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Professionals in fresh bid to address building collapse menace

Michael Simire
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Scene of a building collapse

By 3.00 am last Wednesday in Dutse Alhaji, a district of Abuja, it happened yet again. A building collapsed, albeit with fatalities.

The unsuspecting victims were fast asleep when the two-storey building under construction experienced a massive structural failure, killing three persons while nine others were left critically wounded.

Most of the casualties were commercial motorcycle (okada or achaba) riders who had turned the uncompleted structure into a home. Observers say the seeming sub-standard materials being used in constructing the building could have been responsible for its collapse.

However, as it is the case in previous occurrences, the expectation is that investigations would remain inconclusive and, then, followed by a short wait for the next collapse.

Building industry practitioners are worried that “this evil has transcended the Nigerian landscape unabated and it is, visibly, gaining momentum.”

The professionals, made up of town planners, architects, engineers, land surveyors, estate surveyors, quantity surveyors and builders, seem exasperated with the development, saying that rhetoric and mere promulgation of laws alone would not address it.

They echoed last week in Lagos that they had evolved a practical approach to solve the building collapse problem, which they claim has cast aspersions on their professional integrity.

Based upon the premise that someone should be held responsible for the failure of a project, the experts disclosed that the multi-disciplinary Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) had emerged to keep errant operatives in check

“Professionals in the built environment sector have chosen to embark on a voluntary, humanitarian and free service under the umbrella of the BCPG, which is a child of necessity in the quest for normalcy in Nigeria’s construction sphere. The need to lay emphasis on mitigation of losses, and promotion of preemptive measures that will avert collapse of buildings aroused this initiative. The superiority of prevention to nursing effects of calamity, in economic sense, is obvious,” submitted the building industry experts in a presentation endorsed by Kunle Awobodu (of the Nigerian Institute of Building and BCPG chair), Ladipo Lewis (Nigerian Institute of Architects), Tijani Lasisi (Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors), Makinde Ogunleye (Nigerian Institute of Town Planners), Afolabi Solesi (Nigerian Institution of Surveyors), Jelili Akinpelu (Nigerian Institute of Building), Sola Fatoki (Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers), Bola Bido (Nigerian Society of Engineers), Busola Awojobi (Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers) and Ade Omopeloye (Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers).

Having chosen Lagos (because it has recorded the highest incidence of building collapse nationwide) for the commencement of their “experiment,” the state was divided into various localities or cells.

Additionally, the names and addresses of interested professionals from all the seven professional bodies were collated. The structure also features zonal coordinators and team leaders. Where a member frequents such as residence or place of work determines the cell or locality he or she belongs.

They stated: “Our monitoring activities would adopt persuasive and non-confrontational approach. We are more or less observers that should show interest in the construction activities in our localities. We shall endeavour to know the construction professionals handling sites in our localities. Number of sites in each cell, type of building foundation related to soil test report and other factors will be determined and reported.

“Building construction is where we derive our source of income. We intend to give back to the society through this united act of social responsibility. The greater danger lies within the sites managed solely by artisans and building owners’ representatives. Professional advises that can assist building production at such sites would be provided free of charge or a communication link will be established between the site managers and government officials.

“Buildings that are unlikely to stand the test of time, when identified, will be brought to the notice of the authorities.”

It was gathered that members would, in their localities, partner with the executive bodies of Community Development Associations (CDAs) and Residents’ Association for greater achievements.

“The Obas and Chiefs should also be of great assistance to our cause. On the danger inherent in substandard construction, religious leaders will help preach to their congregations. Enlightenment campaign can help overcome ignorance and sharp practices. Any interested member of the public is free to be part of our initiative at curbing the spate of building collapse.”

Described building artisans and crafstmen as very important in the production of building, they stressed that the sector was being organised and that the artisans and craftsmen were being given better orientation and training.

“These tradesmen are expected to bring to our knowledge inappropriate activities on sites,” noted the building industry practitioners, adding that studies carried out on some collapsed buildings revealed brittleness in the concrete debris. They believe that this amplified the importance of the concrete casting teams “that had been neglected in the equation of solving the problem of building collapse.”

 

They went on: “Over 90 percent of buildings constructed in Nigeria, especially in Lagos State, were products of these concrete casting gangs. Having recognised their importance, we began to organise that sector for close to four years now. Today, all concrete casting teams have come under the umbrella of BCPG for better site concrete production.

“Now, they are proposing a day for a rally to commence zonal practical concrete training. That day, no concrete gang will work in the whole of Lagos State. These people are indeed many and committed. They are passionate about this initiative of raising the standard of concreting, their means of livelihood. They have produced BCPG vests and caps to be worn at the rally by their members.

“Results of material tests from laboratories are a testimony of prevalence of substandard construction materials in Nigeria. This is an area we believe will necessitate our working with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory, importers and manufacturers of building construction materials.

“Lagos State as a case study; rapid development and vastness of the developed area make it impossible for the government officials to monitor building construction work constantly. Some years back when Lagos was of a manageable size, government officials monitored sites regularly. Then rare occurrence of building collapse was recorded.

“Today, it is obvious that government does not have the staff strength to adequately monitor building construction sites adequately. Conversely, construction professionals are in thousands and are found in nooks and corners of the State. This is why it is necessary for us to complement government’s efforts at curbing the incident of collapsed buildings in Nigeria.

“The government on its own part should recognise the advantage of construction professionals’ knowledge and ubiquity and provide the necessary supports that can enable us achieve results in this voluntary and non-money making exercise. If we remain focused and with sincerity of purpose, what appears a herculean task will become achievable.

“If a building is primarily constructed to protect man and his belongings, it is ironical when it now turns 180 degrees to endanger same. A safe environment is a cause worth sacrificing time and other resources for.”

Makoko: The tragedy, the intrigues

Michael Simire
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Time to go…

Environmental science writer, Tina Armstrong-Ogbonna, relates her experience as the controversial Makoko demolition saga unfolded in Lagos

 

I recently participated in the filming of a documentary on flooding and erosion in Lagos State sponsored by a non-governmental organisation. The focus of the documentary in Lagos was to highlight people, places and communities adversely affected by flooding and erosion. The first of the shootings featured residents of the Makoko waterfront community were protesting against the forceful eviction and demolition of their homes by the state government. We decided to include this in the documentary and followed the protesters from the Government House in Alausa, Ikeja, where Governor Babatunde Fashola addressed the Makoko community. On the 16th of July, the demolition of the lagoon-side settlement commenced after a 72-hour eviction notice was given to the community.

When I received a call on Saturday 14th July of the notice and looming eviction, I set out to do a story reminding Lagosians how, some 22 years ago, slum settlement Maroko was demolished and the area converted to choice property for the rich. I was able to contact a youth leader and teacher in the only school In Makoko. Noah Shemede, a young, intelligent and vibrant-looking youth, explained the plight of his people to me. According to Shemede, their homes, livelihood and heritage are at risk of being lost. True to the words of the state government, officials went ahead with the first phase of demolition that lead to the killing of a community leader.

On the day of the protest against the eviction and subsequent killing of the Makoko leader, the people in their hundreds marched peacefully but angrily to the Alausa Government House. As I marched along and spoke with some of them, I saw – and felt – fear and dashed hopes visibly written on the peoples’ faces.

We wont go without a fight…

A teacher in the community, Princess Loveffans Alfredo-Durugo, told me how the children she teaches who are mainly from poor homes would be further devastated by this eviction. Alfredo- Durugo noted that her love for the children led to her commitment to teaching the children who pay their little teaching fee daily.

“Their parents are not educated but they want their children to be educated and that is why they sent them to school. And now Governor Fashola wants to shatter the dreams of these bright and prospective leaders. Can’t the poor live in this Lagos?” she asked me.

I was moved by this simply question but I had no answer for her. Among the protesters were female fish sellers. These women explained to me that the bulk of dried fish eaten by Lagos residents come from Makoko.

“Our men fish in the water and we process the fish which we sell to Lagosians,” she said. “Governor Fashola is talking about mega city but don’t want the poor in the megacity. Before the general election in 2011, they came to us to campaign for votes but did not tell us then that we are foreigners, miscreants and thieves. Now that the governor has succeeded in winning election into office for the second term, he is now using our votes against us.”

An Ilaje businesswoman in Makoko, Stella Sohe, also told her story.

Her words: “I am 46 years and was born in this Makoko and my parents are late. My husband married me in this place and my first daughter is also married but stays in Okokomaiko with her husband. Where does Fashola want me to go because my parents never told me we have land anywhere. Aunty (addressing me), will you ask Fashola where he wants me and my family to stay? This is wickedness.”

While addressing the protesting residents at the government house, Governor Fashola pointed out that certain quarters were taking advantage of the Makoko people and situation to make money by collecting grants on their behalf without the money getting to the people. He was apparently referring to civil society organisations.

Governor Fashola addressing the crowd

He explained to them that he had their interest at heart, that some illegal immigrants were living with them, and that the continuous expansion of shanties on the water front would not be tolerated.

According to Fashola, the Lagos Lagoon is the only natural drainage that serves the city and the continuous expansion of the shanties is reducing the size of the lagoon and does not befit the megacity status of the state. He said his administration is working on improving the aesthetic view of the Makoko water front to make it the Venice of Africa.

Well, if the governor is saying that homes in Makoko are shrinking the Lagos Lagoon which is the major drainage that serves the state, what about the on-going Eko Atlantic City that is being built on the Lagos coastline and is expected to accommodate 250,000 persons? Is it not also shrinking the Atlantic Ocean that also drains neighbouring communities in the state?

The governor requested a meeting with representatives of the community leaders for further consultations. But Felix Morka of the Social and Economic Rights Action Centre (SERAC) alleges that a senior government official had once told him that government was committed to the destruction of the Makoko and that government had no intention of compensating or resettling the evictees. According to Morka, the official pointed out that Makoko residents are not indigenes of Lagos State and that they should return to their states of origin. Morka said government’s decision to demolish Makoko implies pushing the poor deeper into poverty but seizing their lands in favour of the rich and powerful in the society, a situation he tagged economic violence and a recipe for urban strife.

Makoko is well documented and globally recognised as an ancestral fishing settlement that has flourished since the 1860s. It comprises predominantly of Yorubas, Eguns, Ilajes and Ijaws, whose lifestyles, occupation, culture and identity are intricately connected to access and use of open water for fishing and transportation of wood from the hinterland to Lagos.

The people of Makoko have co-existed peacefully despite the community’s ethnic and religious diversity. Its domestic economy is equally vibrant as over 40 percent of all smoked fished consumed in Lagos is processed in the community. The tourist potential of Makoko is immense and can be harnessed through thoughtful and participatory planning.

Some 22 years ago, a poor urban clustered community called Maroko was demolished by the then Lagos Military Administration and the residents were never relocated nor compensated. But the area was converted to a choice property location for the rich, called Victoria Island Extension.

Environmental lawyer and lecturer at the Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Professor Lanre Fagbohun, said it is shameful that such a development was re-occurring in a democratic government. He stressed that the Makoko evictees would increase the number of homeless people in Lagos and that there could be a rise in the wave of insecurity in the state since their source of livelihood has also been taken from them.

One of the United Nation Millennium Development Goal is reduction of extreme poverty and hunger by the year 2015. How would Lagos the economic capital of Nigeria and Africa most populous nation, help in achieving this target since the residents of the Makoko water front are indispensable in providing fish consumed in the state? Would this not affect the food security of the over fifteen million residents in the State?  The question most residents of Lagos are asking is, can’t Lagos attain its megacity status without the eviction and demolition of the Makoko water front community, and since there are other infrastructural development that the State Government should be more concerned with that can improve the status and lives of the people?

Mailafia grants Park Rangers paramilitary status

Michael Simire
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Mailafia

Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia, has said that all Park Rangers in National Parks nationwide will be upgraded to paramilitary status.

She made the disclosure recently in Abuja during the inauguration of the Steering Committee on the Commercialisation of National Parks.

A paramilitary is a force whose function and organisation are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state’s formal armed forces.

Welcoming the members of the committee, Mailafia explained that the establishment of the committee is an important milestone in the commercialisation process which began over a decade ago, when National Parks were listed on Section 6 (Part1) of the Privatisation and Commercialisation Act 28 of 1999.

She charged the committee to work assiduously within the terms of reference (TOR), which include: reviewing and updating any policies existing on forestry, wildlife and ecotourism; articulating fresh policies on the conservation and protection of National Parks; reviewing and updating the legal and regulatory frameworks governing the National Parks services; reviewing and agreeing on the role of the National Parks Services and other stakeholders within the framework of commercialisation, and subsequent introduction of Public Private Partnership (PPP) where viable in the National Parks; coordinating the interface between the National Parks Service, Park operators and other stakeholders in the unfolding partial commercialisation of the National Parks; and, ensuring the successful implementation of the partial commercialisation of the National Parks.

The minister noted that the membership, spread across relevant government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), was deliberately designed with a view to articulating a commercialisation framework that would ensure active participation of communities’ stakeholders in the sustainable management of the parks.

She congratulated the members of the committee and pointed out that the tasks ahead are enormous, urging them to work consciously in tackling challenges like inadequate and poor infrastructure, land use conflict, low capacity and security that bedevil the parks.

The minister urged them to fashion out policies that would encourage biodiversity conservation which provides the main attraction in the national parks rather than concentrate all efforts on the commercialisation of the park.

She enjoined them to work hard to reposition National Parks to contribute substantially to the country’s economy in line with transformational agenda of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration.

Earlier in her speech, the Director-General of Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), Bolanle Onagoruwa, expressed gratitude to the minister for inaugurating the steering committee that was constituted four years ago by the National Council on Privatisation

UN endorses Rio+20 outcome document

Michael Simire
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RIO+20The United Nations General Assembly, at its 66th session a week ago in New York, adopted a draft resolution by the President of the General Assembly endorsing the outcome document of the Rio+20 Conference entitled “The future we want”.

The resolution comprised of only two main paragraphs. The first paragraph expressed “profound gratitude to the government and people of Brazil for hosting the Conference from 20-22nd June in Rio de Janeiro and for providing necessary support” and the second paragraph endorses the outcome document which was annexed to the resolution.

Following the adoption of the General Assembly resolution, Venezuela, Canada, Bolivia and the United States reiterated their reservations which they had expressed in Rio de Janeiro after the outcome document was adopted at the Summit on 22 June. Several other countries also expressed their views on the outcome document.

In presenting the draft resolution for adoption, the President of the General Assembly (PGA), Nassir Abdulaziz al-Nasser, said that Member States had their work cut out for them and that by adopting the resolution, a new chapter was opened.

He said that the outcome of Rio+20 was not an end but presented a new beginning and had defined a new vision of development for the future, which would be equitable and inclusive and take into account the limits of the planet. He said further that what was important now was implementation (of the commitments made at the June Summit).

The PGA said that a number of processes had been launched in Rio and that the General Assembly (GA) will continue to play a central role in sustainable development.

Referring to the decision in the outcome document to establish an inclusive and transparent intergovernmental process on sustainable development goals (SDGs) to be agreed to by the GA and for an open working group to be constituted no later than at the opening of the 67th session of the GA, the PGA said that the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the UN in New York (Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro) will lead this process.

Apart from the SDGs, the PGA also outlined other important outcomes from the Rio+20 Conference including decisions to establish a universal intergovernmental high-level political forum to follow up on the implementation of sustainable development; to establish an intergovernmental process under the GA for an effective sustainable development financing strategy; for a facilitation mechanism that promotes the development, transfer and dissemination of clean and environmentally sound technologies; and the adoption of modalities at the 67th GA for the convening in 2014 of a third international conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Ion Botnaru, Director of General Assembly Affairs, told Member States before the adoption of the resolution, that the Rio+20 Conference outcome could give rise to additional resource requirements. He said that consultations would begin with all stakeholders to determine how the decisions would be implemented, following which the Secretary-General would submit a detailed report on programme budget implications to the GA at its upcoming session.

Following the adoption of the resolution, several countries took the floor to make explanatory statements, express their reservations or make general statements.

Nauru, representing the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), welcomed efforts to assist the SIDS and said that the next SIDS conference would provide an opportunity to take stock of what has been achieved and what more needs to be done. It also suggested that SIDS be adequately represented in the working group to develop the SDGs.

UNEP thumbs-up Nigerian govt’s stand on Ogoniland clean-up

Michael Simire
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Land degradation from oil spill in Ogoniland, Nigeria

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to proceed with a major oil contamination clean-up of Ogoniland in the Niger Delta. Twelve months ago, UNEP presented its scientific assessment of oil pollution in Ogoniland to President Goodluck Jonathan, underlining serious public health and environmental impacts.

The report emphasised the need for swift action to prevent the pollution footprint from spreading further and exacerbating the already tragic legacy for the Ogoni people.

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, announced recently that the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project had been established to “fully implement the United Nations Environment Programme’s Assessment Report on Ogoniland”.

The clean-up will reportedly be conducted under a new Nigerian government initiative tagged the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project. Government has reportedly indicated that it will now define the scope, actions and financing of the project.

The “UNEP Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland” had proposed an initial sum of $1 billion to cover the first five years of clean-up operations.

While some on-the-ground results could be immediate, overall the report estimated that countering and cleaning up the pollution and catalyzing a sustainable recovery of Ogoniland could take 25 to 30 years and will require long term financing.

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, said last week: “On the anniversary of the Ogoniland assessment there are now clear and encouraging signals that the government is keen to move on the recommendations – this is a welcome development for the people and the environment of this region who have suffered, and continue to suffer, the legacy of some 50 years of unsustainable oil exploration and production.”

“UNEP stands ready to assist the government and its agency with expertise for getting the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project up and running so as to improve the lives and livelihoods of the Ogoni people,” he said.

Over recent weeks, UNEP has held discussions with Sir Peter Idabor, the Director-General of the National Oil Spill Detection Agency (NOSDRA), and is engaged with the government to chart transformative pathways forward in order to realize the assessment’s recommendations.

“The immediate need is for the necessary funds to be mobilized and to be deployed to take the Project forward at a scale and speed commensurate with the challenge. Everyone has a part to play in realizing significant and positive results from the Government of Nigeria, local authorities and the oil industry to NGOs and local communities,” said Ibrahim Thiaw, Director of UNEP’s Division of Environmental Policy Implementation, who on August 4 last year presented the UNEP report to the government.

In compiling its two-year scientific assessment, the UNEP team examined more than 200 locations, surveyed 122 kilometres of pipeline rights of way, reviewed more than 5,000 medical records and engaged over 23,000 people at local community meetings.

Altogether more than 4,000 samples were analysed, including water taken from 142 groundwater monitoring wells drilled specifically for the study and soil extracted from 780 boreholes.

In one community, at Nisisioken Ogale, in western Ogoniland, the report found that families were drinking water from wells that was contaminated with benzene – a known carcinogen – at levels over 900 times above World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.

The Rivers State Government introduced alternate water supplies to the affected communities at Nisisioken Ogale, immediately following the release of UNEP’s report, with trucks delivering safe drinking water.

Enhancing Nigeria’s response to climate change

Michael Simire
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Lawal

Youthful Abuja-based Information Technology analyst and advocate for change, Hamzat Lawal, makes a case for the National Climate Change Commission, urging the Presidency to give the proposal a second look

 

Over the last four years, I’ve poured my energy into helping design and enact Africa’s first national climate change legislation for my country, Nigeria. While this enormously important task isn’t yet complete, I want to share how things have gone so far and where we need go from here and need for young people around the world to take actions most especially in Africa to tackle our climatic threats.

Nigeria’s development is climate constrained. From rapidly expanding desert in the North to recurrent floods, erosion and ocean surge in the South, climatic change represents a clear and present danger to Nigeria’s national interest.

There has been a fundamental shift in weather patterns all over the world, most especially in my country. Rivers are drying up; erosion is causing an ecological emergency in the South-east; and the vast investment along Victoria Island and Lekki Peninsula are under threat from rising sea levels.

Nigeria requires powerful coalitions to promote the development of policy instruments, enforcement and implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in order to stimulate change at individual, social, policy and corporate level – with the view to better position Nigeria in the international climate change arena.

Over time, I helped identify influential partners and individuals to help advocate for a clear policy frame work on environmental policy in Nigeria.

In 2010, a Bill was introduced to the floor of Nigeria’s National Assembly (House of Representatives and Senate) which seeks to establish the National Climate Change Commission. The Commission would provide leadership, coordination, resources and information to fully respond to climate change.

Nigeria needs a champion to tackle the climate threat to agriculture, diversify the economy away from oil and gas flaring in the Niger Delta. Gas flaring is emitting of excess hydrocarbons gathered in an oil gas production flow station sites to waste the un-utilised quantities and separate the resultant unwanted chemicals used in the process of extracting the oil and gas from the natural reservoirs to the air. To this effect, environmentalists in Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta region, have been raising the alarm. They say if the threat of global warming stemming from gas flaring is not checked and controlled in the tropical zones of sub-Sahara Africa, Nigeria may experience heat wave health hazards worse than that of France, which claimed the lives of over3000 people in 2003.

The proposed climate commission will be a strong and more independent body under the Presidency and charged with the coordination of existing institutions, policy priority setting, and development of action plans and expansion of international cooperation among others.

It would also bring together several agencies of government currently working on climate change, reducing the cost of governance.

On the brighter side, the gas flaring issue, among others, provide enormous opportunities for Nigeria to benefit from international finance schemes like the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), but these opportunities are being lost to other countries as a result of the absence of institutional, legal framework and clear policy by the government. The absence of a defined legal framework has contributed greatly to the limited number of CDM projects in Nigeria, despite the vast carbon credit potentials in the oil, gas, coal, cement, electricity and agricultural sectors. Investors are wary about laws determining ownership of any carbon credits generated from these projects, what taxes are chargeable on the credits and the foreign exchange/financial obligations linked to this new commodity and Nigeria itself.

Beyond opportunities for international finance and support, we have a moral imperative to address climate change. Changing rainfall patterns, increased desertification and flooding are today’s greatest challenges to Nigerian farmers, and continue to deepen rural poverty. These challenges put 42 percent of the GDP currently contributed by agriculture at a great risk, which is a matter of life and death for millions of Nigerians.

Civil society organisations (CSOs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), youth activists and the media working on climate change and sustainable development activities are putting lots of pressure on the leadership of the Nigerian government to establish clear policy frameworks for these issues.

The world’s leading economies are taking actions on climate change by reducing their use of fossil fuels, mostly petroleum products and exploring other alternatives by using clean energy for consumption and power generation. As the international community rises to tackle climate change, Nigeria must diversify its economy away from fossil fuel dependence and explore other sectors like tourism, information and communications technology and agriculture in an effort to meet the Millennium Development Goals and Nigeria’s “Vision 2020.”

Acknowledging the significant of mitigating against the effects of climate change, Nigerian youth joined their peers around the world to call on their leaders and policy makers to take quick and adequate action in tackling this menace. Their efforts led to the formation of a strong youth coalition, bringing young people from different fields and backgrounds together to put pressure on the lawmakers, knowing the importance of having this bill passed into law.

We shared ideas on best practices on how to influence the change we want and the role of our policy makers. We drafted an action plan on a youth mobilization/advocacy programme on the National Climate Change Commission Bill in Nigeria (NCCC). We successfully influenced lawmakers (in both houses) to pass the NCCC Bill using various social media platforms and by partnering with the media. We are currently working on an advocacy strategy aimed at lobbying the President to sign the NCCC Bill into law. This will be championed by various youth leaders in the country.

We have identified innovative entry points and resources that assist in mainstreaming climate policies and programmes into the broader development agenda by focusing on concrete issues around policy, awareness raising and international networking. We also achieved greater clarity on the legal framework and roles & responsibilities of government, organisations, institutions, youth and influential individuals with regards to climate change, so as to improve Nigeria’s capacity to respond to climate change issues.

We have also successfully used the social media as a tool to reach out and send our message to policy makers and senior government officials. I remember during our advocacy work, some members of parliament had to close their Facebook accounts due to pressure from the youths regarding this bill.

I had a fantastic experience working with environmental reporters and other passionate young activist in reaching out to massive numbers of people in the rural communities on the present danger we face and how to tackle it together, as this is a fight for all.
Among other social economic problems we are facing in my country, unemployment rate is high, but having this bill would make room for more investment in “green jobs” among others which would empower young people and keep them away from crime.

Nigerian youth represent 65% of our country’s 160 million residents. This is an important factor in tackling the effects of climate change. Women, children and young people are most greatly affected by climate change.

Among others, I have recently facilitated discussions on ‘Oil Spillage in the Niger Delta region’ and the role of policy makers, CSOs, NGO’s, international communities, private sector as well as youth in addressing the issue.

Our leaders in Nigeria have to live up to expectations for good governance by showing commitment to climate change issues in the country and they should develop a clear agenda on policy issues facing environmental degradation.

Prior to the Rio+20 Summit, during our Abuja+20 event using the mycity+20 concept which was attended by over 1500 children and youth, we also used the opportunity to call on our President using various media platform to take the lead on putting Nigeria on the fore front on transforming our Economy by showing examples of how to tackle these challenges, starting with signing the Climate Commission Bill into law.

It has been an exciting experience working with other passionate youth on climate change activities as we all represent our environment, I believe that the future is now! And today is tomorrow! So let’s all come together as one, rise up to face this challenge before our environment would be no more! Together we can all make our environment better and safer for the generations unborn.

Nigeria should play its Big Brotherly role as she has always done by getting this right so other African countries would follow suit on institutionalising climate and environmental policies.

Climate change: Threshold 21 model to the rescue

Michael Simire
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President Goodluck Jonathan
Environment Minister, Hadiza Mailafia

Nigeria has adopted the use of an integrated modelling for linking economic, social and environmental factors to reduce the negative impacts of climate change and promote sustainable development.

Threshold 21 (or T21), as the modelling is tagged, is a dynamic simulation tool designed to support comprehensive, integrated long-term national development planning.  It supports comparative analysis of different policy options, and helps users to identify the set of policies that tend to lead towards a desired goal.

The country formally commenced a two-year T21 programme penultimate week in Abuja, where stakeholders at a two-day brainstorming session offered suggestions as regards critical elements that should go into the model. The event was supported by the Africa Adaptation Programme (APP) of the Department of Climate Change in Federal Ministry of Environment, as well as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The forum shared with participants how T21 helps policy makers deepen their understanding of the dynamics within their countries and provides an insight into how funds can be allocated to have the greatest impact on climate change strategies, poverty reduction, economic growth and reducing economic inequality.

According to a source, T21 was developed from more than 20 years of extensive research and application carried out in consultation with the World Bank, UN agencies, developing country governments, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

“T21 is transparent, collaborative, interconnected, robust, and customisable, and includes many critical features that support an inclusive, comprehensive, and integrated development planning process.  Models that are customised for countries are based on the ‘T21 Starting Framework’, a set of interconnected sectors combined into a rigorous macroeconomic framework. The sectors and their interrelations represent the fundamental mechanisms that are responsible for socio-economic development,” disclosed the source.

The National Population Commission, in conjunction with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is believed to have developed a similar model. It is, however, now being applied to climate change dynamics.

Professor of Climatology, Olukayode Oladipo, while stressing that more sectoral analysis needs to be done, urged the Federal Government to see the initiative as a national project.

He said: “The T21 is a 21st century model using economic, social and environment sectors and how they are looped together to see how they influence and determine the impact of climate change. We know that any change in climatic condition would affect agriculture, which contributes 40 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). It will affect education and housing, among others. It is important to capture a lot of elements that that country can use in planning.  It may take up to two years for it to be completed.”

The source spoke further on the initiative: “The most important application of T21 is contributions to the national planning process: once a country identifies its vision, and key goals are determined, T21 generates scenarios describing the future consequences of the proposed strategies.

“Broadly, T21 is an especially useful tool for preparing Poverty Reduction Strategies that emphasise the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and for monitoring progress towards the MDGs or other national goals. More specifically, T21 supports stakeholder consultations, preparing strategy documents that address sectoral or industrial interests, preparing data and analyses for loan negotiations, and monitoring and evaluating national plans.

“To date there are more than 15 unique, customised T21 models with applications in less-industrialised countries such as Malawi, Mozambique and Bangladesh, and industrialised countries such as the United States and Italy.”

Why more Nigerians are climbing down the energy ladder

Michael Simire
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About 95,300 Nigerians die every year from smoke coming from firewood use

Despite Nigeria’s large oil reserves, energy poverty appears to be one of the most striking characteristics of the citizenry, with the formal power sector consistently failing to deliver.

With per capita electricity consumption falling below 150kwh, the situation looks dire. Rural communities, however, seem to suffer the most deprivation – even as a national programme to expand power to the poor is non-existing.

Indeed, more Nigerians are reportedly climbing down the energy ladder – moving from electricity, gas and kerosene to fuel wood and other traditional biomass energy forms. About 112 million people depend solely on wood as a source of fuel for cooking, according to scientists.

Besides burning 90 percent more wood than necessary and thus contributing to the buildup of greenhouse gases (GHGs) that cause climate change, traditional biomass stoves via the smoke they emit cause 95,300 deaths yearly, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Government funding for rural electrification and cooking energy for poor people has declined over the years, warns a new study by the International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development (ICEED).

In a recent report, the think-tank on energy and climate change warns that, without a new national programme on rural electrification and clean cookstoves, the number of poor people in Nigeria will grow exponentially.

ICEED, which has taken up a campaign to expand access to available, accessible, affordable, sustainable energy services that empowers both men and women – especially the poor, discloses in the study that the Federal Government budgets for rural electrification have consistently declined over the past decade. The campaign is titled: “Financing pro-poor energy access in Nigeria.”

As Nigeria’s population grows, the proportion with access to electricity is declining, says the study, adding that ongoing power sector reforms will deepen this trend should new national rural electrification programmes be launched.

The study warns of a deepening North and South divide in access to energy services.

“Northern Nigeria is consistently lagging behind in the proportion of households connected to the grid. For instance, while almost all households in Lagos have access to grid electricity, over one million households in Kano are not connected to the grid. Families in the North are more likely to be dependent on firewood use than Southern families. The trend is the same for access to kerosene and cooking gas,” submits Ewah Eleri, who heads ICEED.

According to him, not only has rural electrification fallen out of the policy radar of the Federal Government, Nigeria has no history of tackling the crucial issue of cooking energy.

“About 95,300 Nigerians die every year from smoke coming from firewood use. At 0.4kg/person, Nigeria has one of Africa’s lowest per capita use of LPG or cooking gas – a paradox for an LPG exporting country,” he says.

The study calls for the launching of a new National Rural Electrification Programme under the Power Sector Reform programme. It recommends that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bank of Industry (BOI) set aside a proportion of the power sector intervention fund for off-grid power projects using renewable energy. It also calls on the Federal Government to establish a National Cooking Energy Programme.

Besides the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission establishing a framework for the utilisation of the Consumer Assistance Fund, he likewise wants the authorities: to develop and launch a new National Rural Electrification Strategy; use a proportion of the Ecological Fund to finance cooking energy; develop clear policy incentives to support private sector investment in energy services for the poor; mobilise non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to provide community-level energy services; and establish a donor’s platform on pro poor energy.

According to Eleri, “energy is a crucial element in efforts to grow incomes and escape poverty. Without an expansion of government programmes and private sector investments in providing energy for Nigeria’s poor, the transformation agenda will fail”.

He laments that government response to the pro-poor energy challenge has been inadequate, and funding to address the trend is in decline. His group’s campaign, he notes, seeks to reverse the situation by agitating for the expansion of the scale of government, private sector and donor funding for pro-poor and gender-sensitive sustainable energy options.

Some donor energy interventions in the country are: $200 million Nigeria Electricity and Gas Improvement Project by the World Bank; $5 milion GEF Nigeria Energy Efficiency Project (data gathering for energy performance standards, set up testing centres, focused behavioural change awareness, and pilot projects) by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); $2 million of UNDP/Bank of Industry access to renewable energy scale up initiative;  $2.73m Small Scale Associated Gas Utilisation project. (Funded by the GEF, the project started in 2011 and is being implemented by IBRD); N2 billion solar project in Katsina State being funded by JICA; $10 million – $32 million Partial Risk Guarantees for renewable energy and energy efficiency by USAID; and $1.3m for ongoing Energy Efficient Woodstoves project in Lagos and Cross River states by USAID.

Benue community to host AAP’s flagship adaptation centre

Michael Simire
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Farmers at the project sites in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State

Ehowodu, a community in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State will host the Africa Adaptation Programme’s (AAP) pilot model adaptation centre, an initiative spurred by the prospect of a communal-driven transformational legacy built on value chain agricultural enterprise.

On the table for consideration as part of the project analysis is the establishment of weather stations and satellites to predict weather patterns and information centre to support on-going agricultural and energy components of the adaptation initiative, being driven by United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) under the AAP with support from the trio of the Federal Government, Benue State Government and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

Under the equity participation arrangement, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Power and Steel is committing over N400 million for the engineering works of the hydro-power component, Benue State Government is contributing a N105 million flood control measure at the bank of the River Benue, while UNIDO is procuring and installing 1.2 megawatts of electrical turbine valued at $1.2 million.

Other projects under consideration include production of organic fertilizer and energy from the agricultural and domestic waste, installation of solar powered irrigation to ensure year-round farming, exploration of economics of adaptation (especially micro-financing and weather index insurance), conducting a thorough climate analyses, setting up agro-met station and marketing the final product.

Specifically, the UNIDO-led component comprises a pilot scheme promoting adaptation to climate change by developing more adaptive farming practices, through agricultural interventions to increase production and reduce post-harvest losses. The intervention also entails processing agricultural products in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State and the development of a small hydropower (SHP) plant to promote adaptation by addressing the climate change-linked flooding problem by harnessing the Ochokwu River and to generate electricity for about 10 communities in Apa Local Government, all in Benue State.

In recent times, this river has overflowed its bank causing flooding, with attendant problems including crop destruction and damage to properties. This increased incidence of flooding has been linked to the increased variability of rainfall as a result of climate change. The final phase which entails the installation of the equipment is expected next month.

The adaptive farming practice entails analysing traditional methods of land preparation, agricultural production, harvesting and in-field post-harvest operations in cultivation of climate-resilient crops and identify conservation agriculture technologies (CAT) that can be introduced to enhance efficiency of the above operations and minimise losses; with a focus on best practices based on current climate variability and climate change projections for the area.

Consequently, UNIDO commissioned the FAO to carry out a pilot scheme on rice harvesting, threshing and storage under the aegis of Small Holders Rice Project (SHRP). The farmers who belonged to the Ehowodu Cooperative Society, Obagaji are drawn from five project sites of Obagaji, Adagbo, Okokolo, Okpanchenyi and Oweto all in Agatu Local Government Areas of Benue State. The project was approved in November 2010 while activities commenced in February 2011.

Already, 360 local rice farmers have been trained on global best practices in rice production, including types of herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers, application rates and methods so as to increase their yields thereby ensuring national food security.

A community leader and champion of the agricultural initiative is Solomon Agidani, a former member of the Federal House of Representative. He championed the establishment of both the agricultural and electric components of the AAP project in Agatu and Apa Local Government Areas of Benue State.

Giving the account of his steward during a meeting with the Chairman of Agatu Local Government, Momoh Audu, he solicited for the support of the local government towards the realisation of the lofty objectives of the project. In a response, Audu assured all of the support of government to the project.

Agidani, who provided accommodation at Obagaji to the two Chinese expatriates seconded to the project by FAO, gave further insight into the genesis of the projects, especially the hydro-power component during an audience with the chairman of Apa Local Government, Joy Agi.

Dr. Agi, a believer in agriculture enterprise, is highly expectant of the early completion of the hydropower project as she believes it will transform the economy of the agrarian communities of her Apa Local Government Areas.

The ranks of local farmers buying into the project is swelling by the day as an additional 20 farmers recently joined the Cooperative Society, taking the tally to 380 farmers, with a division of 20 farmers each in a 19 beneficiary groups.

Work is at an advance stage for the installation of the $500,000 integrated rice mill equipment delivered last week as experts are working round the clock at the construction site in Obagaji, the headquarters of Agatu Local Government Area of Benue State; even as the project is receiving endorsement at high levels of government and development partners.

For instance, Dr Joseph Intsiful, from the Regional Office of AAP in Dakar, Senegal, expressed satisfaction at the level of the enthusiasm and communal involvement in the scheme. He was particularly happy at the composition and ownership of the cooperative society. Of the 380 members of the association, 170 are women. Also, majority of the 19 groups to which the cooperative is divided are led by women.

Women form the majority among the farming population in Nigeria, yet they have limited access to land, agricultural technologies, extension services, markets and credit. For many, lack of secure access to land constrains what kind of crops they can grow and incentives to move into high value crops. Yet evidence has clearly shown that raising the productivity and incomes of women improves household welfare, especially nutrition, health and education.

The farmers, while assuring total commitment to best practices obtainable presented litany of request which include tools for irrigation to allow farmers to double crop, reduce yield instability and diversify into high value crops, such as horticulture, tractors, credit facilities, fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides, among others.

Responding, Oladipo Osibo of the Energy and Environment Unit of the United Nations Development (UNDP), expressed satisfaction at the level of progress made especially in the agriculture component and assured the farmers of brighter days ahead.

Essentially, the local farmers want income opportunities to first ensure that they get out of poverty traps and move to an income growth pathway that keeps them out of poverty.

Asked about the required help in the area of weather forecast and reliable predictions, Agidani said: “Well, the point here is that certainly, weather forecast is a very strong point in planning farming activities because here occasionally, we run into crisis and we are beginning to ask the farmers to begin to get information on agric insurance because of the lack of such information that you have enunciated, you have farmers farming at the wrong time and floods takes everything. And they lose all of the harvest. So we want them to key into the national agriculture insurance scheme so that when things like that happened. But certainly, they are more avoidable when such information is available.”

CDM: How Nigeria can rake in N86b yearly

Michael Simire
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Financial gains from the worrying climate change phenomenon are increasingly overshadowing the attendant ecological loss, thanks to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which is transforming the environmental gloom into financial boom.

A woman cooking with the Save80 Fuel Efficient Woodstove
A woman cooking with the Save80 Fuel Efficient Woodstove

A system put in place by the Kyoto Protocol to help countries meet binding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets, the CDM allows emission-reduction projects sponsored by developed nations in developing countries to earn certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Already, Nigeria operates six CDM projects registered by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is based in Bonn, Germany.

The projects include: recovery of associated gas that would otherwise be flared at Kwale oil-gas processing plant, which is a joint venture (JV) initiative involving the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC); the Ovade Ogharefe Gas Capture and Processing Project, a Pan Ocean Oil/NNPC JV; Efficient Fuel Wood Stoves operated by Development Association for Renewable Energies (DARE); Municipal Solid Waste Compositing Facility in Ikorodu, Lagos State, courtesy of EarthCare Nigeria Limited; Save 80 Efficient Woodstove, courtesy of DARE/Atmosphair; and, Asuokpu-Umutu Marginal Field Gas Recovery Facility, operated by Platform Petroleum.

However, about 12 CDM proposals are awaiting the UNFCCC endorsement. These are: the Kanji Hydropower Rehabilitation Project, operated by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN); Displacing grid/off-grid steam and electricity generation with less carbon intensive fuels in Aba; Blended Cement Production at the Lafarge/WAPCO cement facilities; Gas Flare-out Project at Niger Delta Petroleum Ltd Oil and Gas Field;  ADDAX Petroleum Development (Nigeria) Limited’s Offshore Associated Gas Capture and Utilisation Project; and, INTOL-JPI Environ Management Systems’ “APA Integrated Waste Management Project”.

Others are: the Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria’s “Gathering, treatment, transmission and utilisation of non-associated (NAG) and associated gas (AG) for power generation and supply to customers (including domestic customers)”; BAS Consulting’s “Energy Efficient Lighting Project (CFL) for Nigeria”; CDC Company’s “Efficient Lighting Systems Project for the Nigeria Clean Energy Access Program (NCEAP)”; Global Bio-fuel Limited’s “Grid-Connected Electricity Generation from Bagasse Surplus Project; Threshold Bio fuels and Energy Company; and, two efficient cookstoves also pending now – from USA.

Erstwhile Nigerian DNA to the UNFCCC, Victor Fodeke, who laments that Africa is lagging behind other continents in CDM projects drive, however submits that a recent World Bank study that focused on low-carbon energy study in sub-Saharan identified over 750 CDM project opportunities in Nigeria.

“The report concluded that if all these CDM projects were implemented, slightly over 100 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) of GHG emission reductions can be generated annually in Nigeria,” says Fodeke.

He adds: “According to  recent study by UNISPACE/G.O.D. Corporation, and which is  in harmony with one World Bank report, considering the prevailing global carbon market price of about $12.5/tCO2e, this can inject over $1.25 billion into the Nigerian economy from the sales of carbon credits (CER units) generated. This will be in addition to investment that will flow into the implementation of clean energy technologies, especially from the cement sector for the underlying CDM projects, which has been estimated to be in the excess of $18 billion.”

According to him, the cement sector is a significant source of GHGs, which he notes makes the sector interesting for CO2 emissions mitigation options.

“As of January 2009, 203 CDM projects were initiated by the cement industry. A total of 52 cement-related CDM projects were registered, 12 were rejected, 121 projects are at the validation stage (of which 13 are located in India, 78 in China and only three in Africa) and 18 projects have been submitted for registration or are being corrected.”

He emphasises that CDM in general and the cement sector can offer attractive opportunities for supporting Nigeria’s development priorities.

His words: “At 20 percent Scenario Deforestation Avoidance, proceeding from the projected 20 percent deforestation rate at $15 per ton of CO2, Nigeria’s carbon credit sequestration capacity through the project’s implementation will generate equivalent of $229,605,000 year, which translates to about N34.44 billion per year.

“AT 50 percent Scenario Deforestation Avoidance, proceeding from the projected 50 percent deforestation rate at $15 per ton of CO2, the nation’s carbon credit sequestration capacity through the project’s implementation will generate equivalent of $574,010,000 per year, which translates to about N86.10 billion every year.

“These funds from CDM can inject real measurable, reportable & verifiable (MRV) dividends into the Transformational Agenda of the current administration and eradicate poverty, hunger and diseases.”

Out of the total 4,067 registered CDM projects worldwide, Africa hosts only 85 projects or 2.09 percent. South Africa is leading with 20 projects or about 25 percent of the lot. The remaining projects are hosted by: Egypt (10), Morocco (eight), Tunisia (two), Uganda (10), Tanzania (one), Nigeria (six), Cote d’Ivoire (three), Kenya (seven), Ethiopia (one), Cameroon (two), Mauritania (one), Senegal (two), Mali (one), Zambia (one), Madagascar (one), Liberia (one), DRC (two), and Rwanda (three) and Ghana (one).

Commenting on the Save-80 Wood Stove, Yahaya Ahmed of the Kaduna-based DARE said: “The project is one of the successful sustainable CDM projects which UNFCCC showcases on its websites. To this effect, we were invited by the UNFCCC and the World Bank Institute to present the project at the International Carbon Expo which took place early June in Cologne, Germany.

“Nigeria, as the host country of the S-80 project, was praised for getting the project as the first of its kind worldwide (in the Categorie of Household Energy using Biomass and the  Methodology AMS II-G) to be registered as a CDM project and the first Biomass Household Energy project to be issued Gold Standard CERs.

“Subsequent to the exhibition in Cologne, we have been invited to present the project again at the conference on ‘Restoring Earth’s Degraded Lands,’ which held recently in Caux, Switzerland, and was jointly organised by the UNCCD (United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification) and the Geneva-based Initiatives of Change (IoC). Executive Director of UNCCD, Luc-Marie Gnacadja, personally commended Nigeria for hosting the Save-80 project.”

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