The United Nations (UN) has expressed its readiness to partner with Nigeria to strengthen food security and boost agricultural productivity in the country.
Deputy Secretary-General of the UN, Amina J. Muhammed
UN Deputy Secretary-General, Dr Amina Mohammed, made this pledge when she visited the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, in Abuja.
Mohammed assured Kyari that the international community was ready to support the ministry to realise its mandate of ensuring food and nutrition security in the country.
She expressed concern over the impact of climate change, food insecurity, cross border issues and other global challenges.
According to her, climate change knows no border.
“On this visit, for us we hope to give you the visibility and support of the UN to continue to consolidate and increase and in convening many more partners for the challenges.
“I want to reassure you of the support of the UN on the journey ahead,” she said.
In a remark, Kyari said that her visit Nigeria was timely in creating a paradigm shift that would further improve the agriculture sector with food systems.
The minister said Nigeria’s partnership with the UN was critical to addressing the attendant huge consumption demand in the immediate and long-term Plan of Action.
He said that the visit of the UN deputy secretary-general to Nigeria was to discuss the mutual partnership Nigeria had with the UN in the agriculture and food security sector.
“Also, the partnership will bolster efforts towards delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, as well as our strategies of operations over the next four years
“As you know, with our large population and growing demand for food security, Nigeria’s partnership with the UN is critical to meet the attendant huge consumption demand in the immediate and long-term plan of action.
“The UN organisations have, over the years, provided technical assistance in ensuring food systems and nutrition security in Nigeria.
“Currently, the ministry would appreciate further support on the Value Chain Development Programme; Value Chain North targeted at increasing food production in the northern part of Nigeria,” he said.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) report says that the population of Nigeria is expected to continue to grow up to 239 million by 2025 and 440 million by 2050.
Director General, National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Mustapha Abdullahi
This places Nigeria at the fourth position among countries with high population.
However, as the country’s population skyrockets, food demand increases. At the current food production rate, Nigeria is unable to feed itself.
The challenge before the country is how to reach equilibrium between food production and food demand.
How will this be achieved? History tells us that no nation becomes great without developing its agriculture.
Nigeria’s agriculture is not highly developed. Various factors pose challenges to the sector ranging from inaccessible or expensive inputs, increasing post-harvest losses due to poor logistics and insecurity.
The FAO in Nigeria also identified factors such as poor land tenure system, low level of irrigation farming, low technology, climate change and land degradation among others.
Over the years, the Nigeria government tried to boost agriculture in an attempt to diversify the economy from crude oil sales, increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and ensure food sufficiency.
Several agricultural initiatives, policies and programmes were pronounced by successive governments.
Some of these policies include Operation Feed the Nation (OFN) Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP), Nigeria-Africa Trade and Investment Promotion Programme and Presidential Economic Diversification Initiative.
Others are the Anchor Borrowers Program (ABP), and the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Plan (NATIP) which was expected to replace the Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP) that was launched in 2016 but terminated in December 2020.
President Bola Tinubu on July 9, 2024, inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Implementation of Livestock Reforms to address obstacles in agricultural productivity and open up new frontiers to benefit farmers.
The 10-day nationwide hunger protest embarked upon by Nigerians was a testament to the shortfall in food production, a development compounded by double digit inflation.
It is now clear that any system where food demand is not matched by supply danger is looming.
Many people in the agriculture belt are equally caught up in the food crisis in the nation. Indeed, the 2023 Global Hunger Index (GHI) report ranked Nigeria 109th out of 125 countries.
“With a score of 28.3 in the 2023 Global Hunger Index, Nigeria has a level of hunger that is serious,’’ the GHI said in the report.
The International Trade Administration in its last published date of June 5, 2023, recorded that Nigeria relied on $10 billion of imports to meet its food and agricultural production shortfalls.
What this proves is that the decline in agriculture to GDP compounds the food inflation woes currently facing Nigeria.
It is glaring that Nigeria may not be able to meet the food demand of its growing population, with the situation worsened by climate change and disease outbreaks.
Experts say by embracing agriculture biotechnology, Nigeria has the potential to become a food secured nation.
The technique involves exploring knowledge of the functional genomics of species and organisms, by incorporating specific DNA sequences coding for desirable traits into crops of interest.’’
Genomics is a field of biology focused on studying all the Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of an organism, simply known as genome.
They say another technique among others that Nigeria can deploy to achieve food consumption stability is genome editing, which is also an aspect of biotechnology currently experiencing growth.
Scientists argue that a major feature of the technique of genome editing in agriculture is the ability to alter a plant’s genome without incorporating a foreign DNA into it.
These experts have confirmed that genome editing is resistant to pests and disease stress, allowing plants to thrive without pesticides.
They say agricultural biotechnology which can be used to improve existing crop varieties, for tolerance or resistance to both biotic and abiotic stresses, iscrucial for increasing crop production.
Nigeria’s agricultural production needs to be enhanced with modern and effective technology, and agricultural biotechnology offers this opportunity.
Nigerian experts and scientists in the area include Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, Director General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Dr Rose Gidado, Director, Agricultural Biotechnology Department of the NBRDA.
They argue that it would be difficult for Nigeria to achieve food security without embracing agriculture biotech.
Gidado, Director, Agricultural biotechnology at NBRDA, said the technology was herbicide tolerant.
According to her, it allows farmers to benefit from more effective weed control, adding that it could increase plant tolerance to heat, floods, salinity, droughts and extreme cold for a wide variety of crops.
Experts have maintained that the application of genome editing in crop improvement is favoured for its cost effectiveness, ease of use and possibility of speeding up the development of some crop varieties.
Prof. Charles Adetunji, Director of Research and Innovation, Edo State University Uzairue, said that genome editing was capable of meeting Nigeria’s demand for sustainable food production.
He said the technology also ensured increased crop yields while protecting the environment and adapting to climate change.
He said the technology was good for both the environment and humans.
Nigeria was the first country to make the move to amend its biosafety legislation to include regulation of genome edited products.
Thereafter, the guidelines for regulating genome edited products were spelt out adopted in 2020.
Nigerian biotechnology researchers affirm that it is a necessary tool for enhancing crop yield and in ensuring food security in the country.
They further say because it is well regulated by National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) its outcome is safe for consumption.
Speaking on GMOs, Professor Garba Sharubutu said there was nothing to worry about.
“GMOs represent a crucial advancement in the field of biotechnology, offering a myriad of benefits that span across agriculture, food security, health, industry, and the environment.
“These genetically modified organisms have the potential to revolutionise our approach to addressing pressing global challenges such as food scarcity, malnutrition, and environmental sustainability,” said Sharubutu, Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria.
The Federal Government has also underlined the need for those in the agriculture sector to embrace biotechnology in their activities.
Mr Ishaq Salako, Minister of State for Environment, says the adoption of biotechnology is critical to attaining food security, job creation, and poverty eradication in Nigeria.
“Biotechnology has a lot to offer to drive agriculture output, environmental protection and healthcare services,” the media recently quoted him as saying.
By Sylvester Thompson, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
Climate change issue is now at the centre of global politics. In the last decades it has shaped public discourses as global leaders strive to chisel out policies that would birth sustainable climate.
Malam Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment
Nigeria, like many countries, has many policies on climate change, which are geared toward mitigating its impacts on humanity and the ecosystem respectively.
This is in addition to the Climate Change Act which was sponsored by then Rep. Sam Onuigbo and signed into law by former president, Muhammadu Buhari.
The law serves as Nigeria’s legal blueprint for a sustainable climate.
The initiative for the conversion of vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas engines is another Federal Government effort to promote a pollution-free environment.
However, in spite of these efforts, Africa’s largest economy is still facing huge climate problems.
This is largely due to inadequate political to fully implement its policies and climate-friendly initiatives.
Sadly, the failure to effectively implement the climate policies has worsened Nigeria’s ranking among countries that are seriously taking climate action.
Nigeria placed Nigeria 158 out of 182 countries on climate vulnerability as of 2023, according to the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative Index.
Analysts say fighting climate change goes beyond talking and formulation of policies. They say it needs shared commitment from the leaders, citizens and right budgetary provisions for sustainable implementation.
They said that Nigeria had a fair share of environmental and ecological challenges like flooding, erratic rainfall patterns, erosion, heat waves, air pollution, poor energy, and deforestation that left visible scars on its citizenry.
They alleged that some political leaders in the past had treated climate change issues with levity as ecological funds set aside by governments toward addressing environmental and climate emergencies are often misappropriated.
Climate analysts attribute the lack of political will to effectively implement climate policies and action plans to the failure of electorate over the years to use their voting powers to elect climate-friendly politicians.
They further say there is the need for registered voters in Nigeria to realign themselves toward voting for climate if they want to achieve a sustainable environment.
In light of this, they argue that to hold political leaders accountable for their climate inactions, voters should change the narrative by giving their mandates to candidates with climate-friendly disposition.
Dr David Michael, Executive Director, Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, said voting for climate matters, especially in Nigeria where the political will for climate actions is conspicuously lacking.,
He described climate change as a global issue impacting the globe, socio-economic, food security and security, noting that it directly links to social issues currently ravaging Nigeria.
He said that climate change was already impacting food security in the country and making the citizenry vulnerable due to delayed rainfall and long dry spells.
“Voting for climate change matters because when you vote for climate and environmentally friendly politicians they will come out with the right policies.
“They will come with the right budgetary provisions to ensure that we build climate resilience in Nigeria.
“This will enable us to overcome some of the impacts of climate change and some of the social and economic impacts of climate change we are facing today.
“When you vote a climate denial into office the chances are that he will be silent about climate change. And you can imagine the impacts that we already experienced,” he emphasised.
He stressed the need for states to domesticate climate change policies of the federal government and work toward their implementation.
“Fighting climate change is not by talking, is not just having policies, it requires resources – right budgetary provisions and implementation.
“The hunger protest that ended not long ago, although a lot of people will read political meaning to it, if there was no hunger there would be no basis for people to take political advantage of the situation.
“So, we need those politicians who will help guide the light for the nation to build climate resilience and we can only achieve that when we vote for the right candidates,” he said.
As Edo and Ondo governorship elections approach, he enjoined the registered voters to do themselves good by voting for those candidates who would come out publicly to declare and state their climate action plans.
“Climate change is impacting Edo and Ondo states greatly, both states witness floods annually.
“Climate change will impact democracy that clearly shows when the INEC office in Edo State was flooded earlier this year, and a lot of election materials were destroyed.
“In Ondo state, the Aiyetoro community is experiencing sea level rise; the community has lost a large chunk of its lands to water. The people of Ondo must and should demand climate action by voting for the right candidate.
“Voters should demand climate action plans when going around for campaigning because it is an issue that directly impacts their lives and livelihoods, they have the power to speak with their vote and they should vote right,” he advised.
Dr Mohammed Kabiru Dahiru, Senior Lecturer, Federal University, Lafia, posited that climate change was the bane of environmental sustainability, adding that without addressing it no meaningful development could be achieved.
Dahiru, a climate change expert, who is also the acting Head of Geography Department, said climate change had far-reaching implications for the survival and well-being of humanity.
He said it was appropriate to vote for politicians who were conscious of climate change challenges.
According to him, this will ensure they provide opportunities to contribute either through legislation or policy implementation towards reducing its impacts on citizens.
He emphasised the need to educate the public and encourage them to vote for the candidates who have interest and good intentions toward climate action.
“Climate change is human induced to a large extent. Since it is a human-induced problem it needs humans to work towards ensuring that the problem is alleviated,” he said.
Envoh Okolo, Coordinator, Nasarawa State Network on Environment Climate Justice, says voting for climate is long overdue in Nigeria, considering the level of climate change impacts on the environment and its socio-economic effects on livelihoods.
He said Nigerians were facing food shortage due to impacts of climate change as manifested in long dry spells, flooding and environmental degradation.
“The reason is because of the lack of political will to implement policies and action plans to mitigate the impact of climate change; this is evident in inflation and hunger being experienced in several states,” he said.
Okolo advised the Edo and Ondo electorate to scrutinise candidates’ manifestos before deciding whom to vote for in their upcoming elections.
“Climate change has not affected voting patterns in Nigeria therefore it is high time the citizens began to have the consciousness toward voting for climate,” he said.
Mr Jonathan Joshua, a climate change advocate and National President, Association of Small Scale Agro Producers in Nigeria (ASSAPIN), said climate change being a global phenomenon had enormously impacted both agriculture and security.
He said voting for climate-friendly politicians would amount to voting for environmental sustainability, food security and commitment to bringing interventions toward reducing its impacts.
Joshua enjoined the voters in Nigeria, particularly in Edo and Ondo to take decisive actions by voting for candidates that would implement climate change policies.
“If they must be voted for, they must have plans for interventions in line with climate policies; that will help the farmers and the vulnerable communities to deal with climate change.
“So, the voters must take a decisive decision; any candidate that is not going to implement climate change policies in their administration should not be given chance to be voted for,” he advised.
Wild Africa, an environmental NGO, has partnered Nela Duke-Ekpenyong to promote conservation in Nigeria.
Nela Duke-Ekpenyong
Mr Festus Iyorah, Wild Africa Representative in Nigeria, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, in Lagos.
Iyorah said that Duke-Ekpenyong, an award-winning conservationist, investor and entrepreneur, would be raising her voice for wildlife as a Wild Africa Ambassador.
He said that she would help to increase awareness about Nigeria’s remaining biodiversity and contribute to ongoing efforts to protect iconic species from extinction.
“We are excited to have Duke-Ekpenyong on board as our latest Nigeria ambassador.
“She is a passionate conservationist who deeply understands the issues facing Nigeria’s wildlife and forests.
“She has a proven track record of addressing conservation issues.
“Her voice, expertise, and experience will contribute massively to protecting Nigeria’s biodiversity for future generations,” he said.
Iyorah said that Duke-Ekpenyong has over a decade of experience in entrepreneurship, collaborating with prominent institutions dedicated to large-scale growth and development initiatives in Africa.
“She is the co-founder and CEO at LEGA.C Capital, a multi-family office, committed to supporting the wealth and advancement of innovators, entrepreneurs and affluent families.
“Additionally, she oversees the operations of Obudu Capital, the family office’s climate technology fund and capacity-building programme.
“Through Obudu, she channels investments into climate technology projects to support climate adaptation across Africa,” he said.
According to him, through her non-profit, Obudu Conservation Centre (OCC), she actively contributes to environmental research and community development efforts in the Obudu Plateau, one of the world’s most bioverse regions.
Iyorah said that Duke-Ekpenyong and her team at OCC, had led pioneering research on the Preuss Guenon monkey and have fought against anti-poaching in the region.
“She joins other influential Nigerian ambassadors, such as Davido, 2Baba, Mayorkun, Stephanie Linus, and footballer Alex Iwobi, to help shift public attitudes towards wildlife and the environment,” Iyorah said.
Speaking about her appointment, Iyorah quoted Duke-Ekpeyong as saying: “Caring for nature has been part of my life’s purpose, and it is an honour to join Wild Africa to continue this shared vision to protect, preserve and increase awareness of our wildlife and wild lands in Africa.”
He said that Wild Africa is a conservation communication organisation that inspires public support and political will to protect Africa’s wildlife and wild spaces forever.
According to him, in spite being home to wildlife such as elephants, lions, and a unique species of gorilla, Nigeria faces significant threats in the forms of poaching, deforestation, and the illegal wildlife trade.
He noted that Nigeria had also become a global transit hub for the trafficking of ivory and pangolin scales.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the African Union Commission on Monday, September 2, 2024, jointly launched the 2023 State of the Climate in Africa report at the 12th Climate Change and Development in Africa (CCDA12) Conference.
Minister of Green Economy and Environment of Zambia, Mike Elton Mposha
The report presents a stark overview of the climate crisis facing the African continent and underscores the urgent need for increased investment in climate adaptation and resilience.
Central to the Report’s analysis is that African countries are facing an escalating climate change bill, with an average loss of 2-5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) due to climate extremes. In Africa, the cost of adaptation is estimated to be between $30-50 billion annually over the next decade, representing 2-3% of the region’s GDP.
“This report serves as a stark reminder of the urgency of climate action in Africa, where extreme weather events are intensifying and disproportionately impacting the continent’s social economic development,” said the Minister of Green Economy and Environment of Zambia, Mike Elton Mposha.
“Africa is uniquely vulnerable to climate change, with its high dependence on rain-fed agriculture and limited adaptive capacity. Rising temperatures, rising sea levels, and erratic rainfall are already causing widespread harm to human health, ecosystems, and livelihood. These challenges threaten to derail Africa’s big-bed progress towards achieving the sustainable development goals and the African Union agenda 2063,” stated Mposha.
“It is essential to continue advocating for increased investments in climate adaptation and resilience, particularly through the laws and dynamic priorities,” he added.
“The State of the Climate in Africa 2023 Report highlights the urgent need for action. Africa faces disproportionate burdens and risks from climate change, which threatens food security, public health, and socio-economic development across the continent,” said Ambassador Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment at the African Union Commission.
Hanan Morsy, Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), said, “Africa is on the front lines of fighting climate change and its impacts, from rising temperatures to shifting rainfall patterns, and other extreme weather events. Consequently, key sectors like the agricultural sector, which employs over 60% of Africa’s population, are under threat. Crops are failing and livestock is suffering as climate variability disrupts traditional farming practices, jeopardises food supply, and the economic stability of nations, which are already grappling with high poverty and levels.”
“At the same time, African countries face significant debt distress, forcing trade-offs with critical development needs such as health or education. We can only drive investments in climate action if we have financing, therefore, there is a need to achieve sustainable debt levels to make the essential investments,” added Ms. Morsy.
To this end, she explained, “There must be first, a timely and sustainable international debt resolution that calls for an overhaul of the G20 Common Framework to make it more effective, time-bound, and transparent, and second, a reform of the global financial architecture to ensure affordable financing at scale. Third, the implementation of innovative financing instruments such as debt-for-nature swaps, and green and blue bonds; and fourth, advancing carbon markets to establish a fair carbon price supported by high-integrity carbon registries to ensure transparency and trust. These are transformative avenues to address Africa’s climate finance requirements.”
The 2023 State of the Climate in Africa report is expected to serve as a vital tool for policymakers, providing the observational basis necessary to drive action and support decision-making in the face of an increasingly challenging climate future.
The alarming reports emerging from the Kapam a community in Chikun LGA, Kaduna State, highlight a severe environmental and public health crisis that demands immediate attention. The Kaduna Refinery, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has been releasing toxic chemicals that are not only killing local wildlife but also devastating crops and making community members, particularly children and women, gravely ill.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State
The distressing images of dead animals and dying crops seen on social media from the community serve as a heartbreaking testament to the impact of this environmental catastrophe. This situation threatens the livelihoods of local farmers, exacerbates food insecurity, and undermines the overall health of the community. The ripple effects extend beyond Kapam; they pose a significant risk to the broader Kaduna State, potentially endangering the health of surrounding communities and ecosystems.
This crisis raises serious questions about the commitment of the government to protect its citizens and the environment. Allowing such dangerous practices to continue will not only tarnish the government’s reputation but also ridicule its stated goals of sustainable development and public health protection.
In the light of these urgent concerns, we call on the government of Kaduna State under the leadership of Governor Uba Sani to take decisive and comprehensive action in response to the crisis in the Kapam community. This includes:
Open Up a Thorough Investigation: The government should initiate a rigorous investigation into the toxic emissions from the Kaduna Refinery. This investigation must identify the specific chemicals involved, assess their impact on the environment and public health, and hold accountable those responsible for any violations of environmental regulations.
Provide Immediate Support: In addition to investigating the root causes, the government should provide immediate support to cushion the impact on the community. This may include:
Medical Assistance: Deploy health professionals to assess and treat residents affected by toxic exposure, ensuring access to necessary medical care.
Food and Water Security: Implement programmes to provide safe food and clean water to affected residents, mitigating the immediate risks of food insecurity and health hazards.
Economic Relief: Introduce financial assistance programmes for local farmers and businesses adversely affected by the environmental damage, helping them to recover and sustain their livelihoods.
Enhance Environmental Regulations: Strengthen and enforce existing environmental protection laws to prevent future occurrences of similar crises. This includes regular monitoring of industrial emissions and compliance with safety standards.
Engage with the Community: Establish transparent communication channels with the Kapam community to ensure their concerns are addressed and they are involved in decision-making processes regarding their health and environment.
Long-term Health and Environmental Planning: Develop and implement long-term strategies for environmental restoration and public health improvement, ensuring the community’s resilience against future environmental threats.
The residents of Kapam and all citizens of Kaduna State deserve a safe and healthy environment. We urge all stakeholders to unite in addressing this crisis, prioritising the well-being of the community over corporate interests. Immediate action is essential to remedy this situation and prevent further harm to both the people and the environment.
Gloria Kasang Bulus is Executive Director, Bridge That Gap Initiative, and Convener/Coordinator, Network of Civil Society in Environment (NCSE)
No fewer than 6,575 people benefitted from an eyecare outreach held in Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, from August 26 to 30, 2024, as part of the Vision First Plus programme of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo).
A cross section of beneficiaries and some Shell staff at the NNPC/SNEPCo Vision First Plus programme in Bariga Local Council Development Area of Lagos State
Beneficiaries from within and outside the LCDA received a wide range of medical services including eye screening, surgeries, medication, andeyeglasses on the latest campaign to bring healthcare to the doorsteps of communities across Nigeria.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, SNEPCo Managing Director, Elohor Aiboni, said the outreach was a key investment in maintaining healthy vision which is an important but often neglected aspect of life.
Represented by Managing Counsel Upstream Nigeria, SNEPCo, Lara Taiwo-Ogunbodede, Aiboni commended the collaboration which resulted in the outreach, the third in Lagos since the Vision First Plus initiative was launched in the state two years ago.
She said: “Our sight, a crucial connection to our surroundings, safeguards us from danger, sharpens our minds, and unlocks the doors to learning, economic opportunities, and independence, hence we consider this intervention as crucial.”
In a speech read by Bunmi Lawson, the Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Bala Wunti, said: “From the smiles of individuals who can see clearly for the first time in years, to the stories of renewed hope and confidence, Vision First has truly become a beacon of light for many. This year, as we continue our journey, our mission remains unchanged: to ensure that no one is left in the dark due to preventable or correctable vision issues.”
Executive Director and Chairman, Kolmarg Eyesight Foundation, Professor Olukorede Adenuga, stressed the need for “regular eye examination as one gets older in order to prevent avoidable loss of vision.”
Chairman of Bariga LCDA, Alabi Kolade, described the vision outreach as a timely intervention at a time that vision impairment is found to affect the quality of life of adult populations, lower people’s the rates of employment and increase their rates of depression and anxiety. “Sight is life, and it’s for this reason that we cannot thank NNPC-SNEPCo and the partners enough for this opportunity, indeed on our doorstep.”
Giving a breakdown of the programme performance, Aiboni said that out of 1787 people screened for various eye conditions, 1,696 received prescription glasses and medication while 233 had successful cataract and pterygium procedures. Another 1212 people were treated for ailments.
Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Olusegun Ogboye, who was represented by Adeniran Ifeyemi, a deputy director in the Ministry of Health, commended NNPC, SNEPCo, and their co-venture partners for the initiative.
The focus on eyecare comes against the background of a report in the National Eye Health Policy 2019 to the effect that blindness in three out of four people in Nigeria is preventable. The Vision First Plus programme aims to combat avoidable visual impairment by reaching patients early for diagnosis and treatment.
Over the years, the social investment programmes of NNPC, SNEPCo and co-venture partners have improved lives in internally displaced camps in Northeast Nigeria and rebuilt infrastructure in hospitals and educational institutions. In addition, the initiative has led to award of scholarships and donation of cancer treatment equipment.
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved $151 million in financing for a major resilience programme supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
AfDB President, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina
The aim is to address climate vulnerability in the Horn of Africa.
The AfDB’s Director for Agriculture and Agro-Industry, Dr Martin Fregene, said this in a statement posted on the bank’s website.
Fregene said the approval, granted at the Fund’s 39th Board meeting, comprised a $90.7 million grant and a $60.3 million loan.
“The financing will support the Bank Group’s Building Climate Resilience for Food and Livelihoods in the Horn of Africa programme.
“Benefitting 4.6 million people across Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
“The Horn of Africa is most susceptible to climate-related risks, such as erratic rainfall, rising temperatures, and increasingly frequent droughts and floods,” he said.
According to Fregene, these conditions have exacerbated socioe-@conomic challenges and threatened the livelihoods of agro-pastoral communities reliant on rain-fed agriculture.
He expressed concern that climate change had led to increased livestock, crop and human diseases, and land degradation, reducing productivity.
Fregene restated the Bank’s commitment to building climate resilience.
“The mobilisation of the Green Climate Fund support shows the continued commitment of the AfDB Group to scale up climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture systems in the Horn of Africa.
“Thereby, improving food security in one of the most vulnerable regions of the planet.
“These resources will further help consolidate the Feed Africa Strategy and complement the Country Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts presented at the Dakar 2 Feed Africa: Food Sovereignty and Resilience Summit.
“This will support the reduction of poverty and food insecurity while contributing to accelerated sustainable economic growth in the region,” Fregene said.
According to the director, the new financing will support community-driven and gender-balanced resilience solutions.
Dr Anthony Nyong, the Bank’s Director for Climate Change and Green Growth, said the Bank had a long-standing commitment to action on climate change.
Nyong said: “The bank is also committed to ensuring that we streamline low-carbon and climate-resilient economic development in all key sectors of our work.”
He said that the new resources would bolster the Bank’s efforts to mitigate climate change impacts and build resilience, particularly in agrarian communities.
The Green Climate Fund financing will contribute to significant carbon emission reduction.
It will potentially sequester 14.1 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent over the project’s 25-year lifetime – equivalent to lifetime emissions of 600,000 cars.
The AfDB will administer the new financing and monitor the programme, which will begin in the first quarter of 2025.
The five target countries, through their respective ministries responsible for finance and agriculture, will implement it over six years with the project interventions expected to benefit targeted communities for 25 years
The Young Advocates for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future (YASIF) have trained over 2,000 women in six communities in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, on how to transform plastic waste into shoes, bags, and other household products.
Participants at the closing ceremony of the Waste Free Community Project grassroots capacity building programme in Abuja
This effort, according to the non-profit organisation, was designed to promote environmental sustainability by significantly reducing plastic garbage in the targeted areas, namely Karonmajiji, Durunmi, Galadimawa, Jahi, Abaji, and Paiko.
Following the successful conclusion of this life-changing programme, the beneficiaries, the majority of whom are young people, are expected to apply their newly learnt skills to contribute to the country’s socioeconomic growth through innovative waste management and upcycling techniques. They will also act as ambassadors in their local communities, advocating behavioural change and encouraging community involvement in environmental stewardship.
Speaking at the capacity building programme’s closing ceremony in Abuja on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, Blessing Ewa, the founder of YASIF, hinted that the initiative, titled Waste Free Community Project, began in 2022 by sensitising local communities about sustainable plastic management.
So, after successfully teaching people about the value of plastic waste, Ewah – who expressed her happiness over the accomplishments the programme has recorded since its inception – said that they then decided to train and empower them in upcycling to help women and youths use plastics to make finished products that they can sell and make money.
“It is our way of engaging them to help promote the economy,” she said, pointing to the closing ceremony, which allowed the beneficiaries from the various communities to showcase everything they had accomplished during their training.
In line with YASIF’s objective of changing the public’s perception of plastics as waste, the environmental rights advocate expounded that this belief informed her group’s first call to action of letting people know that these things have value, which is what “we have been doing over the years.”
When asked about how she and her team intend to spread the initiative beyond Abuja, Ewa summarised that the project’s overall goal is to help grassroots communities develop a climate-conscious mindset.
“Our aim is to ensure that we visit as many grassroots communities as possible across Nigeria, helping them to know the value in plastics and empowering them to take up initiatives that promote the circular economy,” she stated.
The project, according to Mrs. Falmata Bukar-kolo, a deputy director in the Federal Ministry of Environment’s Solid Waste Management department, is in line with the government’s intervention programme, which was designed to empower women and youth through waste entrepreneurship. She added that it also addresses the issues preventing proper waste management through value addition and foster private sector involvement in the waste management value chain.
Waste management, Bukar-kolo went on to explain, has been a major problem in the country ever since the post-independence era. According to her, the volume and complexity of refuse generation have continuously increased over this time.
This, she elaborated, is because the increase in socio-economic development, industrialisation, and technological advancements, which resulted in urban drift and pollution explosion, was never accompanied by adequate plans and infrastructural facilities to effectively accommodate the sudden changes.
In light of this, the ministry’s representative bemoaned the fact that these enormous modifications were nevertheless responsible for the creation, buildup, and obstruction of debris, which has now overtaken the nation’s drainage systems and occupied a larger portion of the cities’ streets.
“We are calling for a massive campaign of civic action,” she said, to promote the principles and practices of circular economy.
HRH Yunusa Abdullahi, District Head of Karonmajiji, one of the communities that benefitted from the programme, thanked YASIF for its thoughtfulness in helping to empower his people. According to him, this action will go a long way towards reducing social vices, especially among the youths in the area.
Therefore, he called on the government at all levels to support YASIF in what it’s doing to expand its work beyond the capital city to other parts of the country.
The Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), a non-profit organisation, informally interacted with a gathering of civil society players and media practitioners on Monday, September 2, 2024, as it opened its offices in Ikeja, Lagos.
Chima Williams, Executive Director of EDEN, and Philip Jakpor, Board member of EDEN, welcomed guests and shared information concerning the new organisation’s focus and strategies.
L- R: Philip Jakpor, Board member of Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN); Abayomi Francis, Executive Director of Peace and Development Project (PEDEP); Chima Williams, Executive Director of EDEN; Vicky Urenma, Executive Director of Child Health Organisation; and Abiodun Bakare, Secretary, Lagos Chapter of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreation Services Employees (AUPCTRE), at the opening of EDEN Lagos officeA cross section of guests at the opening of EDEN office in Lagos
