Environment
ERA Wants State of Emergency On Gas Flaring
Environmental Right Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on Niger Delta environment to end gas flaring in the region.
The Executive Director, ERA/FoEN Dr Godwin Ojo, made the call in Port Harcourt, Rivers, while celebrating the World Environmental Day tagged: “Air Pollution”.
He said that the Federal Government should delineate the Niger Delta as ecological disaster area, establish a cleanup and remediation fund for the cleanup of the region to address the severe impacts of oil operations on communities and the environment.
Ojo said that Nigeria could survive without oil by investing in renewable energy sources.
“Government should immediately divest public finance, loans and subsidies from fossil fuel exploration and channel such as resources to investment in renewable energy sources to improve energy access for all.
“Government should decentralise energy production and supply system through an energy democracy transition model that allows communities and individuals to be co-producers of energy as well as suppliers as end users,” he said.
Ojo said that the vision could be achieved through mini-grid, feed-in tariffs, and off-grid system to promote environmental sustainability and generate green jobs that were environmentally-friendly.
The director said that Federal Government should dedicate a percentage of the national annual budget for research, developments, production and supply of renewable energy systems to improve solar energy access that was currently low in the country.
He urged the Federal Government to be courageous to ban diesel and petrol generator sets in ministry, departments and agencies and use the funds to provide solar energy systems for the offices.
“Government should also set a deadline to halt the importation and use of diesel, petrol cars and other means of transportation to achieve the 2030 environmental target and save Nigeria from being a dumping ground for obsolete cars from industrialised countries.’’
He said that government should demonstrate seriousness on environmental protection and establish a cleanup and remediation fund of 100 billion dollars for the cleanup of the entire Niger Delta to restore the environment and sustain rural livelihoods.
Mr Mike Karikpo, a member of the group also called on journalists to investigative the extent of the OGONI cleanup exercise before putting anything to the public domain.
Karikpo urged journalists to know the sites for the cleanup, find out if the standards set for the exercise was in place so that neighbouring communities would not suffer from the pollution caused waste dumped for them after the cleanup.
He said that Shell Petroleum Company should be withdrawn as member of the board of committee in the cleanup of Ogoni because as the pollutant, it would speak in the company’s favour.
The Lagos State Government has commenced installation of new pumps at the Iju Headworks and Akute water intake stations.
The Tide source reports that the project is aimed at increasing water production, improving operational efficiency and expanding access to potable water across the state.
A statement issued by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) over the weekend said the project was approved and funded by the state government.
It said the installation was part of the rehabilitation of the Iju Headworks and Akute Intake Station under Lots 1, 2 and 3.
According to LWC, the rehabilitation is designed to modernise water production facilities, strengthen operations and improve public water supply.
The Network of Female Professionals in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Nigeria (FEMinWASH) and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) are set to partner on gender-responsive systems strengthening, capacity development and WASH initiatives.
The partnership was proposed during a courtesy visit by a FEMinWASH delegation, led by its President and Convener, Dr Boluwaji Onabolu, to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, in Abuja.
Onabolu, who conveyed greetings from FEMinWASH Patron, retired Engineer Ebele Okeke, commended Walson-Jack for upholding the Federal Civil Service’s EPIC values of Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-centred leadership.
She praised the HoCSF’s efforts in advancing gender inclusion in WASH and the civil service, including the development of the National Gender in Water Resources Mainstreaming Policy and mentoring programmes for women leaders.
Onabolu also highlighted the INSPIRE (Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women) programme, aimed at strengthening women’s leadership and inclusion.
She said FEMinWASH was seeking a formal partnership and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the OHCSF to support INSPIRE, WASH advocacy, capacity building and the institutionalisation of Gender-Responsive Budgeting across the Federal Civil Service.
Responding, Walson-Jack commended the diverse expertise of the FEMinWASH delegation, noting that professionals in WASH, water resources, environment, public health, town planning and education were critical to addressing development challenges.
She welcomed the proposed partnership, assuring that the OHCSF was ready to collaborate with FEMinWASH on civil service strengthening and WASH-related initiatives.
The meeting agreed to further engagements with Dr Garba, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), and Ms Funke Baruwa, Lead for Partnerships at the OHCSF, to advance the collaboration.
The visit ended with a photo session and exchange of gifts between both parties.
The Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, commended the community on the massive turn-out for sanitation.
He also appreciated the chairman and his team for their support to the ministry.
Rotimi-Akodu urged the community to continue to support the council and by extension, the government, by participating in the exercise and engaging in proper disposal of wastes.
“We have heard your appeal, and I assure you that Lagos government will do something about it.
“Although we have PSP operators in this axis, maybe they were assigned to other areas.
“However, I will ensure something is done and residents will observe the improvement.” the advisor said.
Also, the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LASMA), Mr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said that waste management was a collective exercise.
Gbadegbesin, therefore, appealed to the residents to always dispose of their wastes properly.
“You must bag your waste at home. Make sure you have a bin to keep the waste for few days, even if there is a delay by the PSP operator.
“Make sure you pay your PSP operator on time because there is no way they can provide that service if you are not paying them regularly.
The Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Go Green Nigeria Foundation, , has called for more stringent government efforts toward prohibition of illegal sand mining in Rivers, following erosion threats.
The founder of NGO Dr John Babington made the call on last Monday in Umuechem, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers, to commemorate the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems.
Babington, who sensitised the community on dangers associated with crude sand mining, donated some trees as part of efforts to promote tree planting and revitalisation of the altered mangrove ecosystem.
During an interactive session with the community, the environmental expert identified various concerns and commended residents for their willingness to work together to end the excavation.
He, however, dismissed the notion that illegal sand mining was due to poverty and unemployment, saying, ”the business is a capital intensive venture that could only be operated by a rich cartel.”
He said that though the business might have provided menial jobs for few youths, it had not in any manner addressed poverty.
Presently, the landscape is altered with an artificial river encroaching a major access road and threatening public safety,” he said.
Also speaking, a senior Chief in the community, Chief Gilbert Otamiri commended the NGO for the initiative and promised to collaborate with them.
Gilbert, however, urged the government to tackle unemployment which, he said, was a major promoter of the illegal excavation
Also speaking, The Community Development Chairman (CDC) Mr Agbam Mgbechi thanked the group for the sensitisation and donation of trees.
He called on the government and concerned induviduals to emulate the group by making efforts towards salvaging the area from further environmental damage.
