The Federal Government is taking steps to stop indiscriminate disposal of battery waste, spurring the enforcement of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulation, to forestall environment degradation.
Used lead-acid batteries
The National Environmental Standards Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA), during its Regulatory Dialogue on the National Environmental (Battery Control) 2024, held on Wednesday, November 20, in Lagos, said that it was set to administer the control.
The dialogue, aimed at equipping regulatory officials on the regulatory frameworks and sanctions, was attended by the states officials of the agency.
It was also to keep them abreast of regulatory stance to aid scientific battery waste disposal, which is essential to foster a lead-free environment to sustain life and protect the ecosystem.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Abbas-Lawal, said that the session was to address critical aspects of the National Environmental Battery Control Act.
The minister, represented by the Federal Controller, Environment, Zonal Director South-West, Mrs Olabimpe Oladini-Adenike, said that it would focus on compliance, monitoring and enforcement.
According to him, the session is essential for strengthening the management of used batteries within the framework of the extended producer responsibility programme.
“The development of regulatory framework such as this underscores the ministry of environment’s commitments to safeguard public health and promote ecological balance.
“The proper management of used batteries is essential to prevent environmental contamination and mitigate the harmful effects of associated harmful effects.
“The session will not only emphasise the importance of aligning national policies with global best practices, but also seek to foster collaboration among all stakeholders, the NGOs, the organised private sector, and the regulatory agencies,” he said.
Addressing participants at the event, the Director-General of NESREA, Dr Innocent Barikor, said that the programme was organised by NESREA in collaboration with the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ- Nigeria).
According to the DG, it is a crucial step toward ensuring the effective implementation of the regulations to address the environmental and health challenges posed by the improper management of used batteries in Nigeria.
“The development of the regulation commenced in 2020 due to the public outcry on the crude handling of Used Lead Acid Batteries (ULABs) in the country.
“The activities of the sector has drawn the attention of government to address the concerns by developing the Legal Framework that will regulate improper handling of the ULABs.
“The agency, in August, partnered with the Federal Ministry of Environment, other key stakeholders and with support from GIZ Nigeria, inaugurated the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulations, 2024.
“The regulations provide a comprehensive legal framework for the environmentally sound management of all types of batteries across their life cycle,” he said.
The NESREA boss decried the imminent danger that unregulated battery waste disposal posed to the ecosystem, saying that the proactive enforcement of the actionable framework would prevent and minimise pollution and waste arising from used batteries.
According to him, the real impact of any regulatory framework lies in its effective implementation and enforcement.
He urged officials to treat it with the urgency it deserved to protect human existence.
EPR is a concept that confers the responsibility of proper battery waste disposal throughout its life circle on the producer, importer and user; it is a chain of mutual responsibility.
The Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Ms. Anaclaudia Rossbach, has warned that rapid and unplanned urban development pose threats to biodiversity, the environment, and food security.
Executive Director of UN-Habitat, Ms. Anaclaudia Rossbach
Rossbach gave the warning while addressing a ministerial meeting at COP29 on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, in Baku, the Azerbaijan capital.
This also leads to social fragmentation and financial deterioration. While the construction sector accounts for 40 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, the UN-Habitat chief said 96 homes need to be built every day to meet the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
As such adequate funding and cooperation at all levels are necessary to address these twin challenges.
“There is only one road to pursue, one track, one we walk collectively where social, urban, and climate needs are addressed harmoniously over solid economic ground,” Rossbach said in a statement.
“Yes, we do need more finance flowing to cities. We need to plan and prioritise. Land is scarce and needs to fulfill its social and ecological functions. Social and housing needs are vast.
“We take care of people; people take care of the planet. And we should leave no one behind.’’
In a separate session, speakers noted an ongoing issue that could seriously hamper many efforts to address climate-driven impacts in cities, and elsewhere.
According to the latest report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), global emissions increased by 1.3 per cent in 2023 – when they should have decreased.
“To limit warming to 1.5°C, updated National Contributions – climate commitments that each country makes – should enable a 42 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 57 per cent by 2035,” said UNEP Executive Director, Inger Andersen.
She highlighted that 52 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions come from just 25 megacities, including, among others, Shanghai, Beijing, Tokyo, Moscow, and New York City.
“This means the actions you take in setting standards for energy efficiency, determining energy sources, managing waste and methane emissions, improving public transport, encouraging electric mobility, and promoting pedestrian-friendly cities can make a massive impact,” she told mayors from around the world gathered at the event.
For the first time ever the issue of tourism is being discussed at a COP, formally the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) in the context of its impact on climate.
In 2023, the tourism sector recovered from the doldrums of the COVID-19 pandemic, as international arrivals rebounded to almost 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
That year, the sector contributed three per cent to the global gross domestic product (GDP), amounting to $3.3 trillion, and employed one in every 10 people worldwide.
In an interview with UNifeed, Andersen reiterated her call on stakeholders at COP29 to make sure tourism industry lessens its carbon footprint.
“We need to understand that the tourism sector is impacted by climate change. And so, it is both a victim of and a contributor to climate change. That is why having this first tourism focus at a COP is very important.”
Meanwhile, Selwyn Hart, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Action, reminded attendees at COP29 that humanity already has the knowledge and tools needed to effectively combat climate change.
“A revolution in the transition to renewable energy is already underway. It cannot be stopped,” he said.
“However, the question remains whether the speed of this transition will prevent its worst consequences. And secondly, whether it will be fair enough to reduce inequality within and between countries.”
“In multilateralism, the results are sometimes different from what any one country imagines. This underscores the importance of flexibility, cooperation, and the willingness to adapt to changing circumstances and international relations.”
A team of Nigerian food systems stakeholders comprising scientists, farmers and civil society operatives has taken up a campaign to influence the authorities to ban genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the country.
Campaigners at the press briefing on “Investigative Research and Public Hearing on GMOs” organised by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, in Abuja
At a press briefing on “Investigative Research and Public Hearing on GMOs” organised by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, in Abuja, they highlighted the environmental and health risks associated with GMO use as well as the somewhat defective process of GMOs approvals in the country, and suggested ways to ensure food sovereignty.
Joyce Brown, Director of Programmes at HOMEF, submitted that GMOs are not natural, but are deliberately designed to serve specific purposes often with the transfer of genetic material in-between totally unrelated species.
“HOMEF’s campaign against GMOs is particularly against genetic modification of food crops and animals and any other genetic modification that will alter ecosystem balance, affect the rights of farmers to seeds, wield control of our seeds/food to corporate interests and negatively impact our agriculture system and local economy,” she said, adding that that there is no evidence of independent, long term risk assessment including feeding trials conducted by the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) before the approval of varieties such as cowpea, maize and cotton.
According to her, the approvals did not take into account the objections to some of the applications sent in by experts/researchers.
She expressed concern over the fact that GMOs do not necessarily improve food productivity, GMOs are not the solution to Nigeria’s food insecurity problems, that Nigerians cannot exercise their right to food with GMOs, GMOs are not currently being labeled in Nigeria, and that there is poor regulation of GMOs in Nigeria.
Brown urged the Nigerian government to adopt agroecology, an approach she described as both sustainable and rooted in local realities.
“Agroecology, which emphasises the integration of ecological principles into agricultural practices, offers a pathway to not only ensuring food security but also, more fundamentally, assuring food sovereignty,” she declared.
Mariann Bassey-Orovwuje, Deputy Executive Director of ERA/FoEN and Food Sovereignty Coordinator of Friends of the Earth Africa, frowned at the NBMA, saying that the agency has acted more like a promoter of GMOs than as a regulator, “approving virtually every application brought to it without consideration of science-based objections sent by groups of concerned Nigerians”.
She described the NBMA Act – which came into force in 2015 and mandated the setting up of the NBMA to regulate GMOs in Nigeria – as flawed.
“The NBMA Act confers enormous discretionary powers on the agency and gives little room for oversight. The conflict of interest inherent in the NBMA Act equally raises serious red flags about the administration of biosafety in Nigeria. We have the erstwhile National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) sitting on the board of the NBMA. We are worried that an agency saddled with defending Nigeria’s biodiversity is actively promoting these risky technologies,” Bassey submitted.
She added: “We are very happy that at yesterday’s Public Hearing on Investigative Review of Impacts of Genetically Modified Crops in Nigeria by the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services of the House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, chaired by Rt. Hon. Bello A. Ka’oje, Chairman, Joint Committee, unanimously agreed from what they heard loudly Nigerians say through the CSOs who represent them and took the floor to speak. They clearly elucidated the dangers, risks, consequences and impacts of allowing GMOs in our beloved country. The Honourable members agreed with us that there is indeed cause for concern, contrary to the claims of the GMOs bandwagon and the need to act swiftly.
“We hope and pray that our esteemed Honourable members would be resolute and firm and cause the change we need to move far away from these GMOs pollution, propagated by the biotech companies/corporations and their local agents in Nigeria.”
Tatfeng Mirabeau, a Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, disclosed that the excessive use of pesticide and herbicide originating from the introduction of GM seeds has been found to alter the haemostasis creating an oxidative stress leading to cellular damage.
“Some components of these products such as the glyphosate in the ROUNDUP herbicide have been established to be carcinogenic. Furthermore, these products have been associated to infertility,” he added, pointing out that the microbiota of GM cultivated soils loses its integrity as no-target organisms that contribute to soil fortification and aeration are destroyed.
Prof Mirabeau called on the Federal Government to halt further distribution of GM seeds to farmers, suspend any ongoing GM field trial in the country if any, and ban the importation of any GM product into the country.
Prof. Qrisstuberg Amua, Executive Director, Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR), warned that the inappropriate adoption of GMOs which are tantamount to gain-of-function research, from externally promoted research that is funded by foreign commercial interests poses a tangible risk to food safety, human health and ecological conservation.
According to him, these realities demand that Nigeria establishes a dynamic regulatory framework that promotes in-country research and innovation while genuinely safeguarding biosafety, “and not the current regime of captured and compromised national regulators turned GMO and hazardous pesticide promoters, merchandising foreign business interests”.
He added: “Research must serve as a vehicle for enlightenment rather than exploitation of Nigeria’s inherent capacity vulnerabilities. By fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and prioritising bioresource utilisation within an ecological conservation framework, we the Nigerian researchers can chart a course toward true genomic and varietal preservation and biosafety that is as progressive as it is protective.
“As stewards of experimental research, we must ensure that our scientific pursuits harmonise with Nigeria’s unique agroecological contexts and the principles of sustainability in bioresource utilisation and ecological conservation.”
Lovelyn Ejim, Executive Director of Women and Youth in Agriculture, posited that, as farmers, their position on GMO is a capital NO.
“Why? Because it degrades the land by killing all the micro-organisms thereby reducing soil nutrients; it empoverish the farmer – due to high cost of purchasing the seeds the farmers’ income is drained; it destroys the ecosystem – due to the accompanying chemicals that is claimed to be the support for the fast growth and bumper harvest some useful insects and other farmer friendly livings are killed; and it gives poor yield – due to high cost of fertiliser and other chemicals needed to boost the seed which most of the rural farmers can’t afford, yield generally becomes poor.”
According to her, GMO is also a tactical method of pushing the rural farmers aside. As most rural farmers are not educated to read the label on the chemicals, they spread it unprotected with knapsack sprayers, and some spread with leavers. This means direct contact with the chemicals can cause unknown diseases and untimely death.
She submitted that climate issues are on the rise. “These chemicals have so much harm than good. They interact with the atmosphere and have lots of negative reactions with the natural environment, changing the climatic structure; drought and flooding is now the order of the day.
“Most importantly this is purely a planned slavery in high order. When your seed is taken away from you and your land is degraded with your economy slim and finally your ecosystem destroyed, you become a slave. We should shun GMOs and embrace biodiversity as this is the only way to make our county food basket of the world again.”
No fewer than 92 African civil society organisations (CSOs) have urged the House of Representatives to prohibit use and consumption of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in the country to protect the environment and the health of citizens.
Members of the coalition at a media session at the House of Representatives complex in Abuja on Tuesday
The coalition made the recommendation on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at a public hearing on GMOs organised by Joint Committees on Agricultural Production and Services, Privatisation, Commercialisation, Public Asset, Science Engineering and Special Duties.
The coalition, which was led by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), said that the rising cases of cancer and other related illnesses are traceable to the use and consumption of GMOs.
In a document presented to the committee by Ms Joyce Brown, the Director of Programmes at (HOMEF), the coalition explained that GMOs are products of genetic engineering which is a technology that allows scientists to create plants, animals and micro-organisms by manipulating genes at the cellular level in a way that is not possible via traditional or natural processes.
According to them, it allows DNA from one type of organism to be introduced into another related or unrelated species; genetic manipulation is also done within a single organism.
They said that campaign against GMOs is particularly against genetic modification of food crops and animals and any other genetic modification that will alter ecosystem balance, negatively impact agriculture, destroy local economy and foods.
They said that 19 European Union countries, four Asian countries, two African countries, and five countries in the Americas have banned GMOs.
According to them, up to 64 countries require manufacturers to label foods with GMOs as an increasing number of people around the world are choosing to eat organic and non-GMO products.
The coalition cited an array of studies and research that concluded that that use and consumption GMOs have adverse effects on consumers.
The coalition explained that GMOs have direct implications on biodiversity, saying that over 80 per cent of GMOs are designed to be herbicide tolerant.
According to them, this has significantly increased the use of herbicides in the U.S. for example; needful to say that these herbicides are produced by the same companies producing the genetically modified seeds.
They said that the herbicides do not only destroy the target weeds but also non-target organisms that are essential for soil health and overall ecosystem function.
“These chemicals can also run off to contaminate drinking ground water and surface water including drinking water sources.
“There is also the severe threat of irreversible genetic contamination due to cross-pollination which could also lead to production of uncontrollable plant varieties and mutated plant varieties,” they said.
The CSOs argued that farmers who have been given GM seed to plant as well as extension workers have complained that although GMOs may perform well in the first planting season in terms of productivity, their productivity drastically declines in the second planting season.
They explained that farmers cannot replant these seeds but have to continuously purchase the seeds every new season.
“This signifies an attempt at seed colonialism and loss of our heritage – forcing our farmers and by extension, consumers to depend on mostly foreign corporations for seed.
“GMOs do not improve yields. On Sept. 23, the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN) reported that they ‘did not record any significant increase in their yields compared to the local seed varieties but instead’, since the introduction of GM cotton seeds during the 2020/2021 farming season, yield per hectare has remained almost the same.
“The worrying aspect is where the cotton farmers reported that no other plant has been able to germinate on the farmlands where the GM seeds were planted, even after four years.
“The farm where we planted the GM seeds can no longer germinate our local seeds anymore. The land has been destroyed,” they said.
The coalition said that Nigerian communities and farmers in last the decade are steadily being ensnared into growing GM Crops.
They said that research conducted by Health of Mother Earth Foundation in 2019 concluded that Nigerian farmers know too little about GMOs to make informed decision.
They said that farmers given GM seeds to plant are at best told that the crops would not require too much spraying and will increase productivity.
“We demand a nullification of all the permits issued for the importation and release of genetically modified maize, beans, cotton and other sundry products into the country. These permits have been issued without regard for the complaints by millions of Nigerians and without the consent of many.
“A close surveillance of our markets and farms to halt illegal entry of GMOs into Nigeria and into our food supply.
“An outright ban of all toxic agrochemicals also known as highly hazardous pesticides – especially glyphosate containing ones identified as probable carcinogens. Studies have shown that over 50% of pesticides, registered and used by farmers in Nigeria are classified as highly hazardous.
“This is our petition and the concern of millions of Nigerians. We are of strong opinion that if the suggestions in this petition are taken into consideration. it will protect the best interest of the Nigerian people and Africa as a whole,” they said.
Some members of the coalition include Free Nigeria Alliance, Centre for Food Safety and Agricultural Research (CEFSAR) Corporate Accountability and Public Participation for Africa (CAPPA), Women Environmental Programme and Food and Health Limited.
Others are Nigerians Against GMOs, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Nigeria Women Farmers Association (NIWAAFA), We the People, and Association of Women Farmers of Nigeria.
Women and Youth in Agriculture, Udama Co-operative Farm, Green Alliance Nigeria, Women and Children Life Advancement Initiative, the Young Environmentalist Network (TYEN), Peace Point Action, Social Action Committee on Vital Environmental Resources (COVER) are also members of the coalition, among others.
In a major boost for Nigeria’s crude oil production, revenue generation and economic growth efforts, the NNPC Ltd has officially unveiled its latest crude oil grade, the Utapate crude oil blend, before the international crude oil market.
Managing Director, NNPC E & P Limited (NEPL), Mr. Nicholas Foucart, speaks at the official unveiling of the Utapate crude oil blend during the Utapate Crude Roadshow held on the sidelines of the 2024 Argus European Crude Conference in London, United Kingdom, on Wednesday
It will be recalled that, on July 2024, NNPC Ltd and its partner, the Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) Ltd, introduced the Utapate crude oil blend, following the lifting of first cargo of 950,000 barrels which headed for Spain.
During a ceremony held at the Argus European Crude Conference taking place in London, United Kingdom, on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, the Managing Director, NNPC E & P Limited (NEPL), Mr. Nicholas Foucart, described the introduction of the Utapate crude oil blend into the market as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s crude oil export to the global energy market.
“Since we started producing the Utapate Field in May 2024, we have rapidly ramped up production to 40,000 barrels per day (bpd) with minimum downtime. So far, we have exported five cargoes, largely to Spain and the East Coast of the United States; while two more additional cargoes have been secured for November and December 2024, representing a significant boost to Nigeria’s crude oil export to the global market,” Foucart told a packed audience of European crude oil marketers.”
He added that since its introduction into the global market, the Utapate crude oil blend has enjoyed a positive response from the international crude oil market, due to its highly attractive qualities.
Foucart said the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13, fully operated by NEPL and Natural Oilfield Services Ltd (NOSL), a subsidiary of SEEPCO Ltd, boasts a huge reserve of 330 million barrels of crude oil reserves, 45 million barrels of condensate and 3.5 tcf of gas.
“We have a number of ongoing projects to increase our production from the current 40,000bopd to 50,000bopd by January 2025 and 60,000bopd to 65,000bopd by June 2025. Essentially, we are targeting opportunities to increase production to 80,000bopd by the end of 2025,” Foucart added.
He said the Utapate crude oil terminal is sustainable, affordable and fully compliant with the rigorous environmental regulations and sustainability principles especially those aimed at reducing carbon emissions and other ecological effects.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of NNPC Trading Ltd (NTL), Mr. Lawal Sade, said the pricing structure of the Utapate crude oil blend is similar to that of Amenam crude as it is a light sweet crude which is highly sought after by refiners across the world due to its low sulphur content, efficient yield of high-value products, API gravity and other similarities.
He said in bringing the new crude oil blend to the global market, NNPC Ltd wanted to optimise value for both its producers and counterparties across the globe.
He added that, to ensure predictability and sustainability of supply, the NNPC Trading intends to run a term contract on the Utapate crude oil blend cargoes, principally targeting off-takers from the European and the US East Coast refineries.
Produced from the Utapate field in OML 13 in Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria, the Utapate crude oil blend is similar to the Nembe crude oil grade. It has a low sulphur content of 0.0655% and low carbon footprint due to flare gas elimination, fitting perfectly into the required specification of major buyers in Europe.
The NNPC E&P Ltd and NOSL partnership is also committed to operating in a manner that is safe, environmentally responsible, and beneficial to the local communities.
The Utapate field development plan, executed between 2013-2019 and approved in October, included converting wells and facilities from swamp/marine to land-based operations.
The plan involved a multi-rig drilling campaign for 40 wells and the development of significant infrastructure such as production facilities, storage tank, a subsea pipeline and an offshore loading platform to facilitate crude oil evacuation and loading.
The entry of the Utapate crude oil blend into the market is coming barely a year after the NNPC Ltd announced the launch of Nembe crude oil, produced by the NNPC/Aiteo operated Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 Joint Venture (JV).
This remarkable achievement signals the commitment of the NNPC Ltd to increasing Nigeria’s crude oil production and growing its reserves through the development of new assets.
A global group of 68 NGOs, business coalitions, companies, Indigenous Peoples organisations and influential individuals has issued an urgent “COP29 Nature Statement”, calling for UNFCCC Parties to properly recognise and finance nature’s role in addressing the climate crisis, or risk undermining global efforts to limit global warming to 1.5C.
James Lloyd, Policy Lead, Nature4Climate
The statement, coordinated over just 48 hours by Nature4Climate, a coalition of 28 international members, emphasises the need for countries to deliver an ambitious and actionable New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance, recognising that healthy ecosystems are not merely co-benefits – they serve as cost-effective climate solutions that urgently need dedicated funding.
As Ministers are set to land in Baku to engage in the final negotiations, the group – which includes organisations such as BirdLife International, The B Team, Conservation International, The Global Alliance of Territorial Communities, The Nature Conservancy, WBCSD, and world renowned researchers Carlos Afonso Nobre, Researcher, University of São Paulo, and Tom Crowther, Professor of Ecology, Crowther Lab – express deep concern about the lack of progress on financing nature over the past year, adding that there is no viable climate or economic solution without nature.
James Lloyd, Policy Lead, Nature4Climate, commented: “This is a critical moment for climate finance. We are already at 1.2C, and nature’s ability to help us to adapt to and mitigate climate change is under threat. With a few days remaining to deliver an ambitious deal, we ask Ministers and negotiators to focus all their efforts on securing an ambitious climate finance goal of at least $1 trillion.
“This goal must also end all financial flows that harm nature and run counter to climate objectives. Nature is a powerful ally in the climate fight, and investment in nature makes economic sense. With just days remaining, we need radical and bold action from all corners of society to take action with nature to tackle the climate crisis.”
Juan Carlos Jintiach, Executive Secretary of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities, commented: “As we look to COP30, we need to move towards urgent actions for land tenure rights, the only way to make all of this effective. If we want to keep 1.5°C within reach or to connect climate and biodiversity, all of it needs Indigenous Peoples and local communities with strong tenure rights, our lives protected, and our traditional knowledge recognised and respected. This is how we will make COP29 – and the trillions of dollars being allocated to address the climate crisis – effective.”
Kiryssa Kasprzyk, Conservation International’s director of climate policy, said: “The numbers don’t lie: Nature holds at least one-third of the solution to climate change, yet it receives only a fraction of global climate funding. We simply cannot afford to continue to leave nature out of the equation. The new collective finance goal must be in the trillions, have a defined public funding target and include a promise to support nature. It’s known that nature-based solutions offer a tangible, immediate way to address climate change and biodiversity loss in tandem – money must flow to both. If we get this right, the opportunity is profound – for both people and the planet.”
The statement launches at a critical stage in the negotiations, as governments work to agree on a final NCQG text. Thursday, November 21, is set to be Nature & Biodiversity, Indigenous People, Gender Equality, Oceans and Coastal Zones Day at COP29, an important moment to recognise the critical role of nature and Indigenous Peoples in climate action.
Despite nature’s potential, current global financing for nature-based solutions (NbS) to protect, manage, and restore ecosystems is insufficient. NbS remain dramatically underfunded by public and private finance. Research by UNEP shows an investment of $542 billion per year is needed to meet the Rio Convention targets to limit climate change and protect biodiversity, a tripling of the current $200 billion per year globally. Finance flows to activities directly harming nature were more than 30 times this amount at $7 trillion.
Since COP16, more than 80 leaders have provided their steadfast commitment to work with governments globally to deliver a year of united action on climate, nature and food systems.
Daniel Zarin, Executive Director of the Forests and Climate Change Programme at Wildlife Conservation Society, said: “Maintaining and improving ecological integrity – ecosystem structure, function, and composition – are central to addressing the climate crisis. The importance of ecological integrity is recognised in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement. Negotiations on synergies among the Rio Conventions should include focus on the ecological integrity of nature as a critical thread connecting the three conventions.”
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, pledged to provide technical support to Nigeria in addressing climate change challenges.
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Kayamo (5th from left), with Nigeria delegation and WMO officials at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, in a statement said WMO’s Deputy Secretary-General, Ms. Ko Barrett, made the commitment during a session with Nigeria’s delegation at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Keyamo stated that Nigeria, as one of the WMO’s Peer Advisors, would benefit from the organisation’s assistance to strengthen climate resilience strategies, particularly in the aviation sector.
He emphasised the interconnectedness of aviation and climate change, noting the need for sustainable practices across all sectors.
Speaking at the Nigerian Pavilion during the celebration of Nigeria Day at COP29, Keyamo stressed the importance of aligning Nigeria’s aviation and aerospace policies with global climate objectives.
Keyamo outlined ongoing initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions and transitioning to cleaner energy sources in the aviation industry.
“Nigeria is fully committed to addressing the global climate crisis. Our aviation sector is undergoing transformative reforms to align with international sustainability standards.
“The commitments we secure here at COP 29 will drive our vision for a resilient and eco-friendly aviation ecosystem,” he stated.
Keyamo also highlighted Nigeria’s potential as a prime destination for green investments in the aviation and aerospace sectors, reaffirming the ministry’s dedication to positioning the country as a leader in sustainable aviation.
He noted that Nigeria’s participation at COP29 reaffirms its commitment to global partnerships supporting the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
On Monday, November 11, 2024, President Bola Tinubu through his media aide released a statement honouring the memory of Ogoni leaders including Ken Saro-Wiwa who were killed in 1995 for leading the fight for ecological justice in Ogoni and the Niger Delta.
The late Ken Saro-Wiwa
In the statement, the President stated: “We honour their memory by recognising the sacrifices made and pledging to strive for a future characterised by peace, justice, and sustainable development for all communities, particularly those in the Niger Delta.”
The president went further to admit that “the subsequent struggles of Ogoni leaders to protect their environment from harmful oil exploration were met with severe repression, culminating in the tragic execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other leaders in 1995”.
How, in a reaction to the statement, a team of civil society organisations (CSOs) appears to be unimpressed, claiming that the President’s words have not addressed issues relating to justice for Saro-Wiwa and Ogoni 8.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 19, by members comprising Health of Mother Earth Foundation, We the People, Corporate Accountability and Popular Participation Africa, People’s Advancement Centre, Kabetkeche Women Development Resource Centre and Lekeh Development Foundation, the group submitted: “As frontline civil society organisations focused on environmental justice, we are delighted that the President has deemed it appropriate to honour the memory of these martyrs of ecological struggle. We are particularly delighted that the President recognises that they were murdered because they fought to protect their environment from harmful oil extraction activities that had polluted their lands and rivers; and poisoned their people.
“For clarity, it is important to note that the Nigerian military junta headed by General Sani Abacha authorised the hanging of Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine. The nine were instrumental in mobilising Ogonis under the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) and had issued a set of demands contained in the Ogoni Bill of Rights which included calls to the Nigerian government to clean up the Ogoni environment and restore livelihoods of the indigenous people who had suffered decades of reckless oil extraction by Shell.
“MOSOP had called global attention to the poverty, neglect and environmental destruction which decades of oil exploitation had bequeathed the Ogoni people. MOSOP demanded fairer benefits to the Ogoni people from oil, as well as remediation and compensation for the ecological damage caused by the activities of Shell.
“Their selfless mobilisation and campaigning led to the 1993 expulsion of Shell from Ogoniland. The military government responded to this genuine concern with widespread militarisation of Ogoniland and the Niger Delta region, mass killings, arson and the eventual executions that left the world outraged. The nine were murdered after the recommendations of a stage-managed tribunal and denied the opportunity to appeal.
“The statement by the President is the first time since the unfortunate events of 1995 that a government has admitted to the injustice of the killings and repression of the Ogonis. However, it is important that the President goes further in this effort at reconciliation and justice.
“As civil society organisations, we have consistently demanded an admission that the quasi-judicial process which resulted in the conviction of the Ogoni 9 was a mockery of justice orchestrated by the military government with the active collaboration of Shell to quell community demands for resource and ecological justice. What we continue to demand is the complete exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni 8. This is the only strategy that will bring closure to the thousands of Ogonis who were victims of government-driven repression characterised by murders, rape, torture and forced exile.
“It is important to also note that the body language and the actions of successive governments in Nigeria have not always indicated the need to reconcile and bring about closure. In 2015, a memorial artwork in the form of a bus, designed in memory of the executed Ogoni leaders by friends in the United Kingdom was confiscated by the Nigeria Customs Service. All appeals to the government to release these memorabilia, including an order by the National Assembly and a judgement by the Federal High Court in Lagos, was denied. The bus remains locked up by the Customs Service in Lagos for absolutely no reason beyond provocation.
“We are equally concerned that the Nigerian government continues to make frantic efforts to resume oil extraction activities in the oil wells located in Ogoni territory, after they were shut down in 1993. It is worrying that the government will decide to resume oil extraction when the pollution of the last decades is yet to be cleaned, and the recommendations of UNEP are yet to be fully complied with. How does one explain the fact that a site supposedly being cleaned up will resume full oil extraction activities with all the pollution that comes with it?
“We are deeply concerned about the neglect of key issues around ecological and social justice in Ogoniland. The world recognises that the people of Ogoni have suffered unprecedented pains and losses on account of oil extraction. No apology has been rendered for the destruction of their environment, the killing of their people, the loss of their livelihoods, the destruction of their villages, the forced exile of their people and the murder of their leaders. These issues must be fully addressed and measures put in place to protect the environment from further devastation.
“Flowing from the foregoing, it is our recommendation that the government puts a stop to any attempt to resume oil activities in Ogoniland. It should rather concentrate on remediating the ecological disaster in the area, decommissioning aged oil infrastructure, replacing the lost livelihood of the people and securing justice for the countless Ogonis waiting for closure.
“We also call on the government to release the Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Bus, a sculpture which was confiscated by the Nigeria Customs Service and has been detained for years now for no just cause. This is the time to learn from the Ogoni situation, take note of how difficult remediation and restoration processes can be and commence the steps needed to clean up the entire Niger Delta.”
The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has disassociated itself from claims linking it to a N40 million mortgage pre-financing scheme promoted by Housing Exchange Africa (HXAfrica).
Shehu Usman Osidi, Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN)
In an official disclaimer issued on Saturday, November 16, 2024, Virginia Jang, FMBN’s Group Head of Corporate Communications, clarified that the bank has no formal partnership or approval arrangement with HXAfrica concerning the alleged scheme.
“The management of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria wishes to disclaim reports in the media by HXAfrica (Housing Exchange Africa) on a purported N40 million mortgage pre-financing scheme, which referred to FMBN as a partner,” Jang stated
She further explained that while HXAfrica had applied for engagement with the bank, no approvals had been granted, and no formal agreements had been finalised.
Jang emphasised that FMBN remains committed to advancing housing initiatives, including the forthcoming Diaspora Mortgage Scheme, which is being developed in collaboration with the National Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM)
“While the FMBN and NIDCOM remain committed to the roll-out of the Diaspora Mortgage Scheme after obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals, we will endeavour to provide official information and updates on our respective websites and social media handles to prevent the public from being misled,” she added.
The statement also revealed that NIDCOM had issued a similar disclaimer regarding the HXAfrica scheme, urging the public to be cautious of unverified claims.
FMBN assured citizens that details of the official Diaspora Mortgage Scheme would be communicated through authorised channels once regulatory approvals are secured.
The bank reiterated its dedication to delivering credible housing solutions while encouraging the public to rely only on updates from its verified platforms.
Experts in Nigeria’s housing sector are expected to provide insights into the financial and regulatory dilemmas in achieving the federal government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on Housing at the forthcoming 2024 edition of the Property and Environment Writers Association of Nigeria (PEWAN) yearly conference in Lagos.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa
The conference, with the theme “Resolving the Financial and Regulatory Dilemma in Achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda on Housing”, will attract the Managing Director of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Shehu Usman Osidi, as the keynote speaker and the Managing Director of UPDC, Mr. Odunayo Ojo, as guest speaker, while chairman of the event will be the former President, Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), Mr. Kunle Awobodu.
Other industry leaders expected at the event include the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in Lagos, Dr Oluyinka Abiodun Olumide; President of International Real Estate Federation, Nigeria Chapter (FIABCI), Mr. Akin Opatola; the General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Architect Gbolahan Oki; and Chief Executive Officer Pecksgrey, Dr Oluremi Olukoya.
Yet others are the Group Head, Corporate Communications, Dangote Industries Limited, Mr Tony Chijiena, who will be presenting a paper at the conference; the CEO, Lagos State Development and Property Company (LSDPC); and Sam Ogrih, Founder and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Delta Mega Trend Limited, owners of Plantation City, Warri, Delta State.
The conference will hold on November 28, 2024, at the Conference Room 1, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking on the event, the Chairperson of PEWAN, Mrs Okwy Iroegbu-Chikezie, said it is aimed to further chart pathways towards increasing housing provision in the country to bridge the huge housing deficit estimated at 28 million, removing the limitations to effective production by increasing access to low-cost financing and also focusing on the federal government’s housing agenda.
According to her, a major highlight of the forum will be the presentation of awards to deserving stakeholders who have distinguished themselves in the area of housing provision, regulation and rendering of professional service in the sector.
The chairman disclosed that leaders in the housing sector value-chain have also been carefully selected to x-ray the issues, challenges and point the way forward to ensuring that states are well captured in the Renewed Hope housing agenda while all Nigerians in need of affordable, but quality homes also benefit.
“As an association of dedicated journalists from print and electronic media organisations covering the property and environment sectors, we are determined to point to solutions that ensure hurdles to home ownership in the country are addressed through advocacy and making leaders at both state and federal government levels more accountable to Nigerians,” Iroegbu-Chikezie assured.
