The UK’s foreign Secretary, David Lammy, in his first major foreign policy speech has made it clear that action on climate is action on our security, our prosperity and our future.
UK’s foreign Secretary, David Lammy
Lammy in a speech on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, pledged to build a Global Clean Power Alliance – a new coalition committed to accelerating the clean energy transition globally, as part of the cross-government mission to make Britain a clean energy superpower.
Alongside announcing plans to appoint new Special Representatives for Climate Change and for Nature, the Foreign Secretary also pledged to unlock more climate finance and reverse the decline in global biodiversity – addressing systemic inequalities and injustice globally.
He said: “This Government has set a landmark goal – to be the first major economy to deliver clean power by 2030. We will leverage that ambition to build an Alliance committed to accelerating the clean energy transition.
“And today we are firing the starting gun on forming this new coalition. While some countries are moving ahead in this transition, others are being left behind. We need to accelerate the rollout of renewable energy across the globe in the way that this Government is doing at home.”
The Alliance will focus on driving global investment and finance to close the clean power gap by helping more countries to leapfrog fossil fuels and transition to power systems with renewables at their core. It will work to speed up the supply of critical minerals and inject impetus into expanding energy grids and storage. This will help to increase clean energy innovation across the globe – sharing knowledge and technology to make Net Zero Power a reality, everywhere.
Lammy added: “This crisis is not some discrete policy area, divorced from geopolitics, conflict and insecurity. The threat may not feel as urgent as a terrorist or an imperialist autocrat. But it is more fundamental. It is systemic. Pervasive. And accelerating towards us. Today, I am committing to you that while I am Foreign Secretary, action on the climate and nature crisis will be central to all the Foreign Office does. This is critical given the scale of the threat, but also the scale of the opportunity.”
The Foreign Secretary also committed to united Government team that will use the diplomatic and development weight of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to push for ambitious pledges on finance and reduced emissions at COP29.
This diplomatic weight will be reinforced by new UK Special Representatives for Climate Change and for Nature. These representatives will report to the Foreign Secretary, together with Ed Miliband and Steve Reed respectively, and will help to galvanise British engagement with partners across the world, forge genuine partnerships on climate change and mark a diplomatic drive to increase global ambition focused on clean power, climate finance, adaptation and resilience and biodiversity.
As the global community prepares for the 29th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) set to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, by November 2024, a new study by the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) is igniting a fresh debate on the intersection of population growth and climate action.
Prof. Nyovani Madise, the Director of Development Policy and Head of AFIDEP Malawi
The research, published in the Vienna Yearbook of Population Research of the Vienna Institute of Demography and Austrian Academy of Sciences, highlights the potential of mainstreaming family planning into climate strategies as a way to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
While the focus of the climate crisis has largely been on high-income nations – whose per capita emissions and consumption patterns contribute disproportionately to global GHG emissions – the AFIDEP study calls for a broader perspective.
The research, led by Prof. Nyovani Madise, the Director of Development Policy and Head of AFIDEP Malawi, urges a closer examination of the role of population growth, particularly in rapidly expanding countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which are expected to see significant population increases by 2050.
“There is no doubt that populous countries such as India, China, and Nigeria are major contributors to global emissions. However, evidence regarding the role of population growth in climate change is mixed,” said Prof. Nyovani. “While the current framework, which emphasises mitigation by high-income nations and adaptation by low-income, low-emitting countries, makes sense in the short term, it is insufficient to address the future impacts of rapid population growth.”
Economic Development and GHG Emissions
The study challenges the prevailing view that population growth is a secondary factor in climate change, overshadowed by industrial consumption patterns in wealthier countries. As Prof. Nyovani’s research points out, fast-growing, low-income nations are likely to follow the same unsustainable development paths taken by Western countries, leading to greater land use changes, increased demand for energy, and rising GHG emissions as these nations industrialise.
“These countries will not remain static in terms of their economic development. Rapid urbanisation and land-use changes to meet food and housing needs, coupled with increasing energy demands, will inevitably lead to greater environmental pressures,” the study notes.
The research critiques the dominant narrative promoted by climate justice movements, which emphasises the responsibility of high-income nations to bear the financial burden of global climate action. While such arguments have merit, Prof. Nyovani and her team argue that they overlook the critical role of population dynamics, particularly in fast-growing but poor African nations that are seen primarily as victims of climate-induced disasters.
A call for forward-looking investments
The AFIDEP research calls for development aid to focus on curbing population growth in a voluntary and ethical manner, helping couples achieve their desired family size while simultaneously addressing education, poverty reduction, and environmental sustainability. The study emphasises the importance of empowering younger populations – who tend to have lower per capita GHG emissions and are more likely to adopt sustainable consumption patterns – in shaping a climate-friendly future.
“Age structure matters. While older populations tend to have higher per capita energy consumption and are less likely to change their behaviors, younger populations represent an opportunity for a more sustainable path forward. Their fertility intentions can be shaped by climate-conscious policies, creating a generation that is more attuned to the environmental challenges of the future,” the researchers argue.
A controversial debate ahead of COP29
The timing of the research, released just ahead of COP29, is likely to stir controversy. Discussions about population control in the context of climate action have long been contentious. Past efforts, including policies promoting “population engineering” and fertility reductions, were abandoned due to ethical concerns and unintended consequences.
Despite this, the AFIDEP study revives the argument that addressing population growth – through voluntary, rights-based family planning initiatives – could be a key component in reducing future emissions, particularly in nations on the verge of significant economic expansion.
“Reducing childbearing is arguably a simpler and more effective strategy for lowering emissions than overhauling consumption patterns in already industrialised nations,” said Prof. Nyovani. “But this can only be achieved through empowering choices, not coercion.”
A global shift required
More than 100 countries have committed to reducing their GHG emissions by 45% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050. However, current trends suggest the world is not on track to meet these targets, with global emissions projected to rise by 9% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels.
While smaller countries like Bhutan, Suriname, and Panama have already achieved net zero emissions, the AFIDEP study stresses that without substantial financial and technological support, low-income countries will struggle to meet their food security and energy needs in a sustainable manner.
“If the world is serious about addressing both population growth and climate change, then development aid must prioritise investments in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and family planning in fast-growing, poor nations,” the researchers conclude. “Unfortunately, the financial support required for these up-front investments has yet to materialise.”
As COP29 approaches, the research is expected to fuel renewed discussions about how population dynamics and climate action should be integrated into global climate policies, offering a controversial but critical perspective on the future of sustainable development.
Mohamed Malick Fall is the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria. In this exclusive interview, he speaks on the need for a collective response to humanitarian crises in Nigeria, obstacles to humanitarian interventions, and the work of the United Nations, among others. UN OCHA Nigeria’s Head of Public Information, Ann Weru, and Public Information Officer, Dr. Chike Walter Duru, were there. Excerpts:
Mohamed Malick Fall, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria
Types of humanitarian issues in Nigeria
Different types of crises exist in Nigeria; some are linked to conflict and insecurity; there are those that are triggered by insurgency in the north-east, some are linked to intercommunal violence, herders/farmers clashes, abductions, kidnapping, banditry, prevalent in many parts of the country.
In addition, Nigeria has a certain level of climate vulnerability. Sometimes, drought; sometimes, floods; sometimes heat wave, that impact the wellbeing of people and sometimes trigger the movement of people, loss of property or loss of livelihood and they exacerbate the hardship that the people are facing.
How the UN is responding to the challenges
The UN has a two-fold response. One is the humanitarian response, which, to me, is guided by the principle of saving lives and reducing vulnerabilities; helping people, not only to get back on their feet, but also to have hope that they can have a better future.
The second component is the one that tackles the root causes of these crises. Most of those root causes are linked to deficits of development, lack of basic services, lack of livelihoods, lack of skills for young people and lack of access to employment. Those require much deeper action, which is building, not only on UN humanitarian intervention, but also on development-related activities, which will be looking at short, mid and long-term projects for the development of those people.
Obstacles to humanitarian interventions in Nigeria
We have several of them.
The biggest one is access, and sometimes, access is hampered by insecurity. There are many parts of the country without free and safe access because of the high level of insecurity that is still prevailing. This is valid for the north-east, where, despite all the efforts to push against the insurgency, you still see attacks like the recent ones in Konduga and Gwoza, which are sad reminders that it is not yet over. You have also insecurity prevailing in many other parts of the country.
Sometimes, access to the people in need is also difficult.
Funding gaps are also an issue, because, as you know, the world is overstretched by humanitarian challenges. For instance, we have gone past half of the year, but this year’s Nigerian Humanitarian Response Plan is funded below 50 per cent. We launched in May 2024, a Lean Season Plan, which targeted to address the most urgent needs of people affected by food insecurity and malnutrition, but we are in the peak of the lean season, and we have not even reached 30 per cent of the funding we need. If you look at humanitarian funding year by year, you will see that it is declining. The level of response from the donor community is getting lower because of the competing developments across the world. The wars in Gaza, Sudan, and other regions have completely changed the funding landscape for humanitarian response.
The challenge of funding
There is a cost of doing nothing. People always look at things from the point of the cost of doing something. Let me take one example. In the Lean Season Plan, we are looking at addressing severe food insecurity and malnutrition. Today, look at the number of children that are malnourished. The survival of hundreds of thousands of severely acutely malnourished children and those at risk depends on urgent interventions.
In the Lean Season Plan, there is a projection of 230,000 children at risk of severe acute malnutrition during the lean season in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, alone. Their survival depends on the steps taken against the challenge.
The cost of inaction is that life is on the line. Children that survive acute malnutrition, from the fragile health conditions they have, may also face growth and development challenges throughout their lives. The cost of inaction is very expensive.
Way forward
I see several solutions around these challenges.
For funding, more innovative funding solutions are required. We must no longer rely on western countries as traditional donors.
A country like Nigeria is not poor. It is among the three biggest economies in Africa. It is increasingly urgent for the Government to allocate its own resources to the humanitarian response.
We also need to be more creative and see how we can make our humanitarian operations more efficient and more effective. There are many directions that need to be explored.
International Laws
Wherever you see conflict and war, it means that there are parties that do not believe in dialogue and in peaceful settlement of disputes.
For instance, the insurgents believe in extreme violence and terrorist actions. This is not peculiar to Nigeria. In the world, there are many wars taking place. Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, and these are coming on top of previous crises. You have Somalia and Syria. The notion that any difference should be settled through arms and through guns amounts to pushing back on the principles of international laws. Many of the parties to conflict do not respect nor respond to the call of international humanitarian law.
How the UN is supporting displaced people and the most vulnerable
Whenever you see a crisis, those that pay the highest prices are the most vulnerable – the women, children, older persons, people living with disabilities, and that is why we prioritise them in our interventions. There are provisions in our interventions that prioritize the protection of children. There are also provisions that specially protect women from grave violations of their rights and from sexual violence. The rights of people living with disabilities are also protected.
For me, the humanitarian space is one of the few spaces where humanity has its expression. It is a place where you see actors daily, risking their lives to go and save lives, reduce vulnerability, protect and help people get back on their feet. It is also a space where you see host communities that are lacking in everything sharing the little, they have with people who are suffering or displaced. It is a place where you see Government and non-state actors getting together, to reduce vulnerability and save the lives of people. The work of humanitarians saving lives etc. has just one name – humanity prevailing.
Message for stakeholders
What we need to reduce the humanitarian needs in the world is for the people to go back to the principle of humanity.
If we act on preventing conflict, stopping conflicts, we will take away a huge number of people in humanitarian need.
At the same time, humanitarian needs are not only triggered by conflict; unfortunately, the way we treat our planet; the way we treat our ecosystems, the way we respond to the climate crisis that we are facing are also important issues.
We also have increased poverty and deeper inequalities. All of these are among the factors that trigger human suffering.
We need to address conflict, increased poverty, the climate crisis, and inequalities. If world leaders continue to push to address these issues and more, we will see a better world.
Members of the public should support humanitarian action. They should understand that it is not about humanitarian organisations and workers alone. It is about the entire society. The call here is the expression of humanity. It is a call to every human being. It takes mobilisation, commitment, awareness for every one of us to be part of that humanity.
The British High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr Richard Montgomery, has said a British battery recycling company is to be set up in Ogun State, an official disclosed on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, in Abeokuta.
Gov Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State
Mr Lekan Adeniran, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, said in a statement that Montgomery disclosed this when he visited Gov. Abiodun in his office.
He said Montgomery, who led some officials of the British High Commission on the courtesy call on Gov. Abiodun, stated that when operational the company would be the best in Africa.
“The British High Commissioner added that his brief visit to the state was about the deal, put together for recycling, which was moving out of Lagos State and establishing a new plant in Ogun for recycling e-waste.
“He (Montgomery) said further that Ogun Invest and the Director General of Lands were working to ensure the deal comes off the line, and he was glad to join in the final conversation,” Adeniran said.
He went on to report him (Montgomery) as expressing that the company would hopefully bring new technology and new jobs to the state.
“The battery we will be manufacturing in Ogun will be the first of its kind in Africa, and we will make the state the leader in battery recycling in Africa.
“For the first time, it is now possible to recycle the cell back into chemical form in Africa and export the black mass, which contains the minerals inside the battery, to make new batteries.
“It is really exciting that we received support from Ogun Invest, and officials from the Bureau of Lands confirmed the Certificate of Occupation.
“We can say that the investment will be about five million dollars, and we want Ogun to be the place where this industry can grow,” the High Commissioner was reported as saying.
“Montgomery also added that the UK would like to participate in energy, technology, tertiary education, agricultural processing, and also explore how to find more UK-linked companies to invest in the state.”
Adeniran quoted Gov. Abiodun as saying Ogun had a large expanse of land suitable for cultivating food and cash crops, just as large deposits of limestone and other minerals were available.
“He (Abiodun) said the state remains home to numerous manufacturing companies and had the biggest industrial park as a result of the gas pipelines from the Niger Delta which crisscross the length and breadth of the state.
“Abiodun noted that the deliberate provision of road infrastructure and other amenities was to attract more investments to meaningfully impact the lives of the people.
“The governor, who acknowledged the relationship between Nigeria and the UK, said the state had benefited from the training of its staff, especially those managing the state transport system.”
“We are open for business. Our administration has made the environment attractive. We have reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks to the barest minimum.
“Also, we have made land acquisition seamless for investors,” the governor was quoted as saying.
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) has constituted an ad-hoc committee on emergency preparedness plan for earth tremor in some parts of the FCT.
Earth tremor
The Director, Mr Abdulrahman Mohammed, disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, after a meeting with stakeholders over the earth tremor in parts of Mpape, Katampe and Maitama on Saturday.
Mohammed outlined the committee’s plan to conduct public awareness campaigns, informing residents of essential safety measures and emergency procedures to follow in the event of a tremor in their communities.
He appealed to residents of the affected areas to evacuate their buildings in the event of a vibration and urged them to stay away from electric poles during tremors.
The director further appealed to residents to always use the 112 emergency toll-free number in the event of an emergency.
Also, Mr Ulom Ifop, Deputy Director, Solid Minerals, FCT Administration, explained that the tremor was caused by a fault line under the ground, which places stress on the rocks.
Ifop, who expressed concern that the incidents may continue, stressed the need for a seismic substation at Toro and at Katampe Hill.
“We equally need a substation at Area 11, Asokoro and Maitama,” he added.
Similarly, a water consultant, Mr Taiwo Oyekan, blamed the development on human activities, which caused a friction on the edges of the rocks, leading to the tremor.
Oyekan, who advocated a blast threshold by quarry companies, added that all rock blasting in the area must be put on hold for now.
The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, who confirmed the Saturday’s vibration as earth tremor, has urged residents not to panic.
The agency explained that the tremor was low, and thereby, posed no threat.
Concerned residents of Maiduguri, Borno State, have expressed worry about the recent flooding in the state, describing it as devastating.
Hydropower dam
They note that the occurrence is the fallout of a system failure in public infrastructure, including dams across the country.
They also observe that, due to such system failures in Alau Dam in the Alau community of Konduga Local Government Area of Borno, the collapse of the dam has caused massive displacement and destruction in the city.
They express regret that many residents have been displaced from their homes, means of livelihood while a lot of property, including farm produce washed away.
Perspective observers note that the flooding has affected many sectors of economy and lifestyles in the environment, including the zoological garden where animals, including the wild ones, are thrown to the city in the flood.
Research has shown that Alau Dam, located 20 kilometres outside Maiduguri, was constructed in 1986 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida for irrigation purposes, flood control, and water supply, and it had collapsed previously.
The first collapse was in September 1994 when it displaced more than 4,000 people and destroyed a lot of property.
Alau Dam’s case is not isolated; Bunkure Dam in Kano also collapsed and destroyed farm produce on its bank in the early 1990s.
More than 200 dams, holding more than 31 billion cubic litre of water, are spread across the country largely for irrigation, power generation water supply, flood control and fisheries and they ought to be effectively maintained to check system failure, analysts observe.
However, it is a regret that Alau Dam, which has the capacity to store 112 million cubic litres of water, failed in spite of the N400 million budgeted for its rehabilitation in the last four years, an unconfirmed source notes.
It notes further that the dam got N285 million in 2020, N80 million in 2021, N37.5 million in 2023, and N30 million in 2024.
Minister of Water Resources Minister, Prof. Joseph Utsev, however, justifies why the dam emptied its massive water content to the street, saying: “The dam did not collapse but struggled to handle the excess water from nearby tributaries causing overflow into surrounding areas.
“Government officials confirmed that climate change has intensified rainfall leading to excess water that many dams are struggling to manage, and as temperature rises, we expect increased rainfall, leading to higher water volumes in our rivers and channels’’.
The minister also announced measures to prevent a recurrence of the incident, noting that “proactive measures are crucial to preventing future escalations; long term solutions are under way with budgetary allocation in 2024/ 2025 specifically targeting dams rehabilitation’’.
Raising more concerns about dam collapse, Prof. Simon Joshua, a water resources engineer, listed problems of dams in the country to include inadequate spillway flood capacities, loss of reservoir capacity due to sediments accumulation, and seepage.
“There is also absence of downstream release facilities for either irrigation or water supply, lack of hydrological information and monitoring, absence of reservoir operation rules and inadequate instrumentation,’’ he said.
Another engineer, Mr Lawrance Ekpo, however said that dam failure could be naturally triggered or caused by the failure of engineering sub-system that might cause instability of the dam or its operation.
“Dam failure in Nigeria is caused by combination of the many factors, including flood events, inadequate spillways, resulting in substantially or large consequences,’’ he said.
Apart from Alau Dam, available documents and records show that other dams, such as Bagauda Dam in Kano, failed due to similar factors that triggered the collapse of Alau Dam.
The Bagauda Dam was constructed and designed as zoned earth filled dam in 1969 and 1970 by direct labour.
The dam was constructed mainly for Kadawa irrigation site and to provide water to Kano metropolis and surrounding villages.
The dam failed on Aug. 16, 1988, after two days of intense rainfall which added about 10 cubic litres of water to the already filled reservoir, it overtopped the embankment and collapsed.
Similarly, Cham Dam in Gombe failed on Sept. 1, 1998, following overtopped by floods caused by 13 hours of continuous rainfall. The incident involved not only overflow of the embankment, but overflow without gate spillway.
Goronyo Dam in Sokoto failed twice, the first was on Aug. 15, 1984, and second in 2018. It was built in 1983 by the Shehu Shagari administration.
The Bagoma Dam incident in Kaduna State was no different. It failed on Sept. 10, 1994, due to piping through its foundation. The treatment and power houses were flooded, so also the access roads to nearby villages.
The same incident was recorded in Cross Rivers when Obudu Dam failed on Oct. 3, 2003, when 16 hours of excessive rain over filled its reservoir, and with the spillover structurally inadequate to accommodate the volume of water, the channel was eroded completely.
Waya Dam in Bauch State also failed on May 15, 1997. Waya dam is a homogenous earth dam with reservoir capacity of 30 million cubic litre of water.
The major cause of the failure was poor construction from the onset. The effect was the erosion of the inadequate spillway channel and flooding of the dam embankment.
The dam spillway was designed to discharge 150 cubic metres, but the flood that undermined the dam was recorded at 250 cubic metres.
It is clear that the immediate and remote causes of dam failure in Nigeria are almost the same as such maintenance must be given top priority.
There is also the need for government to redesign, maintain and transform multi-purpose dams into more viable facilities, and engage in massive advocacy and public awareness of water users and communities on risks and emergency actions to be adopted in case of flooding or any disaster.
Since dams can fail due to overtopping caused by floods, acts of sabotage, or structural failure of materials used in dam construction, dam experts suggest that dam operators should perform routine maintenance.
They also suggest that staff should undergo regular training to ensure they are fully prepared for a possible failure event.
By Abdul Hassan Abdullahi, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Vice President Kashim Shettima says urgent action are necessary to mitigate harsh realities of climate change as communities face devastation in the country.
Alhaji Kashim Shettima, Vice President of Nigeria
Shettima stated this on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, in Gombe during the North-East Climate Summit, organised by the North-East Development Commission (NEDC).
The theme of the summit is: “Setting the Course for Sustained Climate Action in the North-East”.
Represented by Dr Aliyu Moddibo, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Shettima said that lives and livelihoods were being disrupted by the extreme weather conditions, forcing the nation to confront the urgent challenge head-on.
According to Shettima, the summit comes at a critical time signalling a long-overdue awakening to the existential threat posed by climate change.
“The climate crisis, evident in fluctuating water bodies, erratic weather, and widespread environmental instability, spares no region or population.
“Nigeria’s leadership has reaffirmed its commitment to the global fight against climate change, with an emphasis on cooperation and action.
“At the 2021 Dubai Climate Summit, Nigeria pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and implement an energy transition plan aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.
“The country’s dedication to global environmental goals remains strong, with a clear focus on the urgent need for action,” he said.
The summit, he said, is a crucial step in finding solutions to the escalating impacts of climate change.
Shettima said that it reinforced Nigeria’s role in leading climate action, particularly in regions like the North-East, where environmental degradation and conflict compounded the challenges facing local population.
According to him, key initiatives such as the Great Green Wall project, are central to Nigeria’s strategy in combating desertification and restoring ecological balance.
On Nigeria’s 2024 flood outlook, Shettima warned that climate change cannot be taken lightly.
“Despite careful planning and proactive measures, the looming threat of floods is yet another indicator of the urgent need for comprehensive climate solutions,” he said.
The NEDC Managing Director, Mohammed Alkali, underscored the need for long-term solution to the climate challenges facing the region.
Alkali noted that while significant progress has been made in rebuilding communities and restoring livelihoods, the escalating impacts of climate change ranging from desertification to biodiversity loss demand swift and decisive action.
“This summit is not just a gathering, it is a platform for innovative solutions and partnerships that will help the North-East become a model for climate resilience,” Alkali said.
He said the summit would provide platform for academics, experts and stakeholders to develop strategies to combat environmental degradation and promoting sustainable development.
Also, the Chairman of the commission, Maj.-Gen. Paul Tarfa (Rtd), said the summit was important in making strategies to facilitate effective implementation of the North-East Stabilisation and Development Master Plan.
He called for collaboration and innovation to overcome the lingering effects of the insurgency and socio-economic challenges towards building a prosperous future for the region.
“We face profound challenges, but they are surmountable. With the right strategies, this summit will lay the groundwork for a resilient North-East, restored and prepared for the challenges of tomorrow,” he said.
On his part, Mr Manassah Jatau, the Gombe state deputy governor, said the state government’s efforts toward addressing the issues of climate change earned it second position after Lagos, in climate governance.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on downstream states of Lagdo Dam in Cameroon to activate flood control measures to avoid loss of lives and properties.
Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology
Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, gave the advice in Abuja on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at a news conference on earth tremor in Mpape, FCT and flood risks in some states of the federation.
The minister recalled the opening of the Cameroonian Lagdo Dam, saying that the overflowing of the dam affected about 137 hectares of land between July 1 and 31.
“Between August and September, a sharp increase was observed, with the overflow affecting 2,053 hectares by the end of August and reaching staggering 18,737 hectares by mid-September.
“These satellite images indicate a significant and escalating flood risk, and we advise downstream states, including Kogi, Edo, Delta, Rivers, and Bayelsa, to activate all necessary flood control measures.
“We will continue monitoring activities across the country and provide regular updates.”
Nnaji said series of earth tremor occurred in Mpape area of the FCT on Sept.16, saying that the tremor would have occurred due to seismic activities, but Mpape area was located on a fault lines.
He stated that there were foreshocks and aftershocks of the tremor, with local magnitudes of 2.4 and 2.2, respectively.
“The foreshocks may have occurred as a result of gradual strain withdrawal, which led to the total strain failure that caused the main event.
“This also reinforces earlier assertions of the reactivation of faults within the locality.
“The government is currently processing and analysing comprehensive datasets from its Seismological and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stations to provide relevant recommendations to the FCT Administration.
“We urge the residents of Mpape, and by extension the wider Abuja area, to remain calm and continue their normal activities,” minister said.
According to Nnaji, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) is closely monitoring the situation and will soon implement measures to mitigate the seismic risks.
The Director-General of NASRDA, Dr Matthew Adepoju, said space science and technology had the capacity of providing the necessary information needed to addressing natural disaster.
Adepoju said that residents should not be panic, adding that the government was making efforts to mitigate serious consequences of such occurrence.
“When it happened in 2018, the Federal Government constituted a committee, and we got intervention from Federal Government to set up seismic and GNSS stations around the country.
“We are calling the attention of the public that we are monitoring because we have our equipment there and if the situation gets to an alarming rate, the government will not hesitate to do the needful.
“The government can evacuate people if need be but what we have in that axis has not gotten to that level at all,” he said.
He said that government had few seismic and GNSS stations across the country, hoping on more funding to cite more stations so as to develop early warning mechanisms.
He urged the FCT Administration to continue to reduce drilling and mining activities in Mpape area so as not to aggravate seismic activities along the fault lines because human activities have a way of impacting it.
One in four people on the planet experienced climate change-driven temperatures every day in June, July, and August because of the burning of fossil fuels, such as oil, gas, and coal, and human activities, according to a new report by Climate Central, a non-profit organisation.
Fossil fuel pollution from a coal power station
Between June and August, some 2 billion people were exposed to more than 30 days of health-threatening temperatures strongly influenced by climate change.
Seventy-two countries experienced their hottest summer since at least 1970, significantly driven by climate change, according to the report, adding that 180 cities in the Northern Hemisphere experienced at least one extreme heatwave from June to August.
These heatwaves are, on average, 21 times more likely today because of carbon pollution, mainly caused by burning coal, oil and gas, the Climate Central report added.
“High temperatures that were clearly influenced by climate change jeopardised the health of billions around the world during the past three months,” said Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central. “No region, country, or city is safe from the deadly threats posed by burning fossil fuels.”
Using Climate Central’s Climate Shift Index, the new analysis quantifies the impact of climate change on temperatures and estimates the number of people affected by these extreme conditions. It provides detailed data on heat exposure at global, regional, local levels, and in about 1,200 cities.
To estimate the risks of heat to human health, researchers looked at days in which temperatures were significantly hotter than the historical record – the “risky heat” days. Temperatures on these days are hotter than 90% of temperatures observed in a local area over the 1991-2020 period – this represents a minimum mortality threshold at which heat-related health risks climb statistically.
Key Findings
Over 2 billion people (25% of the global population) experienced 30 or more days of risky heat that were made at least three times more likely by climate change.
More than 4 billion people faced unusual temperatures made at least three times more likely by climate change on August 13, the peak of the global heat.
During this record-breaking season, when 72 countries broke their heat record for the June-August period, few urban areas escaped the impacts of carbon pollution, mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels.
The average person experienced 17 extra days of “risky heat” around the world because of climate change, representing a potential risk to global health.
A community dialogue organised by Connected Advocacy in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, brought together community leaders, environmental experts, and local stakeholders to discuss the ongoing environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, particularly in relation to divestment by International Oil Companies (IOCs) and the urgent need for environmental remediation.
Participants at the Local Community Dialogue on Divestment and Environmental Remediation in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
The event, which focused on amplifying local voices and advocating for sustainable climate adaptation solutions, addressed critical issues including the health, environmental, and economic impact of oil exploration and extraction in the Niger Delta.
It also emphasised the need for wholistic community involvement in global climate action decision, and robust regulatory frameworks to hold IOCs accountable for decades of environmental damage before divestment which participants said informed the need for compensation and remediation of degraded environment.
Led by Mr. Israel Orekha, Executive Director of Connected Advocacy, the opening session focused on the importance of uniting communities for a sustainable future as they express their concerns of neglect. Mr. Orekha stressed the need for collective action to address the pressing environmental issues faced by Niger Delta communities.
He highlighted the key pillars of the dialogue to include:
• Community organising for impact
• Local Climate Action, what the community can do
• Environmental demand charter and what it will achieve
• Strategy to hold International Cooperation without violence.
Orekha discussed the harmful impacts of IOC divestment on the local communities, emphasising that oil companies must be held accountable for their activities.
He called for immediate action to remediate polluted lands and waterways and urged the communities to stand together in demanding justice, restoration, and long-term sustainable development.
He reiterated that strengthening community resilience through collaboration for local solution to achieve a future of hope and sustainable growth they want is imperative.
Orekha said: “The Niger Delta is a region of immense beauty, resilience, and cultural richness. It is time to restore its health and ensure a just and sustainable future for its communities.
“The region has suffered from the impact of oil exploration and exploitation; oil has become more of a cause then a blessing to our people. A need to demand for technology transfers, local green investment, true transition from the fossil fuel to renewables, our leaders should priorities people over profit as IOCs divestment from our region after decades of profit making without proper financial compensation, and environmental remediation.
“Our government should use this window of opportunity to demand for debt cancelation to save our natural resources from being used as a medium to service loans that further impoverish us and make us continue to remain at the mercy of the West.”
Mr. Gabriel Mfon, an expert on environmental law and policy, delivered a compelling session on environmental accountability. He detailed the regulatory framework that should be applied to hold oil companies accountable for the environmental damages in the Niger Delta.
Mr. Mfon addressed how transparency and accountability reforms such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) can promote greater oversight of the extractive sector.
He outlined the various Nigerian legal frameworks governing environmental health and safety to include: Upstream Petroleum Environmental Regulation 2022, Petroleum (Drilling and Production) Regulations 1969, NESREA Act 2007 and NOSDRA Act 2004.
He highlighted the alarming consequences of IOC divestment without proper remediation, warning that local communities may be left grappling with ongoing pollution and health crises. Furthermore, he warned that indigenous oil companies may lack the financial and technical resources to address the massive environmental problems inherited from the departing IOCs.
Mfon called for stronger regulatory oversight to ensure that IOCs are held responsible for cleaning up polluted sites and providing necessary compensations before their exit.
“We must ensure a comprehensive plan is in place to address the legacies of pollution and safeguard the future of the Niger Delta communities,” he urged.
Several community leaders and participants expressed concerns and hopes during the dialogue.
Chief Digienini Kientei of Gbaran Community expressed regret that communities were only now learning about the true impact of IOCs divestment and how to engage in global climate action dialogue. He thanked the organisers for raising awareness and called for immediate action to hold oil companies accountable.
“This knowledge has opened our eyes to the danger ahead, and we will take steps to ensure IOCs face their responsibilities,” he said.
His Royal Highness, David Osene Osene, underlined the urgent need for environmental and health remediation, lamenting the long-term effects of pollution on his community.
He advocated for stronger engagement with government agencies and legislative bodies to address the crisis.
“We must engage the Bayelsa State House of Assembly to register the health implications and the ecocide damages we have suffered,” he stated.
Chief Mrs. Ayibakoro Warden from Ikarama Community spoke about the adverse health effects linked to oil pollution, including a high rate of miscarriages and respiratory issues. She condemned the oil companies for not investing in local healthcare infrastructure to address these challenges.
Chief Victoria Agbariso from Biseni Community recounted how oil drilling operations had brought a wave of health crises to her people, including asthma and chronic respiratory problems.
“We were living healthily until the drilling started,” she said, calling for more information and action on the health impacts of oil pollution.
Mr. Joel John Ebi, a youth advocate, urged more young people in the Niger Delta to engage in research on pollution levels in the region. He stressed the need for evidence-based advocacy to hold IOCs accountable and secure compensations for affected communities.
The event concluded with a call to halt IOC divestment until a clear, accountable, and comprehensive environmental remediation plan is in place.
Mr. Orekha emphasised that Connected Advocacy would continue to support communities in their fight for justice and environmental restoration but urged the communities to take an active role in using the knowledge gained to demand adequate compensation and restoration of their land and livelihoods.
The dialogue underscored the necessity of a unified response from Niger Delta communities and their leaders to ensure that their voices are heard, and their environmental rights are protected.
It is believed that, through collective action and continuous engagement, the region can begin the long process of healing and transitioning towards a sustainable and equitable future.
The event also featured participants from Rivers, Delta, Edo and Akwa Ibom states.
