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Oresanya: Lagos will be cleaner

Michael Simire
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Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Lagos State Wastes Management Authority (LAWMA), Ola Oresanya, shares on issues related to waste management, PSP operators, waste-to-wealth initiative, among others.

 

Oresanya
Kindly give an insight on waste collection, management, and disposal in Lagos

In the last five to six years, we have increased the impetus when it comes to waste management in the state vis-à-vis transportation. In the last three years the authority has acquired many trucks, while the PSP initiative is also progressing. In a nutshell, in the last five years, we have acquired more than 500 trucks to drive our initiative and, by so doing, i can say without mincing words that we have done so much in the area of waste collection, management and disposal. Therefore,I can confidently say we are on track as far as our mandate is concerned. However, one is not unmindful of the fact that the issue of population poses serious challenge to our mandate. The state is moving to about 20 million people and this translates to about 10,000 metric tones of waste on a daily basis and this is very challenging. You will also agree with me that, in the last three years or so, Lagos has become very clean in respect of treatment of solid waste and rapid transformation of the environment at large.

 

How would you go about ensuring that Lagos is clean?

The media is one of the major assessors of the job that we are doing at LAWMA. Presently, we have different departments that take care of the issue of waste. Let me quickly mention here that, at LAWMA, we have a unit that handles the issue of marine waste that entails the collecting waste from the off-shore and at the same time from the foreshore of our lagoons. We equally intend to, in line with the mandate of His Excellency Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola that Lagos should be clean at all times, work towards ensuring that we keep faith with this mandate.

 

Tell us more about marine waste collection.

It is still very novel, just about two years that we commenced this marine waste operation and it has added value not only to the neighbourhood because it has actually reduced the pollution of the environment, clean water at the same time, we have good fish breeding on our waters now due to less pollutions and pollutants.

Let us take a look at the activities of the PSP operators. They seem to function more effectively in the urban centres. You hardly see them in the areas like Alakuko, Ijaiye, Ahmadiyyah, Agbado, among other places, yet they bring outrageous billings. What are you doing to ensure that their activities are felt in places aforementioned?

Apart from the economic down turn, the PSP operators have to make do with what they have. They are in business to break even and, also, to make profit. Therefore, the residents too should be ready to pay for their services. It must be stated that these payments must be predicated on the provision of good services. But be that as it may, the government is trying to encourage them by providing extra vehicles for them as a way of assistance in order to make them perform optimally. Let me mention here that a major challenge to the PSP operators is the issue of bad roads in the hinterland. Most of the in-roads pose challenges to the PSP operators especially during the rainy seasons. But the authority is encouraging them by asking them to procure smaller trucks that can navigate these inner roads, even as the government is in the process of acquiring smaller trucks for them in order to access most of these corridors. In not too distant future, the PSP operators would be able to reach all the nooks and crannies of the state.

 

How do you intend to check the excesses of some of the PSP operators?

There are a lot of sanctions that we have put in place for such people. For instance if we discover that an operator in a particular ward is not performing, we severe the ward into two and bring in another efficient operator. In other words, we reduce the coverage of that PSP operator, when we find out that he is not ready to improve on his services, we replace with another operator. We call it ‘cut and paste’. But this is usually a last resort because we don’t want them to lose the franchise but after about three or four warnings, we take the last option, which is replacement. But let me sound it loud and clear here that most of the PSP operators under our scheme have, so far, ensrihned best practices in the discharge of their duties. This development is not unconnected with the stiff conditions that we have put in place before giving franchise to an intending PSP operator.

 

Do you have any case of an operator that has gone through this severe sanction?

We have that but I don’t have the record at my disposal now but certainly we do have instances of PSP operators that have been given the highest form of sanction. But giving them the highest sanction or otherwise should not be the main thrust of our dealings with them but to strive towards making them conform to our standards.

 

How does an aggrieved subscriber vent his feelings whenever he or she is shortchanged by these under-performing PSP operators?

Journalists should assist the authority in disseminating the activities of LAWMA. If you notice any of these shortcomings, please don’t hesitate to call any of our toll-free lines like 5577 and I can assure you that we shall not fail to respond to your complaints. It is equally important to note that there is an advocacy unit that is mandated to go on a sensitisation programme. This is with a view to admonishing Lagosians of the need to patronise the PSP operators and also to let them know their rights in respect waste collection and payments.

 

How do you take the welfare of your sweepers into consideration, since they are exposed to danger every day in the course of their duty?

Lagos roads are usually very busy. Becuase of this development, we have engaged in series of workshops for our road sweepers with a view to knowing about road ethics and at the same time safety. In this case, we invite subject matter experts as facilitators such as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), LASTMA, the Police and the NURTW among other stakeholders in the road sector. We even invite the okada riders in order to ensure that everybody is carried along on the issue of safety. Apart from all these, we also provide ‘C’ caution and wide spikes to protect them from danger on the road. We also inculcate in them the idea of placing the ‘C’ caution at a distance so that any motorist approaching would have seen the sign from afar. They are also indulged to face the traffic while sweeping because, in the past, most of them had been knocked down by careless drivers while sweeping backing the traffic. In addition to the issue of safety, we also take the issue of their health very seriously by providing for them a registered a clinic with an in-house doctor. Here, they are exposed to periodic medical checks for the purpose of ascertaining that they are in good and perfect health at all times.

 

What informed this idea of employing physically-challenged persons as staff, especially on some of the pedestrian bridges?

It is our own little way of assisting them and also to encourage them that it is not their own making that they are physically-chllenged. When you get to Charity bus stop, Ikeja Along bus stop, Oshodi, Onipanu bus stop, you find them sweeping these bridges. An interesting part of the whole concept is that these people are customized, they are branded as well, that is, they are always in LAWMA outfit consisting a fez cap, pull-over and reflective jacket. This is a sot of poverty alleviation.

 

 

Fossil fuel, renewable energy subsidies on the rise, says report

Michael Simire
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A new Worldwatch Institute report examines the rise in subsides for renewable and fossil fuel-based energy production.

Coal, a fossil fuel

Total subsidies for renewable energy stood at $66 billion in 2010, but are still dwarfed by the total value of global fossil fuel subsidies estimated at between $775 billion and more than $1 trillion in 2012, according to new research conducted by the Worldwatch Institute for its Vital Signs Online service. Although the total subsidies for renewable energy are significantly lower than those for fossil fuels, they are higher per kilowatt-hour if externalities are not included in the calculations, write report authors from Worldwatch’s Climate and Energy team.

Estimates based on 2009 energy production numbers placed renewable energy subsidies between 1.7¢ and 15¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh), while subsidies for fossil fuels were estimated at around 0.1-0.7¢ per kWh. Unit subsidy costs for renewables are expected to decrease as technologies become more efficient and the prices of wholesale electricity and transport fuels rise.

The production and consumption of fossil fuels add costs to society in the form of detrimental impacts on resource availability, the environment, and human health. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences estimates that fossil fuel subsidies cost the United States $120 billion in pollution and related health care costs every year. But these costs are not reflected in fossil fuel prices.

“These so-called hidden costs, or externalities, are in fact very real costs to our societies that are not picked up by the polluter and beneficiary of production but by all taxpayers,” said AlexanderOchs, Director of Worldwatch’s Climate and Energy program and report co-author. “Local pollutants from the burning of fossil fuels kill thousands in the U.S. alone each year, and society makes them cheaper to continue down their destructive path.”

Shifting official support from fossil fuels to renewables is essential for decarbonizing the global energy system. Such a shift could help create a triple win for national economies by reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, generating long term economic growth, and reducing dependence on energy imports.

According to projections by the International Energy Agency (IEA), if fossil fuel subsidies were phased out by 2020, global energy consumption would be reduced by 3.9 percent that year compared with having subsidy rates unchanged. Oil demand would be reduced by 3.7 million barrels per day, natural gas demand would be cut by 330 billion cubic meters, and coal demand would drop by 230 million tons of coal. And the effects of the subsidy removal would extend beyond the end of the phaseout period. By 2035, oil demand would decrease by 4 percent, natural gas by 9.9 percent, and coal demand by 5.3 percent, compared with the baseline projection.

Overall, carbon dioxide emissions would be reduced by 4.7 percent in 2020 and 5.8 percent in 2035. The IEA’s chief economist recently estimated that eliminating all subsidies in 2012 for coal, gas, and oil could save as much as Germany’s annual greenhouse gas emissions each year by 2015, while the emission savings over the next decade might be enough to cover half of the carbon savings needed to stop dangerous levels of climate change.

“At the same time, a phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies would level the playing field for renewables and allow us to reduce support for clean energy sources as well,” said Ochs. “After all, fossil fuels have benefited from massive governmental backing worldwide for hundreds of years.”

Progress toward a complete phaseout, however, has been minimal. The 2009 pledge by the Group of 20 major economies to reduce “inefficient fossil fuel subsidies” has been left vague and unfulfilled. The lack of a definition has left countries to make their own determination if their subsidies are inefficient. As of August 2012, G20 countries had not taken any substantial action in response to the pledge – six members opted out of reporting altogether (an increase from two in 2010), and no country has yet initiated a subsidy reform in response to the pledge. Furthermore, there continues to be a large gap between self-reported statistics and independent estimates in some countries.

Some argue that reducing subsidies would disproportionately affect the poor. An IEA survey of 11 developing and emerging countries, however, found that only 2-11 percent of subsidies went to the poorest 20 percent of the population, showing that subsidies tend to be regressive.

Global leaders converge on Arusha for AGRF 2012

Michael Simire
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Tanzania will host the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF)) from  September 26 to 28, 2012, the country’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Cooperatives, Christopher Chiza, and President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Jane Karuku, have disclosed.

Arusha, Tanzania

The meeting is said to be the next milestone in developing African-led food security solutions.

At the recent G8 Summit, global leaders including 21 African countries and 27 private sector companies committed $3 billion to a New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition, launching the next phase of the global food security effort to raise 50 million people out of poverty over the next 10 years.

The AGRF 2012 sets the stage for Africa’s leaders to drive the initiative by promoting investments and policy support to increase agricultural productivity and income growth for African farmers. During the forum, hosted at Arusha’s Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge, global leaders will tackle leadership policy, revolutionizing African agricultural finance models, strengthening markets, and transforming African agriculture through innovative partnerships.

“Tanzania has long known farming is at the centre of our economy,” said Minister Chiza.  “We are pleased to welcome leaders from across the continent and around the world to find new ways to scale the success we’ve seen in our own agricultural breadbasket.”

As the host nation, Tanzania’s recent agricultural growth represents a case study of what is possible. In the Kilombero District of Morogoro, the yields for maize have recently increased for some smallholder farmers from 1.5 to 4.5 tons per hectare; the yields for rice have increased from 2.5 to 6.5 tons per hectare.

“The goal of the government is to transform Tanzania into a middle-income country by 2025, fuelled, in a significant part, by growth in its agricultural sector,” Chiza added.

The forum brings together African Heads of State, ministers, private agribusiness firms, financial institutions, farmers, NGOs, civil society organizations and scientists to discuss and develop concrete investment plans for scaling agricultural development success in Africa.  Tanzania will welcome notable guests including Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Co-Chair Melinda Gates, IFAD President Dr. Kanayo Nwanze, Nigerian Minister of Agriculture the Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, World Food Prize Laureate Prof. Gebisa Ejeta, and Yara International President & CEO Jørgen Ole Haslestad.

Following recent discussions at WEF Africa, the G8 and David Cameron’s Hunger Summit, the African Green Revolution Forum will continue to look for ways to unite the power of the public- and private-sectors in the global food security efforts.

“Public- and private-sector leaders are joining forces in unprecedented ways to ensure a more food secure future,” said Yara President and Chief Executive Officer, and co-chair of the forum, Mr. Jørgen Ole Haslestad.  “We have seen great success when players come together and invest strategically – we hope to build on new momentum and work together to transform agriculture in Africa.”

The forum will remain focused on unlocking Africa’s agricultural potential by empowering smallholder farmers across the continent.  By collaborating with farmer’s organisations, civil society and other partners, the discussion will explore new ways to provide resources, overcome challenges and improve yields for the millions of farmers who are working less than two hectares of land across the continent.

“Smallholder farmers are at the centre of all we do,” said AGRA President Jane Karuku. “Our approach is clear and proven – if we provide African farmers the tools they need to grow more and improve their incomes, they will help lead us all into a more prosperous future.”

Lagos ocean surge: 10 confirmed dead

Michael Simire
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Six more bodies, including that of a six-year-old girl, have been recovered at Kuramo Beach in Lagos, swelling the casualty from the deadly Saturday morning ocean surge to 10.

The shanties were a dead giveaway as the ocean surged

Recovered around 1.30pm on Monday by a rescue team made up of divers and officials of the Lagos State Environmental Health Management Unit (SEHMU), the bodies were said to be bloated.

Search parties are however still looking for more bodies at what used be Kuramo Beach, but now completely wiped out by a government demolition team.

Victims were mainly petty traders by the waterfront who resided in the makeshift houses located within the Kuramo area.   

The development not only spoilt the day for fun seekers and tourists, who had planned to take advantage of the recent Sallah celebrations to hang out at the Beach, but residents have been sacked after the entire area was cordoned off and manned by security personnel, with all the shanties demolished and set ablaze by government officials.

Narrating how the surge came about, a resident in one of the shanties, who gave her name as Tope, had informed newsmen that the surge occurred at the early hours of the day.

“The ocean surge happened very early in the morning when so many people were yet to wake up. We are still looking for some people now as we speak. We just pray that they were not washed away by the surge,” she had fervently wished.

Unfortunately, that was exactly what had happened because as the days went by, more bodies were recovered by rescuers.

For instance, as of Monday, six more bodies had been reportedly recovered, including that of a six-year old girl, bringing the number to 10. However, rescuers, including local divers, were yet to recover the bodies of the remaining six victims, earlier declared missing. On Tuesday, however, very few government officials were seen around the area, even as the people continued to bemoan the mishap.

The ocean surge had swooped on the inhabitants of the shanties while most of them were still indoors, resulting in total confusion along the coastlines, as many of them were caught unawares.

Government on Saturday ordered the immediate evacuation of the residents to forestall possible disaster from the anticipated seven days of high waves accompanied by a strong Ocean surge, predicted by experts, which impact has started hitting parts of the country’s coastline with Lagos expected to be the most vulnerable due to its location.

Many residents blamed the incident on government, attributing the surge to the multi-million-dollar Eko Atlantic City project, where it was said to have recovered about nine kilometres of lost land from the ocean, with an intention to build a world-class mixed use scheme that is expected to house about 250,000 residents.

General Manager of the State Emergency Management Agency, (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, had said after the incident that a total of 15 bodies were washed away, based on the information received at the scene.

He had urged the affected residents to seek alternative accommodation in order to save their lives from attack in the future adding that the recovered bodies were deposited at the Isolo General Hospital Morgue.

The State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Prince Segun Oniru, said the evacuation was to pave way for the movement of sand into the area.

He explained that the action was taken immediately to avert the disaster of the Atlantic Ocean, joining the Kuramo Waters and subsequently the Lagoon.

According to him, Lagos state has been getting extreme weather conditions due to its location, and that areas badly affected from which people would be expected to move away included, Badagry and Ojo Waterfront areas, Bar Beach, Kuramo Beach, Goshen Estate, Maiyegun as well as Alpha Beach.

Oniru assured that the state emergency services had already been mobilised to continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly to prevent more disaster.

He urged Lagosians to remain calm as the government was doing everything possible to protect more loss of lives and property to the surge.

On the Eko Atlantic City Project, Oniru had on several occasions said that it was not a project unique to only Lagos alone and would not have any environmental impact on the area as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) had been duly conducted and certified okay.

He blamed the disaster on the neglect by the Federal government, saying the problem would have been solved a long time ago if the apex government had redeemed its promises to assist Lagos State Government to solve the ocean problem.

In 2011, after a similar tide had hit the Kuramo Beach, Oniru had said: “When President Goodluck Jonathan visited this area after the July 10, 2011 flood, we were happy that soon, there will be solution to this environmental threat but unfortunately nothing has happened since then.”

Lagos to produce gas from dump sites

Michael Simire
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Lagos to produce gas from dump sites

The Lagos State Government has embarked on a venture aimed at turning the unenviable condition of its solid waste generation into a blessing. The nation’s commercial nerve centre has been having a running battle with managing the huge turnout of its domestic waste, giving it the infamous tag of being one of the filthiest cities on the planet.

The Olusosun Dumpsite

It appears that, all along, the overpopulated state sat on a goldmine, but the authorities have apparently come to the realisation of this fact.

Courtesy of a Landfill Gas Recovery and Utilisation Project (LGRUP), government will soon begin to produce gas from the heaps of refuse dotting the metropolis, thereby generating direly-needed revenue and serving sundry purposes.

Decades of groping in dark have given way to a positive turnaround, typified to the overhaul of the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the adoption of private sector participation (PSP) under an Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) endeavour.

The project, which is being executed by LAWMA in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the African Carbon Asset Development (ACAD), is meant to capture methane gas generated from waste, utilise it for electricity, prevent the release of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) into the atmosphere, curb country’s carbon footprint and ensure compliance with international standards on environmental governance.

The LGRUP is a component of the ISWM project, which is a PSP initiative, whereby government will execute a 20-year concession agreement with the private sector.

Among other benefits, the LGRUP is meant to bequeath better environmental health and living standard; ensure job creation and investment opportunities; provide public utility and infrastructure through public-private partnership; wealth creation and market-based solution for waste.

The ISWM is for the closure, collection and utilisation of landfill gas at the existing dumpsites; and the establishment of an integrated solid waste management facility comprising of a material recovery facility, recycling and composting facility as well as sanitary landfill for residual use.

The objectives of the project are to fully harness and utilise alternative options available in managing waste, thus reducing reliance on landfill disposal as well as minimise the emission of greenhouse gases, while managing waste in an environmentally sound, socially responsible and financially sustainable manner.

LAWMA is in the process of implementing the second phase of the project under a consultancy contract. The first phase, which comprises pre-engineering design, commenced in February 2011 and should be completed within 12 to 18 months.

Starting with the Olusosun landfill site in Ojota, the project will also be extended to the Abule-Egba and Solous landfill sites.

Managing Director of LAWMA, Ola Oresanya, said, “At the Olusosun landfill, we have developed gas wells to manage and recycle municipal solid waste into clean energy. Landfill gas can be generated 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

“Landfill gas is extracted from landfills using a series of wells and a blower or vacuum system. This system directs the collected gas to a central point where it can be processed and treated depending on the ultimate use for it.

“Landfill gas-to-energy projects do not only mean deceasing the hazards towards our climate; they also serve as a substitute for fossil fuels, such as natural gas. Landfill gas can be extracted for a variety of energy purposes, such as generation of electricity with engines, turbines, micro turbines and other emerging technologies,” he added.

Landfill gas, according to Oresanya, is produced through biodegradation, volatilisation and chemical reactions, noting that the more organic waste present in a landfill, the more landfill gas is produced by bacteria during composition.

Apart from the landfill sites, he said electricity would be generated from the 1,000 tonnes of waste daily processed at the Simpson Transfer Loading Station for the benefit of poor communities around the station and to illuminate the Third Mainland Bridge.

Oresanya disclosed that the state was planning to establish 20 new landfill sites to replace the existing six, with work already started on the one in Epe, while the one in Badagry, which will be the biggest in Africa, would soon commence.

The LAWMA boss said that the gas recovery project had already commenced in Olusosun and would gradually be extended to other landfills once the arrangement had been firmed up with the private sector investors.

Other waste-to-wealth projects being facilitated by LAWMA, according to Oresanya, include the nylon buyback programme, recycling banks, recycling plant at the Olusosun recycling centre; collection of PET, aluminium cans, cardboard, cullet and other materials; and compost facility in Ikorodu in collaboration with Messrs Earthcare.

Others are the establishment of the recycling village for waste to wealth; engagement in school advocacy programme; waste paper collection; attracting investors for recycling, compost, tyre and waste to energy projects among others; collection and disposal of garden waste; and collection of broken bottles or cullet.

General Manager, Technical Services, LAWMA, Jeleel Olubori, described the LGRUP as being part of the process for developing and registering a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project under the Kyoto Protocol managed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

“The recovery of landfill gas from the authority’s landfill sites, though coming at the end of the first Kyoto emission regime, should be commended, considering the environmental incidents witnessed within the last 12 months in the state and other parts of the country,” he said.

My CNN/Multichoice award experience, by Akingbade

Michael Simire
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Legendary Nigerian environmental journalist and nominee for the 2012 CNN/Multichoice African Journalist of the Year Awards, Tunde Akingbade, shares his experience during the programme, where he was eventually decorated with the Highly Commended Environmental Journalist Award.

 

 

Tunde Akingbade

After the announcement of finalists in the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist of the year Awards 2012, the organisers of the competition asked me to send a Microsoft version of my story: Eko Atlantic City – Rumbles in the sea which won me the nomination. The story was published in The Guardian on Sunday on November 6, which the judges picked all over Africa had read. The trip to Lusaka began on July 17 from Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. I arrived O’ Tamba International Airport five and a half hours later in the early hours of July 18 and waited for the six hours to connect another South African Airways aircraft to Lusaka, Zambia.

Ms Vannessa Hellholf, the coordinator of our travels from Multichoice met me and my colleagues at a particular exclusive club/restaurant at the airport. Little did we know that all the finalists were gathered there for the onward journey – in the same plane to Zambia. It was when we got to Zambia that we discovered that all of us billed to participate in the programme were actually together. We were welcomed that evening with a dinner where the programme for the event was tabled. We also met the CNN/Multichoice organisers at the Intercontinental Hotel a five-star hotel in Lusaka. I soon found out that the hotel runs many environment programmes in its organisation including waste water management. Very early the following morning, we embarked on tour around the city of Lusaka to be able to know strategic places and historical sites.

In the afternoon, we headed to Mtendere Community, Lusaka where an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) called Hope Worldwide Zambia (HNNZ) has been educational development of orphans-with the support of the Coca Cola Africa Foundation in Zambia HWWZ has been helping orphans of Zambia’s HIV epidemic which are about 1 million for the past seven years, the NGO cares for the orphans and vulnerable children of the HIC/AID pandemic through a child-centred family focused community-based approach. It was a highly emotional experience for me as we journeyed through the life of children in the community.

According to figures from Coca Cola Africa Foundation’s President, Mr. William Asiko both HWWZ and the foundation served the needs of over 120,000 children across eight countries in Africa including Nigeria. In Zambia, they carry out their activities through the support of Ministries of Education Health, and Home Affairs in urban communities in Kalingalinga, Mtendere Chairama and Kanyama.

We were welcomed with pomp and pageantry by the Mtendere community including some women who are mothers of the orphans. These women were also taught how to make a living through their crafts which were also put for sale. Dr. Sharad Saparad Sapara, UNICEF Representative in Uganda was at event and he spoke on why UNICEF is helping children worldwide. Mr. Mivanbu Wanendeya, Vice-President and Head of Commutations for Ericsson Sub-Saharan African, was also president at another prorgramme which focused on business management in Africa and NGO work. It was moderated by Isha Sesay, CNN’s broadcaster from Atlanta, Georgia.

We also watched the drama from the kid’s theater as well as choreographed dance drama by the adults.

The following day, we were taken to Chiminuka Lodge and park about 40 kilometers away from Lusaka where there was a dialogue on the media practice as well as governance. The main speaker on governance was Mr. Martin Kalungu-Banda, author of the bestselling book – Leading like Madiba; Leadership lessons from Nelson Mandela. There were other great speakers like Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, President Nigerian Guild of Editors; Mr. Kim Norgaard, CNN International; Joyce Mhaville, MD, ITV, Tanzania; and Fred M’MEMBE, Editor in Chief of The Post, Zambia.

After the session, we went on a tour of the 10,000 hectares park at the Chaminuka Lodge.

The Chaminuka Lodge is some distance away from Lusaka, the Capital city of Zambia. The Chaminuka Lodge has a nature reserve that has more than 72 species.  It is the first private wild life park in Zambia. We were informed the previous night to wake up early in the morning so that we would embark on the trip to Chiminuka Village Park. We travelled from Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka through well-paved road until we got to an intersection near the Kenneth Kaunda international Airport. We now moved through an unpaved road through the woods and crossing some narrow bridges until we got to Chiminuka, a village which overlooks the Lake Chitoka. One of the fascinating attractions was some of the school children who rushed out from the two schools from the cluster of three villages which have about 700 people who live and work in the area to catch a glimpse of our vehicle. We stood on the spot unaware of what we hand in the wings for us that day at this beautiful park created by Andrew and Danae Sardanis who came to live in the village since 1978. Standing on 10,000 acres of wood land and Savannah, the park has an attitude of 3, 600 feet. The climate is sub-tropical but it could get cold sometimes. We gathered that the coolest weather is always between June and July. We visited in July and it was a little bit veto. After a conference which entailed discussions on media practice, we mounted an upon-top 4- wheel drive safari vehicle with a ranger who guided the trip.

First we arrived at the Lion’s den. They were having their meal. We saw the head of the animal they had just dismembered into their stomach I took pictures of the den and made a sound. It was as if the lioness understood what I wanted. She wagged her tail, looked at me for a moment and snapper her postures. Nearby was the hyena. Very restless animal, he hyena disappeared into the wood and within few minutes from slave trade, I found myself exploring Zambia’s house of history of colonization, struggle for independence and political hiccups in post-colonial Africa in Lusaka.

We were taken to a small five-bedroom, modest bungalow where the former President Kaunda lived. There was a bed in each of the rooms.

“One these were the places where they were making babies,” remarked one of the visiting journalists.

There was a wardrobe in one of the rooms. The ex-president kept his dresses in the wardrobe and his guitar. The guitar was still there. The ex-president, a former choirmaster at Church of Central Africa Congregation, was described as “an avid ballroom dancer.” There was an ironing table and a pressing iron which his wife, Betty Kaunda, used to iron dresses in a corner. Nearby was her kitchen. It reminded me of how the Americans preserve the heritage of their presidents at the White House in Washington DC.

There were historic pictures on the wall. One of them was the visit of Queen Elizabeth II of UK and Duke of Edinburgh, Mark Philips to Zambia and the meeting with the Kaundas.

When the former President was in power, the people of Lusaka carried out arson and blocked the road that year to show their anger for neo colonialism following harsh economic measure imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and removal of food subsidies by Kaunda in the 1980s there were riots and disorder in Lusaka. The President’s Land Rover was burnt by irate mob. The Land Rover was on display at a very strategic spot at the compound where he lived before 1964 in Lusaka. The award ceremony was glamorous and there were several media gurus from all over the world, captains of industry and multinational corporations. With me at the event was the immediate past Africa President, Y’s Man Femi Oduntan who also flew in from Nigeria. There was also Miss Chipo, Y’s Youth from Zambia and her sister. They had come to give me the moral support. The Y’s Men International of which I am a member in an NGO in consultative status with the United Nations. There were top executives of the CNN/Multichoice and it was indeed a parade of stars. The awards were later awarded to winners in each category. Thereafter there were celebrations, dinner and dance which were indeed memorable.

Four dead, 12 missing in Lagos Atlantic Ocean surge

Michael Simire
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An early Saturday morning sea surge that swept through the Lagos coastline has killed four persons. Twelve others have been reported missing.

The surging sea water swallowed the shanties by the coastline

General Manager, Lagos Emergency Management Agency, Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, who confirmed the incident, said the corpses would be deposited at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

The surge reportedly swooped on the inhabitants of the shanties in the early hours of the day when they were indoors. The Kuramo Beach area was severely affected.

A resident in one of the shanties who pleaded anonymity said that the surge swept through the area in the early hours of Saturday when residents were fast asleep.

“We are still looking for some people now as we speak. We just pray that they were no washed away by the surge,” a resident who gave his name as Ibrahim said.

Oke-Osanyintolu, who stated that the surge occurred early Saturday morning while residents were asleep, said the affected victims were mostly residents living in illegal shanties, stating that, in order to avert further disaster; the state government had condoned the area.

Government has ordered the immediate evacuation of residents of the state’s waterfront to forestall possible disaster from the seven days of high waves accompanied by a strong ocean surge which hit the country’s coastline, with Lagos being among the worst affected.

Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Prince Segun Oniru, who disclosed this, said the process had started, with the immediate evacuation of the Kuramo Beach to make way for movement of sand into the area.

The commissioner explained that the action was taken immediately to avert the disaster of the Atlantic Ocean joining the Kuramo Waters and subsequently the Lagoon.

Oniru, who explained that the state is experiencing extreme weather conditions due to its location, noted that other coastal areas badly affected from which people would be expected to move include Badagry and Ojo areas, Bar Beach, Goshen Estate, as well as Maiyegun and Alpha Beaches.

He added that the state emergency services had been mobilised to continue to monitor the situation and respond accordingly.

He urged residents in the state to remain calm as government was doing everything possible to avoid more loss of lives and property to the surge.

Igbinoba: Why this year’s housing forum will be different

Michael Simire
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Roland Igbinoba of the Pison Housing Company says that this year’s International Housing Finance Workshop (IHFW) holding this week in Abuja will provide stakeholders with a complete understanding of the real estate and housing market in the country.

Igbinoba

How, and what will make this year’s IHFW different?

The IHFW does not only focus on one or few segments of the industry. It cuts across all segments related to the real estate, housing and housing finance industry. It is a forum that brings together all players in the real estate, housing and housing finance sectors, ranging from developers, equity providers and investors, mortgage banks, commercial banks, policy makers, construction firms, estate surveyors and valuers, quantity surveyors, financial advisors, lawyers, etc. It covers all essential structures and models, providing the stakeholders with a complete understanding of the real estate and housing market in Nigeria. Reputable international speakers are also brought in to share their experience, to enlighten us on strategies and systems they implemented to tackle particular industry problems. This brings hands-on knowledge we can adopt and apply to improve our market.

 

What in your view is the bane of the market today and what should the industry be looking at after IHFW?

A few issues that negatively affect the market today include but are not limited interest rates, interbank lending rates, cost and availability of land, land registration procedures, cost of building which is borne by the developers and transferred to the cost of the houses, cost of mortgage, and inflation. These are a few that need to be tackled.

It is also evident that with the recent economic downturn which many countries are yet to fully recover from, there is a high level of restrain from investors into the market. This restrain applies to both the local investors and foreign capital providers. Investment in any project is weighed very cautiously before decisions are made. Some organizations, at the early period of the recession, put a total ban on investing in any project. Most organizations have innovated new approaches to assessing projects, and projects have to be watertight to be considered eligible for funding.

This is a major aspect IHFW 2012 will focus on. We still need foreign investment to develop our markets, and we need to know what the investors want. Mortgage banks are currently undergoing reforms and have been asked to recapitalize to the tune of N2.5 billion and N5 billion for state and federal licenses respectively. Capital needs to be raised to meet this mandate. The IHFW will present a door to the knowledge of how business strategies should be restructured to attract foreign investment.

 

What kind of audience are you looking at?

As mentioned above, all stakeholders from various sectors have registered. These include bankers, portfolio managers, legal officers, developers, the regulatory authorities, business risk managers, primary mortgage banks and commercial banks.

Developing the housing market cannot be done by only a segment of the industry. All stakeholders need to come together, roles need to be redefined and assumed, so there can be improvement if everyone plays their part. The speakers are also from a wide range of sectors related to the market development. They will enlighten and proffer solutions to challenges in the various aspects of real estate and housing finance.

 

How can government and the private sector key into the IHFW vision to explore the huge housing deficit?

This can be achieved majorly through partnership between the government and the private sector. Many countries have adopted the PPP approach and executed commendable projects for their citizens. Affordable housing has been provided for large populace through this means. At the IHFW, stakeholders can tap into the knowledge of international housing sectors where housing has recorded great improvements. For example, in the 1990s in Brazil, new funding sources designed to finance real estate was introduced.  The sector began to improve greatly and the funding structure is presently managed by the Brazilian Securities Exchange Commission. Since the 1970s, Malaysia put in efforts and has made sizable leaps in the development of their housing market. They structured and implemented sound PPP models which today have facilitated access to housing to even the low-middle income populace. They have achieved success with their housing policy and the Malaysian government established the state Economic Development Corporations which focuses on housing the poor. In Nigeria, the Minister of Housing attributed the reason for the huge housing deficit to the high cost of acquiring land and building materials. There are many additional factors affecting housing availability, of which the government can play significant roles to achieve solutions to the problems. These need to be addressed so both the government and private sectors can determine how to work together to move forward and make progress.

 

How prepared is the market and how can other sectors of the industry tap into IHFW?

The market I believe is ripe for a revolution. For every sector relevant to the real estate and housing finance markets, there’s a lot to learn and great opportunities abound.

Our market is showing signs of readiness for a transformation. On the finance angle, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently rolled out environmental and technical reforms that will assist in growing the industry. But CBN cannot act in isolation, state and federal government agencies and housing policy makers need to play their part as well. CBN is strategising to boost the market through various measures, amongst which is the establishment of a mortgage liquidity facility. This measure has already raked in the interest of many stakeholders, locally and internationally.

 

How would you describe the event’s impact on the industry since its inception some seven years ago?

Since inception, IHFW has been very well accepted. It is an annual event that provides an avenue to gain significant knowledge and access to investment opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. IHFW has, in the practical sense, brought in investors, constructors and other stakeholders who have worked on projects, formulated partnerships and business relationships with organisations in the Nigerian market. IHFW seeks to proffer realistic solutions to problems facing the industry.

The industry comprises of stakeholders from various sectors and regulatory bodies relevant to the growth of the housing industry. A proportion of stakeholders put in more efforts than others and this has not produced the effective result that could otherwise be engendered. Collective efforts and roles need to be implemented to achieve constructive results. In a nutshell, the performance of the industry has somewhat developed but a collaborative effort is required for milestone achievements.

 

WUF6 online portal closes Friday

Michael Simire
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Participants at the premier global conference on cities and urban issues – sixth World Urban Forum (WUF6) – holding in Naples, Italy next month have till Friday to complete their registration, the organisers have said.

Naples, Italy… venue of the WUF6

The WUF, a bi-yearly event that brings together key stakeholders, is believed to be the most comprehensive international forum for deliberations on urbanisation and its associated challenges. Jointly organised by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the Government of Italy, the Campania Region and the City of Naples, the theme for this year’s WUF is: “The Urban Future.”

The UN-HABITAT said in a statement last week that while the online registration portal would close on Friday, 24 August 2012, at 12:00 noon, accreditation with WUF6 photo badge would commence at the WUF6 venue on 30 August 2012 from 8:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m daily, to enable participants avoid long queues during the official opening day on Monday, 3 September 2012.

Online registration, which is on individual basis only, is in six categories, comprising:

● National governments/Parliamentarians, consisting of heads of state, heads of government, representatives of governments, diplomats and parliamentarians;

● Civil society organizations – representatives of women’s organizations, youth organizations, social/peoples movements, indigenous peoples’ organizations, trade unions, faith-based organizations, professional associations and foundations;

● Private Sector/Media and others;

● Regional/local governments and municipalities: mayors, representatives of local authority associations, city councils, townships, prefectures and provinces;

● United Nations and intergovernmental organizations: representatives of UN entities, regional organizations, international financial institutions, cultural, scientific or linguistic international organizations; and,

● Universities and research institutions: academics, researchers, research assistants and librarians.

No fewer than 3,000 participants from 114 countries have registered for the forum, which will address four major focus areas, namely: Urban Planning, addressing institutions and regulations, including the improvement of quality of life; Equity and Prosperity (distribution of wealth and opportunities); productive cities (competitive and innovative cities); and, Urban Mobility, Energy and Environment.

Several parallel sessions, including an additional 160 networking, side and training events as well as the WUF exhibition, will be held to showcase some of the world’s leading cities and innovations in urban development.

“The debate is already underway with nearly 1,500 people signing up for the online e-Debates at www.worldurbanforum.org, where people who will not be able to travel to Naples are able to join the debate and contribute to shaping the Forum’s discussions,” the statement said.

The WUF was established by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing problems facing the world today – rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies.

The first session of the WUF was held in Kenya in 2002, with subsequent editions following in Barcelona (2004), Vancouver (2006), Nanjing (2008) and Rio de Janeiro (2010).

Lagos coastline community relives predicament over incessant flooding

Michael Simire
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On July 10 2011, Lagos experienced a downpour that lasted for over six hours, claiming lives and destroying properties in the bustling city.

A flooded street in the community

About a year later and several weeks ago, the Atlantic Ocean, swelled by periods of continuous rainfall, surged into neighbouring communities, sacking residents from their homes. The raging flood waters spared no one within its vicinity, including choice residential estates.

Worst hit, however, was Okun Alfa, a waterside community that hosts the popular tourist spot, Alfa Beach, where virtually all the buildings were overrun by the salty ocean water. As was the case in recent times, the flooding left tales of woe in its wake.

A resident, octogenarian Alhaji Alayaki Mudasiru, said that in the over 100 years he has lived at Okun Alfa, the Atlantic Ocean surge never once posed a threat, until the turn of events in recent years.

According to him, the flooding and coastal erosion became noticeable since the commencement of numerous sandfilling and land reclamation activities on and off the Lekki Peninsula coastline. He recalled that the problem started soon after Victoria Island was reclaimed.

He explained that he presently resides in his third home, the two previous ones having been washed away by the Atlantic Ocean which had encroached more than 200 metres inland.

Mudashiru pointed an accusing finger at Chevron Nigeria Limited, which he said acquired a large expanse of land for the construction of an international school and a staff housing estate. He alleged that the fenced landed property impeded water that flowed in the community from finding its way out.

The oil firm had constructed a high-wall fence on the over 10 hectares of land which the residents said that, during the course of sand-filling the land, the existing drainage channel was in the process blocked. They said that they have severally protested to the management of the company to express their displeasure over the blockage of the channel.

Mudashiru’s words: “Whenever the ocean surges and drives us from our houses, we normally moved further away inland and build another house. But now that Chevron has taken over the land, where are we going to move to?”

In an emotion-laden tone, he appealed to the Federal Government to come to their aid by constructing an embankment that would alleviate their plight.

Asked if he would now relocate based on the recent occurrence, he replied: “I have lived all my life at Okun Alfa. I was born and brought up as a farmer. My children living in other parts of Lagos came when they heard about the incident with the intention to take me to their place of abode, but I said no. I will not leave because of that. I will stay her till death comes.”

Narrating his experience, clergyman Musa Philip, who pastors a Pentecostal church in the community, said if the surge had happened at night, the extent of the damage and casualties would have been unprecedented.

He said: “The surge started in the early hours of Sunday morning around 2 am. We started noticing water in our houses and everybody was forced to wake up. By the time the daybreak arrived, it had subsided.

“But when it got to around 11.30 am, the surge started again and this time around in a very strong manner that could carry people away. I and one other person had to rescue a woman with four children thrown to a building wall.”

Philip underlined the need for the Federal Government to urgently construct an embankment to avert future occurrence and protect lives and properties. “Failure to do this could be catastrophic,” he warned.

Councillor representing Ward C in Eti-Osa Local Government Area comprising of Okun Alfa and some other communities, Sheriff Elegushi, bemoaned the activities of Chevron Nigeria Limited that allegedly blocking a major drainage channel in the neighbourhood.

He submitted that the community had in recent past suffered from the effect of ocean surge, pointing out that, last year, the only road leading to the community was washed away and that, up till now, they can only access the community through the beach.

Elegushi lamented that since the incident occurred, no emergency unit or government official deemed it fit to sympathise with them.

The councillor, however, appealed to both the central and state governments to come to the community’s aid by constructing a drainage channel as well as embankment to drain away and shield the community from flood waters.

Elegushi said: “When this incident happened last year, President Goodluck Jonathan came here and promised that, through the Ecological Fund Office, government would assist the community. But, up till now, nothing has been done. The state government too has not done anything.

“The Local Government chairman hired a caterpillar to open the canal so that water trapped in the community can flow away.”

Elegushi added that since the incident happened, many people had fled the community and were yet to return. He bemoaned the development on the community’s socio-economic activities.

Besides Okun Alfa, other communities in the local council said to be prone to the disaster are: Igbara, Maiyegun, Aro, Ologolo, Baruwa and Igbo-Efon, which are all along the Lagos coastline.

Elegushi blamed the incident on the various reclamation projects going on in the city particularly the Eko Atlantic City project where large expanse of land is being reclaimed from the sea, by Victoria Island.

The project has been a source of worry to environmentalists, who allege that a thorough Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was not conducted before the project commenced.

So far, the Lagos State Government and Messrs. South Energyx Nigeria Limited (project developer) are yet to make public the project’s EIA.

But the developer is reported to have claimed that the project “is already helping to reverse the environmental damage at the Victoria Island caused by a century of coastal erosion. The imposing new sea wall will shield the city of Lagos, as well as Eko Atlantic City.”

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State said last April at the state’s Climate Change Summit that the project does not constitute an environmental problem but a blessing to the city.

 

By Michael Simire & Kayode Aboyeji

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