Environment

Dev Partners Task C’River, Benue On Counterpart Funds

Published

11 years ago

January 25, 2016

The National Coordinator
of Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborations Councils (WSSCC) Nigeria, Mrs Priscilla Achakpo, has appealed to the Cross River and Benue State Governments to pay up their counterpart funds to expand rural sanitation and hygiene promotion.
Mrs Achiakpa told newsmen in Abuja that it was important for the state governments to pay up their counterpart funds to reduce incidences of possible outbreak of preventable diseases.
She stated that such timely intervention would matchup to the Global Sanitation fund (GSF) of five million dollars to meet the sanitation and hygiene challenges in the country.
“In June 2014, the Benue and Cross Rivers State Governments indicated commitment to match the initial list financing of 5 million dollars .
These funds will expand the Rural Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Nigeria (RUSHPIN) programme to three additional Local Government Areas in each state.
“The Federal Government further committed one million dollars to ensure that sanitation facilities are in place in all public places and institutions across the 12 targeted Local Governments.
“At the programme’s mid-point, the Benue and Cross River States are yet to deliver on their . pledges,” she said.
Achakpa said the group had in September 2015 carried out evidence-based advocacy campaigns to Benue state government, saying he confirmed that the counterpart fund was available.
“ One of the things that we must emphasise is the counterpart funding, it is very key.
“In Benue, we visited the governor in 2015, he promised and said the counterpart funding was there, saying we should go ahead and access it.
“We have not been able to visit the Cross River State governor because their commissioners were sworn in only last November.
“Presently, we have not been able to get the funds to enable us scale up access to rural sanitation and hygiene,” she said.
The national coordinator also urged the three tiers of government to encourage policy makers to increase public funding for improved sanitation and hygiene.
She said diseases caused by poor Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) are the world’s leading causes of under-five mortality, saying Nigeria has one of the highest rates of these diseases in Africa.
It would recalls that in June 2014, Nigeria benefitted from the Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) of five million dollars to meet the sanitation and hygiene challenges in the country.
The RUSHPIN is an initiative of Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Water Resources and the Global Sanitation Fund, the grant giving body of the UN WSSCC.
RUSHPIN represents a landmark transition from the traditional donor-recipient relationship of most development programmes.
The innovation sees international funding matched by national, regional and local funding, setting a framework for replication to achieve the national target of an ODF Nigeria by 2025.

Environment

LWC, Julius Berger seek stronger coordination on Lagos infrastructure

Published

2 days ago

August 17, 2026

The Tide

The Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) has commenced discussions with Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to strengthen coordination between water and road infrastructure projects.

This is contained in a statement issued by the corporation.

The corporation said the engagement followed a courtesy and familiarisation visit led by its Managing Director, Mr Mukhtaar Tijani, to Julius Berger’s Ijora office.

It said the visit was aimed at strengthening institutional relations and creating opportunities for deeper collaboration between both organisations.

The corporation stressed the importance of cordial relationships with neighbouring organisations and strategic stakeholders to promote future collaboration.

The meeting focused on road construction, water pipeline protection, water infrastructure development and sustainable water supply across Lagos Island and its environs.

Both organisations highlighted the need for early communication and technical coordination to prevent conflicts between road projects and existing water infrastructure.

Julius Berger Regional Commercial Manager, Region West, Mr Alexander Bauer, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to sustainable engineering solutions rather than short-term fixes.

Bauer stressed the importance of early stakeholder engagement and proper coordination before construction activities begin.

The meeting also examined access to project drawings and technical information required to improve coordination between water and road infrastructure projects.

Julius Berger explained that releasing detailed project drawings remained subject to approval from the appropriate client.

Both organisations therefore agreed on the need to engage the Lagos State Government to secure necessary approvals and strengthen technical collaboration.

The discussions also focused on accurate pipeline information and its importance in planning future water infrastructure and urban development projects.

The LWC delegation raised concerns about uncoordinated borehole drilling and its potential effects on groundwater resources and the ecosystem.

Participants noted that stronger public water supply systems could reduce dependence on individual boreholes and help protect underground water resources.

Construction & Maintenance

They also agreed on the importance of sharing information on construction activities, road conditions, project schedules and potential disruptions.

Security and community considerations were also discussed, with Julius Berger highlighting its engagement with relevant authorities on security infrastructure within the area.

The meeting ended with a shared commitment to open communication, stronger technical coordination and exploring further opportunities for collaboration.

The engagement is expected to strengthen synergies between water and road infrastructure planning and support resilient and sustainable infrastructure development across Lagos.

Environment

IYD: Climate experts advocate investment in African youth

Published

2 days ago

August 17, 2026

The Tide

Some Climate Experts across Africa have called for investment in African youth to enhance future security.

They made the call on Wednesday during a webinar organised by Planet, People and Peace Foundation (PPPF), a non-governmental organisation, to observe 2026 International Youth Day (IYD).

According to them, there is a need to invest, listen and create opportunities for young African people.

The Tide source reports that the 2026 theme of the IYD is “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations’’.

Miss Bisi Kumuyi, the Secretary, Climate Beyond Border Caravan (CBBC), Nigeria, who canvassed for investment in youth, said the future of Africa would be determined by the opportunities the continent created for its young people today.

The CBBC, an initiative of PPPF, is a pan-African, youth-led campaign promoting climate action, cross-border cooperation and green economic transformation across the continent.

‘‘As Africa joins the rest of the world to commemorate International Youth Day on Aug. 12, 2026, we celebrate the energy, creativity, resilience and determination of young Africans who continue to shape the continent’s present and future.

‘‘This year’s theme reminds us that young people across Africa live in different social, economic and cultural circumstances.

‘‘They share common aspirations: access to quality education, decent employment, innovation, peace, inclusion, environmental sustainability and opportunities to fulfil their potential,’’ she said.

Also speaking, Mrs Nouran Farouk, an Egyptian Climate Activist, called for urgent investment in Africa’s youth.

According to her, Africa is the world’s youngest continent, and its youthful population represented one of its greatest assets.

Environment

PWDs: CCD Unveils Report On Climate Change Impacts, Urges Implementation

Published

2 days ago

August 17, 2026

The Tide

The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has unveiled a research report on impacts of climate change on Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), calling for its implementation in the country.

The Acting Director CCD, Mr Godwin Unumeri, made the call at the public presentation of the report titled: “Disability-Inclusive Greenhouse Gas Emission and Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Nigeria” on Wednesday in Lagos.

The event brought together government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, persons with disabilities and other key stakeholder to foster dialogue, collaboration and stronger commitment to disability-inclusive climate change adaptation and mitigation in Nigeria.

Unumeri urged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and policy commitment toward building climate resilience and ensuring the inclusion of persons with disabilities in Nigeria’s climate response.

He noted that valuable insights and recommendations from stakeholders at a validation workshop in February had been incorporated into the report.

According to him, effective implementation of the recommendations requires sustained collaboration, strong policy commitment, adequate resource mobilisation and coordinated action across sectors.

“By working together, we can translate these findings into practical interventions that strengthen climate resilience and ensure the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in Nigeria’s climate response,” he said.

In her remarks, the General Manager, Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, urged the stakeholders to ensure that the report would be translated into practical interventions to enhance full inclusion of PWDs particularly in climate change policies.