Environment

Implementing Climate Change Agreement

Published

10 years ago

May 2, 2016

Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed

Does Nigeria and the
rest of the international community have the political will to implement the Paris agreement on climate change?
The question was raised by a cross section of participants at recent climate change conference in Port Harcourt.
The conference was organised by Alliance Françoise, Port Harcourt, to create awareness on the impact of climate change on the society.
It would be recalled that over 171 world leaders had met in New York, United States of America, 22 April 2016 to sign the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Agency reports had it that France was the first to sign the Agreement.
It was formed by Marshall Islands, Mauru, Palau, Somalia, State of Palestine, Barbados, Belize and Fiji.
Other signatories include Greenada, Saint Fitts and Nevis, Samoa, Tuualu Maldives, Saint Lucia, Maurtius, Peru, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bulvia Brazil, China, Canada and Italy.
Other countries are expected to sign the Agreement between now and October this year.
The Port Harcourt seminar was attended by cross section of dignitaries from both the public and private sectors.
Specifically at the event were representatives of the Institute of Pollution Studies, Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt Centre for Conflict and Gender Studies, University of Port Harcourt, and the Centre for Development and Support Initiatives (CEDSI).
Also in attendance are the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Onimim Jacks representatives of the Ministries of Environment, Culture and Tourism, Information / Communication and Youth Development.
A documentary with The Theme: “No where to Run: Nigeria Climate And Environmental crisis” opened discussions at the conference.
The state commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Onimim Jacks said that climate change poses a serious challenge to the state especially in the area of Agriculture.She said that the delay in the coming of the rains this year led to the suspension of planting activities by farmers in the state.
The commissioner added that because of the adverse effects of climate change on the state, her ministry is now encouraging more tree programmes across the state.“We are losing our forest resources to desert encroachment. Agriculture is one of the major causes of climate change because we have to deforest.
“We have to find a midway on how best to grow our feed” she said.
Also speaking, the Director Centre for Conflict and Gender Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Dr Fidelis Allen, querried the rationale behind the refusal of the Federal Government to critically examine some aspects of the draft policy in climate change which is already before the Ministry of Environment.
The university don insisted that the government, the petroleum industry and those involved in local refining of fuel need to respect our existence by being able to respond to climate change.
According to him, since the petroleum industry contributes more than 70 percent to climate change, the low urban industry must be made attractive to investors.
On his part, Dr Tubonimi Ideriah of the Institute of Pollution Studies, Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Port Harcourt said that coastal communities are gradually sinking owing to the rising level of sea water.
He said that even people in the North are also experiencing the increasing rate of desert encroachment, adding that the situation should serve as a wake up call to the relevant Authroites to the something.
The university don who described this year as the hottest in recent times, called for drastic measurers to check deforestation.
Dr Ideriah also called on the government to wakeup to its responsibilities of implementing all laws relating to conservation in the country.
“There are enough laws, but the will to implement them is the problem” he said.
The country Director of the Centre for Development and and Support Initiatives (CEDSI), Mrs Mina Ogbanga querried the rationale behind the non domestication of the agreement by Nigerian Government.
Mrs Ogbanga said that the aspect of the Agreement which talked about the reduction of global temperature below 1.5 per cent must be imbibed by all countries.
She said that the increasing level of heart being experienced these days shows that the temperature is getting out of hand.
She also called for measures to address coastal erosion and flooding.
Speaking to newsmen, a director in the state Ministry of Information Communication, Mr Paulinus Nsirim said that what is needed at the moment is action.
He said that the era of talkshop should be gone for good, stressing that both Governments and members of the civil society must begin to act now to protect the environment from destruction.
The Director Alliance Francaise, Port Harcourt, Mrs Helene Geneuu Okutue, said that the Port Harcourt office of Alliance Francaise is the second to organize the climate change conference in the country.
She said that the conference was to create the needed awareness on the impact of climate change with a view to funding solutions to it.
The conference which participants said was coming at the right time, however observed that so long as industrialized countries such as the United States of America, Great Britain, China, Canada, Australia, amongst others, continue to rely on the fossil fuel industry to power their industries, the political will to implement the agreement will be lacking.
In all, the impact of climate change is here and the government must act now.

Environment

AEPB Decried Low Performance Of Waste Evacuator In Abuja

Published

2 days ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has decried the low performance of the waste evacuation and cleaning contractors, engaged by the Federal Capital Territory Administration to keep Abuja clean.

The Director, Mrs Kate Ogbonna gave the assessment during an interactive session with the contractors in Abuja on Friday.

Ogbonna said she was overwhelmed with unsavoury reports from the supervisors who monitor the daily performance of the cleaning and waste contractors.

“The reports at my disposal from our supervisors, who monitor the performance of the contractors are not too good.”

She called on the contractors to brace up and ensure proper and efficient waste evacuation across the Federal Capital City.

She said that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, has been keeping his promise of paying the contractors on time, stressing that they, therefore, have no excuse not to deliver on the terms of agreement.

She acknowledged that there could be challenges, which were normal with every job, and advised the contractors to procure more equipment and engage more hands where necessary, to make their job easy and seamless.

The director reminded the contractors that they signed the contracts on grounds that they were capable, and assured them that the Board would assist where necessary.

Ogbonna explained that the meeting was to educate and guide the contractors on the full weight of their duties as waste managers and evacuators.

“We want them to know that there are standards and what we expect from them. We have set rules and agreements guiding their schedules.

“All we want is for the Federal Capital City to be clean,” she said.

She appealed to residents and institutions doing businesses in the capital city to pay their waste and cleaning bills and procure the right size of waste bins commensurate with their residences and business offices.

She noted that waste removal and management was capital intensive, adding that residents need to do their part while the Board do its part.

“You cannot be owing and expect clinical waste removed.

“You cannot also have a bin meant for one household for a block of 10 flats and expect it to hold the waste you generate until the contractor’s trucks come around. It will definitely overflow and mess up the environment.

“To ensure Abuja capital city remains clean, devoid of pollution and epidemic free, all must do their part,” she said.

In his remarks, Mr Benjamin Enwerem, Director, Solid Waste Management, AEPB, said that some of the contractors have complained that most of the waste on the streets was being generated by night traders and funfare operators.

“These traders and funfare operators generate waste and litter the whole area, thereby, forming illegal waste dumps around residential and business areas.

“We have taken notice of this complaint and we will send our task force after them,” Enwerem said.

On the performances of the contractors, Enwerem said that although there were still lapses, the contractors were doing better by the day, noting that additional capable hands have been injected into the cleaning force.

On his part, Chairman, Association of Solid Waste Contractors, Mallam Ibrahim Babayo, acknowledged the unsatisfactory performance of the contractors and promised that they would improve.

Babayo also promised that the contractors would procure modern equipment and employ more hands to improve on routine evacuation of waste.

Environment

Buildings Destroyed, 40 Injured In Lagos and C’Rivers

Published

2 days ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

No fewer than 40 people sustained injuries, while one person was confirmed dead, in separate tanker-related explosions in Lagos and Cross River states.

In Lagos, the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday along the Lekki–Epe Expressway, around Ologuro Bus Stop, opposite a filling station in the Sangotedo area.

According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, a tipper truck rammed into a gas tanker from behind, sparking a massive fire outbreak.

The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, in a statement, said one person died in the incident, while two others sustained injuries.

“Upon arrival at the scene, it was discovered that a tipper truck rammed into a gas tanker, resulting in a fire outbreak. The driver of the tipper truck died as a result of the impact, while two adult females sustained minor injuries,” he said.

Oke-Osanyintolu attributed the crash to overspeeding and reckless driving, adding that the fire engulfed several roadside shops, causing extensive damage.

Tide source gathered that emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and ambulance officials, were able to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings.

Similarly, the Federal Road Safety Corps, in a statement by the Sector Public Education Officer, Elizabeth Jayeola, confirmed the incident, saying the crash involved a Sinotruck tipper and a Mack trailer.

“A total of four male adults were involved. One person died, one was injured, while two were unhurt. The crash was caused by speed violation, which led to loss of control and collision,” she said.

Jayeola added that the impact triggered a fire that left the tipper driver burnt beyond recognition, while his assistant sustained injuries.

According to her, three warehouses and about 10 roadside shops, including a gym and a generator house, were affected before firefighters brought the situation under control.

Several vehicles, including buses and cars parked within the affected area, were also damaged.

In a separate incident in Calabar, Cross River State, no fewer than 38 persons sustained varying degrees of burns following a gas explosion at a filling station.

The explosion reportedly occurred during the transfer of gas from a storage tank to a service tank when a hose detached, causing gas to leak into the surrounding area.

An eyewitness in a video, Ekanem Essien, described the moment as chaotic, likening the explosion to a bomb blast.

“The only thing we heard was a loud explosion. Everywhere was in confusion. I had to rush my baby out and grab my documents. We could not even reach the fire service in time,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Sunday Eitokpah, in a statement, said the leakage quickly escalated into a fire, leaving residents with little time to escape.

“Several residents sustained injuries, primarily burns, and those with serious cases have been taken to the Teaching Hospital for treatment,” he said.

Despite the scale of destruction in Calabar, the PPRO confirmed that no death was recorded, while victims were receiving treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

Environment

Why Buildings Keep Collapsing In Nigeria…. NIOB

Published

1 week ago

March 16, 2026

The Tide

The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has attributed the recurring building collapse cases across the country to weak construction laws and failure to hold offenders accountable.

President of the institute, Daniel Kolade, made this known in Abuja at the 2026 Builders Day celebration, themed, “Advocacy and Policy Influence: Towards Sustainable Reforms for a Resilient Built Environment”

He expressed worry that, in spite of concerns over building safety, a key regulatory framework meant to strengthen enforcement within the built environment has remained pending before the National Assembly since 2006.

According to him, the delay has created a situation where those responsible for structural failures often escape punishment.

“Because the enforcement arm of the law is still lying with the National Assembly and has not been passed into law since 2006, the room remains for people to go scot-free when these incidents happen,” Kolade said.

According to Kolade, the lack of consequences encourages negligence on construction sites, as many operators believe little or nothing will happen, even if they violate building regulations.

Kolade cited previous building collapse incidents where, years after the tragedies, no individual had been prosecuted or sanctioned.

“As long as people continue to go free when these things happen, you should expect that it may not stop,” he said.

The NIOB president also said that the growing number of unqualified individuals working on construction sites worsened the problem.

He said it has become common for people without the required training or professional certification to assume technical roles in building projects.

“On most construction sites today, everybody claims to be an engineer, even labourers.

“Without the requisite knowledge and understanding, people just assume roles they are not qualified for,” he said.

Kolade noted that professional builders are regulated by the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), which has the authority to register practitioners and discipline erring members.

He explained that builders found guilty of professional misconduct should face sanctions, including the withdrawal of their practicing licences.

However, he said the absence of a strong enforcement mechanism outside professional bodies makes it difficult to prosecute developers or project promoters who violate construction standards.

“In Nigeria, only one major case in Lagos saw the building promoter go down with the incident.

“In many other cases across the country, those responsible have walked free,” he said.

Kolade stressed that the built environment consists of several specialised professionals, each with defined responsibilities, including builders, architects and engineers.

He said the NIOB remained committed to promoting professionalism, ethical standards and quality assurance within the building industry.

March 13 is observed annually as Builders’ Day to create public awareness about the roles of professional builders and the importance of engaging qualified professionals in construction projects.