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Concern over climate change impact on coastal areas

Michael Simire
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Global warming-induced sea level rise and changes in climatic conditions are posing a serious challenge to the attainment of sustainable development in coastal states in Nigeria, experts have submitted.

Coastal erosion in Lagos

According to them, the devastating effects of recent extreme weather events (such as storm surges) on coastal cities and settlements in the states demonstrate their extreme vulnerability with a high potential to lead to social and economic crises in the region.

The observations were made in a Lagos by a gathering of scientists, administrators, civil society organisations (CSOs) and media practitioners at the Coastal States Climate Change Dialogue, organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in conjunction with the Lagos State Government.

The states involved in the dialogue were: Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River.

In a communiqué released at the close of the two-day event, the participants noted that unplanned and poor land use, as well as rapid urbanisation are aggravating the impact of climate change on the coastal and marine environment of the affected states, and increasing their vulnerability in the security of water supplies, increasing risk to existing infrastructure, adverse health effects, and increasing threat to ecosystems and coastal development.

“The effects of climate change-induced sea level rise are transboundary in the nature and will affect the states in different but interlinked ways. It is, therefore, imperative for states to come together in forging a collective response to the crisis of climate change in the coastal region of Nigeria.”

As a way out of the impasse, the forum recommended that the concerned eight states should immediately establish a functional network for the sharing of best practices about adaptation options for coastal zone management.

The states were likewise urged to undertake in-depth research to determine the vulnerability of their coastal and marine environment to anticipated global warming-induced sea level rise.

“States should adopt a regional approach to addressing the impact of climate change through a well-established regional cooperation mechanism. To do this effectively, each state should develop action-oriented mitigation and adaptation strategies and activities to address the challenges of sea level rise-induced flooding. State-specific strategies, derived from the relevant sections of the National Climate Change Policy and Response Strategy, should then be integrated into a regional strategy and action plan for a coordinated implementation.”

The states were further advised to build their capacities so as to enable them have access to global multilateral and bilateral climate change funds that are critical to meet the huge financial resources required to adopt practical, but costly adaptation initiatives required to respond more effectively to the challenges of sea level rise and other extreme weather events-induced flooding in the coastal region of Nigeria.

It was also suggested that regional oceanographic and marine research institutions should be strengthened to undertake evidence-based research and early warning systems should be established to enhance the resilience of the people living in the affected zones.

Deputy Country Director, UNDP, Jan Thomas Hiemestra, stated that the dialogue is aimed at sensitising stakeholders in Nigeria’s coastal areas as a proactive strategic preparedness action plan to forestall future negative consequences of abrupt sea level rise. The lessons learnt from the brainstorming, he added, are envisaged to become a model for other coastal preparedness action plan in Nigeria.

He said, “Although, the different states have been working to address climate change and their actions are taken in support of national governments reaching an international agreement on climate change and in support of implementing the practical actions needed to help to fulfill national and international commitments. But tackling the negative impact of climate change has its financial and environmental cost implications and because of the prohibitive cost of protection, many states might not be able to afford such measures. This is more so that there are many issues the nation has to tackle. The most probable and affordable approach is therefore through sensitisation dialogues on resilience building and vulnerability reduction that is dependent on collaboration amongst the states.”

Lagos State Environment Commissioner, Tunji Bello, lamented that Lagos has in recent times suffered from ocean surge and consequently the degradation of beaches (Alpha and Kuramo) and loss of lives.

“It is against this background that the Lagos State Government has embarked on a number of projects aimed at building internal resilience to the vagaries of ocean surge and other climate change induced conditions,” he said, listing some of such schemes to include the Bar Beach shoreline protection, Eko Atlantic City, dredging of canals, channelisation of drainages, aggressive enlightenment campaigns on the threat of climate change, and best waste management practices.

Tackling climate challenges through regional integration

Michael Simire
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As the federal and state governments make frantic efforts to tackle the adverse effects of climate change, environmentalists are of the view that regional integration will go a long way to mitigate the effects, writes Kayode Aboyeji 

Lagos

Citing previous achievements through regional governments particularly in the first republic, some of which are still thriving till date, environmentalists have suggested regional integrated approach based on the account of national historical experiences to tackle the climate change challenge.

Besides, they argued that climate and the attendant variability do not recognise political boundary but, rather, respond to ecological zonal changes which do not correspond to states in Nigeria.

Generally,  regional integration promotes management of shared natural resources including  watersheds, mineral deposits, fisheries, and sensitive natural environments that are shared among countries. Also, it enlarges markets through the integration of small economies, thus promoting economies of scale and intensifying competition, leading to lower prices and expanded supply.

In a recent publication titled: “Unlocking North Africa’s Potential through Regional Integration: challenges and opportunities,” the trio of Santi, E., Romdhane,S.B. and Shaw,W  noted that regional agreements can provide  a “commitment mechanism” for countries’ domestic trade and other policy reforms, reducing the likelihood of policy reversals; effective action to combat infectious diseases, such as HIV/ AIDS and malaria, and vulnerabilities arising from climate change which depend on collaborative efforts among groups of countries.

They added that it also creates preferential reductions in tariffs within regional agreements that can induce shifts in both demand and supply with the net effects on national income that depend on the costs of alternative supply and trade policies toward nonmember countries; encourage bilateral agreements that can attract more FDI by enlarging markets (particularly for “lumpy” investment viable only above a certain size), reducing distortions (depending on policy content) and lowering the marginal cost of production.

They emphasised that regional integration agreements may enable countries to coordinate negotiating positions in international fora, thus raising visibility and possibly increasing bargaining power.  Such regional agreements, according to them, may lower the risk of conflict within the region as a result of improved intraregional confidence and trust, common defense arrangements, and interdependence in key aspects of countries’ national development.

Nigeria is one of the countries that are being affected by the effects of climate change caused by global warming.  The impacts of the phenomenon are visible across the states vis-a-vis at the regional level. At the moment, the Northern region is facing serious desertification, the Southern part is contending with gully erosion, pollution and other environmental degradation, while the western region is facing massive incidence of floods and ocean surge that has claimed lives and destroyed property, particularly, in Lagos State due to its coastal nature.

Similarly, due to the release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, about 15 people lost their lives while close to 250 villages were submerged in the Northern part of the country.

Although some of the state governments are intensifying efforts through various programmes and awareness creation on the danger of abuse to the environment many, however, believe that if there could be regional agreements, it would be easier to integrate the various efforts and address the challenges.

For instance, the floods that affect Lagos State in most cases originate from Ogun, Osun and even Ondo states where some of the rivers have their sources. Similarly, the impact of desert encroachment in the northern part (such as in Bauchi, Gombe and Borno states) cut across geographical boundaries.

Climatologist and lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo, said that the Southern, Middle Belt and Northern parts of Nigeria would respond to climate change differently.

According to him, climate and its variability know no political or geographical boundary, but rather responds to ecological zonal changes which do not correspond to states in Nigeria.
Said he: “Regional approach will be an advantage to mitigate the impacts of climate change. For instance, some of the floods in Lagos State originate from Ogun, Osun and even Ondo states where some of the rivers have their sources.

“Oyan River is a typical example. Extreme rainfalls in the upper part of the river normally results in excessive amount of water which forces the Basin Authority to release water from the dam and which consequently floods the Ikorodu/Isheri area of Lagos State.”

Oladipo, who is also one of Nigeria’s international climate negotiators, posited that an inter-state collaboration of the sustainable management of the water resources in the Oyan watershed would be a way out of the problem.

Another proponent of the idea and Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation in Osun State, Nigeria, Prof.( Mrs). O.M Oyawoye, noted that though differently, people are already feeling the adverse effect of climate change-flooding, drought, heat, biodiversity loss, livelihoods and reducing food production.

She stressed that while global negotiation and efforts continue, there should be immediate, concerted and collaborative adaptive actions crucial at the national, regional, state, local governments and community levels to address the challenge.

Such actions, she said, would lead to better and effective environmental policy, efficient and effective application of resources – human, material and financial. She noted that they would also create synergy, better economies of scale, strength of unity, better access to national and international benefits and eco-tourism.

On regional cooperation that had worked, she cited the example of the Great Green Wall afforestation initiative to protect sub-Saharan Africa from desertification and afforestation. It entails a cooperation by the 11 frontline states of northern Nigeria and Niger Delta region cooperation to address pollution and environmental degradation challenges peculiar to the region.

She went further: “Regional integration is a process in which states enter into an agreement in order to enhance regional cooperation through institutions and rules. The objectives of the agreement could range from economic to political; although it has generally become a political economy initiative where commercial purposes are the means to achieve broader socio-political objectives.”

Oyawoye recommended regional mitigation and adaptation for the South-west region that would include afforestation plan, urban renewal master plan, early warning system, capacity building and networking and information sharing.

Carty Tan, who works with Millennium Institute, a US-based organisation that is assisting Nigeria to develop the Threshold 21(T21) model to tackle the climate change impact, said it would be appropriate to break Nigeria into three. based on the visible effect of climate change so as to be able to address the challenge.

She said the issue of oil production in the country would have to be considered for any meaningful climate mitigation effort to be recorded.

Gains of GEF’s Small Grants Programme in Nigeria

Michael Simire
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The Small Grants Programme (SGP) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Nigeria has supported the conservation of over 500 indigenous plant species in the country.

Ishii, GEF boss

The GEF-SGP, which is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has also sustained the establishment of Community Forest Management Committees and capacity building for forest protection, which seeks to enhance indigenous knowledge of biodiversity and revive interest in traditional medicinal values of plants species.

UNDP Country Director, Ade Mamonyane Lekoetje, who made the disclosure recently in Abuja during a workshop on capacity building and knowledge development, disclosed that the programme has also supported over 20 climate change mitigation projects addressing awareness creation and teaching simple techniques of rain water harvesting to reduce stress of water and impact of drought; supported Pitcher Irrigation technology for farming; tree planting to regenerate forests which act as sink for C02 and fuel efficient stoves to reduce consumption of fuelwood.

She said: “A total number of 69 projects have been supported to date in 23 states of the federation with a total grant amount of $1,897,869 and $1,370,376 in co-financing.

“Based on the results of these community efforts, two of the projects have won international awards, two have also benefitted from other donors even as the project demonstrate collaborative effort between NGO, community and private sector to address pollution. At least six SGP projects have been either scaled-up or replicated because of their direct contributions to relevant multilateral environmental agreements. Over 50,000 poor rural dwellers, (65 percent women and 35 percent men) have benefitted directly from the projects. Fifty percent of communities have either never experienced or benefitted from any development support or participated in such a way as allowed by SGP.”

According to her, the SGP has also supported projects in several states to address erosion,  loss of farmlands to boost food production capacity for modern farming techniques, tree planting, as well as establishment of Skills Acquisition Centre to train beneficiaries  especially women, widows and youth on Alternative livelihood activities in order to discourage unsustainable land exploitation.

Head of the organisation in Nigeria, Olabisi Jaji, said the GEF, which was launched in 1992 as a funding window designed specifically for NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and CBOs (community-based organisations) has, through its SGP, made 14,000 small grants directly to these organisations in its 182-member countries.

The programme entails four categories such as full-sized projects (which are from $1 million and above), medium-sized projects (up to $1million dollars), enabling activities ($500,000, $250,000 and $150,000) and small grants (maximum of $50,000).

Climatologist, Prof. Olukayode Oladipo, called on governments around the world to ensure that they pay attention to the United Nation’s declaration on sustainable development, economic growth and human environment which, he said, would lead to economic transformation of their states.

Principles of the UN declaration, according to Oladipo, want states across the world to cooperate and strengthen endogenous capacity-building for sustainable development by improving scientific understanding through exchanges of scientific and technological knowledge and by enhancing the development, adaptation, diffusion and transfer of technologies, including new and innovative technologies.

To achieve sustainable development and higher quality of life for all people, states were advised to eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and cooperate to promote a supportive and open international economic system that would lead to economic growth.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Taiye Haruna, said NGOs/CBOs have greater roles to play in achieving the objectives of sustainable development and that the huge task facing the world is to determine how to overcome environmental challenges including restoring the natural resources, achieving human health protection and designing strategies to allow for future growth, while protecting the environment, maintaining biodiversity, safeguarding human health and preserving cultural and social values.

“There is no doubt that NGOs/CBOs are making great strides in meeting the environmental challenges, though difficulties and tensions remain common. We all should strive to tackle the environmental challenges facing the nation,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Dr. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF, has hailed the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. According to her, it is a landmark international agreement to protect the earth’s ozone layer and demonstrates the global benefits that can flow from concerted effort and cooperation to address environmental threats.

The ozone layer in the earth’s upper atmosphere protects living things from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. The phase-out of industrial chemicals under the Montreal Protocol has resulted not only in the recovery of the ozone layer but also has reduced greenhouse gas emissions that contribute significantly to climate change.

The GEF-SGP is the third component of the GEF which provides grants to poor and marginalised communities through national NGOs/CBOs to implement local environmental initiatives that also enhance their livelihood while achieving global environmental benefits. GEF-SGP operates in five focal areas of Biodiversity, Climate Change, Land Degradation, International Waters and Persistent Organic Pollutants. Many of the projects are pilot in nature to demonstrate feasibility of environmental initiatives through community effort to achieve global environmental benefits.

Nigerian group, others picked as UN-REDD CSO observers

Michael Simire
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The NGO Coalition for Environment (NGOCE), an environmental network of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community-based organisations (CBOs) with over 45 members based in Nigeria, has been selected as the new Africa observer organisation to the UN-REDD Policy Board.

The Bank Information Centre (BIC), which made the disclosure on behalf of the UN-REDD Programme and the Independent Advisory Group on Forests, Rights and Climate Change, stated that the NGOCE is one of the four newly-selected civil society organisation (CSO) observers – one to represent each of the regions where UN-REDD works, and one for the developed countries.

The NGOCE has as its primary focus the protection of the Cross River State environment, which encompasses the last remaining tropical rainforest in Nigeria, 90 percent of which is located in Cross River State, as well as the mangrove ecosystem.

For Asia, the new observer organisation is the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), an independent non-profit CSO based in Pakistan that serves as a source of expertise for policy analysis and development, policy intervention, and policy and program advisory services.

For Latin America, the new observer organisation is the Ut’z Che’Association, a Guatemalan umbrella organization of 36 community-based indigenous and farmers’ organisations representing some 30,000 members. Ut’z Che’ is also a member of the National Climate Change Table and the National Alliance of Community Forestry Organisations.

For the developed countries, the winner is the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), based in the USA. EDF works on the most urgent environmental threats to the climate, oceans, ecosystems and people’s health. EDF has over 700,000 members who provide financial support. EDF has a strong domestic focus for its on-the-ground programs, but its International Program focuses on the UNFCCC negotiations, related policy making fora, and the large International Financial Institutions such as the World Bank.

The term of the newly selected CSO representatives begins with the 9th UN-REDD Policy Board meeting in the Republic of Congo in October 2012.

The BIC declared: “We’d like to thank all of the CSOs who were nominated for the observer positions and all the groups who participated in the selection process.”

ERA clamours non-grid rural energy models

Michael Simire
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The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), civil society and community-based groups across the country have called on the Nigerian government to demonstrate commitment to reducing carbon emissions and deforestation by developing a national programme on renewable energy and promotion of non-grind energy that local communities should be integrated into.

The groups made the demand at a recent workshop convened by ERA/FoEN in Benin City, the Edo State capital, to present the research findings of a baseline study conducted to ascertain the energy consumption patterns in rural communities in Nigeria. Participants were from Delta, Edo and Ekiti states as well as community-based organisations and civil society.

In a communique issued at the end of the workshop, the groups demanded that the Federal Government deploy a substantial portion of Nigeria’s ecological funds to renewable energy projects in the states to address climate change and energy poverty especially in rural communities.

Participants underlined the need for government to put in place mechanisms to replace kerosene lamps and other inefficient energy sources used in households while involving communities in plans to provide affordable, reliable and efficient renewable energy products. Civil society organisations were also urged to provide community level renewable energy service.

“The time is ripe for the Nigerian government to move beyond mere talks and shift from fossil fuel based energy sources to renewables such as solar, wind turbines, and mini-hydro projects that are off-grid and in tune with local production, supply and maintenance. These require no gigantic infrastructure,” said ERA/FoEN Director, Programmes & Administration, Godwin Ojo.

Ojo explained that such community energy model would eliminate energy monopolies and decentralise energy uses in remote communities, even as he added that such a model has become necessary because Nigeria’s current energy plans are concentrated on urban centres to the neglect of rural communities.

“Community energy plans will enable the rural communities’ access to new technologies such as solar and wind, among others. Incentives such as interest-free loans, grants and social marketing strategies to orient the local people to invest in renewable sources of energy should also be in place.”

Taraba flood: 13,428 persons displaced, 30 communities submerged

Michael Simire
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The Federal Government has disclosed that Taraba State has so far recorded 13,428 internally displaced people and 30 communities submerged in water.

Bridge linking Nassarawa State with Taraba State destroyed by the flood

Spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Yushau Shuaib, disclosed in Abuja that the affected communities are in Ibi and Wukari Local Government Councils of the state.

He said that while the agency was conducting a rapid response assessment during the tours of the councils, it was discovered that bridges linking various communities were cut off by the flood due to overflow of River Benue as well as the release of water from the Kiri Dam in Adamawa State and from Lagdo Dam in the Republic of Cameroun.

A village submerged in Taraba State

Places of worship, farmlands, hospitals, schools and markets are affected. Some of the communities can only be reached by canoes and boats as rescue and emergency officers have so far visited critically affected areas such as Chinkai, Ando-yako, Warawa, Dampar, Ibi town, Badodo, Chaschangi, Isini, Mai itache, unguwan danbaki,Sai, Gungun Abdullahi Unguwan makeri, Wazirin bannu, Sai Danpar-unguwan saraki, Unguwan Kabawa, Sarkin Noma, Unguwan Maisanko, Baruwa and Unguwan Nufawac.

Traditional ruler of Ibi, Alhaji Abubakar Danbawo III, said: “For the past 38 years, we have never witnessed a disaster of this magnitude that touched everything: places of worship, houses, roads and farmlands.”

The NEMA officers are still at camps in Danpar, Chinkai and Ibi, reportedly registering and providing relief materials to the displaced people.

 

By Laide Akinboade

Nigeria floods: Disaster sweeps across the land

Michael Simire
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Fears and apprehension have been the order of the day in several cities along the course of major rivers nationwide, no thanks to the rampaging floods.

Flooding in Plateau State

For instance, concerns have heightened in the commercial city of Onitsha in Anambra State and the neighbouring Asaba in Delta State, which is just by the other side of the River Niger. States such as Kogi, Kwara and Niger are not exempted from the disaster, which was preceded by a warning by the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) that the river would over flow its banks and cause severe devastation along its coastal line.

In Anambra State, Ogbaru Local Government Area (LGA), Uga Junction, Atani and Okpoko Area are seriously affected by the flood, leaving behind a tale of woes as it ravaged over 750 hectares of rice and yam farmland and submerged four other communities in Ayamelum in Anambra West LGAs.

Residents of the communities, which are close to the confluence of Omabala and Niger rivers, were said to have woken up two days ago to behold their farmlands submerged by the flood.

In Niger State, the flood was said to have affected 14 of the 25 LGAs in the state.

Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Authority (NSEMA), Mohammed Saba, said in Minna on Friday that the greatest challenge facing the agency in the state is the refusal of most communities to vacate flood plains due to agricultural potentials.

“We have been trying to evacuate communities along the river banks we consider vulnerable to flood but the greatest challenge we are having is that many of them are not willing to leave the flood plains for a safer havens,” Saba said.

According to him, communities living along the river banks have rejected the offer to move to higher grounds to avoid being washed away by the flood.

In  Kwara State, the government has asked residents of Kosubosu and Jebba communities on the banks of the River Niger to relocate so as to avoid being submerged.

The NEMA had, as a result of the continued threat by the river, issued an alert, urging those living along the river’s coastline in the state to relocate. The organisation said that there is a risk of flooding from Jebba and Kainji dams and advised the affected state to evacuate the people within the area the flood may affect.

The Kwara State Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Samuel Bamisaiye, in an interview, said the government did not want any resident in the state to suffer flood disaster forecast hence the call on the people to vacate the banks of the river.

The dreaded, but long-awaited impact of the release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroun has finally reached Cross River State, where at least 49 communities in seven LGAs of the state have been flooded.

The communities are in the riverside areas of the state, according to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), which gave the names of the affected LGAs as Yala, Ogoja, Ikom, Obubra, Abi, Biase and Odukpani.

Director-General, Cross River SEMA, Vincent Aquah, who assessed the extent of flooding and its accompanying damages, told journalists that the 49 communities are currently endangered and could face more intensive flooding as the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon swells rivers.

“The communities are experiencing unprecedented flooding which have submerged thousands of farms such as yams, cassava, vegetable cocoyam, melons and other cash crops worth millions of naira.

“Hundreds of houses are inundated with the flood while over 10,000 livestock have been affected,” the SEMA boss said.

Aquah expressed fears that the magnitude and severity of damage to lives and property would increase as the level of flood rises.

He expressed fears that the concomitant effect of the flooding could be extreme famine that would visit the agrarian communities as a result of the destruction of their farms by the flood.

He said so many people would be displaced from their homes as many people and families are already relocating to make-shift shelters.

“As you can see, these conditions are far below human standard particularly living in a slum such as this thatch house. Children and women are suffering and there is an urgent need to address the situation before it gets out of hand,” Aquah said.

He appealed to the Federal Government and international organisations to come to the aid of the state government as it apparently has no financial capacity to effectively manage the situation alone.

Aquah said SEMA had, immediately after the warning of the possible release of water from Lagdo Dam by Cameroun, embarked on sensitisation campaign in all the communities along the coastline being affected by the flood.

He said the people living in the areas prone to flooding as a result of the release of water from the dam have been advised to relocate to highland areas as an immediate safety measure against the loss of human lives as well as domestic animals.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has constituted a five-man technical committee to assess and determine the extent of damage caused by recent flooding occurrences in some states of the federation, particularly, Plateau, Jigawa, Adamawa, Benue and Kogi states.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim, constituted the committee on behalf of the Federal Government on Saturday in Abuja.

GEF doles out $634m, hails Montreal Protocol silver jubilee

Michael Simire
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0

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has so far offered grants totalling $634 million to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), civil society organisations (CSOs) and international institutions all over the world.

Naoko Ishii of GEF

Head of the organisation in Nigeria, Olabisi Jaji, made the disclosure at the weekend in Abuja at a forum on the GEF small grants programme (SGP) for NGOs. Halima Mohammed spoke on Jaji’s behalf.

Jaji said GEF, which was launched in 1992 as a funding window designed specifically for NGOs and CBOs has through its SGP, made 14,000 small grants directly to these organisations in its 182-member countries.

The programme entails four categories such as full-sized projects (which are from $1 million and above), medium-sized projects (up to $1million dollars), enabling activities ($500,000, $250,000 and $150,000) and small grants (maximum of $50,000).

The objectives of the workshop are: to promote further appreciation and understanding of the GEF’s SGP in Nigeria; to build capacity for advocacy using project results and to engage in consultative processes for multilateral environmental agreements; to showcase some of the results of SGP projects in the country through exhibition; and, to encourage knowledge sharing and build partnerships for environmental initiatives.

Climatologist, Prof. Olukayode Oladipo, called on governments around the world to ensure that they pay attention to the United Nation’s declaration on sustainable development, economic growth and human environment which, he said, would lead to economic transformation of their states.

Principles of the UN declaration, according to Oladipo, want states across the world to cooperate and strengthen endogenous capacity-building for sustainable development by improving scientific understanding through exchanges of scientific and technological knowledge and by enhancing the development, adaptation, diffusion and transfer of technologies, including new and innovative technologies.

To achieve sustainable development and higher quality of life for all people, states were advised to eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and cooperate to promote a supportive and open international economic system that would lead to economic growth.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Taiye Haruna, said NGOs/CBOs have greater roles to play in achieving the objectives of sustainable development and that the huge task facing the world is to determine how to overcome environmental challenges including restoring the natural resources, achieving human health protection and designing strategies to allow for future growth, while protecting the environment, maintaining biodiversity, safeguarding human health and preserving cultural and social values.

“There is no doubt that NGOs/CBOs are making great strides in meeting the environmental challenges, though difficulties and tensions remain common. We all should strive to tackle the environmental challenges facing the nation,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Dr. Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF, has hailed the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. According to her, it is a landmark international agreement to protect the earth’s ozone layer and demonstrates the global benefits that can flow from concerted effort and cooperation to address environmental threats.

The ozone layer in the earth’s upper atmosphere protects living things from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. The phase-out of industrial chemicals under the Montreal Protocol has resulted not only in the recovery of the ozone layer but also has reduced greenhouse gas emissions that contribute significantly to climate change.

“In both its universal acceptance and its focused implementation, the Montreal Protocol is widely recognized as the most successful environmental agreement and is looked to as a model for resolving global environmental challenges,” said Ishii. “GEF investments have helped measurably restore one of our atmosphere’s protective shields while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This demonstrates the multiplier effect we achieve when we identify synergies in our approach to environmental challenges.”

With 197 nations signed as parties to the accord, the Montreal Protocol is the only universally ratified treaty in United Nations history and has, to date, enabled reductions of more than 97 percent of all global consumption and production of controlled ozone depleting substances (ODS). As a result of the Montreal Protocol, concentration of ODS in the atmosphere have begun to decrease.

The GEF funds ozone-protection programs in countries with economies in transition. The GEF has assisted 18 such countries in phasing out ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol, investing $235 million in support of 29 projects and leveraging co-financing from other sources of an additional $247 million.

Dr. Ishii said that cooperation among the key implementing and funding agencies supporting the Montreal Protocol has been critical to the treaty’s success. In addition to the Ozone Secretariat and the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol (MLF), the GEF has worked closely with the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation on projects related to the Protocol.

She likewise congratulated Marco Gonzales, Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat, and Maria Nolan, chief officer of the MLF.

On Wednesday, September 19, officials involved in the implementation of the Montreal Protocol will gather at the World Bank to celebrate the 25th anniversary.

Lessons from Governor Mimiko’s UN-Habitat award

Michael Simire
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0

Urban planner and erstwhile Secretary, National Housing Policy Council, Yacoob Abiodun, examines the recent decoration of the Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko, by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)

Governor Mimiko receiving the UN-Habitat award in Naples, Italy

At the 6th Session of World Urban Forum held in Naples, Italy from September 1-7, 2012, which had in attendance over 5,000 participants from 114 countries around the world, the incumbent Governor of Ondo State, Dr, Olusegun Mimiko, was bestowed with the coveted UN 2012 Habitat Scroll of Honour Award among four  other recipients who were chosen from Brazil, Cameroon, China and Zimbabwe.

According to the UN-Habitat press release posted on its website, UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award “is the most prestigious award by the United Nations in recognition of work carried out in the field of human settlements.” The award is meant to appreciate and honour individual’s initiative or institutional programme/project, which impacts positively on the living conditions of urban dwellers through the overall improvement in the totality of their milieu, health, housing and economic welfare.

Since the award was introduced by the UN-Habitat in 1989, very few individuals and institutions have won the Habitat Scroll of Honour Award, China being a record holder of the award having won it 20 times, followed by the United States of America 13 times and United Kingdom 12 times. The first Nigerian to win the coveted UN Award in 1998 was Professor Akin Mabogunje, an erudite international scholar. He won the award mainly in recognition of his intellectual works in areas of research, consultancy and classic books he authored on human settlements and environment. In a book produced by the Cities Alliance (a UN-Habitat affiliate) titled Foundation for Urban Development: Legacy of Akin Mabogunje , to mark his 75th birthday in 2006, the literary icon was described  as “ a scholar and practitioner….renowned for translating his theoretical visions into actionable steps and policy interventions, which are useful in political as well as academic circle.”

It took another 14 years before another Nigerian, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, incumbent Governor of Ondo State, to win the UN prestigious award after a competitive selection process by an international jury of human development experts.

Governor Mimiko’s selection as a recipient of the global award was premised on his relentless leadership drive to drastically reduced urban poverty in Ondo State through the initiation and successful implementation of a gamut of urban renewal programmes/projects ranging from low income housing, provision of urban basic services, economic empowerment, redevelopment of decrepit traditional markets, rejuvenation of the urban economy, revival of the comatose agricultural farm settlements, improved intra and inter-city transportation, skill acquisitions for the teeming unemployed youths, physical planning, environmental sanitation, city-wide infrastructure development to urban aesthetics and a host of other tangible projects that dotted major cities in Ondo State such as Ondo, Owo, Okitipupa, Ikare and Ore.

The implementation and coordination of the state-wide urban renewal programmes is on the plank of Governor Mimiko-led administration’s development initiative aptly code named “A Caring Heart.”

It is a truism that majority of Nigerian cities are plagued with numerous challenges, which overtime have become more complex and daunting due to official neglect, lack of commitment from the leadership and the political will to effectively deal with the challenges. Chief among these challenges are uncontrolled urban growth, internal migration, slum proliferation, unwholesome sanitation, rising crime wave, ineffective institutional arrangement for urban management, lack of social safety net, nebulous physical development, weak internally-generated revenue mechanism and lack of urban basic services such as water, electricity, security, health and transportation. For all these enumerated problems to be solved in one fell swoop would be a herculean task, if not an impossibility. However, where there is a political will on the part of the leadership and solidly complemented by the willingness of the citizenry to participate in the development process, fortunes of cities can be turned around for the public good.

It is on this score that Governor Mimiko has the right mindset and a clear understanding of the important role of cities as engine of growth in the overall socio-economic development; and how they could be made to key into his developmental vision for Ondo State when he assumed office as Governor in 2009.

This was evident in his pronouncement ab initio that, “our cities must be redeveloped and upgraded to support our social and economic transformation” (my emphasis). Governor Mimiko went beyond rhetoric by making use of the professional services of experts to facilitate the realisation of his lofty dream to transform Ondo State to an Eldorado for working and  living. He appointed a US-trained urban planner by name of Olad Oyewumi whose wit, acumen and technical understanding of contemporary urban issues and challenges are extensive, as his Special Assistant on Urban Renewal. Oyewumi brought his depth of experience of over two decades working as the Co-ordinator of  World Bank-Assisted Community-Based Upgrading and the Infrastructure Development Fund (IDF), to bear in the course of all the various urban renewal programme, undertaken in Ondo State from inception to implementation stage.

With an assemblage of other allied professionals, a blue print on Urban Renewal Strategies and Capitalization of Land Resources was produced by the team. The document, in clarity and brevity, stated the goal and objectives of the State’s urban renewal programme, strategies and methodologies to accomplish the goal and enumerated a seven-point guiding principles of the entire urban renewal programme in accord with the principles enunciated in the vision and mission statements of Ondo State Government of which commitment to good governance (my emphasis) is a numero uno priority of the Administration.

It is from the concepts of community development strategies contained in the brochure that formed the basis for the programme initiation and project execution arising therefrom fully backed by Governor Mimiko with generous budgetary allocation from his Administration.

The corollary of the valiant effort and the leadership drive provided by Governor Mimiko to transform towns and cities in Ondo State( by making them conducive for working, living, relaxation and economically viable)  coupled with an all-inclusive/ participatory approach adopted in the course of programme implementation gave rise to the establishment of a world class Medical Village with a state-of-the-art medical equipment, skills acquisition centres, Abiye Hospitals, Auto Mart, extensive development of urban road network, Mega schools, ICT centres, provision of open markets, lock shops, micro credit scheme, improved system of  waste collection, modernised motor parks, provision of potable water and the inculcation of maintenance culture ( for the projects) among  the various stakeholders/ beneficiaries in order to ensure sustainability.

The lessons to be drawn from the Ondo State experience for its world-acclaimed urban renewal programme and indeed Governor Mimiko’s recognition by the United Nations for the award of the prestigious Habitat Scroll of Honour are worthy of elaboration in this piece so that other government functionaries could emulate such outstanding accomplishment for the benefit of the citizenry.

The first lesson is that those saddled with governance should see the opportunity as a privilege (not a right) to serve the people and in the totality of how to better their lives by providing essential services in accord with the wishes of the governed, not acting in a master-servant relationship. Governor Mimiko demonstrated this essential ingredient of good governance to the hilt. He made his administration’s cardinal objective to be people-centered, by constantly caring for the needs of the citizenry.

Secondly, he has a clear understanding of what urbanization (a process of living in the city) is all about. That the process cannot be stopped because people have the illusion that cities are gold mines of several opportunities. Hence, they see city living as the salvation of their economic adversities. Therefore, government cannot put a wedge against where people migrate to or choose to live. On the contrary too, cities are not drain pipes on the municipal budget, but could be transformed into money spinners, if well planned and managed as evident in the success stories of world cities such as New York, London, Tokyo, Paris, Toronto, Beijing and Dubai.

Thirdly, it is equally true that, cities are like living organisms. They could die if not nurtured with innovation and periodically revitalised through an all-embracing urban renewal programme. And for optimum performance, cities should be placed on a strong footing of efficient institutional arrangement for their administration and governance, by engaging the expertise of diverse professionals such as urban planners, engineers, administrators, social scientists, financial analysts, transportation planners and accountants all of whom will drive the developmental process under a leadership who is receptive to ideas and exemplary in his/her conduct.

Governor Mimiko understood the importance of the three facts stated above and adopted them as the lodestar to run his administration in Ondo State, most especially in the implementation of his urban renewal programme, which earned him global recognition and a United Nations award. The icing on the cake for the governor is the proper documentation of all he was able to accomplish under the urban renewal programme by producing two well written monographs for public consumption and global dissemination. The documentation is for posterity and a reference material on best practice, which is worthy of emulation in a country like Nigeria where information on any subject matter is usually scanty, outdated, controvertible or misleading.

Warawa Dam collapses, communities submerged in Kano

Michael Simire
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Numerous communities in Kano State in Nigeria have been submerged following the collapse of the Warawa Dam.

The dam is one of the 120 earth dams in Kano and Jigawa states.

Similarly, thousands of residents in the Kaduna metropolis in Kaduna State have been displaced by flood from the Kaduna River.

Likewise, over 25,000 people in Benue State  have so far been displaced as a result of flooding arising from the overflow of the Benue River, the second largest river in the country.

Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have however said that the organisation is reaching out to areas affected by the disaster.

NEMA’s spokesman, Yushau Shuaib, said: “Some of the communities at risk have remained adamant even as over 25, 000 persons in 14 communities were displaced in Benue State following the overflow of River Benue.”

He added that more areas along the plains of River Benue and River Niger have remained under the threat of flood from the unprecedented rise of water in the upstream dams.

He noted: “In Benue State, NEMA, along with the state government and other stakeholders, have established three camps for the displaced persons while officials have mobilised to the other areas that are also affected by the disaster including Bauchi State. Also, the agency has contacted the relevant states governors and stakeholders as well as launched a series of awareness campaigns and advocacy to sensitise the vulnerable communities on measures to be taken. However, some of the communities have remained adamant not to move to any place of safety and resigned their fate to the act of God.”

Meanwhile, authorities at the Jebba hydroelectric dam has began discrete release of the excess water from the dam to safeguard the facility, signalling a fresh threat of flooding to thousands of communities in several states located along the banks on the River Niger.

Chief executive officer of the hydroelectric power plant, Lamu Audu, attributed the high water level to excessive rainfall this year.

An assessment team comprising officers of NEMA and the stakeholders including the line ministries visited the dam and some of the threatened communities in Kwara and Niger states.

NEMA’s Director of Planning Research and Forecasting, Charles Agbo, who led the team, expressed satisfaction with the manner at which the excess water is being managed.

During the visit to Jebba and Old Jebba which are the two immediate communities located at the downstream of the dam, Dr Agbo advised residents to relocate to the higher grounds for safety.

The team was received by Alhaji Abdulkadir Adebara (Oba of Jebba) at Jebba, and Alhaji Muhammed T. Muhammed at Old Jebba .

 

By Laide Akinboade

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