Environment

Reactions Trail Another Flood Predictions …As FG Says 178 LGAs May Be Flooded This Year

Published

4 years ago

February 20, 2023

Reactions are now trailing the predictions of another flooding this year.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government, has on Friday in Abuja announced that a total of 178 Local Government Areas in 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory were at risk of high floods this year
Across section of respondents urged government of the affected states and local Government Areas to take immediate measures towards ensuring that the situation does not have much negative impact on the people.
Speaking with The Tide, an Environmentalist prince Sodin Akiagba urged for the construction of internally Displaced Persons camps in flood prone areas.
.He also called for the dredging of the Orashi river to ensure the free flow of water.
Also speaking, a Niger Delta Activist Rev.Sokari Soberekon said government should do something urgently about the impending flood disaster.
He regretted that another flood is coming when people are yet to recover from that of last year.
According to him, communities should be sensitize to be alert this time around stressing that the sufferings of last year should be avoided.
Also speaking, Prince William Chinwo said those in flood ravaged communities should think of ways to relocate to higher ground.
He also called on government to provide logistics to communities to enable them relocate.
It would be recalled that while providing the general highlights of the 2023 Annual Flood Outlook put together by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency and presented to the public by the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu the government said 178 local Government Areas will be affected by flooding this year.
According to the minister,
“The forecasts for 2023 AFO shows that 178 Local Government Areas in 32 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory fall within the highly probable flood risk areas”
He added, “224 Local Government Areas in 35 states of the federation including the FCT fall within the moderately probable flood risk areas. The remaining 402 Local Government Areas fall within the probable flood risk areas.”
The minister outlined the highly probable flood risk states to include Adamawa, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, and Edo.
Others include Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory.
For probable flood risk areas between the months of April and November 2023, Adamu said the level of floods in this category was expected to be high in terms of impact on the population, agriculture, livelihood, livestock, infrastructure and the environment.
“Part of 66 LGAs across the country fall within the highly probable risk areas in the months of Apnl, May and June, while part of 148 LGAs fall in the months of July, August and September, and part of 100 LGAs in the months of October and November 2023,” he stated.
The water resources minister further explained that a moderate impact level of floods were expected in parts of 41 LGAs within the months of April, May and June; and in parts of 199 LGAs within the months of July, August and September; as well as parts of 73 LGAs within the months of October and November 2023.
He said the AFO by NIHSA also showed that coastal flooding would be experienced in Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and Ondo states due to rise in sea level and tidal surge, which would impact on fishing, wildlife habitation and river navigation.
The report stated that flash and urban floods would be experienced in urban city centres across the country.
“Among these cities are Lagos, Kaduna, Suleja, Gombe, Yola, Makurdi, Lafia, Asaba, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Ibadan, Abeokuta. Benin City, Bernin Kebbi, Sokoto, Lokoja, Maiduguri, Kano, Oshogbo, Ado-Ekiti, Abakaliki, Awka, Nsukka, Calabar and Owerri,” Adamu stated.
Meanwhile, the minister pointed out that the AFO was presented to the public on Friday to help the federal and state governments to better prepare for and respond to potential flood events.
“As we learn and recover from the catastrophic effects of the 2022 flood disasters, I have the strong view that the 2023 Annual Flood Outlook will serve as a veritable tool for effective strategic planning to avert loss of lives and property through adequate, coordinated and effective flood early warning and sensitisation, awareness campaigns, improved flood mitigation strategies and preparedness for risk reduction by all stakeholders,” he stated.

By: John Bibor

Environment

Group Urges Youth-Led Climate Action, Accountability

Published

6 days ago

November 9, 2026

The Tide

ActionAid Nigeria has urged young people to take leading roles in driving climate action, strengthening accountability and ensuring the implementation of Nigeria’s climate commitments.Support Charities

Blessing Ifemenam, Programme Adviser, Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA II) Project, ActionAid Nigeria, made the call at the National Conference of Youth on Climate Change (LCOY-Youth COP 2026) on Thursday in Abuja.

The conference, organised by ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) was themed: “Advancing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) Implementation: Youth-Led AI and Climate Finance Capacity Building for a Resilient Nigeria”.

TheTide source reports that the conference is being organised as a key initiative under the SPA II project and the Food and Agriculture unit.

It was to engage a wider cross-section of young people across Nigeria through capacity building, youth engagement among others to identify and address the barriers to youth participation in climate change initiatives

The conference is aimed at empowering young people to showcase ideas, insights and innovations while engaging with policymakers and stakeholders to drive meaningful climate action.

Ifemenam said the conference came at a critical time as Nigeria worked towards implementing its third Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0).

She said young people should be recognised as leaders, advocates, innovators and decision-makers rather than mere participants in climate discussions.

According to her, climate action must be anchored on justice, human rights, equality and accountability, given the disproportionate effects of climate change on vulnerable communities.

“The climate crisis disproportionately affects communities that have contributed least to global emissions, particularly young people, women, girls and other marginalised populations.Track Weather

“Government, civil society organisations, development partners and the private sector must ensure that young people have access to the information, resources and platforms required to influence climate policies,” she said.

Ifemenam said ActionAid was committed to strengthening youth movements, promoting climate-accountable governance and supporting community-led resilience.

She added that the organisation would continue to advocate a just transition that protects livelihoods while creating inclusive opportunities.

On the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in climate action, she said technology could support innovation, evidence generation and advocacy.

She, however, stressed that its application must be inclusive, accessible and responsive to community needs.

“Innovation should not deepen existing inequalities; it should help us address them,” she said.

Ifemenam expressed concern that climate finance and public investments were not adequately reaching communities and young people who needed them most.

She also called for stronger collaboration among government, civil society, development partners and the private sector to ensure accountability for climate commitments.

The programme adviser urged stakeholders to strengthen links between youth-led solutions and policy processes to ensure that young people’s contributions translated into tangible policy influence.

“This conference should go beyond statements of commitment to identify practical actions young people can lead, influence and monitor.

“Let us move from consultation to influence, from commitments to accountability, and from youth participation to youth-led transformation,” she said.

Environment

Stakeholders Call For Establishment Of Ministry Of Waste Resources

Published

6 days ago

November 9, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Lagos’ waste management sector have called for the establishment of a standalone Ministry of Waste Resources to drive reforms, attract investment and strengthen environmental governance.

A summary of the meeting’s proceedings and recommendations was made available to the Tide source on Friday by Mr Philips Obuesi, President and Chief Executive Officer of SWEEP Foundation NG and convener of the Lagos Waste Forum.

According to the summary, the stakeholders made the call at a Lagos Waste Governance Reform meeting on Thursday, proposing the ministry as part of policy recommendations for the incoming state administration in 2027.

The recommendations also covered professional leadership, household waste separation, integration of informal waste workers and improved accountability across Lagos’ waste management system.

The summary indicated that the Lagos Waste Forum was tasked with consolidating citizens’ and industry stakeholders’ recommendations into a policy brief for presentation to the incoming governor.

The proposed document is expected to reflect the concerns of residents, waste generators, recycling businesses, waste pickers and other operators across the waste value chain.

On institutional reform, the stakeholders proposed a dedicated ministry headed by a cabinet level commissioner to coordinate policies that would transform discarded materials into economic resources.

They also advocated appointing experienced waste management professionals to lead the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), with technical competence guiding appointments.

The recommendations further called for separating LAWMA’s regulatory responsibilities from waste collection operations to strengthen oversight and improve service delivery.

The stakeholders also identified the prevailing collection-and-dumping approach as inadequate, advocating a shift towards source separation, recycling, processing and local resource recovery.

They proposed household incentives for waste separation and modular processing plants across local governments to encourage local value addition.

On stakeholder inclusion, the recommendations called for integrating informal waste pickers into formal waste management arrangements, recognising their contributions to recycling and livelihoods.

They also advocated stronger partnerships between private sector participation (PSP) operators and informal collectors, alongside improved occupational protection and community-based waste education.

The summary identified outdated waste collection data as a major obstacle to effective planning, monitoring and enforcement.

To address this, stakeholders recommended street-level data collection, local government performance comparisons and stronger accountability in public spending across the waste value chain.

They also identified registration and evacuation-access challenges as infrastructure gaps requiring attention to improve compliance and enforcement.

The Lagos Waste Forum was further tasked with ensuring women’s perspectives were adequately represented in the proposed policy brief.

Other recommendations included financial incentives for household waste separation, stronger PSP monitoring and community education in local languages.

The proposals build on discussions at the sixth Lagos Waste Forum in 2025, which advocated establishing a standalone Ministry of Waste Resources.

The forum promotes policies that position waste as an economic resource through collaboration among government, industry operators and environmental stakeholders.

The proposed reforms seek to reposition Lagos’ waste sector from conventional refuse collection and disposal towards an inclusive circular economy driven by investment, innovation and resource recovery.

Environment

FG Moves To Phase Out Lead-Based Paints By 2030

Published

2 weeks ago

November 2, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government says it is intensifying efforts to eliminate lead exposure and phase out lead-based paints in Nigeria by 2030.

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr Salihu Usman said this at the 2026 International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week in Abuja .

Usman who was represented by the Director, Department of Pollution Control and Environmental Health in the ministry Mrs Omotunde Adeola said lead poisoning was a preventable environmental and public-health problem, with no known safe exposure.

Usman warned that children, pregnant women and occupationally exposed workers faced significant risks.

He emphasised the need for coordinated action among government agencies, industries, health professionals and civil society organisations to strengthen environmental monitoring, enforce product standards, promote safer alternatives and improve public awareness.

He also highlighted the National Inter-Agency Working Group on Lead Poisoning Elimination and the proposed five-year strategic plan.

Usman urged stakeholders to measure progress through reduced exposure, removal of unsafe products and responsible management of contaminated sites, rather than meetings and policies alone.

He reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to stronger environmental regulation and called for sustained collaboration to protect Nigerians from preventable lead poisoning.

Dr Leslie Adogame, Executive Director, Sustainable Research and Action for Environment Development (SRADeV) cited studies on lead paint and used lead-acid battery recycling, and urged the need for stronger laboratory testing, environmental monitoring, enforcement of standards and safer alternatives.

The director commended stakeholders for supporting efforts to eliminate lead exposure and said that they commemorated the event annually since 2013, collaborating with government institutions, industry players and schools.

He further urged stakeholders to prioritise prevention, environmental remediation and community protection, particularly for children and workers vulnerable to lead poisoning.

Mrs Omotunde Adeola, the Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, in the ministry called for measures to prevent lead poisoning, stating that there was need to translate detection into effective action.

Adeola, who was represented by Mr Idris Abdullahi, Director, National Ozone Office, in the ministry, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s target of phasing out lead-based paints by 2030, stressing that success must be measured by reduced exposure and lives protected.

She highlighted key developments, including a November 2025 capacity-building workshop on portable X-ray fluorescence analysers, which equipped 35 participants with skills for screening lead in paints and consumer products.

She said that the ministry, with support from Resolve to Save Lives and other stakeholders, had validated a training toolkit for Environmental Health Officers to improve lead-poisoning prevention, detection and response.

Adeola urged manufacturers, importers, retailers, regulators and communities to comply with product standards, improve surveillance and promote safer waste-management practices.

She also cited the ministry’s April 2026 pilot programme for environmentally sound management of small-sized waste batteries in the Federal Capital Territory.

The Tide source reports that awards were presented to institutions, associations, paint manufacturers and raw material suppliers, acknowledging their contributions to Nigeria’s transition towards the production and use of lead-free paints.

The awardees are Balarabe Lawal, the Minister of Environment, Mrs Omotunde Adeola

Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Development and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.

Others are the Paint Manufacturers Association; Paints and Coating Manufacturing Nigeria, Chemicals and Allied Products (CAP) Plc; Prestige Paint Nigeria Ltd.; and Parco Enterprise Nigeria Ltd.