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Kyari advocates academia-industry collaboration for energy sufficiency, sustainability

Michael Simire
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Kyari advocates academia-industry collaboration for energy sufficiency, sustainability

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Mr. Mele Kyari, has called for collaboration between the academia and the Oil & Gas Industry towards addressing the challenges of energy sufficiency and sustainability.

NNPC
GCEO, NNPC Ltd. Mr. Mele Kyari, honoured with the Obafemi Awolowo University’s Faculty of Science Excellence and Innovation Award by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, during the GCEO’s Lecture titled, “Energy Security, Sustainability and Profitability in Nigeria: Advances, Challenges and Opportunities,” organised by the Faculty of Science of the University in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Wednesday

Kyari made this call while speaking as a guest lecturer during the 2024 Faculty Lecture titled “Energy Security, Sustainability and Profitability in Nigeria: Advances, Challenges and Opportunities,” organised by the Faculty of Science of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Wednesday, January 17, 2024.

In his lecture, Kyari highlighted the important role academic communities, such as the prestigious OAU, play in safeguarding national energy security through research and collaboration with the industry.

While pointing out the challenges hindering energy security in Nigeria to include rapid population growth, pipeline vandalism, and crude oil theft, Kyari identified energy conservation, diversification, and efficiency measures as major avenues for enhancing energy security.

Addressing the projected rapid population growth, Kyari harped on the importance of finding solutions to ensure sustainable energy security for the benefit of current and future generations.

He underscored the intensified competition for vital resources and urbanization drive, which would lead to a doubling of Nigeria’s energy demand by 2050.

On the challenges posed by pipeline vandalism and crude oil theft, the GCEO observed that the issues have impacted NNPC Ltd.’s operations, stressing that the establishment of a command-and-control centre has aided the detection and destruction of illegal refinery sites, removal of illegal connections, thereby addressing vandalism across operating corridors since 2021.

“The centre provides livestreaming of surveillance data to security forces, contributing to the detection and destruction of over 5,686 Illegal Refinery (IR) sites and the removal of 4,480 Illegal Connections (ICs) from 2021 to the present,” the GCEO added.

Acknowledging the severity of vandalism and oil theft, Kyari hinted at a strategic shift, focusing on increased products trucking and storage in underground tankages at NNPC filling stations nationwide.

He highlighted NNPC Ltd.‘s expanded retail assets, making it the largest single downstream company in sub-Saharan Africa after acquiring OVH retail stations and associated downstream infrastructure in 2021.

While underscoring NNPC Ltd.‘s transformation into a fully commercial limited liability energy company following the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act in 2021, Kyari said the removal of fuel subsidies has allowed the Company to play a more active commercial role, ensuring profitability and delivering greater value to Nigeria’s growing population.

Why Shell must address ecological impacts concerns before selling Niger Delta assets, by campaigners

Michael Simire
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Why Shell must address ecological impacts concerns before selling Niger Delta assets, by campaigners

On Tuesday, January 16, 2024, Shell announced on its website and social media platform X that it had reached an agreement to sell its Nigerian onshore subsidiary SPDC to a consortium of domestic and international oil companies for a total net fee of $2.8 billion. However, the finalisation of the transaction is dependent on the approval of the Nigerian Federal Government.

Shell
Shell

As civil society organisations in Nigeria who have worked in the Niger Delta in the context of oil and gas extraction and its attendant ecological, economic, social and health impacts, we have keenly observed the scheming by Shell to sell off its onshore assets in Nigeria despite clear protestations by communities and civil society organisations. This transaction follows similar moves by Chevron, Total-Energies, and ExxonMobil to sell off “oil assets” in the Niger Delta.

While we acknowledge that businesses have the right to dispose of their assets as they see fit, we are concerned about the manner in which this transaction is carried out, as well as the immediate and long-term implications for communities and the cause of ecological justice. We are particularly concerned with the following issues:

  1. The communities which Shell often refer to as its ‘hosts’ and have endured the impacts and inconvenience of oil extraction for over 6-decades, have not been consulted or informed of this planned sale. Several of these communities only learned from the news that oil assets situated in their ancestral lands and rivers are on sale.
  1. Shell has persistently engaged in irresponsible and reckless hydrocarbon extraction practices resulting in severe ecological, health and economic consequences. Multiple inquiries have determined that the corporation and its associates are responsible for causing environmental destruction that has devastated people’s means of living, contaminated communities, and facilitated situations that violate human rights.
  1. Up until now, the Nigerian government and its regulatory agencies have failed to come up with a guide, policy or blueprint establishing the conditions and modalities for oil company divestments. Divestments, including the latest by Shell, have happened haphazardly and in manners solely determined by oil companies, paying little or no attention to the broader ecological, economic and social impacts that their activities have bequeathed to communities.

While Shell continues to downplay its role in the ecological damage of the Niger Delta, assessments by reputable organisations have indicted the company over environmental pollution. In 2011, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its findings on the impacts of hydrocarbon pollution in Ogoniland, an area operated by Shell. The assessment revealed severe contaminating of drinking water sources and exposure of communities to health risks. Drinking water was found to contain cancer-causing benzene 900 times above permitted levels.

Another environmental and social impact assessment conducted in Bayelsa state showed that between 2006-2020, SPDC (Shell) accounted for 75% of oil spill incidents in the Niger Delta, which cause massive health damages, environmental pollution, loss of livelihoods and displacements. The findings of the assessment reveal that there is a 1.5 crude oil barrels per capita pollution in the state besides some heavy metal pollution that are up to 1 million times above safe limits. The Bayelsa State Environment and Oil Commission in a report titled “An Environmental Genocide – the human and environmental costs of Big Oil in Bayelsa State” showed a 1.5 barrels per capita pollution in that state.

Given the well-established social, health, economic, and ecological impacts of Shell’s operation, it is inconceivable that the company intends to merely sell its holdings and go. The selling of assets by Shell and other oil multinationals, is easily an effort to evade accountability for the long-standing damages caused by oil extraction in the Niger Delta.

It is pertinent that Shell owns up to its responsibility for the ecocidal damage of territories they have exploited. This means full payment for the remediation and restoration of the polluted areas as well as reparations to the host communities. They cannot walk away from the grave and irreparable harm they have caused.

In accordance with the foregoing, we strongly condemn the attempt to sale off onshore oil assets by Shell. We demand that before selling any such assets, the company must address many cases and concerns about the ecological, health, economic, and social consequences of its operations in the Niger Delta.

Our demands and recommendations are as follows:

  1. The federal government should immediately place a moratorium on all oil company divestment (or sale of assets) in the Niger Delta, pending the ascertaining of issues of community concern.
  2. The federal government to immediately produce a framework and guide for how oil companies disengage from areas where they have operated. This guide should be developed by a multi stakeholder group including communities and civil society organisations. The divestment (or sale) framework must contain the following requirement for oil companies and the Nigeria authorities:
    1. A scientifically developed post hydrocarbon impact assessment report that establishes the exact ecological and livelihoods impacts of oil extraction.
    2. A health audit of people located near extraction sites, and others exposed to oil contamination and gas flaring. This audit will aim at unravelling the negative health impacts of exposure to hydrocarbons.
    3. A detailed plan and costing for remediating the ecological, livelihood and health impacts of extraction.
    4. The establishment of independent frameworks for remediating all identified impacts and compensation to the impacted individuals and communities.
    5. Posting of funds in a designated account commensurate for the cleanup of impacted ecosystems and restoration of livelihoods.

By Nnimmo Bassey (Health or Mother Earth Foundation), Ken Henshaw (We The People), Akinbode Oluwafemi (Corporate Accountability & Public Participation Africa), Emem Okon (Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre), Tijah Bolton-Akpan (Policy Alert) and Stephen Oduware (Niger Delta Alternatives Convergence)

The dead died again: Surges excavate graves at Lagos shoreline communities

Michael Simire
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The dead died again: Surges excavate graves at Lagos shoreline communities

Akanbi lived his entire life in his ancestral home in Idado, a now semi-rural coastal community in Eti-Osa, where he was born, lived and left for the great beyond at the age of 97.

Okun Alfa
Buildings destroyed by the surging ocean at Okun Alfa, Lagos

In another coastal community where the Atlantic Ocean stretches to, spreading its aquatic splendour and blessedness of biodiversity (various life forms), it was in this community I first beheld the guitar ray fish, pufferfish, flying fish, dolphins, and many more I thought are extinct in Nigeria. Adebayo lived in this community from 1983 until about five years to my first visit to Akodo Ise. He died in 2015 as inscribed on his tombstone which could be mistaken as debris of pillar.

In different encounters where I saw these two graves at the shores amongst other debris of tombstones, the question that anchors my mind is, why are the dead buried at the seashore of all places?

According to some traditions and customs as practised in the southwest and in the southsouth parts of the country, the riverbanks become the vault where the remains of whoever that drowns is deposited, the coast is usually the final resting place as it was for Akanbi and Adebayo.

As I wandered along the coast, still I wondered why a cemetery at the sea, even though I had read of burial at sea in the western part of the world; a now rare yet surviving practice native to the navies where the remain if honourably wished by the deceased is cremated or buried about 3 nautical miles offshore, that is like about half (5.5km) of Nigeria’s longest bridge – the Third Mainland Bridge.

Our coastline, particularly rural coastal settlements, can be mistaken for a scanty cemetery and a surviving testament of the increasing climate crisis, environmental destruct and disasters including sea surge, coastal flooding, sand dredging and channelisation. Many innocent lives, properties and heritage have been lost to these sad events just as I witnessed that night.

I arrived at the Okun Ajah, a seaside community in the Eti-Osa axis hours after the community experienced a significant sea level rise and extreme strong wind. The ocean again had surged and, this time, it excavated graves at the shore, drowned the dead such that they died again. The strong waves chased away the living from their ancestral homes and held the host hostage; leaving the living homeless and nowhere to go.

It was a gory and sorry sight of corpses being exhumed and a search of a final resting place.

The Cries, Claim and Clamour; for Climate Justice, mindset and urbanisation reset

The locals in their agony shared different verses of lamentations of what caused the sea surge, some claimed that it is various industrial dredging activities, sand mining, land reclamation for real estate projects, oil exploration, abandonment of the shoreline protection projects (The Great Wall). Some even believe and point fingers at the deity of the sea “Oluokun”, that the gods are angry and must be appeased, they claimed.

For the environmental crisis, extreme weather conditions, pollution, loss of properties and deaths related to flooding in rural settlements, urbanisation and urban settlement can be held liable being an undeniably major force disrupting biodiversity, ecosystems and nature. More unfortunate and pending doom that urbanisation is expected to reach 68% of the global population in 2050, already averaging 85% in developed countries.

A pending doom for rural settlement and a call for urban resets and mindset change towards sustainable living including climate action advocacy, mapping conservation areas, policy implementation, tree planting and importantly recycling are vital strategies for the clamour of climate justice and as innovative solutions are essential to maintain a fulcrum between biodiversity alongside urbanisation.

Recycling and its impact in urbanisation cannot be overemphasised, in a recent tour to a recycling facility (collection centre) in Ajegunle established by Circularity Africa where we discussed and saw the ecological and socio economics impacts of recycling.

The need for collective responsibility and a shift in our attitude towards our environment and a mindset reset on climate change which affects all of us (urban settlement more) in diverse manifestations and unless we take responsibility by doing what we can including using media and storytelling as a tool for climate justice particularly in rural settlements that are less contributors to climate change and yet the most vulnerable.

There is no planet B. It should be considered a sound warning and a call to address the issue of climate and global warming with global to local actions and solutions like proper waste disposal, sanitation so as to protect our heritage, lives and rural settlements from extinction, and the dead don’t die again.

By Genevieve Aningo, Chinedu Isagah and Afere David Ajingbade. Article written as part of the Young Media for Climate Justice initiative

Waste pickers: Middlemen fostering a cleaner Lagos

Michael Simire
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Waste pickers: Middlemen fostering a cleaner Lagos

Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria and the economic hub of West Africa is currently the most populous city in Africa, it has a population of 21 million as at January 2015, making it Africa’s largest city and the third largest city in the world.

Olusosun landfill
A waste picker at Olusosun landfill in Lagos. Photo credit: www.deseret.com

The population has an average annual growth rate of 3.2% and is estimated to be over 30 million by 2025. The large population creates a viable market for manufacturing and retail of consumer goods and other services, goods of which are mostly produced in plastics.

Here, like every other state in Nigeria, waste is a common phenomenon, a 2022 report by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) shows that Nigeria generates over 32 million tonnes of waste annually. In the report, plastic waste accounts for 2.5 million tonnes. It was further disclosed that Nigeria is among the top 20 nations that contribute 83 percent of the total volume of land-based plastic waste that ends up in major oceans. This indicates the significant number of wastes being generated daily in the country.

Waste can be found in many parts of the country. Most streets are littered with plastics and metallic parts. Floating cans, nylon water sachets, empty bottles pile up on the streets, outside homes and along the waterways and lagoons creating eyesores and putrid smells. The waste pickers go in and search for recyclable materials that can be resold, turning problems into advantages. In most Nigerian cities, waste picking represents a vital survival strategy for the poor.

But the narrative is changing. There is a paradigm shift towards turning trash into cash. With the population of 21 million people, Lagos State reportedly generates 870,000 tonnes of plastic waste annually. Meanwhile, a report shows that only 40% of its waste is collected, and just 13 per cent is recycled which births the need for recycling and the embracement of sustainable and responsible production (SDG 12).

Nasiru Abubakar is a waste picker in Ojo LGA of Lagos. He specifically looks around for cartons, empty pure water sachets, plastic bottles and metal objects. When speaking to our reporter, Abubakar disclosed how much he makes from the venture he engages in.

“It depends on the quantity you have. When I get to Alaba Rago, I will separate everything here one by one. Sachet is N50 per kg. Carton is also N50 per kg. While iron is N300 per kg. If I fill this bag very well, it is more than 10 kg. And I’ll make, let’s say N3,000,” he said.

Not many people know that there is monetary value in picking waste. Some just believe that the waste pickers only help to clean their environment.

“Alaba Rago is the point of exchange. That is where we exchange all things for money. We have a scale to measure what we have,” Abubakar said, adding that he works every day.

During a visit to Ajeromi Ifelodun Recycling Hub in Ajegunle area, an initiative of Circularity Africa Limited, a group of women and young people were seen sorting plastic wastes and working in the premises.

Mr. Adewole Taiwo, a co-founder of the Hub, disclosed that the women earn from three to four sources.

“The women sorting these plastics are mostly street sweepers. Once they finish the street sweeping around 10am, they come here for extra income. They also come with plastics, get paid for it and also for sorting the plastics to different categories,” he said.

Apart from the profits the waste pickers make, they are very vital to the recycling chain as they make Lagos city cleaner, help local recycling companies get raw materials who in turn sell to the office takers then to the big companies who use this waste as their raw materials to maximise their cost of production.

One of the women sorting told our correspondent that she can sort about 25-30 kgs per day which amounts to over N700. Like Abubakar, she is not only making the city of Lagos cleaner, but also making money from this work that many have described as dirty.

Development of a nation starts locally; we need to embrace community recycling for effective waste management. Waste management is a multi-million-naira sector yet to be fully explored.

All local governments should support indigenous community recycling initiatives for a cleaner city.

By Oluwakeji Onabajo, Deborah Oiza Yusuf and Damilare Adeleye. Article written as part of the Young Media for Climate Justice initiative 

Plastic pollution, malaria concerns in flood-prone Lagos community

Michael Simire
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Plastic pollution, malaria concerns in flood-prone Lagos community

In the metropolitan city of Lagos, residents of Akobi Crescent in Surulere have been disturbed and affected by excessive flooding caused by poor drainage systems and improper waste disposal for many years.

Akobi Canal
The Akobi Canal. Photo credit: Akinbo Oluwatomisin

During the rainy season, the community is usually flooded with plastic waste that is thrown into the streets by residents. These plastics create a blockage in the canal, causing serious flooding which overflows to the roads making it difficult for people to move around.

Malaria outburst

A source who does not want to be named lamented over the cases of malaria which has generally affected the environment making it difficult for residents to live a healthy life.

The residents expressed concern over the government’s failure in providing means of eradicating the flood in the community.

“My kids and I treat malaria constantly every three months.

“At times when it rains, because the canal is usually blocked with waste, the water overflows.

“Sometimes it overflows into the compound and when water is stagnant, it causes malaria. As a result of that, we treat malaria every three months.”

Another affected resident who spoke to our correspondent, Mrs Remi Adejare, said the neglected canal close to her residential apartment becomes a home for insects carrying parasitic diseases (mosquitoes) which has contributed to the spread of malaria parasites.

Adejare has been living in Akobi Crescent in Surulere at the flood-prone area for over 15 years. “Before subsequent intervention by some of the residents, the flooded canal is usually blocked thereby causing flooding when it rains. At times, it overflows to the main road which causes air pollution and also exposes us to malaria caused by mosquitoes from the canal,” she disclosed.

Intervention and solving the menace

However, this has been reduced with a consistent routine of proper cleaning of the canal mostly every week.

Apart from the plastics clogging the canal, other refuse is also thrown into it creating the same problem.

When asked how she disposed her waste, Adejare said: “Well, I use waste bags which LAWMA picks up every week. For plastics, I keep them aside for reuse or give them out to people that need them. I don’t put plastics in my dustbin. I give it out or put them aside for reuse or I sell them to aboki,” she said.

To curb plastic waste and encourage recycling, a recycling company, Sweep Foundation, moved into the community and has been putting things in place to reduce the occurrence of flooding. The recycling company has reduced the blockage in the canal by retrieving plastics from the street for recycling.

According to one Mr Innocent who is a worker at the recycling hub, part of his job involves going out to collect plastic waste.

“We go house to house to get plastic waste products,” he said.

Innocent, who has been staying in the affected community, emphasised his role in mitigating environmental degradation and contributing to economic growth of the community which triggered his involvement in plastic recycling.

Speaking to journalists, he noted how the company is doing its best to make sure the canal is not blocked again towards the incoming rain.

His words: “We are trying our best. We are in partnership with Lagos Recyclers Association (LAGRA).

“We have been going there to clear the canal of waste before it gets flooded.”

He explained that although the company is trying its best, there are several challenges like the lack of availability of protective materials like gloves, raincoats, rubber boots, nose masks, etc but the company is looking into that.

Innocent also noted that the company involved the community in a house-to-house sensitisation on recycling and how plastics are not waste but a source of wealth creation.

By Samuel Ogunsona, Rahma Jimoh and Akinbo Oluwatomisin. Article written as part of the Young Media for Climate Justice initiative

Group trains 90 farmers on climate-friendly techniques in Enugu

Michael Simire
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Group trains 90 farmers on climate-friendly techniques in Enugu

The South-Saharan Social Development Organisation (SSDO), an NGO, on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, trained 90 rural farmers on agro-ecology to promote climate-friendly farming in Enugu State.

Fadama
Farmers

Its Head of Programme, Mr Udochukwu Egwim, said this at a training workshop in Amagu Oduma, Aninri Local Government Area of the state.

Egwim said that the workshop, funded by the Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), was aimed at keeping the farmers abreast with the modern climate-friendly farming techniques.

The trainees were drawn from Eke in Udi Local Government Area and Amagu Oduma in Aninri Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the trainees should adopt the use of organic fertiliser such as animal droppings, dry leaves, instead of the inorganic fertiliser that is harmful to the environment and human beings.

“Today, we are having a workshop on agro-ecology and this workshop is funded by the Nigeria Conservation Foundation. We have done this training in two communities; Eke in Udi LGA and Amagu Oduma in Aninri LGA.

“The essence of the training is to keep farmers abreast with the modern farming techniques that are also climate friendly like the use of organic fertiliser, as opposed to the usual inorganic one that is harmful to the environment.

“We are trying to propose to them a more climate approach to farming, which will also give them more yields and reduce the harm to the environment,” the organisation’s head of programme said.

According to him, beyond this training, the group is providing them with improved palm seedlings for them to practicalise the training given to them.

“And we will also link them to the State Ministry of Agriculture to have an access to also procure these improved seedlings because it will give them more yields in their farms and also save them more time.

“We are also linking them to other government initiatives like the government loans. There are two projects that the government is coming up with; some are funded by the World Bank and other agencies that are targeted at farmers.

“We are providing that linkage to ensure that these farmers can move beyond subsistence farming to a larger scale farming,” Egwim said.

He said that his organisation would interface and interact with the participating farmers to enable them track their progress.

Earlier, the guest speaker, Mrs Celestina Aga, who decried the use of inorganic fertiliser, stressing that food produced with inorganic fertiliser was harmful for human consumption.

Aga, who is also Deputy Director, Agric Department in the Ministry of Agriculture, reminded the farmers of their crucial roles in promoting climate-friendly environment.

She commended the SSDO for deeming it fit to train the farmers.

She urged the participants to take advantage of every available opportunity in terms of loans and grants facilities to enable them to transit from subsistence to commercial farming.

The high point of the event was the distribution of improved palm seedlings to the participants.

By Ifeoma Aka

Shell opts out of onshore assets in Niger Delta, retains interest in deep water operations

Michael Simire
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Shell opts out of onshore assets in Niger Delta, retains interest in deep water operations

Shell Plc United Kingdom has reached an agreement to sell its Nigerian onshore subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC).

Shell
Shell

According to a statement on the energy firm’s website, SPDC will be sold to Renaissance, a consortium of five companies comprising four exploration and production companies based in Nigeria and an international energy group. Sources have put the total cost of the deal in the region of $2.4 billion.

The oil firm restated that it remains committed to investments in the Niɠerian oil and gas sector.

According to the statement, completion of the transaction is subject to approvals by the Federal Government and other conditions.

Shell stated that the transaction had been designed to preserve the full range of SPDC’s operating capabilities following the change of ownership.

“This includes the technical expertise, management systems and processes that SPDC implements on behalf of all the companies in the SPDC Joint Venture (SPDC JV).

“SPDC’s staff will continue to be employed by the company as it transitions to new ownership.

“Following completion, Shell will retain a role in supporting the management of SPDC JV facilities that supply a major portion of the feed gas to Nigeria LNG (NLNG), to help Nigeria achieve maximum value from NLNG.

“This agreement marks an important milestone for Shell in Nigeria, aligning with our previously announced intent to exit onshore oil production in the Niger Delta.

“The transaction is simplifying our portfolio and focusing future disciplined investment in Nigeria on our Deepwater and Integrated Gas positions,” Zoë Yujnovich, Shell’s Integrated Gas and Upstream Director, said.

Shell UK described the deal as a significant moment for SPDC, whose people have built it into a high-quality business over many years.

“Now, after decades as a pioneer in Nigeria’s energy sector, SPDC will move to its next chapter under the ownership of an experienced, ambitious Nigerian-led consortium.

“Shell sees a bright future in Nigeria with a positive investment outlook for its energy sector. We will continue to support the country’s growing energy needs and export ambitions in areas aligned with our strategy,” the statement said.

The SPDC JV is a joint venture comprising SPDC Ltd. (30%), the government owned Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (55%), Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd. (10%) and Nigeria Agip Oil Company Ltd (5%).

By Nathan Nwakamma

Disaster management: Group urges govts to reform emergency agencies

Michael Simire
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Disaster management: Group urges govts to reform emergency agencies

Women For Peace and Gender Equality Initiative (WOPEGEE), a non-governmental orgnisation (NGO), on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, appealed to the federal and state governments to reform emergency agencies across the country.

Ahmed Habib
Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Ahmed Habib

The Executive Director of WOPEGEE, Dr Mojisola Akinsanya, made the plea while speaking with journalists at a four-day workshop in Lagos.

The training, with theme: “Capacity Building for Disaster Preparedness, Response and Flood Risk Management”, holds from Jan. 16 to 19.

Akinsanya said the government needed to reform the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, among others for better research.

“When you want to classify disaster, you say it is natural or man-made but, as a humanitarian actor, we don’t believe that disasters are natural.

“Government still believe at building implementation around relief agencies despite structures like NEMA, LASEMA and the like.

“The government should reform all emergency agencies so that they can carry out a lot of research and disaster risk reduction so that it will be reduced to a minimum level,” she said.

Speaking on the workshop, she said it was in support of the Austrian Centre for Peace to support local NGOs to push for progress in disaster risk reduction.

“What we intend to achieve is how communities can show resilience, how we can strengthen the capacity of different humanitarian actors to show resilience in terms of disaster, especially flood disaster in southern Nigeria.

“Humanitarian assistance is a wide range. Some work in education, health, climate change, water and sanitation, among others.

“We want to strengthen the capacity of different actors that are here.

“We have participants from civilian, military, NEMA and what we intend to achieve is have a community action plan that can work towards this 2024 flood.

“We also want to see how communities can build sustainable infrastructures before disaster struck and a coalition where researchers working with us make sure the action plan is being implemented,” she said.

Miss Sophia Stanger, a delegate from Austrian Centre for Peace, while speaking with journalists, said the organisation aimed at building capacities to support people in the African region.

“This support is to be better equipped for meeting humanitarian needs and we are focusing basically in flooding and disaster reduction,” she said.

One of the research presentations which was made by Prof. Helen Bodunde, on Ogun State Environment and Climate Change, identified causes of flood.

Bodunde identified inadequate drainage, blocked and improper drainage management and excessive rainfall, as major contributors to flood disaster.

She urged everyone to play a role at taking care of the environment to minimise disaster risk in the country.

By Henry Oladele and Oluwatope Lawanson

New maize varieties ‘ll boost food sufficiency, create wealth – Stakeholders

Michael Simire
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New maize varieties ‘ll boost food sufficiency, create wealth – Stakeholders

Some stakeholders in the agricultural sector have commended the Federal Government on the release of new TELA maize varieties.

TELA Maize
Dr Muyideen Oyekunle, Breeder, in charge of Trait and Pipeline Testing, TELA Maize Project displaying harvested maize cops recently at IAR TELA Maize CFT, Zaria. Photo Credit: AATF

TELA Maize is the brand name for Genetically Modified (GM) maize hybrids developed by the TELA Maize Project.

The stakeholders, in separate interviews on Monday, January 15, 2024, in Abuja, applauded the initiative, saying it would  boost food production in the country.

According to them, the new maize hybrids will also create more wealth for farmers.

Prof. Garba Sharubutu, the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), said the approval of the TELA Maize variety in Nigeria was a  welcome development in the use of biotechnology in ensuring food and nutrition security.

Sharubutu said it would also improve the livelihood of farming households in Nigeria and Africa.

On his part, Prof. Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General, National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), said with the advent of TELA Maize, farmers would help reduce the use of pesticides on maize to the barest minimum.

Dr Sylvester Oikeh, the TELA Maize Project Manager, celebrated the approval of the TELA Maize and urged other countries in Africa to embrace the new varieties for farmers.

“I am encouraged by this decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria; this shows its commitment to the needs of farmers,’’ he said.

The four varieties approved by the Federal Government are SAMMAZ 72T, SAMMAZ 73T, SAMMAZ 74T, and SAMMAZ 75T.

The new maize varieties are drought tolerant and resistant to stem-borer and fall armyworm resulting in yield advantage of up to 10 tonnes per hectare under good agronomic practices.

Partners in the TELA Maize project include National Agricultural Research Institutes in Kenya, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and South Africa,

Others are International Maize, and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Bayer, with funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID.

By Bukola Adewumi

Lagos advocates improved air quality for healthy living

Michael Simire
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Lagos advocates improved air quality for healthy living

The Lagos State Government has stressed the need for green and improved air quality across the state to ensure healthy living.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State

This is contained in a statement signed by Adesoye Oyelami, the Assistant Director (Public Affairs), the Lagos Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), on Monday, January 15, 2024, in Lagos.

The statement noted that the present air quality in many parts of the state as indicated in the State’s Air Quality Index was unhealthy.

The government through LASEPA called for the understanding and joint efforts of the public towards achieving a common and sustainable action plan.

It noted that this would mitigate the climate change effect and its attendant consequences on human health.

Speaking on the development, Dr Babatunde Ajayi, the General Manager, LASEPA, noted that the Air Quality Index as released recently by the agency underscored the need to be environmental conscious.

Ajayi implored residents to retrace their steps and join hands with the government in protecting the environment through actions and activities that were more environmentally friendly.

He said people in the affected areas may suffer from respiratory-related diseases such as lung infections, asthma, cystic fibrosis, mesothelioma, pulmonary hypertension and running noses among others.

Ajayi listed other common diseases associated with poor air quality as high blood pressure, sight problems, irritation, heart problems, worsened underlying health conditions, and other related health issues.

He listed emissions from generators in residential areas and vehicular emissions as major contribution to poor air quality in some areas as most motorists pay little or no attention to the maintenance of their vehicles.

Ajayi also identified agricultural and industrial emissions as another major contributor to poor air quality.

He noted that there were other worrisome issues of agricultural activities such as the burning of cow skin as well as emissions from areas with large concentrations of industries.

“The entire Lagos has pockets of industries in different areas, so in areas with high industrial concentration, you will have poorer air quality,” Ajayi stated.

He underscored the importance of tree planting and urged residents to cultivate the habit of planting trees in homes and neighbourhoods to absorb carbon dioxide emitted into the environment.

He said that green energy was safer, more secure, and very environmentally friendly than diesel or gasoline oil.

Ajayi also urged the reduction in the number of vehicles on the roads through carpooling or a preference for public transportation rather than individuals putting their vehicles on the roads daily.

He pledged the commitment of LASEPA in monitoring the environment and implementing policies that would ensure compliance with government regulations and guidelines towards achieving a cleaner, safer, and pollution-free environment.

By Fabian Ekeruche

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