Environment
Minister Wants Reps To Tackle Artisanal Refining
The Minister of State for Environment, Chief (Mrs.) Sharon Ikeazor, has called on members of the House Committee on Host Communities to help in addressing the activities of artisanal refining in Ogoniland.
She made this appeal during her interactive session with members of the House Committee on Host Communities.
The Minister of State expressed appreciation to the committee for its keen interest and follow-up on the progress of work on the Ogoni clean-up project. Chief Ikeazor in her brief, informed members of the committee that the Ogoni clean-up project is a priority project for the President, pledging that she will do all that is required to ensure that the people of Ogoni get the full benefit from the project.
She informed the committee that she recently held a stakeholders engagement with the Ogoni communities in Bori, to enable her interface with the owners of the project and get a firsthand information on their expectations and concerns about the project.
Giving her brief, Ikeazor disclosed that the long-awaited water for the people of Ogoni has been addressed as six water contractors are currently working to provide potable water in Ogoniland, while additional 12 water contractors will soon be engaged. She informed the committee that HYPREP has completed nineteen (19) of the twenty-one (21) lots in Phase 1 Batch 1 remediation works, eighteen (18) lots have been certified and closed out by NOSDRA while the remaining two (2) lots are at different stages of completion. She further explained that in 2020, contracts were awarded for the
Phase 1 Batch 2 works of thirty-six (36) lots, which comprises twenty-nine (29) soil remediation and seven (7) lots in Tier 2 (T-2) assessment of groundwater. She informed the members that the seven (7) lots for assessment of groundwater have since been completed while remediation works on the twenty-nine (29) lots are at different stages of completion. She was happy to announce to the Committee that fourteen (14) remediation lots on this phase have been completed, two (2) have been certified and closed out by NOSDRA while others are awaiting NOSDRA certification.
The Minister also informed the committee that HYPREP is working with UNEP to carry out reconnaissance of polluted sites that were not covered in the UNEP Report, this she added is to improve the capacity of farmlands and aquatic environment to support farming and fishing activities. 156 out of 176 sites have been visited by the HYPREP/UNEP tam. She expressed excitement to members of the committee at seeing green vegetation growing on a polluted site that had been remediated in Alode, Eleme Local Government Area when she last visited.
She however noted with great concern cases of vandalisation, contractors not allowed access to sites, delay on some remediation sites caused by restive youths, chieftaincy tussles and communal disputes.
Further in her briefing, the Minister informed the members that HYPREP has trained youths of Ogoni in various aspects of remediation and has created over 2300 jobs. Furthermore, Ikeazor said HYPREP has designed programs to provide alternative livelihood for the people of Ogoni, adding that youths will be trained to provide surveillance in Ogoni while the livelihood programs will also target those involved in artisanal refining to provide them with alternative means of livelihood.
The Permanent Secretary, Engr. Hassan Musa informed the committee that the Minister has come with the determination and vigor to ensure quality and timely delivery of the project.
The Project Coordinator, Prof. Philip Shekwolo while responding to questions took members of the committee through the process of the soil recovery through natural attenuation and bio-remediation. The PC submitted to the committee a presentation which covered the life cycle of the four (4) thematic areas of the project, namely, remediation, livelihood, water and health.
The Director General of NOSDRA, Mr. Idris Musa told the committee that the teething problems which caused delays in the clean-up project have been addressed. He assured the members that the project will now run smoothly and faster. The DG stated that HYPREP has achieved about 68 percent out of the originally delineated lots.
By: Donatus Ebi
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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