Nigeria and four other countries have been pencilled for the initial launch of a scheme aimed at enabling some 2 million people worldwide to have access to affordable and sustainable housing between now and 2020.
Courtesy of cement maker, Lafarge, the microfinance programme for affordable housing is targeted at people in emerging markets with low purchasing power to help them finance the construction, extension or renovation of their homes.
Besides Nigeria, the programme will be launched in Indonesia, Honduras, Zambia and the Philippines.
Officials of Lafarge disclosed recently at the World Urban Forum in Naples, Italy, that the initiative “represents an initial concrete response to one of the nine main ambitions of the Sustainability Ambitions 2020 plan announced by Lafarge.”
They added: “For the project, Lafarge has joined forces with CHF International (Cooperative Housing Foundation), an NGO with more than 40 years’ experience in housing microfinance and 60 years in urban housing solutions. Other partnerships will be formed with NGOs or public organisations to support the development of the project. The programme should involve around 10 million Euros over the next two years.”
According to the organisation, it will work in partnership with local microfinance institutions to grant loans of an average of 2,000 Euros over a term of two to three years.
“Lafarge offers an innovative approach, helping borrowers during the various stages of their construction project. Counsellors trained and managed by Lafarge will offer personalised support, which may include an architect visit or drawing up plans.
“The Group’s approach aims to provide custom-made responses suited to the needs of local populations. More than 1 billion people are currently unable to access decent housing. Faced with this challenge, Lafarge has developed a strong expertise in the area of affordable housing. To identify these needs as best possible, Lafarge draws on its local presence and partners – such as NGOs, public authorities, developers and banks – involving them in the implementation of its affordable housing construction projects. In order to make this a long-term approach, Lafarge funds projects with a profitable business models,” officials stated.
Located in 64 countries with 68,000 employees, Lafarge is considered the world leader in building materials, with top-ranking positions in its Cement, Aggregates & Concrete businesses. In 2011, Lafarge posted sales of 15.3 billion Euros.
For the second year in a row, the firm ranked amongst the top-10 of 500 companies evaluated by the “Carbon Disclosure Project” in recognition of their strategy and actions against global warming. With the world’s leading building materials research facility, Lafarge places innovation at the heart of its priorities, working for sustainable construction and architectural creativity.
The sight of roaming goats depicted a typical village setting. The muddy houses, the types found in the remotest of villages possible, lend an air of rural scenery to the locality; their (the houses’) openings for wooden windows intercepting the even splash of mud on the walls. Many of the houses are roofed with iron sheets that have caved in to pressure from several years of overuse, and their decolorised frames are fragmentising and falling off the walls they are supposed to protect.
In the heat of the ruthless descent of the scorching sun, two ladies tiredly slowed their steps as they approached their huts, bending down to lower the water pots on their heads and wiping their haggard faces with a piece of lace cloth that had previously served as a neckerchief. Those two are just some of the unlucky lot who regularly trekked long distances to fetch water at a river outside the community, in the absence of a single public tap bearing pipe-borne water.
Ordinarily, the people of Laaniba, under Akinyele Local Government in Ibadan, Oyo State, ought not to be grappling with water, housing, and electricity challenges, considering the community’s proximity to the University of Ibadan. In fact, the Ajibode River is its only real separation from the varsity, the rest being a long, straight stretch of road.
Pa Joshua Olatunji, head of the community whose age is said to be in excess of 100 years, spoke on the problems of the people. “Our road is very useless even though it is better than it was some years back. Whenever it rains, bicycle and motorcycle riders will have a hard time navigating it while cars many times get stuck for days,” he said, removing his cap in a move that amplified the smallness of his body frame.
Replacing his cap, he continued, “We do not have potable water. We drink from the river, and we know it is not hygienic. We know that we will live a healthier lifestyle if we had potable water.”
Although Pa Olatunji offered directions to a river where majority of the community fetch water, he had left out the more important details of other activities at the same river. It is, for example, inside the same river that many inhabitants of Laaniba have their baths — that much was confirmed with the sight of two half-dressed women bathing at the river right in broad daylight. In the dead of the night or the early mornings, it is unlikely that the bathing population at the river would be restricted to just two people. And it is unlikely, too, that the same river is not the people’s favourite defecation spot. The result is a chain of diseases that Pa Olatunji’s traditional roots may not recognise, but which exist all the same, as implicitly confirmed by John Joseph, a secondary school student in his early twenties.
“We need a hospital in Laaniba, and it is very important, especially because of the kind of water we drink,” Joseph pleaded. “When our people fall sick, our closest option is the clinic at Ajibode. Sometimes, the doctors are unavailable; at other times, it is the drugs that are not available, which leaves us with the difficult challenge of rushing sick people to town. You will agree with me that not all sick people will have the grace to endure such long trips to town without giving up the ghost on the way. That is why I said the provision of a hospital is very important.”
He also made a case for a secondary school in the town, saying, “I attend Ajibode Grammar School because all we have here is a primary school. Youths here do not attend school; so many of them just learn trades. And there are no jobs for them even at the end of their apprenticeships, so almost all of them resort to motorcycle riding. Somehow, I do not think that this is all that youths should be dissipating their energy and vigour into. But do they have a choice?”
Joseph’s claims were corroborated by Alhaji Ahmed Laaniba, another member of the Laaniba clan, who lamented the lack of government presence in the area for at least two decades.
“Laaniba is supposed to be a town and not a village,” he lamented. “So, how is it possible that a town has no single source of pipe-borne water? I was born here and I am already over 70 years; the last time Akinyele Local Government did anything for us was more than 20 years ago. If the government will give us just potable water and stable electricity, we will be a happy people.”
At an earlier visit to the only primary school in Laaniba, not much was happening in the waterlogged classrooms in the single building, which itself only slightly bettered a typical abandoned building. A second adjoining building collapsed several years ago, and there has been no effort from the government to raise it. The few pupils at the school cut a pitiable picture, many of them playing around while some fidgeted with their notebooks.
In the absence of the principal who was “away on an official assignment,” a teacher, Mrs. H. A. Abraham, conveyed the frustrations of the students and teachers with the run-down state of the school.
“This is a perfect example of how not to run a school,” she quipped. “There are no books, no instructional materials and no facilities. The classrooms are few so you cannot even talk of a toilet or source of potable water. There is a poor attitude among inhabitants towards education. The pupils do not understand English and I have to teach other subjects in Yoruba Language. The consequence is the production of pupils who graduate to secondary schools yet lack what it takes to compete with the rest of the world.”
The solution to the educational woes of the people of Laaniba, she noted, is to first develop the social amenities base of the community, and then watch the ripple effect on other areas of life.
“Without bringing development to Laaniba, these little children will have nothing to show for all the years in this primary school,” she said chillingly. “Without water, without electricity, without urban housing, without hospital, everything happening in the school will simply end up some nasty joke.”
By ‘Fisayo Soyombo
The article was initiated courtesy of the Pro-poor WASH Stories Project implemented by the Water and Sanitation Media Network Nigeria, with the support of West Africa WASH Media Network, WaterAid, and Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council.
More than 10,000 people, mostly women and children have been displaced by the recent floods in Nigeria. Hundreds of communities in Anambara, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Kogi, Niger, and several other states were affected. The disaster is described as Nigeria’s worst since the civil war.
According to officials of the Women Environmental Programme (WEP), if nothing is done urgently, the humanitarian crises might result in an outbreak of diseases and several more lives will be lost.
To help salvage the situation, a group of young environmental activists have committed themselves to raising relief materials for victims affected by flooding in Nigeria.
The relief materials will be distributed to affected persons through WEP network of established volunteers.
“We use this medium to solicit for help and support from Nigerians in our bid to make life livable for these people who have lost their homes and livelihood to the effects of extreme weather conditions. Support should come in form of clothing food and home items, blanket, bed sheets mosquito nets and tents,” the organisation disclosed.
The WEP is a non-governmental, non-profit, non-religious and voluntary organisation, which was established in 1997 by a group of grassroots women in Nigeria. The major aim is to address the gender injustices on issues relating to environment, economic and social rights of women, children and youths in the society.
To facilitate this process, the organisation creates and sustains interest in socio-economic and political issues especially among women and youth in the country and across the globe. WEP has United Nations ECOSOC special consultative status.
With a population of about 150,000 people, the Ajuwon and Akute communities located in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State are long due for total development.
The two communities bordering Lagos State share cultural identities with the people of the Iju-Agege axis of Nigeria’s former capital city.
Despite their proximity to Lagos, the twin communities are still far behind in terms of infrastructure. Such amenities like good road network, public libraries, housing scheme, regular power supply and pipe borne water are still largely absent in the communities which have continued to grow due to their proximity to the nation’s commercial nerve centre. As a matter of fact, more than 40% of the residents in these communities have daily contact with Lagos where they earn their living.
The two communities are largely rural, based on the type of houses and lack of basic infrastructure there. Major parts of the only tarred road connecting the communities initially fixed by the Lagos State Government have already failed while there are no other tarred roads within the area.
“There is a little government presence in this locality as you can see; the local health centre, the post office and this Local Government Area office are only what we can point to for now. There is also a branch of a commercial bank (Zenith Bank) over there,” said Mr. Adewale, an officer at the Local Government Area Office, who decried the poor state of the road linking the communities to Lagos State.
“This road is used mainly by Lagos people and we want them to fix it, because they caused the major damage,” Adewale complained, adding: “You will not notice that there is a gas pipeline which convey gas to Lagos State under this failing road, there are water pipes also from the Iju Water Works few kilometres away but we in this community do not benefit from both the gas or water, the water pipes are dry and are of no benefit to us despite the fact that the a mega water works is located at our backyard. We are so close to the water works but it supplies water largely to the Lagos area.”
“Water has no enemy,” said the late Afro Beat King, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, in one of his ever green titles, but with the Iju Water Works just at the backyard of these two communities and water pipes beneath them which are virtually of no benefit, water may have since chosen its friends and enemies.
Ajuwon-Akute is populated by low income earners, artisans, commercial cyclists, drivers and people who have found cheaper landed properties and accommodation away from neighbouring “highbrow” Lagos. Quite a lot of these houses are bungalows and in some cases one or two storey buildings some of which are practically begging for renovation.
Pipe borne water is absent while the population survives on wells, though some privileged few could afford sinking boreholes. Power supply is grossly inadequate which makes the cost of running the boreholes a bit on the high side.
“Power supply here can be described as erratic because sometimes the lights may be off for four days in a row while the remaining three days are not certain. Some other times, we may have the supply again for two or three days with interruptions in between; we can’t plan with it,” said Femi Adesanya, a resident of Ajuwon.
“Erratic power supply is one of the pains of a densely populated rural area. In Akute, we have about three hours of power supply between midnight and 4 am,” said James Dureke, a landlord in Akute who added that “I have a borehole in my house for my residence from which I supply my neighbours water for free, there are two other bore hole operators who sell water in the area, but I don’t sell because most people here are not as buoyant.”
When asked how clean the water from his borehole is, Dureke said: “Though it is clean, I don’t drink it, I buy water for drinking but the neighbours drink it”.
Dureke, a business man who recently moved into the area, narrated how he spends about N250 on drinking water on a daily basis which translates to about N7,500 monthly.
Despite the challenges in these communities, the area is dotted with various private schools providing education for the growing student population in the neighbourhood. However, many parents in the area often find it more expensive and time consuming conveying their wards to schools in Lagos. Doland International Secondary School is perhaps one of the largest schools in Akute. The school, perhaps due to its size could afford a borehole which supplies water for the staff and students.
Water is not only a challenge for residents of Ajuwon-Akute as the various schools operating in the communities also spend extra to provide water for their pupils. A student of Fortuneland School who simply identified herself as Morayo said: “We have borehole in my school which we use for our sanitation but most of the students buy sachet water during break to drink.” A sachet of water containing 50cl of pure water costs N10 and an average student may consume two or more before the school closes by 4pm.
Some local schools are not so fortunate to have the luxury of a borehole; most local schools can only afford wells which supply water for sanitation purpose.
Dr. Alori Dare was a volunteer on a rural medical mission in some villages in Ogun State and he confirms that lack of clean water supply is the cause of most of the water borne disease cases in rural areas in Ogun State. “With my experience in Igbesa, I found that lack of pipe borne water is the root cause of a lot of ailments,” he said, even as he enjoined local residents to ensure they take clean water to avoid water borne diseases.
Alori, who is the Medical Director of Hope Alive Clinic, Abesan Estate, Ipaja, Lagos, added: “The goal of my trip to rural areas and Igbesa particularly is to see to the medical needs of rural people who ordinarily could not afford medical services, my trip has also motivated some of the youths who now aspire to study hard to become medical doctors in future.”
He however tasked the government on provision of clean water for rural people if the nation must stem the increase of waterborne disease.
“Waterborne diseases are caused by microorganisms like bacterial, protozoan, nematode etc. which are intestinal parasites commonly transmitted via contaminated fresh water,” said Dr. Bayo, a Lagos-based medical doctor who expatiated further that “intake of contaminated water eventually results to diarrhea, cholera, typhoid and hepatitis A”.
By Dapo Emmanuel
The article was initiated courtesy of the Pro-poor WASH Stories Project implemented by the Water and Sanitation Media Network Nigeria, with the support of West Africa WASH Media Network, WaterAid, and Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council.
The last time residents of Ewohimi town in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State fetched potable water from the dispensing pumps installed in strategic locations across the community by the state-owned Water Board was over a decade ago.
A non-functional water pump in Ewohimi
Ewohimi, an ancient town with a population of over 25,000 people, is the largest town in Esan South East Local Government Area. Geographically, the town lies approximately 60 kilometers west of the River Niger from Asaba and about 200 kilometers South of the Niger from the Lokoja axis.
Interestingly, the community which is also second to Uromi in population and size amongst the entities that constitute the area of the state popularly referred to as Esanland, once had a functional pipe-borne water scheme that was rated as one of best in the area in terms of efficiency, water quality and service delivery to the people.
An overheard water tank
Unfortunately, the town’s golden era could not be sustained as water supply gradually plummeted till it went completely comatose. Consequently, relics of the facilities which visibly adorn the streets in their rusty and dilapidated forms are all that is left for first-time visitors and the children born and raised in the community within the last 10 years to relate to presently.
Meanwhile, residents who were old enough and privileged to witness the development then, have never stopped relishing the experience nostalgically. They proudly tell whoever cares to listen about the ‘good old days’ but the reality today is that the people have, all along, suffered the indignities resulting from relying on water from not too hygienic sources as an alternative for their drinking and domestic uses since things fell apart.
A cross section of the residents who spoke in an interview, disclosed that the public water supply has been grounded completely in Ewohimi since 1999 after functioning epileptically for some time. They however added that successive administrations in the state have made faint-hearted attempts to rehabilitate it but all to no avail.
Worse still, there is presently no functional borehole as an alternative source of water supply in the entire community. Against this backdrop, majority of the residents resort to drinking ill-treated sachet water popularly called ‘pure water’ or buy water in jerry-cans and buckets from those who sell from cemented wells in their compounds while some go through the Herculean hassle of fetching ‘clean’ water from pockets of rivers and streams located several miles away.
While bearing her mind on the development, Mrs Veronica Udo, a mother of six, lamented that the perennial scarcity of water in the community was causing additional economic hardship in most households, adding that an average family now spends between N500 to N1,000 weekly on water for drinking and domestic uses.
Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Henry Itama, a resident who is a retiree, observed that what they are going through in Ewohimi can be likened to the proverbial ‘Paradise Lost’ because, quite unlike many communities in Esanland which never had the good fortune of assessing reliable supply of pipe-borne water, they never witnessed water problem until the system collapsed due to poor management by the authorities.
Ewohimi, according to him, had the best treated water in the 1970s, 1980s as well as the greater part of 1990s, adding that easy and regular access to potable water inadvertently brought about healthy and hygienic living standard in the whole community.
“It is very pathetic that we have retrogressed badly in this town. It is incredible that people now drink water from sources that are anything but potable. Some of us cannot afford to even have a good bathe after a hard day’s job in the farm, especially during dry the season here,” he said.
He also noted that the lack of potable water is taking its toll on the health of the residents, adding that water-related diseases have been on the increase lately in the community which, he said, also suffers from the absence of a well equipped primary health care centres.
Lending credence to this, Rev. Patrick Ulinkhifun, an opinion leader and native of the town, said the protracted Ewohimi water project saga which has assumed a worrisome and nauseating dimension, particularly when viewed against the background of its adverse effect on the wellbeing of the residents who, according to him, have been suffering in silence, over the years.
Rev. Ulinkhifun observed that the indifference and apathy so far displayed by the authorities in charge of the project, has not only compounded the problem but makes it appear insurmountable in terms of what it will cost it to revamp it completely when all the facilities seem to have decayed beyond repair.
“The problem looks mysterious to me because I cannot comprehend why those who are supposed to fix it are idling away doing nothing about it. We need a miracle to turn things around here. God’s intervention seems to be the only way out of this problem,” he added.
He also attributed the problem to bad leadership at both the local and state levels, adding that there is no where societal problems can be redressed when those in authority are corrupt, greedy, selfish, wicked and morally bankrupt.
“The last time we saw sincere efforts to address the problem was when a prominent politician from Ewohimi, the late Hon. David Aimenbelomon, served as caretaker chairman at the local government council. He tried to revive it but the water ran in some parts of the town for a while before it stopped and we lost it again till today,” he further disclosed.
Corroborating this, Chief Robert Enoselease, a ranking palace chief, attributed the lingering problem of resuscitating the water supply in the community to what he described as the lackadaisical attitude and neglect on the part of government to redress the situation.
Chief Enoselease, who is the Ihaza of Ewohimi Kingdom, noted that the desired interventions from the government geared towards solving the problem over the years, have not been too encouraging in terms genuine and unflinching commitment to fix it and manage the facilities in a sustainable manner in the interest of the people.
The Ihaza who represents Idumijie community at the palace of the Enogie of Ewohimi Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Lord Peter Ogiefoh Usifoh II, also stated that residents of the community have been very desirous, supportive and committed to making it work efficiently and effectively.
“At a point, residents had to task themselves through the collection of levies in order to collectively contribute funds for the purchase of gas to power the pumping plant here in the Water Board office for a period of about four years just to keep it running,” he stressed.
He however expressed optimism that the present efforts by the Governor Adams Oshiomole’s administration to fast-track the rehabilitation of the Ewohimi Iyagun Water Supply Scheme may turn things around for good and put smile on the faces of the residents once again.
“As you can see, the new contractor handling the project is presently digging up the old pipes and replacing them with plastic ones but let us keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best,” he further assured.
By Eric Ojo
The article was initiated courtesy of the Pro-poor WASH Stories Project implemented by the Water and Sanitation Media Network Nigeria, with the support of West Africa WASH Media Network, WaterAid, and Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council.
Abuja-based sustainable development strategist and youth activist, Michael-Donovan Ezeilo, has been nominated to be part of the 2041 International Antarctica Expedition (IAE) – as a Youth Ambassador to advocate for Clean Energy and Safe Eco-habitats. The team will be led by Robert Swan (OBE).
Ezeilo
Ezeilo, who is Executive Director, Culture Green, remarked: “I will be attempting to be the first West and Indigenous African to ever set foot in Antarctica. As a Youth Ambassador, I will be displaying the resilient spirit of today’s modern youth, while drawing attention to the effects of climate change and unsustainable exploitation of fragile eco-systems in the worlds’ vulnerable communities, particularly in my home country Nigeria.
“I’ll be working on the Planet Heroes Project during the scientific and research expedition and our mission is to advocate for Clean and Renewable Energy as a viable means to tackle Climate Change and help preserve the world’s sensitive ecosystems.”
On February 28, 2013, Ezeilo and members of the Expedition Team 2041 will embark on a mission to “the bottom of the earth,” described as one of the planet’s last wilderness. The voyage will draw attention to 2041, the year in which, according to Ezeilo, the Antarctic Treaty (Madrid Protocol) comes up for debate. The agreement reportedly placed a ban on mining and mineral exploration for 50 years (1991-2041) and it designates the continent as “a Natural Reserve Land for Science and Peace”.
“We also want to educate people in countries that do not necessarily have a coast, or ‘political’ interest in Antarctica, given that a lot of the time just because people are not personally connected they do not know much about the situation and how it is that their lifestyle influences the outcomes in the polar regions. But in the case of Nigeria, we do have a large coastline and the dynamics of climate change has left practically all regions of the world connected.
“Unlike the usual activist rhetoric that is fuelled with venom against Energy Corps, my strategy is for them to be part of the solution because, honestly speaking, in the end their renewable energy department will become increasing more viable as fossil fuel sources drop in the future. I would like to see a future in which there is better understanding and cooperation between Energy Corp and host communities to minimise and prevent such catastrophes that we have experienced in our sensitive eco-systems.”
According to Ezeilo, he has gotten the endorsements of International Centre for Energy, Environment & Development (ICEED), Building Nigeria’s Response to Climate Change/Nigeria Environmental Study/Action Team (BNRCC/NEST), the Enugu State Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN).
“I believe that together with our friends in the environment community we can help raise the profile of the cause and generate a real national discourse on climate change, energy use and environmental sustainability. The Planet Heroes Project will be part of a real-time documentary I will be filming during the Antarctica expedition.
“Nigerian celebrities are not left out as I have gotten Naeto C to endorse the initiative (Planet Heroes) and he will be willing to say a few words on behalf of it. I think this is vital because all along my major drive and focus is to inspire a generation that would take positive action on climate change and sustainable development,” Ezeilo explained.
The expedition will commence in Ushuaia, Argentina, and the expedition team will explore the Antarctic Peninsula and seek to gain firsthand knowledge of the continent’s fragile ecosystem, experience its unique wildlife and observe the magnificent landscape of Antarctica, all while learning about climate change and can be done to protect the last great wilderness on Earth.
The Antarctic continent is one of the most remote, inhospitable environments on earth. Harsh and inaccessible, covered by over 5 million square miles of solid ice, it is the world’s highest, driest coldest and windswept continent. The lowest recorded temperature in Antarctica was -89 Celsius (Volstok Station). No place on earth provides a more demanding environment to face the ultimate leadership challenge. Here the Inspire Antarctic Expedition (IAE) programme focuses on leadership, teamwork and personal development.
Swan and the 2041 team will lead an international team of corporate leaders, environmentalists, entrepreneurs, teachers and young people on a journey through the Antarctic Peninsula, visiting incredible locations and sharing his insights and personal experiences of this unique continent along the way.
Working with a group of on-board experts, IAE team members will take time to truly become inspired by the unique experience that is Antarctica. Team members will not only enjoy an ideal setting for personal development, but they will also be uniquely positioned to share their experiences and knowledge gained with their colleagues, friends and families back home.
Comments credited to the Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront, Development and Infrastructure, Adesegun Oniru, that a fallout of Hurricane Sandy (that recently battered parts of the United States of America) might affect Lagos and cripple the coast lines, are beginning to generate reactions.
Ocean surge by Kuramo Beach, Lagos
Oniru advised Lagosians that, between seven and 14 days from now, the city might begin to feel the ripple effects of Sandy on the shores and hence they should evacuate and also notify the relevant government agencies of rising waves of sea-water coming ashore.
But a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Fight Against Desert Encroachment (FADE), has remarked that the commissioner’s submission, though not unexpected, should not just end with calls for evacuation, but rather concrete actions regarding ways to response to the development. Consequently, the group came up with several measures in that regard.
Founder of FADE, Dr. Newton Jibunoh, said: “As an organisation, which has been at the forefront of promoting advocacy for over 10 years on mitigating the effects of climate change especially in Nigeria while also proffering adaptation measures to be taken should a natural disaster of this nature fall on us, this does not come as a surprise. The discussion on the possibility of such disaster happening might be one for another day but the issues of how the state government and in effect the Federal Government would react is of high importance.
“FADE has frequently spoken about the changes occurring in the weather situations and warned about the increased wind speed especially in Victoria Island and Lekki Peninsula. Presently, the sea level has risen dramatically and the ocean is warmer as we speak. We therefore as of urgent necessity present the following as part of mitigation and adaptive measures for both the long-term and short-term purposes.
“Firstly, it is glaringly obvious that Nigeria needs proper satellite-based weather monitoring systems to alert people and also ensure there is a close probability range in forecasting weather conditions. Just stating that a state might be affected and asking the people who live along the coastal lines to report anything unusual is not sufficient. We believe that at that point panic will set in and such people will not even think of contacting a government official presuming they actually know who to call in the first instance.
“Secondly, Lagos State should start making arrangements for public shelters to hold people from low lying areas that need to evacuate to higher grounds.
“Thirdly, such arrangements should be made at Teslim Balogun Stadium and the National Stadium in Surulere, which are both on higher grounds in conjunction with the Red Cross and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). They should start planning for tents, mattresses, blankets, clothes, water, food, etc for the evacuees.
“Fourthly, as part of having a coordinated approach to responding to the emergency situation, effective transportation is necessary. Lagos State should arrange for buses to be called in on short notice to evacuate people to the provided public shelters. Emergency services and personnel should be put on the alert now and be drilled on what to expect. Mobilise transport owners associations and the state owned BRT buses to be part of the adaptation provision with round-the-clock access.
“Fifthly, adequate health facilities around the provided public shelters and neighbouring hospitals have to be made available and empowered to receive and cater for affected persons. Provisions must be by Lagos State to get the General Hospitals ready to treat people. Mini health units can be provided within the public shelters.
“Lastly but most importantly, effective information dissemination has to be employed by Lagos State to ensure persons across the length and breadth of the state are aware of the possibility of the occurrence of this
natural disaster using all forms of media: electronic, social networks, print and radio carried out on a large scale. It is very important that this is done without creating panic among the people as panic could lead to more casualties than the effect of the disaster.
“These are some of the preparations that need to be put in place if Lagos State believes we are in danger of this ripple effect.”
According to him, FADE will continue to issue warnings based on past experiences and the monitoring of global occurrences. “Our primary areas of concern still remain Victoria Island, Lekki, Ikoyi and Banana Island. Merely asking people to call on some numbers when they see the waves appearing as put out by the Commissioner will lead to a monumental human disaster,” Jibunoh submitted.
Residents of Jalingo, the Taraba State capital in Northern Nigeria, are groaning over the unending scarcity of portable water, writes AYODELE SAMUEL, a blogger
“Water, they say is life”, and the human body constitutes 70% of this liquid, as such water tops the priority list of the demand of mankind. 80% of diseases plaguing humanity are due to use or consumption of unsafe water.
Children fetching water in Jalingo, Taraba State
It is generally believed that the accessibility of sufficient quantities of portable water and safe sanitation facilities to a household determines the quality of life of the people and potential for poverty alleviation. This leads to the welfare improvement and is generally linked to a decrease in infant and maternal mortality, increase nutritional values and environmental hygiene.
In Jalingo, the capital of Taraba State, accessing portable water by residents remains a major battle forcing residents of the city to rely on local vendor popularly called Mai Ruwa and few streams for water, while public water supply remained exclusive for the rich in the state.
Wurom Musa is a one of the slum communities in Jalingo, and is inhabited mainly by farmers and traders. Here, the only source of water for domestic consumption is a local stream about seven killometers away. What would have served as a safer source of water supply – a two-hand pump borehole donated to the community five years ago, had collapsed.
In another slum community, Barade Ward, there are tales of woes and anguish whenever the Lamorde River, the only source of water in the area, dries up, typically during dry season. When this occurs, residents of the community are left with no other option than to buy from Mai Ruwa water vendors, whose source of water is unknown.
In another community, Agangagwasa, a resident, Julian Bala narrated that getting water for domestic use is a major challenge.
“Because here is a new area with plenty people, water is our problem, when the wells in the area are dried up, it’s a difficult to get water because, we trek long distance searching for water as if you are looking for petrol, its saddening because water board is not here.”
Another resident, Mrs. Franca Osita told me that she starts her day by searching for water, “I have to wake up early and walk to the stream to get water, or else buy from the water vendors and then prepare the children for school before resuming business, this is usually difficult for me.”
She called on the government to show more concern to the untold suffering water scarcity has brought upon the people, by making provision for more boreholes and making sure that the taps are running again.
The Ward head of Mayo-Gwoi Village, in peri-urban Jalingo, Mr. Aliyu Jassa, said the lack of access to portable water in the city is harming their health.
“Due to lack of water from the taps, some of us depend largely on Mai ruwa, and those who cannot afford to buy, have to depend on the river. Unfortunately we’ve had cases of cholera that have resulted to the loss of lives, especially pregnant women and children; I almost lost my children too, but thank God for quick intervention.”
Hamman Yakubu a retired bank official, on his part lamented the hike in price of water by local vendors. “Me and my family consume not less than three trucks a day at N200 per a truck of 10 jerry-cans each, but we are at the mercy of the water vendors, who sometimes hike the price of the water at will,” adding that it is too expensive for an average citizen in the state who earns less than N18, 000 per month, considering other family expenses like sending the children to school.
Yakubu also noted that though there are pipes laid down for distribution to homes, but too expensive to embark upon, as it will cost N60,000 for the installation per home; adding that the pipes have rusted due to non-usage resulting to health hazard for the few consumers.
Other residents across the city bemoan the recurrent shortage of water and overdependence for water supply on Mai Ruwa whom sources of water is not known to the consumer.
Chairman of Taraba State Water Vendors, Mr. Muhamadu Ahmed, said: “There are over 20,000 members of the association scattered in various location of Jalingo.”
Danlami Musa, a water vendor said, he sells as much as fifteen trucks a day and due to the high demand of the product he often have to go in search of water from the stream, stating that sometimes the water from the borehole is not sufficient to go round.
Secretary of the Association of Water Vendors in Jalingo, Mr. Iliya Jacob, who had been in the business for more than 14 years, said his service is an alternative to government.
“I have been providing water for this entire area for 13 years, people troop in from distances to come here for water, sometimes we have to give them for free, as a humanitarian service, we see the untold hardship on our people, we regard our services as an alternative to the government, because most people cannot afford to buy trucks of water per day, there is no other option for getting portable water,” he added.
He identified causes of water scarcity in city as “dryness of well and stream majorly during dry season and well water changing colour during raining seasons, and sometimes due to the activity of the pumping machine, it drains water from the ground which often cause some temporal water shortage from the ground, and leads to dry wells.”
Area Manager of Taraba Water Supply Board, Jalingo District, Mr. Bitrus Bambur, admitted to ravaging water shortage in the city:
“The product seems to be unavailable; however the government is doing its best to meet up with the challenges. The government is doing its best, the Taraba water supply board is operational on a daily basis, but coverage is not much, due to the growing population of the city, the coverage area is presently at 32%,” he said.
Some of the challenges facing the State Water Board according to investigation include obsolete machines that needs renovation and replacements, inadequate funding, deficiency in human resource development, and manpower that has reduced from 600 to 324 since the creation of the state.
Other challenges, according to Mr. Mambur, is the need to upgrade the facilities for water distribution, stating that only six out of the 14 boreholes in the Board are functional. Calling on the the government to subsidise water supply, in the state rather than putting more money in providing drugs, Mr Mambur said the proper funding of the Board and efficient supply of safe water will help prevent diseases.
A government official who does not want his name in print confirmed that that the state government recently accessed a loan from the African Development Bank, to enable it upgrade the water supply coverage in the state from 32% to 75% .
The article was initiated courtesy of the Pro-poor WASH Stories Project implemented by the Water and Sanitation Media Network Nigeria, with the support of West Africa WASH Media Network, WaterAid, and Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council.
Ifokobale, one of the communities that make up Ogijo, a border town between Lagos and Ogun states had experienced a fairly pleasant environment prior to the establishment of some companies that the residents thought would upgrade the up and coming suburb.
The quest for socio-economic gains has been viewed as the main cause of environmental and physical pain, and of note are the activities of firms like Phoenix Steel Company, Mayor Steel Company and Metal Recycling Company in Ifokobale Community Development Area (CDA) in Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The companies operate their heavy equipments simultaneously every minute of every day with a cloud of thick smoke that envelope Ifokobale like a blanket. According to residents, the most remarkable effect, aside visibility problem, is the odour that emanate alongside the fumes, thereby leaving residents gasping for breath.
Ifokobale, a community of about 500 residents, is characterised by numerous uncompleted buildings and un-tarred roads, which serve as dump sites for industrial waste from the metal recycling companies. The residents believe that this action may further hinder the development of the region. The community lacks basic amenities like electricity, pipe borne water, public schools and access to good medical care that would have served as a palliative measure for the indigenes.
According to some residents, the pollution is threatening their means of livelihood. One of such is the farming business of a retired accountant-turned-livestock farmer, Fatai Olalekan Salami, who started his poultry farm and animal rearing in 2005. He said his business had been on the progressive path and was largely successful but that since the establishment of the companies about two years ago with one directly opposite his farm, things never remained the same again.
He said: “My cost of production has accelerated and its almost overrunning my terminal yield. All I know is that each time the vet (veterinary doctor) consultant visits the farm, he usually complains that the birds are suffering from a chronic respiratory disease (CRD). He added that the casualty level had equally gone up, with the birds laying smaller eggs.”
Humans are not spared either. Mrs Funke Alaba, a business woman, shared the pains of her four-year-old daughter, Precious, who is suffering from a strange illness. According to her, barely three weeks after the family moved into Ifokabale, Precious took ill with a serious cough that lasted about three months.
“When I visited the hospital (Dorin Hospital, Ajah) the doctor diagnosed that though she had cough, she is also suffering from breathing congestion,” she stated, pointing out that, after treatment, Precious still suffers for cough.
“The doctor advised us to leave Ifokabale, but we cannot do so because of the cost of relocation.”
Another resident, Mr. E. O Fadesere, said that though he hadn’t felt anything physically, he however believes that the companies are doing damage to lives and the environment. “Anytime the machines are working, it’s like rain wants to fall. Though I have not been to the hospital, I know the smoke most have an effect.”
Mrs. Adepoju, a school teacher, said she first noticed the problem in 2010, after three years of residence in the neighbourhood.
“I thought it was about raining but for the smell I perceived. I called on my husband who told me it was from the new company,” she stated, adding that whenever the smoke envelopes the community air space, she feels nauseating. “I’ll be feeling like a pregnant woman and would be spitting (salivating) and want to vomit.”
Another resident submits that he usually felt sensation in his throat whenever Ifokobale is cloudy with smoke from the recycling companies.
All over Africa, studies have shown that air pollution from all the four sourcesadversely affects people’s respiratory health. Despite this realisation, little orno attention has been given to the subject thereby making control of this man-made nuisance difficult, or in some places even apparently impossible. But a man-made problem needs another man to put it under control.
According to a scientist, M.O. Tanimowo, air pollution is due to gases and dust that singly or in combination cause respiratory impairment if inhaled over a period of time.
The irony of the whole saga is that these companies in Ifokobale are operated in order to bring sanity to the environment by recycling urban and industrial waste. But the reverse appears to be the case.
Nigeria may soon take a remarkable step toward embracing renewable energy if an initiative being undertaken in the country eventually sees the light of the day.
The farm in Okpoma, Cross River State
According to former Environment Minister, John Odey, he is involved in a venture to produce diesel from non-petroleum, renewable agricultural source – ostensibly from a Jatropha farm he is cultivating in Okpoma in Cross River State.
Biodiesel is a form of diesel fuel manufactured from vegetable oil, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases. It is believed to be non-toxic, biodegradable, and produces less air pollutants than petroleum-based diesel.
A flowering plant, Jatropha (or jatropha curcas), is cited by Goldman Sachs to be one of the best candidates for biodiesel production. It is resistant to drought and pests, and produces seeds containing 27 percent to 40 percent oil, averaging about 35 percent.
Though details of Odey’s project are still sketchy, he disclosed however that the venture would start producing diesel oil from next year.
Odey, who served as Environment Minister between December 2008 and May 2011, disclosed that he is likewise working under Access Nigeria for LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) utilisation for cooking across the country to reduce dependence on firewood and kerosene. This will be useful for drying agric produce to ensure post harvest storage, he added.
He noted that Africa Access Initiatives is partnering with stakeholders on the project, that considers the environment and eco-friendly cooking approach.
“We had met with Oando Plc on all the key issues including safety network and affordability issues to reach the grassroot. I met with Abba Ruma and others such as Chairman, NLC; chairman, Micro Banks Association; and president, Farmers Association.”
He expressed joy that the REDD+ initiative that he began while in office “has come to a fruitful beginning.”
Courtesy of cement maker, Lafarge, the microfinance programme for affordable housing is targeted at people in emerging markets with low purchasing power to help them finance the construction, extension or renovation of their homes.
