The Federal Government on Sunday evacuated 215 stranded Nigerian fishermen from the Republic of Gabon back home.
Fishermen
Spokesperson of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Yushau Shuaib, disclosed in a statement in Abuja on Monday that the evacuation was necessitated after the Gabonese authorities issued an eviction notice to Nigerian fishermen living in Nende, Mouka and Kenza Islands to move away even though majority of them had lived there for several decades doing their legitimate businesses.
The distressed returnees who are mostly from Bayelsa State and a few from Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Imo and Abia states were flown to the Port Harcourt International Airport before their onward journey to their respective home states.
The fishermen had signified their willingness to be reunited with their families after the eviction notice.
Before the execution of the evacuation process, the Nigerian government through the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant agencies had undertaken an on-the-spot-assessment of the situation before a chartered aircraft was deployed for the evacuation.
In an effort to ensure full rehabilitation of the distressed Nigerians and to protect their belongings, Shuaid stated that NEMA would also ship their outboard engines, fishing nets and other working tools to Nigeria.
The respective state governments have been communicated on the development.
The world’s 25 most endangered primates have been revealed in a new report released on Monday in Hyderabad, India, at the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity COP11.
Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates, 2012–2014 has been compiled by the Primate Specialist Group of IUCN’s Species Survival Commission (SSC) and the International Primatological Society (IPS), in collaboration with Conservation International (CI) and the Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation (BCSF).
Mankind’s closest living relatives – the world’s apes, monkeys, lemurs and other primates – are on the brink of extinction and in need of urgent conservation measures. The report, announced by some of the world’s leading primate experts every two years, reveals those species most in danger of becoming extinct from destruction of tropical forests, illegal wildlife trade and commercial bush meat hunting.
The list features nine primate species from Asia, six from Madagascar, five from Africa and five from the Neotropics. In terms of individual countries, Madagascar tops the list with six of the 25 most endangered species. Vietnam has five, Indonesia three, Brazil two, and China, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Kenya, Peru, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Venezuela each have one.
With this report, conservationists want to highlight the plight of species such as the Pygmy Tarsier (Tarsius pumilus) of southern and central Sulawesi, which was only known from three museum specimens until 2008, when three individuals were captured inside the Lore Lindu National Park and one more was observed in the wild. The few remaining fragmented and isolated populations of this species are threatened by human encroachment and armed conflict.
Madagascar’s lemurs are severely threatened by habitat destruction and illegal hunting, which has accelerated dramatically since the change of power in the country in 2009. The rarest lemur, the Northern Sportive Lemur (Lepilemur septentrionalis), is now down to 19 known individuals in the wild. A red-listing workshop on lemurs, held by the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist group in July this year, revealed that 91% of the 103 species and subspecies were threatened with extinction. This is one of the highest levels of threat ever recorded for a group of vertebrates.
The list of the world’s 25 most endangered primates has been drawn up by primatologists working in the field who have first-hand knowledge of the causes of threats to primates.
“Once again, this report shows that the world’s primates are under increasing threat from human activities. Whilst we haven’t lost any primate species yet during this century, some of them are in very dire straits,” says Dr Christoph Schwitzer, Head of Research at the Bristol Conservation and Science Foundation (BCSF).“In particular the lemurs are now one of the world’s most endangered groups of mammals, after more than three years of political crisis and a lack of effective enforcement in their home country, Madagascar. A similar crisis is happening in South-East Asia, where trade in wildlife is bringing many primates very close to extinction.”
More than half (54%) of the world’s 633 primate species and subspecies with known conservation status are classified as threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. The main threats are habitat destruction, particularly from the burning and clearing of tropical forests the hunting of primates for food, and the illegal wildlife trade.
“
Primates are man’s closest living relatives
and probably the best flagship species for tropical rain forests, since more than 90 percent of all known primates occur in this endangered biome,” says Dr. Russell Mittermeier, Chair of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group and President of Conservation International, “Amazingly, we continue to discover new species every year since 2000. What is more, primates are increasingly becoming a major ecotourism attraction, and primate-watching is growing in interest and serving as a key source of livelihood in many local communities living around protected areas in which these species occur.”
“It’s also important to note that primates are a key element in their tropical forest homes”, adds Dr Mittermeier. “They often serve as seed dispersers and help to maintain forest diversity. It is increasingly being recognised that forests make a major contribution in terms of ecosystem services for people, providing drinking water, food and medicines.”
Despite the gloomy assessment, conservationists point to the success in helping targeted species recover. Due largely to the efforts of dedicated primate conservationists, and underpinned by considerable public and media interest in the plight of our closest relatives, the world has not lost a single primate species to extinction in the 20th century, and no primate had yet to be declared extinct in the 21st century either, although some are very close to total extirpation. This is a better record than for most other groups of larger vertebrates that have lost at least one, often more, species.
Several species have been removed from the list — now in its seventh edition — because of improved status, among them India’s Lion-Tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus) and Madagascar’s Greater Bamboo Lemur (Prolemur simus), which appeared on the first six lists, but has now been taken off thanks to the great increase of interest generated by its appearance as a top 25 species.
Last week, President Goodluck Jonathan presented the 2013 proposal to the joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives, where he submitted, among others, that the budget is one that gives priority to food security. However, the N81.41 billion budget provision for Agriculture and Rural Development has apparently not captured the recent flooding mishap nationwide, which has put the nation’s food production capacity in a precarious situation. Michael Simire and Gbenga Ogunbufunmi examine the implications
“It is a budget that gives priority to our concerns for security, infrastructure, food security and human development sectors. It is a Budget that introduces a series of innovative features. This Budget is a push in the right direction borne out of our well thought-out and articulated developmental policies.”
Jonathan
Those were the words of President Goodluck Jonathan last Wednesday in Abuja when he presented the 2013 Budget to a joint session of the two Houses of Parliament – the Senate and House of Representatives.
His emphasis of food security is commendable and apt, given the nation’s persisting inability to produce enough to feed itself. Products like rice, wheat and vegetable oil are being imported in large quantities, and telling on the country’s scarce resources.
Articulating government’s plans for the sector at the National Council On Agriculture held in Enugu in March this year, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, lamented before the audience the staggering amount of money being spent on importation of food items which he put at over N1.3 trillion.
This amount, he said, is expended on basic food items like wheat, rice, sugar and fish despite the country having over 84 million hectares of arable land, perfect weather to grow crow crops all year round with fertile soil to support planting.
However, looking at provisions for the agricultural sector in the 2013 Budget proposal, it appears difficult to match Mr. President’s resolve to ensure food security with the budgetary allocation.
In the budget’s expenditure proposal, some key allocations are as follows: Works – N183.5 billion; Power – N74.26 billion; Education – N426.53 billion; Health – N279.23 billion; Defence – N348.91 billion; Police – N319.65 billion; and Agriculture & Rural Development – N81.41 billion.
Analysing the sectoral allocations, it is apparent that agriculture is not given the priority attention it deserves; more so, considering the flooding disaster currently ravaging most parts of the country, with attendant consequences.
It is not an understatement to say that the ongoing flood crisis has created serious challenges leading to fears and warnings by experts that the nation may likely face an unprecedented food crisis in the coming year if something drastic is not done address the situation.
For instance, the Delta State Government has expressed fears that, following the extensive flooding being experienced in the state, famine is looming.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Misan Ikubehinje, emphatically said famine is imminent considering the damage done to farmlands, livestock and all aquatic lives, saying most affected are farmers who have farms that link the tributaries of River Niger.
According to him, most hardly hit are the fish, crop and pig farmers who have lost their fishes, an indication that there could be shortage of food. He expressed regret that 90 percent of the farmers did not insure their farms and farm yield, “an indication that that have lost everything to the disaster.”
Mr. President himself attested to this fact that the nation may be facing a potential catastrophe when he declared the flooding a national disaster.
“We are very sad over these flood incidences in the country. It is a national disaster,” Jonathan had said.
The Minister of Environment, Hadiza Mailafia, said over 5,000 farmlands had been washed away.
Also, the Federal Government has warned of the threat of an imminent food crisis, which will only compound an already miserable situation.
The United Nations Children’s Fund also recently said that about 18.7 million people are facing food and nutrition crises in the Sahel region, which includes a large portion of Nigeria’s vast land area, as a result of the impact of drought, malnutrition and disease. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) predicted an invasion by locusts.
In the 2013 Budget, the Federal Government probably made allocation to the agriculture section using parameters of the previous year, and not taking into consideration the recent nationwide flooding.
According to Jonathan, his administration has instituted key policy reforms to establish staple crop processing zones aimed at attracting the private sector into areas of high production, reducing post-harvest losses, and adding value to locally produced commodities.
He added that, so far, government has succeeded in attracting $7.8 billion investment commitments to the agricultural sector. These investments and the value chain approach being used to transform the sector, Mr. President noted, have the capacity to create 3.5 million additional jobs in the medium term by 2015.
“You will recall that government provided incentives to support cassava value chains, including zero duty on machinery and equipment to process high quality cassava flour. Cassava bread is increasingly commercially available with 20 percent cassava flour content. In addition, a total of one million metric tonnes of dried cassava chips, are being exported to China this year,” he added, pointing out that achieving self-sufficiency in rice production in 2015 remains his target.
The President said that, in response to government’s new fiscal measures, 13 new private sector rice mills with a capacity of about 240,000 metric tonnes have been established. These mills, he revealed, buy and process local paddy and create employment for Nigerians.
While these policy statements for the outgoing year appear to be feasible in tackling some of the nation’s food security challenges, the unfolding situation essentially caused by the flood requires the need to re-strategise in terms of funding and policy.
A problem of this magnitude would require a purpose-driven plan to deal with it, according to industry watchers.
The N81.41 billion allocated to Agriculture & Rural Development in the budget is reflective of government’s supposed commitment to the sector, which may not be enough to feed the growing population and create jobs for the growing unemployed.
President Goodluck Jonathan last week allocated the sum of N17.6 billion to states and agencies to cushion the effect of floods in many parts of the country.
The breakdown of the figure shows that N13.3 billion goes to the affected states, while agencies involved in tackling the disaster will receive N4.3 billion.
The president made the announcement on Tuesday morning in a national broadcast on the State of the Nation.
He also raised a committee on flood relief and rehabilitation headed by business mogul, Aliko Dangote, and former president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba.
The National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation has Dr. Mike Adenuga, another business mogul, as the chief fund mobiliser.
The committee has one year to conclude its tasks among which is to raise funds in support of government’s efforts to provide urgent relief for victims of floods across the country.
Other members of the committee are Alhaji Karami Isiaku Rabiu, Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, Ngo Hannatu Cholum, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, former Minister of Information, Prof. Dora Akunyili, and former Managing Director, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu.
Others include Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Tunde Lemo, who is representing the bank, Ms. Fatima Wali, former Minister of Information Frank Nweke (Jnr.) and a former presidential adviser, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.
The affected states were categorised into four groups based on the present assessment.
Category A states will receive N500 million each, while states in categories B and C will get N400 million and N300 million respectively.
The government splashed N250 million each on states in category D.
States in the A Category are – Oyo, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Adamawa, Delta, Bayelsa and Anambra.
While Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Taraba, Cross River, Edo, Lagos and Imo are pooled in category B.
Kwara, Katsina, Gombe, Ogun, Ondo, Ebonyi, Abia and Rivers are the states in category C.
The category D comprised Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Yobe, Enugu, Ekiti, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Borno and the Federal Capital Territory.
The committee which is also expected to advise government on the judicious utilization of funds raised has been authorised by President Jonathan to co-opt any other persons or organizations that it may find useful in carrying out its assignment.
This intervention seems to give the impression that government realises the magnitude of the crisis.
However, developments show that the intervention might simply be a drop in the ocean, as complaints that funding is inadequate have begun to reign the airwaves.
Indeed, members of Delta State House of Assembly described the state’s share of N500 million from the Federal Government’s N17.6 billion assistance to flooded states as meagre, noting that the money was not sufficient in view of the challenges at hand.
They maintained that Delta State was heavily impacted because it was at the mercy of River Niger and River Benue.
The legislators said it could have been appropriate for Mr. President to declare a state of emergency over the flood issue.
The president lamented the effects of the floods, which he said had rendered tens of thousands of Nigerians homeless, and destroyed property, farmlands and infrastructure.
Managing Director, Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority (UNRBDA), Professor Paul Shaba Marley, has warned that the flood that is currently ravaging the country could lead to food scarcity in the country next year.
He said in Minna, Niger State, that the flood is a threat to national food security programme of the federal government and hence farmlands were being washed away mostly in the northern parts of Nigeria.
Marley, who is a Professor of Crop Production, said that the country should take proactive measures for possible food scarcity as the cases of flood would obviously affect food production.
He explained that the volume of water associated with flood is inimical to crop production and that if the water that submerged farmlands did not go down, it would be very difficult to have maximum crop production this year.
He pointed out that the situation would be more felt in areas where cereals crops are grown in the northern region with low water tolerant crops and therefore portends bad signal to production of cereal crops.
“No doubt the flooding ravaging the country is a threat to the food security programme of the federal government. The development may lead to food scarcity next year,” he said.
Marley stated further: “Except for rice that is highly tolerant to water, other cereals are not. Horticulture crops and other food crops in flood affected areas are being lost and these will cause the country big problem in food production next year because it may take long for the water to rescind.’’
States such as Kogi, Kwara, Anambra, Delta, Cross River, Edo and Bayelsa have been caught up in the floods, and thrown into panic over the loss of lives, livelihood, properties and farmlands.
In its 2012 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP), the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) had in March this year warned about an imminent heavy rainfall and the attendant flooding.
The cause of the flooding has been narrowed down to: the torrential rains, overflowing of River Niger (necessitating the release of water from Kainji and Shiroro dams), and the release of water from Lagdo Dam in neighbouring Cameroon.
These events, happening nearly simultaneously, caused a perfect storm of water deluge in the affected states. The incidence of flood and flash floods caused by sudden excessive rainfall is becoming common both in Nigeria as well as many parts of the world. Other reasons include climate change and poor planning by state governments, despite of the early warnings.
The ripple effect of these tragic incidences may be felt all around the country, submitted experts, who stated that Nigerians will feel the impact in their pockets, as cost of living, especially food prices, could go up as a result of the loss of farmlands nationwide.
For instance, reports that 3,200 hectares of rice plantation under the authority of Tada-Shonga Irrigation Scheme in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State have been washed away by flood gives an insight into the gravity of losses experienced. Vast areas of cassava farmlands have also been reportedly destroyed in many other parts of the country.
Livestock are not excluded from the disaster. So severe are the losses, that the Federal Government rightly declared an emergency in the flood zones.
To underscore the gravity of the crisis looming, flooding not only eroded the top soil, destroyed farm crops and livestock, it also destroys key infrastructures such as roads and bridges that are important for conveyance of farm produce to various markets. The complete breakdown in movement on the Lokoja-Abuja Expressway as a result of River Niger overflowing its banks and the delays in transportation of goods and people, provides a clear example of the extent of the catastrophe.
To address the looming crisis in food production, observers believe that Nigeria needs to deepen its food intervention scheme. Currently, there are about 20 silos across the six geo-political zones of the country being built under the intervention fund of the Ministry of Agriculture to achieve a strategic food reserve. The grand total storage of grains in Nigeria is currently about 1.3 million metric tons, while the FAO recommended that Nigeria should store about 1-3 million metric tons of grains in storage.
There is no gain saying that Nigeria needs to do more to boost her storage capacities. State governments should also be encouraged to build strategic food reserves and the government needs to project ahead especially in the light of the global climate change phenomenon and the early warnings provided by NIMET.
The agriculture sector must be supported to be able to provide functional farm settlements to stimulate local production, it was suggested. Experts say this becomes necessary as many farmers do not possess enough farm lands, while companies producing their own raw material locally should be given some sort of tax holiday to encourage local food production. This also has additional benefit of import substitution.
There is need for proactive and improved management of dams and drainages in flood prone areas. The water should be released in consonance with recommendations of NIMET based on the expected rainfall. The states should also provide alternatives settlements or make shift arrangement for their people even before the floods start. While no one can blame the government for natural disasters, it may be held accountable on its response to such.
With the flooding will probably persist as a result of the changing global climate, government must react in the short, medium and long term. With the inclement weather, food security may be the new war frontier facing the Nigerian government. It must win it at all costs.
Government must also react by giving the 2013 budgetary allocation to agriculture a deserved second look so as to, in the words of President Jonathan, accord the issue of food security priority attention.
President Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday encouraged the Internally Displaced People (IDP) in Bayelsa State not to give up hope, that the Federal Government is committed in helping and ensuring their rehabilitation.
The IDP camp in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
He stated this in one of IDP camps at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, during a tour of states affected by the nationwide flood disaster.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government said that it has registered 54,363 IDPs in Bayelsa and Rivers states, and that the registration is still ongoing.
Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)’ said that the body is registering IDPs in established camps in Bayelsa and River states, and has so far registered 35, 126 IDPs in six affected local government areas (LGAs) of Bayelsa State, while 19, 237 IDPs have been registered in four affected LGAs in Rivers State as at the weekend.
Already, there are over 55 camps in South-South region.
Jonathan said, “People that are not IDPs are the people always struggling for relief materials. These flood is all over the world, in Asia, Europe, I knew that Nigeria’s flooding is bad. And when we have such disaster food is not the problem, do not make food your priority. If you eat once, thank God, I know that none of you would die of hunger here. Before the middle of November, the water would have receded.
“The biggest flood I experience was in 1969. I believe by that by the middle of November, the water would have receded, but when the water recedes, the most important thing is rehabilitation, because farms, boats and all of your properties have been carried away by the flood. Even the seeds are gone. So its not the food that you would eat today that is more important.
“As the President, I have never eaten three square meals, each day. Sometimes its only once I eat. The Federal Government is more concerned about prevention of outbreak of epidemic in the camps. The FG is more concerned about rehabilitation of people affected by water.
“And that is why we are going round to encourage the IDPs. In Kogi State, four farmers committed suicide because they borrowed money from the bank to buy seeds and flood came and destroyed their farmland. So because they were scared, they committed suicide.
“I am here to encourage you that international organisations and other nations all over the world have promised to help us. I was in a place in Kogi, a storey building was under water.”
He said NEMA would continue to establish more camps in the two states, where necessary, to accommodate influx of people moving away from their houses as the volume of water continues to rise in some of the communities.
Jonathan noted: “Actually the South-South started the relief effort. We are the first to mobilise relief to this place. We are still providing more relief items. It is an ongoing thing, we are still bringing more relief items as the need arises.
“As of this morning a truck arrived and we are taking it to the warehouse. So far, we have been able to bring in close to 1500 mattresses and we are still going to bring in 1300, 600 bags of rice, 400 bags of beans, 600 bags of garri; and we have other items like blankets, buckets, etc.”
On challenges faced, he said, “The initial problem we are experiencing was the issue of coordination, because there was no effective State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in place, we are running the camps in collaboration with the state commissioners and local government chairmen. And ordinarily if we have effective SEMA in place, we would have hooked on and flowed normally. But, in this case, we are now running in the structure.”
He urged registered non-governmental organisations (NGOs), volunteers and community leaders to support in the management of the established camps.
Some fundamental legal issues regarding the construction of the Eko Atlantic City as well as the veil of secrecy surrounding the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report have come to the fore, just as key players continue to advance contradictory positions regarding the project.
Model of the development
The real story is unfolding on the heels of glaring inconsistencies in the positions being taken by the Lagos State Government/South Energyx Ltd, the proponents and executors of the project on one hand, and the representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment, which is constitutionally empowered to ensure all projects comply with the EIA Act of 1992.
Recent revelations by government officials about the new city being built on land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean confirmed various reports by this writer since November 6 last year. One of the reports had stated categorically that the Eko Atlantic City project was being done with very little respect for due process.
One of the stories won the CNN/Multichoice Highly Commended Award in the environment category at the 2012 Africa Journalist of the Year award, which held in Lusaka, Zambia.
A representative of the Federal Government caused a stir at a recent forum on the project when he remarked that there was a lot of lawlessness in the process that led to the execution.
Land reclamation at the site of the project
He also talked about the futility of looking for foreign-driven solutions from experts who are unaware of the geography and geology of the local terrain.
Indeed, startling facts about the Eko Atlantic City project came up at two separate events recently. The first was organised in Lagos by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment. The second was put together by the Heinrich Boll Foundation, an NGO affiliated to the Green Party in Germany. The event was held in collaboration with Environmental Law and Research Institute and Community Development and Development Initiative.
Ironically, the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Victoria Island, venue of the second gathering of stakeholders, is the very place where various age long researches puncturing the EIA, which the executors of the Atlantic City project claimed they had done, originated from. The impact assessment, it was claimed, was carried out, by an Institute in Denmark.
Layout plan of the estate
Investigations spanning over nine months revealed the several natural forces hidden beneath the Atlantic Ocean bed, the genesis of erosion at Victoria Island and the deadly ocean surges that have occurred in the state in the last decade. The results of the investigations eventually triggered a discussion on the desirability of the Atlantic City project and the exact nature of the EIA submitted by Lagos State Government
and South Energyx Ltd.
At the UNDP event, which had: “Challenges of Sea Level Rise Induced Flooding in Nigeria: Coastal States in Focus as its theme, Commissioners for the Environment from Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ondo, Ogun, Delta, and Rivers states attended or sent their representatives. Papers were delivered by: Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo, Prof. Jide Alo, Prof. Labode Popoola, Prof. Niyi Osuntogun, Prof. Francis Adesina, Dr. Victor Fodeke, Dr. Taofeek Afolami and Special Adviser to Governor Fashola.
Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront and Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru, who was to deliver a paper titled: “Eko Atlantic City: A formidable Adaptation Strategy to Rise in Sea Level Induced Erosion in Lagos State” did not do this at the event .
Oniru, however, showed up at Heinrich Boll Foundation Roundtable the following week. Despite the heavy rainfall in Lagos on the day, the event was well attended. The UNDP Deputy Country Representative, Jan Thomas Hiemestra, was in attendance. Others who attended include Prof. Larry Awosika, a renowned Marine Geologist and UN expert on Oceanography; and Prof. Mrs. M. T. Okorodudu-Fubara, foremost Environmental Law Professor at the Obafemi Awolowo University and Consultant to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), was also there.
An impression of the development upon completion
Mr. David Frame, Managing Director of South Energyx Ltd was also there, alongside Mr. Abass Suleiman of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja. It was at this event that the Federal Ministry officials debunked the claim by Lagos State officials at the UNDP event that they (federal officials) were solidly behind the EIA that was drafted on the Eko Atlantic City.
Lagos State Environment Commission, Mr. Tunji Bello, had said at the first UNDP parley that it was when the Federal Government abandoned its responsibility in finding lasting solutions to the problem of the Bar Beach that the Lagos State Government approached former President Obasanjo. He said the former President then gave his nod for solutions to be found. Bello lamented that previous governments had been dumping sand in the Atlantic Ocean to replenish the Beach at huge costs.
He said: “We know that the kind of Federal Government we have is highly unresponsive. It does not respond to anything. They don’t have the capacity, the mentality and they don’t even think about it (problems posed by the Atlantic).
“But being a state government, we know we don’t have land, and that we are the smallest. During the administration of Governor Bola Tinubu, it was a running battle between him and Obasanjo. They were just pumping sand. Every year, they spent N9 billion pumping sand into the Atlantic Ocean. Within six months, the sand would disappear and they would pump sand again.”
Bello continued: “Governor Tinubu said we can do something about this. We can build a defence wall instead of spending that amount of money on pumping sand. He wrote a letter to Obasanjo. It was a running battle. Eventually, he (Obasanjo) said, Give it to them.
“If you go to Bar Beach now, the Ahmadu Bello Way, which had totally disappeared, when Asiwaju (Tinubu) now decided to build that defence wall that side was saved. In fact, almost all the state’s liaison offices were almost eaten up by the erosion. They were no longer using their buildings. Today, the defence wall has restored normalcy to that area.
“The features of Eko Atlantic City, is to protect Victoria Island from ocean surge, give Lagos a facelift by transforming it into one of the best tourist centres in the world and create job opportunities.”
When the issue of the EIA was raised, state officials said the Federal Government was responsible for the EIA, which Eko Atlantic City based its construction work on.
However, a week after at the Heinrich Boll Foundation Roundtable, Prof. Okorodudu-Fubara picked holes in the manner Lagos State seemingly circumvented laid down regulations with respect to the construction of the estate.
Okorodudu-Fubara, one of the legal minds that put in place the EIA Act in 1992, expressed regret that the purpose for which the law was made had not been adhered to in the construction of the Eko Atlantic City.
She said the EIA Act prohibits the execution of private or public industrial development under the mandatory list schedule to the statute without prior consideration of the environmental consequences of such a proposed action, in the form of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) and a certificate in writing by the Federal Ministry of Environment signifying approval to commence.
“The statute legally forbids such erring projects. Is the Eko Atlantic City Project EIA Act 1992 compliant? All indications point to the fact that the answer is a big No.”
According to the renowned professor, Section 61 of EIA Act of 1992 states: “Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and, on conviction, in the case of an individual to N100,000 fine or up to five years imprisonment and in the case of a firm or corporation to a fine of not less than N50,000 and not more than N1, 000,000.”
A view of the estate on completion
She continued: “Any corporate body, which contravenes the Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine not less than five million naira (N5,000,000). In addition to the penalty provided, a person/body corporate found guilty shall be required to carry out remediation work.”
The professor stunned the gathering, precipitating a pensive mood, when she submitted: “Eko Atlantic City project, a fantastic idea, but it triggers off a wide range of extant critical statutes and regulations.
“The proponents must be brought back to conformity and compliance in accordance with due process. The individuals and firms involved in the project may be found guilty of offences under section 61 EIA, 1992.”
Prof. Okorodudu-Fubara recommended that an Executive/Administrative order of prohibition be placed on the proponents of the project pending due compliance with all the applicable laws.
On the way forward, she called for a two-track solution on legal and political basis, to examine civil or criminal violations of extant laws triggered by the Eko Atlantic Project. She also called for a thorough investigation of individuals and firms involved and the prosecution of those found culpable.
“A prohibition order could be placed on the proponents of the project to compel total compliance with EIA Act, 1992. and no further action until an approval is obtained.”
On the political side, the professor recommended mediation by Federal Government and Lagos State Government, a process she said must be against the backdrop of the applicable laws, essentially the constitution and all other relevant federal laws.
She concluded that Lagos and the Federal governments should carry all stakeholders along in the overall public interest.
From the presentation, it was gathered that the current position on the project is that there is no EIA at all because the Federal Government has withdrawn the draft impact assessment, which was put up by Lagos State because they had too many reservations about it.
The professor cited the case of Attorney General of Federation V Attorney General of Abia & 35 ors, wherein the Supreme Court declared, “the continental Shelf is not part of the territory of a state contiguous to it.”
During the roundtable, Prince Oniru said the problem of coastal erosion and the dangers of sea level rise were not peculiar to Lagos shoreline alone. He explained that the entire coastline of Nigeria was being affected and as such the solution had to be found collectively.
Oniru told his audience that the situation in Lagos was the result of the constitution of the East and West Moles in the early 20th Century to prevent sand from blocking the Lagos harbour. He noted that this piece of engineering on the moles was responsible for erosion of Bar Beach, which is, however, being corrected by Lagos State.
Discussants at the roundtable also threw more light on the status and nature of the Environmental Impact Assessment. Officials of the Federal Ministry of Environment pointed out that the EIA put on display was for dredging activities. Officials had also noted that dredging commenced in 2008. The EIA was only put on display in 2011.
However, permission was granted through certification from the Federal Ministry of Environment. Mr. Abass Suleiman, Assistant Director, Federal Ministry of Environment, Abuja said that a certificate was granted to South Energyx Ltd for dredging activities by Royal Haskoning, but that this was a provisional approval pending the outcome of the EIA. Suleiman admitted the EIA submitted by the Lagos State was one of the best he had ever seen and that the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography Marine Research (NIOMR) contributed to it.
Strangely, however, Mr. Victor Imevbore of Environmental Resources Managers Limited, denied that he had ever been associated with the EIA. Imevbore was unhappy that his name had appeared in the EIA document without his knowledge. According to him, technically, he believes that the construction of the sea wall, or revetment would be feasible even if he had doubts as to the ensuing impacts on other coastal areas, adjacent to Bar Beach.
Imevbore regretted that despite the good work being done by Governor Fashola in Lagos State, the Eko Atlantic City Project was ill advised.
Prof. Larry Awosika of NIOMR, confirming what Suleiman said, recalled being consulted on the EIA; and that the NIOMR made its views known to the Federal Government. He, however, did not disclose the observations or advice the agency made about the dredging and the proposed Atlantic City Project.
On his part, marine biologist, Ako Amadi, said the essence of any EIA is to demonstrate how to reduce risks and manage potential disaster emanating from a project. As in the case of the Eko Atlantic City, he said, the EIA was not necessarily about how dredging companies carried out their work in building a sea wall. Amadi said that the EIA submitted by Royal Haskoning on the dredging activities only made peripheral statements on safety issues and did not go into the forensics of climate change impact, nor did it offer any palliatives should unmitigated environmental disasters occur in the future.
During the roundtable, Prince Oniru was asked to give his views on the social impacts of the forceful eviction of residents of Makoko and Bar Beach, after a 72-hour ultimatum. Some other guests also wanted to know whether the proposed Eko Atlantic City made provision for low-cost housing. Oniru denied that the eviction notices gave only 72 hours, a position that contrasted testimony given by one of the lawyers of the evictees, Mr. Felix Morka.
This reporter also saw copies of the notices, which were signed by Ministry of Water Front Infrastructure Development.
Oniru told the gathering that the Eko Atlantic City Project was envisioned as a high profile development that would not be housing poor people. This, he explained, is the case in similar places all over the world.
But other experts at the gathering challenged him, saying that the world has started moving towards sustainable cities, which take low-income groups into consideration. Mrs. Kofo Adeleke cited London as an example while Prof. Mrs. Okorodudu-Fubara mentioned New York as another example.
Other participants at the roundtable shared their thoughts on this very controversial project. Their views are captured below:
Prof. Larry Awosika, United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf; Marine Geologist, Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR): “Many times we are besieged by the government and people on this particular issue and we say in most cases, we are not carried along. I am happy that the Honourable Commissioner said they have a holistic plan for coastal erosion mitigation along the coastline. We are happy to hear that.
“But what we will like to say is that (NIOMR) is mainly saddled with experts, though they may be local experts, they are also international experts. They should also be brought on board to assist the government not as contractors but as experts and agency of government to ensure that the job is done to specification. We give scientific advice. We do for other states, we do that for other countries and I see no reason why we cannot do it for our country.”
Mr. David Frame, Managing Director, South Energyx Ltd,: “I just want to say that people have short memories. I have been a Lagosian for 24years. I am talking as someone who has made Lagos my home. We forget that Ahmadu Bello Way blasted into the sea in 2005. We have forgotten that. It’s past. But it’s very relevant to what we are saying; as a gentleman said earlier; Victoria Island is not protected. So, please bear that in mind. We also talked about approval by the Federal Government; the Commissioner touched on that earlier.
“And I will reconfirm that Lagos State was approached by President Obasanjo in 2005. He gave them consent to construct a permanent solution to the erosion at Bar Beach. That permanent protection is Eko Atlantic Project. The fact is that project had to start immediately. If we had not done that, Lagos, Victoria Island will not exist as it is today. We will not be sitting in this room right now. That’s my message.”
Prince Adesegun Oniru, Commissioner for Water Front Infrastructure and Development: “Lagos State will continue to work to protect lives and property along our coastline. Everything that has been said is noted. I will pass on most of your comments to his Excellency, the Governor of the State. I will just like to touch on one thing that we didn’t talk about which (environmental activist) Desmond Majekodunmi knows very much about. And that’s the cases of abandoned vessels and shipwrecks along our coastline. It’s a major problem. Shipwrecks worsened the erosion of Maiyegun and Alfa Beach.
“That Atlantic Ocean is our national boundary. We have an agency saddled with the responsibility of pulling the wrecks out. That agency is the Nigeria Maritime Authority and Safety Administration (NIMASA). It’s a shame that nobody from NIMASA is here. But be that as it may, we in Lagos State will continue to look for proper and holistic solution to the threats to our coastline, alongside other states that have boundaries with the Atlantic Ocean.”
Victor John, Federal Ministry of Environment: “We need to re-study the domino effect of the (Eko Atlantic City) project. It is very important. I am a Lagosian and from the things I am seeing, I need to look at the design again to know what other mitigation efforts we need to put in place. But I am happy that the Commissioner said Lagos State Government is coming up with other measures for the shoreline. It is very important. We don’t want to get involved in the project at all. But as Lagosian who lived on the project, any time there is any problem, be sure
that we will be there.”
Displaced persons of the flood from six communities camped in Bishop Dimeri Grammar School (BDGS), Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, became violent, threatening to attack NEMA officials and visiting church leaders.
Displaced persons in one of the camps in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
Their action forced the presidential team to stop President Goodluck Jonathan from coming to the BDGS camp to address the victims but rather diverted to the Samson Siasia Stadium, where the displaced persons were more organised and humble.
Their action according to them was as a result of abandonment, lack of food, medication, mattresses and generally being left to their fate.
Some of the victims who were ready to burn the truck of NEMA, complained that only the chairman from Sagbama Local Government gave them N300,000 and other relief materials while the rest have turned their backs on them.
Some of the victims said they were divided into six communities with relief materials representing each of the local government.
They complained of their representatives both in local government chairmen, commissioners, lawmakers both in state and federal government not visiting the camp to have first hand information of happenings in the camp. They claimed that those who managed to come stopped at the gate of the camp and turned back.
One of them said, “Let them come together and help us. At most, in two months this problem will be over. We have not seen any of our representatives, no local government chairman, no commissioner, no lawmaker both at federal and state level to come and see first hand what we are suffering here. The condition here is not conducive for us.”
The displaced persons turned violent at BDGS apparently to prevent a church service that was to be conducted in the camp by some Christian leaders.
They broke the glass doors of the venue of the service and chased away the church ministers.
They argued that they were not in the position to listen to the word of God with empty stomachs as not much had been done by the authorities to alleviate their sufferings.
Those who spoke also accused the church officials of being more interested in the collections they would get from the worshipers rather than their comfort.
However, the Bayelsa State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Israel Ege, blamed the problem on the demand by the displaced persons for cash in place of the food that they were being served.
“If you give them cash, how will they share it? Some people will just grab it and go away,” he said.
The NEMA Zonal Coordinator South South Zone, Port Harcourt, Emenike Umesi, blamed their agitation on the fact that they are displaced from their homes and not because they are not receiving relief materials as they claim.
He said NEMA has divided the teams into groups with each handling one single commodity for distribution.
The items include garri, rice, beans, condiments, beverages, toiletries, medicines, mattresses, clothing, and groups specifically handling items for kids.
While revealing that there were over 40,000 registered displaced persons in the various camps in Bayelsa State, he spoke of threats from militants who are calling to demand for accommodation and relief materials or would be forced to mobilise and attack the camps.
The NEMA also revealed that those not displaced having been coming into the camp to make away with mattresses and food items and go and sale outside.
The camps are presently being attended to by volunteers from UNICEF, boys brigade, girls guard, red cross, ministry of health, military.
Umesi also said the decision by the state government to divide the displaced victims into local government has brought about discrimination with some claiming persons from a particular local government were getting more relief materials than others.
He said NEMA was against segregation of victims as even tents have been set up for non indegenes, which is against the spirit of disaster management in the world.
The 3rd Environment Outreach Magazine Public Lecture/Environmental Awards ceremony was held at the Conference Hall of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State of Nigeria on Friday, the 28th of September 2012. The Lecture, with its theme: “The Petroleum Industry and the Niger Delta Environment: Blessing or Curse?” was delivered by Kingsley Chinda, former Commissioner for Environment, Rivers State and Member of the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja. He was represented by Professor Michael Horsfall, Professor of Environmental Chemistry of the University of Port Harcourt.
Pollution and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Tarila Tebepah, who is also Chairman of the NDDC Board of Directors, thanked the Publisher, Mr. Noble Akenge, for hosting the 3rd Outreach Public Lecture at a time when the country was facing a lot of environmental challenges like oil and gas pollution, coastal erosion, massive deforestation etc and also witnessing one of the worst flood disasters in recent times. He called on all Nigerians to take environmental issues more seriously and advised the Publisher to continue to create the needed environmental awareness needed to make a change through his publication and Public Lectures such as this.
He further thanked all those who made it to the occasion, stressing that his Commission would continue to collaborate with public and private organisations in the provision of infrastructure and services needed badly for the development of the Niger Delta region. He advised Nigerians to be environmental conscious in view of the massive environmental challenges facing the country.
In his lecture at the event, the Guest Speaker, Kingsley Chinda, who spoke on the theme “The Petroleum Industryand the Niger Delta Environment: Blessing or Curse?” stated that the issue of whether the Petroleum industry is a curse or blessing the Niger Delta depends on where one is standing or looking at the issue from.
He said: “From an economic view point and particularly for multi-national oil corporations and other Nigerian beneficiaries of the petroleum industry in Nigeria, especially with respect to the staggering oil revenues that accrues there from, access to international loans, fat bank accounts, large scale acquisition of wealth and development of massive infrastructure in the country, it is a blessing.
“However, for every true democrat, every Niger Deltan, it is clear that the petroleum industry in Nigeria vis-à-vis the Niger Delta environment epitomises a ‘resource curse’ as evidenced by collapse of basic Infrastructures in the region; Disruption of the peoples livelihood pattern and survival; abject poverty – 80 percent live below poverty line; lack of evident development within the region; high unemployment rate; hunger, disease and untimely deaths; rise of militancy, kidnappings, armed robbery; pipeline vandalism and illegal oil bunkering activities in the region, oil and gas pollution and severe damage to the environment that has affected the livelihood of the people.”
In the search for solution to the problems facing the Petroleum industry in Nigeria, therefore, he suggested that the most important and foundational thing to do is to amend the constitution by expunging S.44(3) and replacing the words “thirteen percent” in the proviso to S.162 (2) with “fifty percent” in the section that deals with Revenue Allocation so that more resources are injected into the development of the region.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Publisher/Host of the event, Noble Akenge welcomed all the guests present and stated that the main objective of the Environment Outreach magazine is to bring to the attention of policy makers and the public domain, the problems of the Environment sub-sector and how efforts are being made to solve them. He said that the institutionalisation of Public lectures by the magazine was another way of meeting the objectives of the magazine in creating awareness of environmental issues in the populace.
He stated that in Nigeria today, the downturn of the economy and lack of political will to tackle the various economic, social, political and environmental problems of wastes disposal, massive deforestation; oil and gas pollution, industrial pollution, flooding and coastal erosion has caused massive destruction of lives and properties, social dislocations in families and distorted our entire lifestyles.
He further called on the Federal and States government to do something fast to ameliorate the victims of the recent flood disasters that is ravaging the entire country at the moment. He also used the forum to express the magazine’s appreciation to Professor Akpezi Ogbuigwe of UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya and Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State who were guest speakers at the 1st and 2nd Environment Outreach Public Lectures held in Port Harcourt and Abuja in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
The occasion also featured goodwill messages from eminent persons like Mercy Almona-Isei, former Chairman of the House of Representatives committee on Environment and the Senior Special Assistant to the Bayelsa State Governor on Research and Social Media, Dr. John Idumange and the presentation of “2012 Environmental Awards” to several persons who have distinguished themselves in the field of environment and development in Nigeria.
The Minister of Environment, Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia and the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Tunji Bello bagged the “2012 Environmental Governance Award” while Mrs. Mercy Almona-Isei, a former three-term Member of the Federal House of Representatives, Abuja and Chairman, House Committee on Environment received the “2012 Environmental Legislative Excellence Award”.
Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu FNES, President of the Nigerian Environmental Society; Professor (Mrs.) Ayebaemi Spiff OON, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Chemistry, Uniport; Professor Mynepalli Shridhar, a Professor of Environmental Health of the College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State; Hon. Furoebi Akene, Hon. Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Bayelsa State; Prince Lekan Fadina,Executive Director, Center For Investment, Sustainable Development, Management & Environment (CISME), Lagos; Mr. Mathew P. O. Dore, CEO of Phyllodendron Nigeria Limited, Benin-City; Mr. Woyengikuro Agadah, Director in the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment all bagged the “2012Environmental Stewardship Award”.
Mrs. Aisha Bello Mustapha, the Environment Reporter of the NTA; the African Independent Television (AIT), Africa’s leading private TV station bagged the “2012 Environmental Awareness Creation Award” while Living Earth Nigeria Foundation won the “2012Community Development and Nature Conservation Award”.
In recognition of their persistence and sustained advocacy for a better deal for the Niger Delta environment and human rights, Ms. Annkio Briggs of Agape Birthrights, Port Harcourt; Mr. Alagoa Morris of Environment Rights Action (ERA); Comrade Chief Nengi James Eriworio,Chairman, Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Bayelsa State and Mr. Patterson Ogon of the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Abuja won the “2012 Defender of the Environment Award”.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Mailafia, speaking through her representative, Mr. Godwin Atsegwasi of NESREA, Abuja, thanked Akenge for the recognition and honour done the awardees for their modest contributionstowards the protection and sustainability of the environment. She said she was humbled by the award and urged the Publisher to keep up the good works of bringing environmental awareness to the people of our great country, Nigeria. She also called on the people to keep patronising the magazine for the ultimate benefit of our environment. She urged all citizens of Nigeria and foreigners living in the country to continue to respect the laws of the land concerning the environment.
The occasion was attended by His Royal Majesty, King Godwin G. Igodo, the Ebenibe of Atissa Kingdom and Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers; His Royal Highness, Maxwell Clarkson-Kikile, the Ebeneken (Paramount Ruler) of Yenagoa; the Special Assistant to the Minister of Environment, Mr. Salisu Dahiru and Coordinator National REDD+ programme. Also in attendance were the Reps of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Senator Paulker Emmanuel ; The Pere of Iduwini Kingdom of Delta State,HRM King Joel E. Ibane, Obiobo IX and Dr. Barclays Ayakoromo, the Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation represented by the Zonal Director, South-South Zone of NICO, Mr. Imohiosen James. The Special Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Fred Agbedi was represented by Mr. Freston Akpor, former Chief Press Secretary to the Bayelsa State Governor.
Also in attendance through their representatives were Ms. Ibim Princewill, Hon. Commissioner for Information, Rivers State and Chike Ogeah, Commissioner for Information, Delta State; Mr. Dike Onyije of the River State Ministry of Information and Communications and the General Manager of Delta Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Tunde Omonode respectively; Dr. Kevin Idehen of the Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun,
Delta State; Mr. Paul Akporowho, Delta State Chairman of the Nigerian Environmental Society and former Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of River State, Mr. Paulinus Nsirim.
Other dignitaries present at the occasion were the Senior Special Assistant to Bayelsa State Governor on Research and Social Media, Dr. John Idumange, Dr. Edet Edet of Community Health Dept, SPDC, and Dr. Ethel Ebere Obiakor of the AIT, representing High Chief Aleogho Raymond Dokpesi.
The occasion was also attended by persons from all walks of life including top Government officials, Representatives of various Federal and States’ Ministries and Agencies, Environmental groups, the Organised Private Sector, traditional rulers; former Local Government Chairmen; the oil companies.
Against the backdrop of the official launch of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative (SE4ALL) a couple of months ago, the Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has stepped up action towards developing a National Action Plan that will lead to the realisation of the initiative.
President Goodluck Jonathan had in August launched the SE4ALL, which is aimed at doubling the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency, ensure universal access to modern energy services and double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by the year 2030.
Essentially, each country is expected to undertake a Rapid Assessment and Gap Analysis on SE4ALL towards developing a National Action Plan on the initiative.
To this end, the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) and the UNDP last Thursday in Abuja held a one-day stakeholders awareness and consultation on the SE4ALL, where the Report of Rapid Assessment and Gap Analysis on SE4ALL in Nigeria by UNDP consultants was presented and analysed.
While presenting the report, Huzi Mshelia, a UNDP consultant, said the report is focused and that whatever gaps identified would be incorporated into the final report.
He listed some of the identified gaps to include: policy, political and potential market risks, natural gas supply constraints, over dependence on oil and gas, funding risks, international cooperation, lack of adequate man power in the energy sector and energy governance, among others.
Mshelia said countries that have increased their energy access are experiencing increase in Gross Domestic Products (GDP).
Director- General of ECN, Prof. Abubakar Sambo, represented by Director of Energy Planning and Anaysis in the organisation, Joseph Ojosu, an engineer, submitted that renewable energy is inevitable as it reduces greenhouse gases (GHGs) and brings about green jobs.
He said implementation of SE4ALL would be done locally and involves all the stakeholders, while the citizenry would be more sensitised on the programme.
Sambo, who commended the UNDP for supporting the programme, said that, for Nigeria to be one of the world’s leading economies by year 2020, the issue of low carbon economy must be taken seriously.
Deputy Director of ECN, Okon Ekpenyoug, an engineer, in his presentation on SE4ALL : contents, progress and next step, said achieving sustainable energy for all is an ambitious but achievable goal, adding that the work of achieving sustainable energy for all will not be completed in a single year, or even in the four-year term of a President.
“But we must begin somewhere,” he stated, adding that the Nigerian energy sector is endowed with abundant energy resources such as hydro power, uranium, and crude oil, among others.
While scrutinising the reports in the three groups (energy access, renewable energy and energy efficiency), participants identified several gaps. Ekpenyong promised that all gaps identified have been addressed by the consultant.
The workshop was attended by civil society groups, government officials from parastatals and agencies, as well as media and academia.
A spate of development initiatives were brought to the fore last week as Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State marked his second year in office.
Gov Fayemi
While numerous projects scattered far and wide within the state were formally completed, several others were likewise officially initiated.
In what seemed like a busy week that commenced on Tuesday – and even continues today and ends tomorrow – the governor was on the road, personally commissioning completed projects and laying the foundation for fresh ones. The programme had “Reclaiming the trust: Delivering the promise” as its theme.
The projects on focus spanned road construction and rehabilitation, renovation of schools and construction of new ones, development of fresh institutional buildings, electricity/power, as well as water and tourism facilities.
For instance, a collection of novel schemes supposedly designed to advance development and leave a lasting legacy in the state – tagged “Legacy Projects” – were officially flagged-off on Tuesday. They are all located within Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, and include Data Centre, Government House, Governor’s Office, Civic Centre, State Pavilion, the Samsung Engineering Academy and Oluyemi Kayode Stadium.
On completion of the new Governor’s Office, the present facility in use for that purpose – originally designed as a hotel – will revert to that use.
Ijan-Ilupeju Rural Electrification project
On Wednesday, the focus was on Ekiti South Senatorial District, where the Grand Tower Mall will be built and in respect of which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed. Other projects were: foundation laying for Omuo-Oke, Omuo-Oke Grammar School, foundation laying of Life Academy Foundation (Iluomoba), Enterprise Development Centre (Aisegba), Ilupeju-Ijan Electricity Project, Ijaloke Grammar School (Emure) and Science Laboratory at Obada High School.
Indeed, Dr Fayemi on Thursday commissioned 10 major roads totalling 103 km, in an apparent fulfilment of the resolve of his administration to make all the communities in the state accessible by motorable roads by 2014.
Efon-Alaaye Water Treatment Plant
The governor also commissioned five water treatment plants as part of people-oriented projects.
The 10 roads which are located in Ekiti Central Senatorial District include: 14.3 km Erijinyan-Ilawe Road, 12km Odo Owa- Oke Ila Road, 6.25km Awo-Iyin Road, 24km Ikogosi-Efon Road, 11.5km Ado- Ilawe Road, and 5km Fajuyi-Basiri-Police Headquarters Road.
Others are 1.65km Fajuyi-Teaching Hospital Road, 10.75km Ado-Afao Road, 2km Ijigbo-Isato Road and 13km Osun-Iloro Road.
Okemesi Water Treatment Plant
Commissioning the various roads, Fayemi said the construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the roads became necessary following their deplorable condition which had given “motorists nightmarish experiences traversing the roads”.
According to the governor, the government decided to award the roads, especially those leading to Ado Ekiti in November 2011in order to ameliorate the sufferings of motorists and also to give the State capital a face-lift even as Fajuyi-Teaching Hospital Road was planned to link the on-going Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki Road with Fajuyi Park.
He added that government is rehabilitating 16 other roads within the township to make Ado-Ekiti an enviable state capital.
While commissioning the Ado-Afao Road, the Governor said the rehabilitation of the road would be a great relief to motorists using the road especially, those going towards Ikole and the northern part as it is a shorter link than the Ado-Ifaki Road.
Fayemi, who noted that the road was constructed by Ayo Fayose in 2005, added that the road did not last and became a hideout for miscreants.
He stated that the rehabilitation would enhance the economic activities of the residents along the road.
The five water treatment plants and reservoir commissioned are located at Ipole Iloro, Efon, Ido Ile, Okemesi and Mary Hill Ado Ekiti.
Fayemi said the water projects are to achieve the target of his administration to provide potable water to at least 80 percent of the state population by 2014.
He said concerted efforts are being put in place to ensure that all the four dams in the State become functional as a bulk of the 2013 budget will be expended on water.
Meanwhile a new dawn is now experienced by the people of Odo Uro, a communtiy in Iyin Ekiti, as the governor commissioned a rural electrification project for the community.
The scope of work done involved about 0.1km Inter Town Connection (ITC), 1.8km Township Distribution Network (TDN), a 300KVA transformer and street lighting.
Fayemi, who commissioned the project, said government realises the importance of electricity supply to the economic and social development of rural communities hence the prime place of Infrastructural Development in the administration’s Eight-Point Agenda.
A health centre at Ido Ile and a Skills Acquisition Centre at Iropora Ekiti which were carried out under the State Community and Social Development Agency were commissioned.
Speaking on Fayemi’s achievements, the Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji, commended the governor and urged him not to be discouraged by criticisms but should see such as a “tonic” that would spur him to work more for the development of the state.
The traditional ruler lauded Fayemi for the rapid and evenly distributed dividends of democracy that has got to virtually all communities in the state, saying that the gesture is unprecedented.
Mr Salif Lamoussa Kabore, Burkina Faso’s Minister for Mining, Quarries and Energy, has called for effective regulation of mining activities in the West African Sub-region to prevent environmental degradation.
Miners
He said although mining contributed to the socio-economic development of countries in the sub-region, “it does not come without environmental impact for our nations”.
Mr Kabore noted that the rate, at which mining was being operated in West Africa recently, ‘’leaves much to be desired due to governments’ quest to open up private investment.’’
He said notwithstanding the fact that mining contributes to foreign exchange earner for some countries; it has to be operated not at the expense of the environment and people.
The Minister said this in a speech read on his behalf by the Technical Advisor, Mr Bassirou Ouedraogo at a five-day regional workshop to build the capacity of the Media on mining issues, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, recently.
The event that was held on the theme: “Mining and the Protection of the Environment and Natural Resources in West Africa”, attracted 30 journalists from West African countries such as Ghana, Benin, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Mali, Niger, Guinea, Senegal and Burkina Faso, and another participant from Cameroun, and Bukinabe Parliamentarians.
It was jointly organised by The Global Water Partnership (GWP), West Africa, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN-PACO) of the West and Central Africa regions.
Mr Kabore said: ‘’we do not have to sit down unconcerned, till we start having acid rains from pollutants or downstream water becomes so contaminated and cannot be used for domestic, agricultural or industrial activities.
He called on governments, media and other stakeholders to raise the awareness of decision makers and the people on the need to preserve the environment and to promote the process of mitigating the impact of the exploitation of minerals.
The Minister lamented that mining, including illegal mining, resulted in water pollution, deforestation, and acid rain.
The chairman for GWP, West Africa, Mr Hama Arba Diallo, noted that the Media and Parliament were important institutions for information sharing for development.
He said the workshop was aimed at giving the chance to the countries to create awareness on consequences of the mining.
“Open, artisanal or illegal mining is being done at great cost to countries and the issue must be looked at critically because it is done in a disorganized way,” Mr Diallo said.
Dr Aime Yameogo, official of IUCN-PACO, said the institution was working to help find pragmatic solutions to environment and development challenges.
He said: ‘’the dilemma of countries to preserve natural resources and the need for exploitation of these resources for foreign exchange has affected many countries, and there is the need for decision makers to do their best in the interest of the people they serve.’’
