factors in water management and conservation efforts across Nigeria.

The webinar raised awareness about the challenges of water access in Africa and explored potential solutions through technological advancements and collaborative efforts.

Experts publish ‘10 Must Knows’ as guide to preserving biodiversity

Michael Simire
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Experts publish ‘10 Must Knows’ as guide to preserving biodiversity

From as yet undiscovered biodiversity to resilient forests and the impact of food consumption on nature: 64 experts have now published their knowledge and recommendations in the form of “10 Must Knows from Biodiversity Science” for 2024.

Kirsten Thonicke
Kirsten Thonicke

The Leibniz Research Network Biodiversity’s new report provides policymakers and society with concrete ways to effectively conserve and sustainably use biodiversity at the local, national, and European levels and thereby also mitigate climate change. With this publication, the researchers contribute current scientific facts to the debate on the German National Biodiversity Strategy, which is to be adopted before the next United Nations Biodiversity Conference in autumn 2024.

“We are already exceeding planetary boundaries, both in terms of global warming and biodiversity loss. Joint responses are needed to counter these crises. We know that preserving biodiversity can significantly contribute to mitigating climate change, for example through biodiverse forests and rewetted peatlands that can act as carbon sinks. Only by focusing on measures to protect biodiversity can we succeed in tackling both crises at the same time,” says Kirsten Thonicke, lead author and Deputy Head of Research Department “Earth System Analysis” at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), who coordinates the research network.

Following the great response to the “10 Must Knows from Biodiversity Science” first published in 2022, scientists from a total of 52 German and international research institutions have now contributed their expertise from the environmental, life, spatial, social, humanities and economic sciences to the new version.

“Our recommendations summarise the research available today for decision-makers. The Must Knows are intended to provide guidance on how to implement the globally agreed biodiversity targets in the German context,” says author Sibylle Schroer from the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB).

“This also includes the awareness that so far we only understand a relatively small part of biodiversity. Recognising this fact, is a crucial step towards more sustainable environmental policies. These policies should focus on ecosystem-based habitat management – and thus the functions and interactions between species and habitats, rather than just individual species and habitats,” adds Schroer.

Concentrated biodiversity knowledge from 64 experts across all disciplines

To implement the 23 global biodiversity targets agreed by United Nations member states at the UN Biodiversity Conference in December 2022 (COP15), the German National Biodiversity Strategy 2030 is currently being developed. The strategy aims to preserve and protect biodiversity in Germany.

In order to provide up-to-date facts from the scientific community, the first version of the “10 Must Knows” from 2022 was expanded to include numerous aspects and brought up to date with the help of current literature. The new report addresses, among other things, how the impact of food consumption on biodiversity can be reduced in concrete terms:

“Understanding and using biodiversity as a crucial production factor can help to stabilise yields, enhance agricultural resilience and turn us all into biodiversity managers, whether we are producers or consumers,” says author Jens Freitag from the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK). The authors offer practical suggestions for policymakers and provide citizens with specific options for taking action in society.

The BMBF Research Initiative for the Conservation of Biodiversity (FEdA) and the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig collaborated on the project. The “10 Must Knows” were commented on by experts from politics, administration, science and associations before publication.

The “10 Must Knows from Biodiversity Science 2024” are:

  1. Achieving climate and biodiversity protection together
  2. Enabling a healthy life on a healthy planet
  3. Considering undiscovered biodiversity
  4. Linking linguistic, cultural and biological diversity
  5. Harmonising the diverse use of forest ecosystems and biodiversity conservation
  6. Transforming agricultural and food systems
  7. Protecting land and resources
  8. Releasing transformative change through international collaboration and Education for Sustainable Development
  9. Ensuring free access and open use of biodiversity-related data
  10. Reducing biodiversity impacts from food consumption.

Aletta Bonn, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) Friedrich Schiller University Jena and German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, said: “A healthy planet is pivotal for our human health. Biodiversity conservation and health policy should be linked across sectors because an intact natural environment also promotes physical and mental health. We need a joint global action plan for biodiversity and health. Locally, cities and municipalities should actively work to protect and restore nature, including urban nature, as it positively impacts on health and social well-being.”

Christiane Hassenrück, IÖR: “National and international agreements on the protection of biodiversity require concrete numbers to implement, assess, and reward conservation measures. Those numbers can only be supplied by research if biodiversity-related data, such as digital sequence information, are freely accessible and openly usable, as well as standardized and sustainably archived across national borders.”

Mats Nieberg, PIK and European Forest Institute (EFI): “We should adapt our management practices and spatial planning in a way that reconciles the diverse use of forest ecosystems with biodiversity conservation. This will enable us to counter the increasing negative impacts of climate change in forests while resolving trade-offs between competing forest-related policy objectives.”

Christopher P.O. Reyer, PIK: “Diverse forests and forest structures are the basis for sustainable forest management and of central importance do ensure the provisioning of forest ecosystem services under climate change.”

Barbara Warner, Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association (ARL): “Currently around 60 hectares of new settlement and transport areas are being allocated in Germany every day. This means that the German government’s land-saving targets are becoming a distant prospect. Soils can no longer carry out their basic functions, their ecosystem services are being lost and habitats are disappearing. The protection, development and restoration of biodiversity must be given central consideration at all political and planning levels. This applies to international projects as well as to regional and municipal planning.”

Wolfgang Wende, Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development: “Spatial and landscape planning can deliver valuable concepts for the wider protection and restoration of habitats for plants and animals. These concepts must be implemented consistently and backed up with financial resources. Higher priority must be given to biodiversity protection and the development of habitats in spatial planning decisions on land use.”

Bernd Hansjürgens, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ): “Halting the loss of biodiversity requires comprehensive and swift measures involving various economic and environmental sectors, tackled with great vigour.”

Christoph Scherber, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB): “The Earth’s true wealth lies in its immeasurable biological diversity. But it seems as if we humans are too short-tempered, too short-sighted to handle this treasure with care. Many know the stock market better than the portfolio of species that nature offers us. It is time to make biodiversity education a goal for all of us – for a biodiversity-friendly world of tomorrow.”

SA groups in court to protect environment against TotalEnergies exploratory drilling

Michael Simire
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SA groups in court to protect environment against TotalEnergies exploratory drilling

In a bid to defend the oceans and to ensure sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities, The Green Connection and Natural Justice have approached a South African High Court in the interests of protecting the coastal environment and the communities who rely on it for their livelihoods. The organisations on Monday, March 25, 2024, announced their joint legal challenge against the decision to grant TotalEnergies EP South Africa (TEEPSA) environmental authorisation for exploratory drilling in block 5/6/7, located off the coast between Cape Town and Cape Agulhas.

TotalEnergie
A campaign against TotalEnergies projects in South Africa

The respondents include the Minister and the Director-General of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), who initially granted the Environmental Authorisation, as well as the Minister of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) who dismissed the appeals made by more than 20 people and organisations against this decision.

The Green Connection’s Strategic Lead, Liziwe McDaid, says: “We remain committed to good governance, ensuring that development decisions are made to ensure the sustainable management of our oceans. We do not believe that the DMRE’s decision to grant environmental authorisation and DFFE Minister Creecy’s subsequent dismissal of appeals were in the public interest, for both current and future generations. This is why this legal action is so critical because it challenges decisions that could have far-reaching impacts on the wellbeing of coastal communities and the ocean that they depend on.”

The Review Application

The legal grounds for the review include government’s failure to assess the socio-economic impacts of a potential oil spill on local fisheries, while also ignoring the climate change impacts associated with oil or gas usage. The Green Connection and Natural Justice state that they are also concerned over the lack of proper evaluation of Oil Spill Blowout Contingency Plans. Furthermore, the organisations state that government failed to adequately consider the requirements of the Integrated Coastal Management Act (ICMA) and ignored the impacts of the drilling activities extending to Namibia and international waters.

According to Melissa Groenink, Programme Manager at Natural Justice, “Our legal challenge is grounded in principles of good governance and environmental protection. We believe that, in order to promote and ensure a healthy democracy, the decision-making process must adhere to our country’s legal frameworks, in this instance, the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and the ICMA. These laws prioritise the conservation and protection of our coastal resources, while also promoting meaningful public participation.”

“Many South Africans may not realise that the law defines our coast as ‘public property’ which is owned by citizens and held in trust by the State. This means that decisions taken by Ministers regarding the management of our oceans, must take into consideration the need to conserve and protect the coast for the benefit of the country’s citizens. The potential negative ecological consequences of the proposed exploratory drilling, and the resulting impacts on coastal communities, is why we are compelled to act. Increasing investment in oil and gas projects threatens our climate and threatens the resilience of communities all over the world to adapt to that changing climate,” adds Melissa Groenink.

The Green Connection’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Neville van Rooy, says: “At its core, this legal challenge is simply about good governance and protecting the environment we depend on. Consider that small-scale fishers have already seen some concerning changes to available fish stocks or think about the devastating floods that have ravaged parts of the country. We believe that these are the results of global short-term thinking and poor decisions. This is why we challenge this decision, to uphold the principles of sustainable development, to respond to climate change and protect the rights of present and future generations.”

The legal action comes amidst growing global concerns over climate change and the obligation to transition towards less harmful renewable energy sources. South Africa is amongst the top 15 largest emitters of carbon dioxide globally, and the largest emitter in Africa. South Africa must work harder to fulfil its commitment to reducing its carbon emissions. The proposed exploration contradicts international climate obligations and jeopardises efforts to mitigate global temperature rise.

“Climate justice means that the decisions made by government must have human rights and environmental protection at its centre. And since this decision may affect the livelihoods of small-scale fishers who have been depending on the ocean for generations, we remain steadfast in our commitment to eco-justice in the public interest,” adds van Rooy.

Call for definitive e-waste regulation, enforcement as e-waste crisis looms

Michael Simire
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Call for definitive e-waste regulation, enforcement as e-waste crisis looms

“E-waste is a rapidly growing waste stream in the country. From 3.9 kilos per capita in 2019, 537 million kilograms of e-waste were produced in the Philippines, translating to 4.7 kilograms of e-waste per capita in 2022,” said Jam Lorenzo, research and policy development officer of BAN Toxics, an environmental justice NGO.

ewaste
Waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) such as computers, TV-sets, fridges and cell phones is said to be one the fastest growing waste streams in the EU

The recently published Global e-Waste Monitor 2024 by the United Nations reveals the Philippines as one of the top e-waste producers in Southeast Asia.

“That e-waste is escalating at a pace five times faster than the rate of e-waste recycling further sends a chilling effect,” Lorenzo remarked.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), commonly referred to as e-waste, refers to end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment and covers everything with a plug or a battery. E-waste is categorised as hazardous waste due to the presence of toxic materials such as mercury, lead, and brominated flame retardants that are considered as hazardous waste according to the Basel Convention.

The primary types of e-waste in the Philippines are consumer electronics such as televisions, refrigerators, washing machines and mobile phones. Technological advancements leading to the production of new technologies, along with trends in consumer products, shorter product life cycles, and limited repair options, have accelerated the rate at which electronics are replaced and discarded.

“We cannot afford to perpetuate this cycle of consumption, waste generation, and recycling model in its current form,” Lorenzo emphasised.

The e-waste Monitor also underscores the growing quantities of electrical and electronic goods (EEE) being sold in developing countries, as well as equipment originally used in developed countries and exported for further use in developing countries. “The escalating volume and toxicity of e-waste make this issue urgent, as it can lead to significant environmental and health problems.”

“Once discarded, these gadgets often end up in waste bins, are sold in junk shops, dismantled by informal waste collectors, and ultimately find their way to dumpsites and landfills. The lack of proper e-waste disposal facilities and infrastructure poses a significant challenge, largely stemming from the absence of a national management framework for e-waste. This lack of a definitive national framework makes it difficult to implement effective policies. While overarching environmental laws may address e-waste, our regulations often lack enforceability,” Lorenzo remarked.

The group emphasised the critical need for legislation and programs mandating Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for electronics, holding manufacturers accountable for their products at end-of-life. “EPR schemes will facilitate environmentally sound management, shifting the burden of end-of-life management from taxpayers to producers, consistent with the polluter pays principle and cost internalisation.”

“Manufacturers will be incentivised to incorporate eco-friendly design and manufacturing practices, employing materials that are easily recyclable and less toxic, while also extending the lifespan of electronic products.”

The environmental justice group advocates for “a genuine sustainable production and consumption of electronic and electrical goods, aiming to reduce waste, retain value within the system, extend the economic and physical life of a product, and enhance its potential for repair, recycling, and reuse.”

“The key to a successful transition is inclusivity, which takes into account the millions of people in developing countries who did not produce the waste but often suffer the negative impacts resulting from the historical injustices of pollution and waste generated by wealthier producer countries. Additionally, it requires anticipating the adverse future impacts on workers, sectors and communities that would be affected by transitions.”

BAN Toxics also advocates for stronger regulatory measures concerning e-waste in the country, including recognising the growing importance of plastics utilised in electronic and electrical equipment.

“Given that e-waste recycling involves plastics recovery, we will persist in our efforts to promote a legally binding global plastics treaty during the upcoming interagency negotiations in April this year in Ottawa, to mitigate the increasing exposure to plastics and e-waste,” Lorenzo concluded.

Standard gauge railway – Is it needed?

Michael Simire
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Standard gauge railway – Is it needed?

The concept of Standard Gauge Railways (SGR) and its roll out in the African continent is entrenched in the African Union (AU) publication titled, “Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want”. The drive for SGR in Africa is supported by this document which ideally wants more railways in Africa but more importantly that the railways should be SGR in contrast to the other two gauges which are termed generally as narrow and wide.

Lagos Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail Line
Lagos Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail Line

Again ideally, the document admonishes that the target date to be the year 2063 which, as at today, is still about 39 years away, hence the question WHY hurry?

A standard-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge of 1,435 mm, while the narrow-gauge railway is one where the distance between the inside edges of the rails is less than 1,435 mm. Most narrow-gauge railways are between 600mm and 1,067mm.

Today, Nigeria has about 3,500km of narrow gauge (cape gauge) and 669km of SGR but the SGR is increasing. Part of the coastal railways (Port Harcourt-Calabar-Enugu-Abuja) which caught some bad press lately is the reason for this article and hopefully it could get us thinking and looking for lasting solutions.

The questions being asked is about the contracting format and the players involved but the real question is this, “Is SGR needed in Nigeria now?” One will try and light up this area for the consumption of fellow Nigerians.

Firstly, Nigeria has a very extensive railway network in narrow gauge and this railway has had money allocated to it from regimes starting from Obasanjo to the recent Buhari regime. How well these funds were used is a topic for another day. But one can assume that the narrow-gauge network is in good state generally as trains still run on most of them.

To replicate what we already have in narrow gauge with standard gauge will cost about Nigeria about $15 billion for the fixed infrastructure alone and probably same amount in moving infrastructure. This is a lot of money, but the figure mentioned in cost was derived from Chinese and Portuguese contractors building Nigerian Railways at about $4.2 million per kilometre. This could be termed as progress and why should it be an issue. The question that follows is this, Is it needed? and Is the cost reasonable? Answers will be coming in the next paragraphs.

Is it needed?

SGR has unique features over the narrow gauge, but the narrow gauge can hold its own especially in our country Nigeria. Freight traffic more than passenger traffic is usually the driving force behind long distance rail traffic hence I will use the freight scenario in Nigeria to make this very point and drive it home. There are seven inland container depots (ICDs) in Nigeria with a combined total capacity of 165,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit). This translates in layman’s language to 165,000 of 20ft containers. A goods train (on narrow or standard gauge) with 80 wagons (each wagon carrying 2*20ft containers) will move the equivalent of 160 containers.

With five-minute headways and 12 hours of operation, the railways can move a total of 19,200 containers from the ports in Nigeria into the various ICDs in one day allowing for all other detailed operation issues which are too deep for this paper. In less than 10 days, the railways can fill the ICDs to capacity while taking equivalent load off the road network. This example shows that either gauge (SGR or narrow gauge) can do the job. We already have the narrow gauge, so why build the SGR?

Doing justice to this example, one must factor in a concept of speed, but let me quickly say that freight is not dependent on speed but reliability of delivery. SGR for freight will accommodate speeds up to 140 kph while narrow gauge will peak at about 100 kph. Over an average of 500km journey, trains on SGR will take 3.57 hrs flat out for the distance while trains on narrow gauge will take 5 hours. This is a differential of just one hour over 50 0km, which in freight time is negligible. This is the best-selling point that the government is using to sell SGR.

In my opinion, this is lame and moreover, apart from the speed differential mentioned earlier. We already have the narrow-gauge network, and it is already paid for. Replicating this network will cost us $15 billion and I have just shown that it is not needed nor necessary at this point in time in our lives.

The AU ambition, I will strongly advice that it can wait as we still have 39years to comply and bear in mind that it’s not even compulsory. I would further state that if Nigeria has the money, then it can choose to do whatever it likes with her money. The reality is that we don’t have the money hence we are borrowing. The simple interpretation of what we are doing is that we are borrowing money to build infrastructure that we don’t need. That cannot be acceptable in anybody’s book in my humble opinion.

Is the cost reasonable?

Will this railway as planned make money in real terms? NO, it has been touted as a social and/or economic infrastructure. With few extensions here and there, I believe the narrow gauge can be commercially viable, if serious management takes over but not the SGR. Lest I forget, murmurings about African railways interoperability as a force. This is not grounded in reality for now. There are over 50 countries in Africa and only about five have started on this venture, hence, it’s still decades away if it ever happens. We should just stay on the narrow and reap the rewards for now.

Nigeria never makes things easy for herself. They have embarked on the development of the SGR and on record have about 700km completed with plans in place to borrow more money to do more of what’s not needed. This is a very uncomfortable place to be, and I feel for my country even as I write. Difficult situations require difficult and unpleasant decisions, we have to make and take one here. Consultants (not TEAM Engineering nor the Chinese or Portuguese) should be engaged to look at the ongoing SGR project on a cost benefit context only.

The outcome should guide our way forward and as a professional, I have a feeling where this would land. As difficult and as unpopular as the outcome might be, we should just as a nation be willing to abide with it. The other question needs attention, but space will not allow for a detailed inside look and it’s about cost. The figure of $4.2-4.5 million for a km of track in Nigeria has always troubled me.

Relatively flat terrain and right of way secured, the unit cost should be lower in my opinion. Sometime ago, I decided to work it out from first principles since this was my area of expertise. I was extremely generous or maybe over-generous in my aggregation of labour, plant and materials in this exercise. I struggled to reach 2.0 million per km, hence I checked and checked and checked again. Every time, I checked, my cost reduced. If the advice here is taken, maybe the consultants can also check the unit cost for construction of railways in Nigeria.

By Catos Sparrow

Rethinking waste management: Modern solutions for Nigeria

Michael Simire
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Rethinking waste management: Modern solutions for Nigeria

It has become a tradition for state governments in Nigeria to give directives to open blocked drainages in preparation for the rainy season. While commending such efforts to steer a course and raise the alarm to avoid impeding danger, this approach to waste management can be described as unsustainable and outdated in the 21st century.

Philippines
Plastic waste pollution

In modern times, there is a continued increase in waste generation from a corresponding rise in population, and such an approach will not ensure efficiency and effectiveness in managing waste and maintaining a clean and healthy environment. Unarguably, poor waste management threatens human health through inhalation of toxic emissions, damages to the environment, lives and properties via flooding and possible fire outbreaks, unsightliness and a violation of the universal human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.

With the surging global population, waste generation is on the increase. This means that more global environmental problems emanating from waste are imminent. It is, therefore, imperative to adopt the globally recognised 5Rs of waste management: Rejecting, Reducing, Reusing, Repurposing, and Recycling. The first 3 Rs are complete responsibilities of waste generators. Waste generators include persons, institutions, organisations, businesses, companies and industries that produce any type of waste. Achieving efficiency at this stage means that about 60% of the waste management has been attained, ensuring reduced waste generation.

The advocacy at this level is to avoid waste generation, seek alternatives, limit waste generation and embrace reuse. The onus also lies on the waste generators to pursue and follow established protocols in their localities for efficient disposal. Repurposing and recycling require technicality and some level of professionalism. As a result, and in addition to its capital-intensive nature, the last two Rs of waste management are for waste management agencies, governments, private institutions and capable individuals.

Waste-to-wealth is the recent trend in the waste management industry. It covers the scope of repurposing and recycling wastes. This is efficient in environmental protection, improving health, combating climate change, advancing development, improving livelihood, promoting quality education and ensuring gender equality, amongst others. Governments at all levels can partner with the private sector and international agencies to establish an effective waste management system.

To effectively achieve this, waste separation is very essential. Wastes can be sorted based on degradability into biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes. The non-biodegradable wastes can further be separated into polyethene bags, plastics (PET bottles) and metals. This will aid onward processing. The biodegradable wastes, which majorly include food wastes from homes and marketplaces, can be incorporated into the production of clean energy.

Following the transition from fossil fuels to cleaner energy and the abundance of these wastes in our marketplaces, it will strategically position states to energy efficiency and sufficiency in meeting their energy requirements for electricity and household energy uses. Beyond energy fulfilment, it also provides value-added products depending on the processing pathway, such as animal feeds, fertilisers, industrial and pharmaceutical chemicals, etc.

On the other hand, non-biodegradable wastes can be converted, repurposed and recycled into other products. Plastics wastes can be recycled into a whole range of other products such as bags, footwear, drink bottles and food trays, polyester fabric for clothing, wheeled bins and food caddies, refuse sacks and carrier bags, composters and wormeries, wheel arch liners and bumpers on cars, damp proof membranes, reusable crates and pallets, reusable crates and pallets, flowerpots, seed trays, watering cans and water butts etc. Other non-plastic wastes, such as metals, also have a range of repurposed and recycled products.

Furthermore, companies that make such products which eventually become wastes should key into this plan as their environmental stewardship. Local governments should also establish policies to monitor and ensure compliance. Researchers, experts and professionals should engage in more innovative ways for productive recycling and waste management. This will promote a paradigm shift to a circular economy and resource conservation, improve environmental resilience, drive innovation through research and development, enhance economic growth and generate employment opportunities.

This is in addition to pollution reduction, energy conservation, and limiting greenhouse gas emissions, which are crucial to combating climate change. It will prevent resultant anthropogenic consequences such as flooding, water pollution, contamination of agricultural lands, and the attendant effects on aquatic lives and biodiversity.

The cost of environmental remediation outweighs the cost of prevention and effective management. It is the collective responsibility of all. While local governments should lay the foundation through a well-defined system with purposeful management, citizens should also contribute their quota to waste reduction and follow the guidelines. Dumpsites and landfills, which are the most common waste management systems in this part of the world, have gone out of date.

The world has gone beyond wastes as problematic, to wastes as opportunity. Let us follow this path of environmental uprightness and global relevance in waste management. A clean, healthy and sustainable environment starts with you. Do your part. Waste management starts with waste generation. This is therefore a call to avoid generating waste as much as possible. Always consider and put into perspective if your activity will lead to waste generation.

By Kelechukwu K. Ibe and Somto Igboamaeze

There can be no transition, sustainability without value and attitude change – Ekweozoh

Michael Simire
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There can be no transition, sustainability without value and attitude change – Ekweozoh

A retired director and former head of the Department of Environmental Sciences and Technology at the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Peter Ekweozoh, has said that the quest for green transition and sustainability in Nigeria and indeed globally cannot be achieved unless there is a deep change in values and attitudes across all segments of society.

Dr. Peter Ekweozoh
Dr. Peter Ekweozoh

Dr. Ekweozoh made this statement when he spoke at a gathering of experts, professionals, public and private sector representatives, technocrats, and key stakeholders within and outside the oil and gas sector in a webinar hosted by the Centre for Climate Change and Development of the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State (CCCD-AEFUNAI) in partnership with the World Resources Institute (WRI) in Washington, USA, to launch a report on the oil and gas transition in Nigeria. It held on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

Dr. Ekweozoh commended the efforts of the CCCD-AEFUNAI team led by Professor Chukumerije Okereke, a globally renowned scholar in climate policy and governance, in carrying out the research on just energy transition for Nigeria. The said the study was long overdue, given Nigeria’s huge reliance on oil and gas and the need to plan for a future that guarantees the prosperity of the country in a global low-carbon future, he said.

Dr. Ekweozoh identified attitudinal change, discipline, cutting down on waste, and adding value at all levels in the country as foundational principles for effectively dealing with the challenges of energy transitions. He commended the recent show of interest by the government, targeted at reducing resource wastage in the public sector, but said Nigeria must have a policy of value addition at all levels of business engagement and commercialization of resources as the best way of driving diversification.

He emphasised that value addition, which creates diversification, must be rigorously pursued in all facets of our production affairs. Here, he emphasised the need for Nigeria to scale up capital projects in quality and quantity instead of continuing to spend on non-progressive recurrent expenditures. He also identified the need for value addition not just to material resources but to human resources by reviewing the curriculum in our education sector and reskilling it in tandem with recent technological and national development drives and policies.

He said Nigeria is caught in the web of endless projects and recycling with very limited innovations and implementation, saying there are numerous policy documents without coordination and implementation at the federal and state levels.

Dr. Ekweozoh prescribed a national strategy on global competitiveness for Nigeria in the quest for a just energy transition. The strategy should involve the deployment and use of human (e.g., youth) and material (e.g., gas) resources that are in abundance in the country, illustrating the strategy of policymaking based on adding value to existing resources as more cost-effective. He lamented that the National Policy on Methanol Fuel Production Technology, which seeks to add value to natural gas resources, large waste dumps, coal, and agriculture with the scope to create 10 million jobs, has not been implemented despite his concerted effort to promote this policy to successive governments.

Dr. Ekweozor also recalled his effort at leading Nigeria’s Technology Needs Assessment under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), noting that massive investment in technology and innovation is required to complement value change to build multiple components of our products, ensuring product diversification, creating multiple jobs, driving massive economic development, and financing the technology needed to transition to a cleaner and greener economy.

By Mark Amadi, Research Fellow, CCCD-AEFUNAI

Governors have duty, scope to support national drive towards just transition – Onuigbo

Michael Simire
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Governors have duty, scope to support national drive towards just transition – Onuigbo

National climate change champion and the father of the Nigeria Climate Change Act, Sam Onuigbo, has provided valuable insight into the implications of the oil and gas transition for the Nigerian economy, as well as the necessity for all levels of government to work together to ensure an equitable transition.

Sam Onuigbo
Rep. Sam Onuigbo

Onuigbo, Chairman of the Committee on Security, Climate Change, and Special Interventions, North East Development Commission, and sponsor of Nigeria’s Climate Change Act, 2021, spoke as a Guest of Honour at the workshop organised by the Centre for Climate Change and Development Alex Ekwueme Federal University (CCCD, AE-FUNAI) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) Washington DC to present findings from recent research on the implications of just transition on Thursday, March 21, 2024.

The workshop presented preliminary findings on how Nigeria’s transition away from oil and gas will affect government revenues, employment, and the general economy. The research team, which was led by Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, Director of CCCD-AEFUNAI, said the fact that global green transition is happening and will likely increase in pace in the coming decades regardless of Nigeria’s readiness. They predicted that gas, commonly seen as abridge fuel, will outlive oil in the transition process, creating opportunities for a more stable overall transition for Nigeria.

They, however, warned that a chaotic or unplanned transition away from oil and gas could result in economic breakdown, high fiscal vulnerability and multidimensional poverty in Nigeria. At the same failure to plan for the transition, they said could lead to stranded assets, and the waste of current investments in the oil and gas industry.

During his reflection at the workshop, Onuigbo stated that President Bola Tinubu’s government is working hard to guarantee a smooth transition by signing the Electricity Act within his first 10 days in office.  He noted that the Ninth Assembly enacted the electricity law, which removed electricity from the exclusive list as a step towards change. The statute stated that both the federal, state, and local governments can create laws and oversee power generating.

The act, he says, also included specific rules for combining renewable energy at the subnational level to facilitate and accelerate the transition. He noted that the government of Enugu has already taken advantage of this change to pass an electricity act, while Abia state is now generating electricity through the geometric power plant.

Onuigbo stated that it is imperative to leverage the immense renewable energy resources in the country to support the advancement of green transition in throughout Africa.

Onuigbo stated that some indigenous oil businesses have already begun to use renewable energy in their operations, indicating that what was achieved in making the transition from NITEL-based landlines to mobile phones can also be achieved in the context of green transition with courage, vision and boldness. He underlined that, with the numerous policies put in place by the government to facilitate the transition, complete implementation is one of the decisive elements in how quickly we can transition away from oil and natural gas.

In closing, Onuigbo praised the Federal Government for taking the daring step of signing the power bill, and he encouraged all Nigerians to take the subject of transition seriously by turning it into commercial prospects for Nigeria.  He noted that the Climate Change Act which was supported by the Femi Gbajabiamila, the then Speaker of the House of Representative and the current Chief of Staff to the President, lays a solid foundation for the massive for the mobilisation on financial resources to advance Nigeria’s climate and energy transition agenda.

He concluded that Nigeria has several policies, including the Climate Change Act, Renewable Energy Act, and Electricity Act, and that, if properly implemented, can provide the groundwork or offer a framework for us to make progress in the transition.

By Elochukwu Anieze, Research Associate at the Centre for Climate Change and Development (CCCD), Alex Ekwueme Federal University (CCCD, AE-FUNAI)

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