By Gabriel Agbeja

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted dust haze condition from Friday to Sunday.

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Thursday in Abuja predicted dust haze conditions over the northern region on Friday.

It further predicted horizontal visibilty of 1km to 3km and visibility range of less than or equal to 1000m over Katsina, Kano, Sokoto and Gusau during the forecast period.

According to it, the North Central cities should be in dust haze condition with visibilty range of 2km to 5km within the forecast period.

The agency, however, forecast patches of few clouds over parts of southern Jos and southern Kaduna within the forecast period.

“Hazy conditions with patches of clouds are anticipated over the inland and coastal cities of the South throughout the forecast period.

“With chances of few thunderstorms over parts of Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Cross-river states during the afternoon and evening periods,” it said.

According to NiMet, dust haze condition with horizontal visibility range of 2km to 5km is anticipated over the northern region throughout the forecast period on Saturday.

The agency envisaged the North Central cities to be in dust haze condition throughout the forecast period.

It further envisaged the inland cities of the South to be in hazy condition with patches of clouds within the forecast period.

NiMet predicted cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine over the Coastal cities of the South with prospects of few thunderstorms over parts of Lagos, southern Ogun, Edo, Rivers and Cross River states during the afternoon and evening periods.

“On Sunday, Sunny and hazy condition is expected over the Northern and North central cities of the country within the forecast period.

“Cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are expected over the inland cities of the South throughout the forecast period.

“Partly cloudy to cloudy skies are expected over the coastal cities with prospects of few thunderstorms over parts of Rivers, Bayelsa and Cross River states during the forecast period,” it said. (NAN)

By Oboh Linus

The Nasarawa State Government has warned loggers and herders not to encroach into the forest reserve at the Farin Ruwa waterfalls in the state.

The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Dogo Shammah, gave the warning on Friday in Wamba Local Government Area (LGA) when he visited the waterfalls.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Shammah visited the falls alongside Mr Musa Abubakar, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources.

Shammah restated the resolve of the state government to check the activities of loggers and herders in order to protect the forest reserve.

He said that that his ministry would collaborate with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in protecting the forest and waterfalls.

According to the information commissioner, the visit to the Farin Ruwa waterfalls and forest reserve is to form a common front to preserve and develop them.

Shammah explained that the effort to develop the waterfalls is in line with Gov. Abdullahi Sule’s policy to diversify the state economy.

“One of the sectors the governor has keyed into is tourism that abounds in the state. Our mission is to follow up the process and fast track the development of Farin Ruwa waterfalls.

“This waterfalls is one of the best in Africa; it is the intention of the government to showcase this natural environment to the world so that tourists and investors can come to the state,’’ he said.

Shammah restated the state government’s plan to build a “Film City’’ at Farin Ruwa, as well as Nasarawa Salt Village in Keana LGA.

He said that the city will create opportunities for film makers to exploit the rich cultural heritage in the state.

On his part, Abubakar urged the Farin Ruwa community to take ownership of the falls and forest reserve.

The commissioner for environment and natural resources assured the villagers that government is committed to harnessing the potential of the forest reserve.

He warned loggers and herders against encroaching into the forest, saying that anyone caught would be prosecuted.

“This environment (reserve) is owned by the government, grazing and cutting of trees are prohibited here.

“The people should know that wealth has come to them. If this is your commonwealth there is need to take care of it,” Abubakar said. (NAN)

By Vivian Emoni

The Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in collaboration with Global Environmental Facility (GEF) on Thursday launched waste recycling programme and donated 150 bins to Government Science and Technological College, FCT.

Mrs Ronke Olubamise, National Coordinator, GEF, at the launching in Abuja, said that the bins provided were to encourage the students to understand the importance of waste management and put it into practice.

“There is the need for us to conserve and to use the natural resources in a very responsible manner.

“The way we use waste or discard waste is very bad; it has been very irresponsible, especially in this part of the world where people are not being controlled in a better way to manage waste.

“We discovered that it is easier to go through the younger ones who are still developing, who are still learning, for them to know the importance of using natural resources in a sustainable manner.

“So this is why we are targeting the students in the secondary schools and this waste recycling is one of the projects we are doing to ensure that waste is managed appropriately,” she said.

Olubamise said that the organisations were targeting all the Government secondary schools in the FCT, adding that they had already started extending the projects to the schools.

She said that the reason the organisations started with the Government Science and Technological College was because of the interest already shown by the students and the school’s administration.

“We decided to start with the school because you teach a school where you have seen so much of enthusiasm, where they have taken efforts and action to show that they are really serious.

“Another reason we chose the school is that this particular school in 2019 won an international award on art competition project with other government schools.”

The national coordinator advised the students to take the programme seriously adding that the project could offer them more opportunities in the future.

Mr Joseph Ibrahim, Programme Manager of GIFSEP, who represented Mr David Terungwa, its Executive Director, said that the aim of the project was to enlighten the students on how to address environmental issues.

Terungwa said that the proper way to improve in waste management was to educate them on how to make better use of the bins both in the schools and at their various homes.

He said that the easier way of handling waste management was to start with the students in various schools, adding that the students would be able to transfer the knowledge to other people around their environment.

He said that the organisation had planted a lot of trees in the school as well as other government schools and established environmental clubs in many FCT schools.

The executive director said that the organisation had also embarked on sensitisation to the importance of the ecosystem while efforts were on to ensure that environmental challenges were being address in the country.

He added that the 150 bins provided by the organisations would enable the students to practice waste segregation to achieve waste management in an environment.

“This will help them know the right waste to reuse, recycle and the ones to discard.

Mrs Mercy Orishadipe, Eco Club Matron and a Senior English teacher of the school, expressed gratitude to the organisations on their efforts to ensure that environmental issues were address in the schools.

Orishadipe said that the effort of the organisations had really changed the school’s environment, adding that the trees they planted and the knowledge imparted on the students would help them to address environmental challenges.

She, however, advised other teachers to be involved in environmental programmes as such would help to improve the environment for the better.

Master Daniel Emmanuel, an SS 2 student, said that the programme had really helped the students and the teachers in ensuring that the school environment was clean and safe.

Emmanuel thanked the two organisations for providing the bins and imparting greater knowledge on how to control waste management adding that the students would extend the knowledge to their various homes. (NAN)

By Victor Adeoti

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Victims Support Fund (VSF) Taskforce on coronavirus, on Wednesday donated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities to three Secondary schools in Osun.

The WASH facilities, it said, is to help in curbing transmission of the COVID-19.

The WASH facilities donated to each of the schools included 4,000 solar-powered borehole, four hand wash stations, 2,000 pieces of reusable facemasks, five pieces of four-litre hand sanitisers, 120 bottles of 500ml liquid hand wash and five cartoon of bleach.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the three Secondary schools that benefited from the donation are Okoyekola High School, Ijabe, Ansarudeen Grammar School, Iloro, Ile-Ife, and Baptist High School, Ikire.

Speaking at Baptist Grammar School, Ikire, Mrs Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, Chairperson for COVID-19 taskforce of VSF, said the donation is an intervention aimed at minimising the spread of coronavirus.

Akerele-Ogunsiji said the Chairman of VSF, Retired Gen.Theophilus Danjuman, was passionate about providing succour to vulnerable Nigerians as well as institutional support to agencies involved in the fight against COVID-19.

Akerele-Ogunsiji, who noted that the donation is part of the ongoing COVID-19 intervention by the organisation, said hand washing remains a singular preventive measure against the virus.

She urged the school management to ensure proper maintenance and adequate use of the facilities, adding that VSF monitoring and evaluation team will be visiting from time to time to ascertain the maintenance of the facilities.

Akerele-Ogunsiji said 54 Secondary Schools in 18 states across the six geo-political zones will benefit from the WASH donation by VSF, adding that this will cost the organisation more than N200 million.

” We commenced the VSF COVID-19 intervention in Abuja on April 14, 2020, on the instruction of Gen. Danjuma to go round the country to provide food, Personal Protection Equipment, medical items, testing kits, among others, to contain COVID-19.

“We have completed the first and the second phases of the intervention and we are now at the third phase of providing WASH facilities to schools in the country,” Akerele-Ogunsiji said.

She said VSF had donated 300,000 hand washing soap to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and vulnerable families in the country.

Meanwhile, Gov. Gboyega Oyetola, during the courtesy visit of the VSF team to his office, commended the organisation for the good gesture.

Represented by his deputy, Mr Benedict Alabi, Oyetola said the state government will continue to do its best to contain the virus. (NAN)

By Muhammad Nasir Bashir

Alhaji Adamu Fanini, Secretary to the Jigawa State Government (SSG), has disclosed that the government had inaugurated a nine-member flood control committee, with a mandate to assist in mitigating the menace of flooding in the state.

A statement issued in Dutse, on Monday, by Alhaji Isma’il Ibrahim, the spokesperson, office of the SSG, quoted Fanini as saying this at the inauguration of the committee.

He also stated that the committee’s Terms of Reference was to identify critical areas affected along the riverbank, as well as identify possible causes of the damage, within the affected locations, and advise government on the appropriate measures to check the menace.

He disclosed that the committee had Alhaji Hamza Muhammad, the Special Adviser to the State Government, on Community and Social Inclusion, as Chairman and Mr Bello Idris, Director, Flood and Erosion Control, Ministry of Environment, as Secretary.

According to the statement, other members of the committee included, Mr Sule Kiyawa, Special Assistant to the Government on Environment, Mr Kabiru Muhammad, Director Planning, Research and Statistics,  Ministry of Water Resources.

Also included are:  Mr Hussaini Muhammad, Director, Nature Conservation, Ministry of Environment, and Alhaji Yusuf Sani, Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

Mr Muhammad Garba, Director, Irrigation, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Mahadi Isyaku, Assistant Director, Flood and Erosion Control, Ministry of Environment and a representative from the Jigawa State Road Maintenance Agency (JIRMA), made up the rest of the members (NAN)

By Vivian Emoni

Mr Seyifunmi Adebote, an environmentalist, has called on the Federal Government to involve the youth while negotiating on climate change issues, to help tackle environmental challenges in the country.

Adebote made the call while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

He said that other countries gave opportunities to their youths in the UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) and negotiation on climate change issues.

Adebote said young people brought dynamic climate-responses and innovation that would help track effort of the government, industries and businesses; ultimately.

“Young people monitor and support Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) process ensuring the intended results were achieved in other countries.

“Nigerian youths cannot be bystanders in the global climate conversation. The youths must contribute actively to the process,’’ he said.

Adebote said that COP26 would be holding in Glasgow on Nov. 1 to 12, to discuss the commitment made by various countries in the implementation of their NDC.

He explained that NDC was a Paris Agreement by which about 190 countries including Nigeria committed themselves to the reduction in national emissions and adaptation to impact of climate change.

Adebote said that involvement of the youth was not about number of young people that travelled to Glasgow for COP26, but the tangible ideas that they could incorporate into the negotiation framework.

He made reference to the recent Climate Innovation Hub which brought together over 1,000 youth-led solutions designed to address climate change in Nigeria.

Adebote also explained how DEAN Initiative through its Road to COP26 project, directly engaged one million Nigerian school children with 2,000 volunteers in 4,000 identified schools in the country.

He advised the youth to participate and show more interest on environmental issues to enable government tackle climate change and other environmental challenges in the country. (NAN)

By Funmilola Gboteku

The UK Government, on Sunday said it would be working with Nigeria to address the challenges of climate change in the country.

The British High Commission in Nigeria made this known in statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

It said this was discussed on Feb. 11 and 12 when the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) President-Designate, Alok Sharma MP, visited Nigeria.

According to the commission, the President-Designate, met with leaders from government and private sector and civil society, stressing the need for urgent climate change action ahead of the UK-hosted COP26 Summit in November in Glasgow.

It said the COP26 summit would bring parties together to accelerate action toward the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The commission said Sharma held high-level talks with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Environment, Muhammad Mahmood and the Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, among others.

Speaking at the end of his visit, COP26 President-Designate, Alok Sharma said, “As the incoming COP Presidency, the UK takes its role seriously and seeks to raise ambition to tackle climate change globally.

“I have come here to meet political and civil society leaders to discuss and see first-hand, some of the many climate change vulnerabilities Nigeria faces.

“These includes deforestation, rising temperatures and flooding, as well as the need to transition from oil to cleaner energies that will sustainably serve what is projected to be the world’s third most populous country by 2050.

“I commend President Muhammadu Buhari for the steps taking toward collective and sustainable efforts that will put climate change, biodiversity and nature based solutions first, and will enhance all Nigerians’ prosperity, health and security,” Sharma said.

He said that Nigeria’s urban areas were at risk from climate change impacts such as flooding.

He said the UK government was committed to championing action to avert, minimise and address the loss and damage suffered by communities vulnerable to climate change.

British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, said, “Climate change remains a global concern that requires collective efforts, and this visit underlines the UK’s support for Nigeria in its battle against climate change.

“This is an all of society approach to meeting the most demanding challenges of our time and I am glad that Sharma, took the time to shine a spotlight.

“And raise the profile of young activists and entrepreneurs he met during this trip, “Laing said.

The Minister for Environment, Mohammad Abubakar, said that it was good to meet Sharma, to discuss a range of issues on Nigeria’s climate change agenda.

“We welcome the UK’s leadership on this critical global agenda and look forward to its hosting a COP26 this November.

“It firmly recognises the particular needs and circumstances of Nigeria’s and Africa’s climate change challenges,” he said.

Abubakar, however, said that Nigeria would continue to look forward to the support of the UK as the country rises to meet those challenges in ways that protect the environment while supporting economic growth. (NAN).

Rescuers pulled out nine more bodies from the site of a flash flood in a Himalayan region of northern India on Sunday, a week after the disaster struck.

This brings the death toll to 50 with more than 150 people still missing, officials said.

The flash flood in Uttarakhand State, triggered by what scientists said could have been a large avalanche of glacier ice, sent water, rocks and debris surging down the Dhauliganga river valley, destroying dams and bridges.

Rescuers were using heavy digging machinery in race to free dozens of dam construction workers trapped in an underground tunnel connected to a hydroelectric project being built by the government-owned National Thermal Power Corporation.

“We have not lost all hope yet. We hope to find more survivors,’’ the top government official in the region, Swati Bhadoriya said.

Authorities said 154 people were still missing.

Experts have cautioned that there could still be huge amounts of rock, debris, ice and water that could be dislodged, making rescue efforts risky.

Uttarakhand is prone to flash floods and landslides,the disaster has prompted calls by environmental groups for a review of power projects in the ecologically sensitive mountains.

A team of scientists are investigating if a piece of a Himalayan glacier did fall into water and trigger the flood.

There are about 10,000 glaciers in the Indian Himalayas, Uttarakhand itself has up to 1,495 glaciers and many are receding due to the warming climate. (Reuters/NAN)