Environment
FG Set To Implement Plan On Climate Change
The Federal Ministry of
Environment is to begin the implementation of a succession plan to involve the youth in climate change activities, an official has said.
The acting Director in the Forestry Department of the ministry, Mr Salisu Dahiru, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja recently.
Dahiru, who is the Lead Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) Negotiator for Nigeria, said the ministry had included some younger officers to participate in the ongoing climate change conference in Poland.
The ongoing 19th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP-19), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC) in Warsaw, Poland, which started on Monday is expected to end November, 22.
Dahiru said: “The Ministry of Environment has given the directive that we must begin to implement a robust succession plan.
“There has been a concerted effort to involve young officers in the team going (to Poland); these are officers that are two or three years in service.
“Nobody teaches negotiation, you have to learn it; you have to be there to participate and get the experience.
“We normally do training annually to prepare us and we have a number of professors that are on the team.’’
Dahiru, however, expressed optimism that the next crop of officers that would take over from the senior ones would be knowledgeable enough to participate in the climate change negotiation business.
He recalled that his first participation in the climate change negotiation process, in 2009, exposed him to environmental issues, saying that if an officer worked very hard, he would excel within two years in the process.
According to him, the Conference of Parties (COP) on Climate Change is a yearly event that affords countries the opportunity to negotiate on climate change issues.
Dahiru observed that the entire negotiation process would be on as long as the issue of climate change remained a threat to human existence.
However, he said that specific milestones had been achieved in the areas of mitigation and adaptation to climate change during the past conferences.
He listed those achievements to include Bali Action Plan, Copenhagen Accord and Durban Platform, which, he said, were names or tags given to specific decisions of each of those conferences.
He said: “Each COP will have a set of achievements at the end of the negotiations.
“Countries go to these negotiations (conferences) to protect their own interest because climate change is about development; some of the decisions that are usually taken have implications for your development.
“They have implications for your security, for economic welfare and well-being and they have implications for the effort that you need to undertake to ensure that your development is in tune with global best practises.’’
L-R: Director, Ogun State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Timothy Oyenekan, Zonal Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (Nema), South West Zone, Mr Iyiola Akande, General Manager, Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Osasona Olufemi and National Coordinator, Centre For Disaster and Crisis Management, Mr Kolawole Hamzat, during the Consultative Forum on Camp Management in Ibadan, recently.
Photo: NAN
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.
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