By Oluwafunke Ishola

A marine scientist, Dr Roland Uwadiae, says Nigeria should strive to overcome water scarcity which constitutes a threat to water security.

Uwadiae, Associate Professor, Department of Marine Sciences,
University of Lagos, said this during the World Water Day organised by CWAY Group on Wednesday in Lagos.

The World Water Day, celebrated annually on March 22, raises awareness and inspires action to tackle the global water crisis affecting 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water and sanitation.

The theme for World Water Day 2023 is: “Accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crisis.”

According to the World Health Organisation, 1.4 million people die annually and 74 million will have their lives shortened by diseases related to poor water, sanitation and hygiene.

A report by UNICEF shows that over 86 per cent of Nigerians lack access to a safely managed drinking water source.

Uwadiae said that Nigeria has economic water scarcity when compared with other countries.

He noted that Nigeria has water but lacks infrastructure to distribute the water to citizens in dire need of it.

“Securing resources means finding the additional water resources needed to meet demand and respect the balance,” he said.

He said to achieve these, it must rely on human engineering and the ability to constantly innovate and come up with new solutions.

“This begins with technical solutions. In the future, we need to drill for water more deeply, transport it over longer distances, store it for longer and purify it more efficiently.

“We will develop new, cheaper and more advanced solutions, as the wider use of desalination and wastewater reuse.

“Technological innovation enables us to speed up the progress of new, smarter, more efficient, environment friendly, sustainable, and fairer solutions,” he said.

Uwadiae noted that globally, water security has become an integral part of every country’s national security and foreign policy.

“The right to water, so easily proclaimed yet so difficult to enforce, will be the common trend running through collective action and policy on water security.

“We must build to ensure that every drop of water is useful for basic needs,” he said.

According to him, water is not one Sustainable Development Goal among 17 others, saying it is the most precious element that enables the future of the planet.

He said that the World Water Day recommendation of universal right to water and access to water for all should be given a higher political priority.

Uwadiae said that financing water, better knowledge and shared governance were keys to implement water priority.

He added that urban and rural planning should include water security solutions as a prerequisite for any type of project.

According to him, electricity and water resources should both be approached as renewable resources.

He said that due to careless domestic, industrial and agricultural uses of water; resources in rivers, boreholes, water tables, dams and reservoirs were under pressure and rapidly being depleted.

To address this, Uwadiae stressed that water recycling and reuse should enter the country’s legal portfolio.

Similarly, Mr Deji Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, Lagos Water Corporation, said availability of water was directly proportional to increasing population.

Johnson noted that the demand for water in Lagos was 650 million gallons of daily.

He disclosed that the state could only produce 210 million gallons of water daily for its citizens.

He said that production at the two main waterworks and mini waterworks in various parts of the state was hampered by infrastructure challenges.

Johnson added that the state government had partnered different stakeholders to improve investment in infrastructure and technologies that would enhance access to clean and safe water.

Also, Mr Abiodun Suleiman, Sales Director, CWAY Group, said that the company organised the event as part of its commitment to promote sustainable clean water and conservation.

Suleiman said the firm, through its various corporate social responsibility initiatives, had provided access to safe water to communities that lack access to water.

“Since we began operations in Nigeria over two decades ago, we have made significant contributions toward providing clean drinking water to millions of Nigerians.

“We have also organised several water conservation campaigns aimed at educating the public on the need to use water responsibly.”

Suleiman said the company remains committed to ensuring that Nigerians have access to clean and safe water. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Federal Government, in partnership with the Atmosfair, a German company on Tuesday revealed plans to distribute one million ‘Save80 Clean Cookstoves’ annually to curtail the use of firewoods by 80 per cent.

The Director-General of National Council on Climate Change, Dr Salisu Dahiru, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on the sidelines of a Sensitisation programme for North Central Women, held in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

He said that the cookstove had been invented and designed in such a way that it would help families save at least 80 per cent of all the firewoods that they use in cooking a standard meal for any family.

Dahiru assured that the Federal Government would provide an enabling environment for Atmosfair to ensure that the cookstoves were made available and affordable at all times to the people.

He said: “That is exactly what we are doing and that is why we are partnering with the private sector. Remember this is an invention outside Nigeria but we made it so easy.

“And governments at the Federal and the state levels have made it possible for this company to invest in Nigeria, to set up a factory in Kano and set up an assembly plan here in Agada village, Keffi where they will bring the completely nocked down pieces and assemble it.

“As far as these factories are concerned, the target is to be able to produce on an annual basis, one million of these cookstoves and distributed annual but we are starting on a phase by phase basis.

” We are going to start with about 100,000 and then increase the capacity of the assembly plant because once the existing plan is working they are going to open another one in Kebbi state so that by next year the target will reach about 500,000 on an annual basis and then we seal it up to one million per annum.”

The director-general said that the issue of climate change was one of the most important issues that affect everybody, both the rich and poor, small or developed countries.

Dahiru said that one way by which the effects of the climate change could be controlled was by tree planting, noting that cutting down the trees was one sure way that has led the world to fall into the problem.

He said: “In Nigeria, we know that one of the ways we harvest and use trees is for cooking. Remember, we have a population of over 200 million, if 80 per cent of these 200 million are relying on firewood as the main source of energy for cooking and heating whether it is direct firewood or you are using charcoal is all firewood.

” Tell me the area that will be felt every year just to get firewood for cooking is so much that if something concrete is not done, then we will continue to deflect our forests, we will lose the forests and we will lose the soil.

” And it will not be able to support agriculture and then it will become desert and people will migrate and go to the areas where there is still little forest and the community in those places where you have little forests begin to resist them and then communal clashes will come.”

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Atmosfair gGmbh, Dr Dietrich Brockhagen, explained that the cookstove not only save about 80 per cent of cost, but it also has 10 years guarantee.

He said: “When I first came to Nigeria 10 years ago, I traveled from the South West Lagos up to Katsina and when I saw the beautiful landscape and I met so many Nigerians and I realized how much forest was degraded.

” I saw many women cooking with firewoods and they were suffering from pollution and I said ok there must be solution to this and some of my Nigerian friends told me that even the tension between herders and farmers sometimes can be linked to erosion and land degradation.

“So, I said may be if I bring efficient cookstove to Nigeria it might be a solution and there could be changed and this is what I have been trying ever since.”

Also speaking, Amb. Faruk Malami-Yabo, the Chairman, Board of Advisory of the company and former Nigerian Ambassador to Jordan, said the cookstoves would not only enhance cooking process, but also save the environment from the negative effects of climate change.

He revealed that the company would distribute no fewer than 6.7 million cookstoves over the next five years in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the high point of the sensitisation programme was the demonstration of the usage and efficiency of the cookstoves. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Abigael Joshua
Abuja, March 20, 2023 (NAN) The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), an Abuja -based NGO, has urged the incoming government to tackle climate crisis with top 11 Net Zero and Economic Development Measures.

Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, the President, Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), said this at a news briefing on Monday in Abuja.

He said that the top 11 measures included on- and Off-grid generation of renewable electricity, elimination of diesel and gasoline generators by 2030 and the planting of 300 million trees by 2030.

”End gas flaring by 2030, reduce wood cooking and introduce clean cooking to 30 million households, construction of 300,000 green homes annually for five years and shift to Bus Rapid Transport with enforcement of emission standards.

”Transition to properly designed engineered landfill with state-of-the-art gas collection, enhanced irrigation powered by renewable energy.

“Increase energy efficiency by reducing transmission losses, and restoration of landscape scale and recharge of Lake Chad Basin,” Okereke said.

He noted that the project analysed decisions and actions that, if taken in the next five years, would underpin a socio-economic transformation to enable Nigeria meet the government’s 2060 net-zero objective announced at COP26 in Glasgow.

“The context of the project with regards to benefits and successful implementation of each measure were assessed based on four criteria:

“Economic diversification, (youth) job creation and poverty reduction; security, social safeguards, and gender equality and food security, public and environmental health.

“As well as sustainable and affordable power and transport to justify the diversity and sustainability of the measures,” the president assured.

The Chief Executive Officer of GCA Capital Partners Mr Obi Ugochuku, said that these 11 measures were not just to address the climate change but also to diversify the economy and create economic growth and jobs.

“The measures will generate 21 million jobs.

“If the government is able to mobilise and tackle these measures they will indirectly begin to impact the creation of some of these 21 million jobs.

He recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari just signed an amendment to the constitution introducing item 14.

According to him the amendment allows domestic generation of energy within that community rather than having to send it to the grid.

He described the sending of energy to the grid as an “inefficient way of generating and distributing electricity”.

“These measures overlap and also has the ability to generate investment and trade opportunities within the economy,” Ugochuku assured.

Mr Oghenemere Orugbo, Executive Director SPP also, said these 11 measures have been tailored and drafted according to Nigeria’s national circumstances.

He expressed optimism that the incoming government would work with the measures, outlined, hence “it is everyone’s responsibility to deal climate change”.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that SPP, GCA Capital Partners and Climate Advisers Network (Berlin) worked together and distilled 11 key measures out of a long list of 35 measures. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Vivian Emoni

Stakeholders have expressed commitment in providing technical assistance to facilitate implementation of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) across the country.

The stakeholders in environment and agriculture fields, said this at a workshop on Climate Adaptation Support Program (CASP), organised by AKADEMIYA2063, in Abuja on Friday.

KADEMIYA2063 is an Africa-based non-profit research organization with headquarters in Kigali, Rwanda, and a regional office in Dakar, Senegal.

Its mission is to provide data, policy analysis, and capacity-strengthening support to enable African countries to achieve the African Union’s Agenda 2063 goals of inclusive and sustainable development and economic prosperity.

The workshop is in collaboration with Resource and Environmental Policy Research Centre, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Environment for Development (REPRC-EfD) Nigeria and the Global Centre on Adaptation.

The Director of the REPRC-EfD Nigeria, Dr Nnaemeka Chukwuone, said that the workshop was organised to validate research findings, meant to facilitate implementation of the National Action Plan on climate change.

The NAPs are a continuous, progressive and iterative process that follows a country-driven, gender-sensitive, participatory and fully-transparent approach.

According to him, the purpose of the meeting is to conduct consultation and validation of the synthesis report that consists of a review of NAPs implementation progress and an assessment of environmental changes.

“The meeting is expected to bring together, major stakeholders of climate change adaptation in the country.

“The stakeholders will discuss key findings, aspects of the report and propose a way forward for expanding and improving the effectiveness of climate change actions in each case countries,’’ he said.

Chukwuone said that the AKADEMIYA2063 (A2063), in collaboration with the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), has initiated a Country Adaptation Support Programme (CASP) to help countries implement the NAPs.

He said that the NAPs are designed by countries in response to the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

He said that AKADEMIYA2063 intends to provide technical assistance to inform and facilitate the effective implementation of NAPs in several African countries, including Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, and Ethiopia, among others.

He mentioned the assistance as reviewing NAP, its implementation progress and monitoring environmental changes through anomaly analysis, using biophysical indicators such as the normalised difference index, land surface temperature and rainfall.

The director said that empirical evidence showed that small holder farmers fare better when they adopt multiple climate strategies such as diversified cropping system, use of improved seedlings and the application of organic and inorganic fertilizers.

“The adoption of one of the strategies increases the farmers’ income compared with non-adoption. But the highest farm income will be achieved when farmers adopt all the practices jointly, rather than partial adoption.’’

Chukwuone advised policymakers to consider climate adaptation options holistically instead of treating the strategies in isolation.

He said that the policymakers should explicitly design strategies that would enhance the adoption of externally-purchased technological farm inputs jointly with the locally available knowledge-intensive land management options.

He called on farmers to combine the various climate adaption strategies in order to boost their productions and increase their income.

He said that the REPRC-EfD Nigeria focused on major environmental and economic challenges that affect Sub-Saharan Africa, in the areas of agriculture, ecosystem, natural resources and energy, among others.

A Senior Researcher at REPRC-EfD Nigeria, Dr Henry Okoduwa, said that assessment of the economic impact of climate change showed the urgency for farmers to implement adaptation strategies.

Okoduwa said this while presenting findings on a study, titled, ‘Modeling the Economic Impacts of Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies in Nigeria.

According to him, if the country continues on the path of business-as-usual without embracing significant climate adaptation measures, climate change will reduce Nigeria’s economic output.

Also, a Senior Scientist from AKADEMIYA2063, Dr Mahamadou Tankari, said that the programme is aimed at contributing to adaptation solution in Nigeria and other African countries.

“This is by providing data and frameworks for analysis to answer key questions on climate adaptation.

“The programme also aims to guide policy harmonisation, interventions as well as priority actions that can help meet the objectives of different policy initiative on climate adaptation,’’ he said.

He said that the main goal of AKADEMIYA2063 is to help meet the needs of African countries in terms of data, analytics and mutual learning.

He said that the AKADEMIYA2063 is also for effective implementation of agenda 2063 and the realisation of its outcomes by a critical mass of member states. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

===========
Edited by Vincent Obi

By Vivian Emoni

Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), an NGO, has called on Nigerians to vote for candidates who have clear policies to tackle climate crises for a better future.

Mr David Terungwa, Executive Director, GIFSEP and Africa Coordinator, Citizens Climate International, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

He said that Nigerians needed leaders who would prioritise the environment and take steps toward mitigating the effects of climate change as well as fighting against other activities that would destroy the lands.

According to him, we need policies at both state and national levels to effectively tackle climate change.

“It is our opportunity to vote for local action, ensuring you play your part. It is your civic responsibility.

“Are you not tired of sitting on the sidelines while the planet suffers? It is time to take action and make a difference by voting environmentally friendly during this election period.

“Are you not tired of the scorching heat wave? We all are, but ranting about it won’t solve the problem. Let’s make our voices heard and demand change.

“Join us and vote for climate change. Lets stop indiscriminate mining and other activities that can damage our environment. Let’s work together to protect our planet and create a better future for ourselves and future generations,” he said.

Terungwa said that the weather pattern in Nigeria affected excess flooding in the South-East and North-Central regions, while there was a high rate of decline in rainfall in the North-Eastern and Southern regions.

He said that temperature increased in all regions of the country, adding that the changes were contributing to food insecurity and directly affecting the conditions under which food is produced.

“If left unchecked, these could, however, pose a risk to the nation’s public health, economy and livelihood, among others.

“The best way to tackle this problem is by voting for leaders with a climate action plan.

“Vote for a sustainable future and economic growth! Let’s prioritise climate action in the Nigerian governorship election and pave the way for a thriving, green economy,” he said.

The coordinator said that women in rural areas bear the brunt of the suffering caused by climate change as well as those people responsible for food production.

He said that climate change was also affecting aquatic life and has led to an increase in the prices of food and other essential commodities.

He said that climate change was a pressing issue that affects everyone regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or socio-economic status.

“Therefore, climate is vital that we all need to take action to address it and ensure a sustainable future for ourselves and our unborn children.”

The team leader said that food security has declined seriously because of climate change impact, adding that Nigerians should vote for a greener future in the upcoming governorship election.

“The climate crisis affects everyone, but it is women who are disproportionately impacted,” the coordinator said.

He appreciated the effort of most women who were putting necessary measures to ensure that the planet was protected by creating a more resilient and equitable world.

“The reason why we are calling on Nigerians to vote for candidates who have clear policy to tackle climate crises is because of the negative impact on our lives and economy.

“The voters should not be in a hurry to forget the 2022 and the impending 2023 flooding as predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

“We should look beyond vote inducement and the other antics of politicians and vote for climate sensitive governors who can take climate action in their states.’’

He said that floods had displaced a lot of property and lives, adding that the first step towards averting such occurrences should start with the people.

According to Terungwa, all we have to do is to do the right thing by choosing an environmentally friendly leader who is ready and committed to address the environmental crisis.

“Leaders who can avert the wreaking havoc on Nigeria’s food supply, which climate change has caused, leading to shortages and soaring prices.

“This is the right time to do something about it! By voting for climate-conscious candidates in the upcoming governorship election, we can pave the way for a more secure food future for ourselves and generations to come.

“Let’s make our voices heard and demand action on climate change,” he said. (NAN)(wwww.nannews.ng)

===============
Edited by Angela Okisor/Vivian Ihechu

By Grace Alegba

The Association of Private Practicing Surveyors of Nigeria (APPSN) has called for skills upgrade and adoption of technology, for advancement of the profession and the nation.

APPSN, a subgroup of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), Lagos State Branch made the call at its 2023 Annual General Meeting and Luncheon held on Wednesday in Lagos.

APPSN Chairman, Mr Ibikunle Adaranijo, who was re-elected, said the branch was partnering with some firms to help its members acquire good survey equipment to catch up with new trends.

He said that the Lagos State Government in 2019 remapped the whole of the state, hence the need to upgrade equipment of its members through an installmental purchase plan with some firms.

Adaranijo said that all old Certificates of Occupancy issued in the state before the period were affected, hence the need for the experts to purchase new equipment for precision in charting.

“Without that instrument, there will be serious problems upon problems in Lagos State,” he said.

According to him, surveying is the bedrock of all development, but errors of the past resulted in cases of building collapse, which the association, the state government and other stakeholders were working to resolve.

Adaranijo said the theme `Re-Engineering Professionalism in Private Practice Sector Towards Service Delivery’’ was apt toward addressing challenges for growth of Nigeria.

He said that the association was taming quackery and recently apprehended a quack who was impersonating experts by using fake Surveyors Council of Nigeria (SURCON) numbers to execute shoddy jobs.

The chairman said that the projects executed by the accused person failed, which led to complaints, leading to investigation and arrest of the quack.

He also called for use of the APPSN application to check the list of certified surveyors online.

The Guest Speaker, Mr Tope Ojo, said surveyors must migrate from analogue methods and use technology to upgrade business models to advance the practice and Nigeria.

He said that better technology could help people chart land from whatever distance and address several societal problems.

Ojo, a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, listed requirements for professionalism to include training, certification, experience, integrity/character, among others.

He also listed qualities that make professionals stand out to include soft skills, networking, negotiation, emotional intelligence, leadership skills, marketing, business model and business strategy.

“A business model describes how an organisation creates, delivers, and captures value, in economic, social, cultural or other contexts.

“The process of business model construction and modification is also called business model innovation and forms a part of business strategy,” he said.

An Architect, Mr Fola Jibowu, who represented the Special Guest of Honour, Mr Kayode Anibaba, called for government regulation mandating the public to patronise surveyors and other professionals before embarking on projects.

This, he said, would curb the problem of ignorance, noting that a lot of people were not aware of physical development rules.

“Government legislation has to make the citizenry more aware to make them know that they must contract or consult professionals before they do anything from purchasing of the land to designing, to construction,” he said.

Mr Kolade Kasim, Chairman, Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), stressed the need to be meticulous in checking activities on site to curb infractions which may not be noticed.

He said practitioners must look inwards towards tackling problems within, for excellence in service delivery.

Other speakers gave insights on how to create more awareness as surveyors and other built environment professionals were not permitted by law to advertise. (NAN)

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

By Thompson Yamput

The Federal Government is to relocate 10,000 persons in Mosun Community in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi following the rampaging activities of the River Benue during raining season.

Alhaji Abubakar Yelwa, the Managing Director of the Hydro-Electricity Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), made this known during a tour of the affected communities in Mosun.

Yelwa said that the relocation of the affected communities became imperative sequel to the negative impact of the 2022 flood in the affected communities as villagers had to desert their homes for safety.

“We will begin construction of buildings that would accommodate the affected villagers in two weeks if we are shown the piece of land by the traditional ruler and the Bassa Local Government authorities.

“What we are afraid of is the flood for 2023, going by the prediction of NiMet, which says this year’s rain would be heavier than that of 2022,  which may mean more flood than what we experienced.

“Here we are at the site, and you can see for yourselves the levels of damaging activities of the River Benue in these communities within Mosun kingdom. We have to do something to save their lives and make their living worthwhile.

“As soon as the authorities show us the piece of land to relocate them, we shall begin construction work immediately. We are ready to move our equipment to the river banks to start work on controlling the ravaging erosion activities, ” the MD said.

Earlier, the traditional ruler of the Mosun Kingdom, Alhaji Burka Ali, told the HYPPADEC boss and his entourage that the 2022 flood was very devastating.

”No fewer than 10,000 people were displaced by the 2022 flood. In fact, land space of over 300 metre was washed away by the flood.

“As for the piece of land for the resettlement of my unfortunate people, we have already selected a piece of land to show HYPPADEC.

“I am short of words. We appreciate the commission and the Federal Government for this show of love and concern to the people of my kingdom.

“We are ready to cooperate with HYPPADEC to see that the resettlement programme is a success for the good of our fellow brothers and sisters as well as our children, who have suffering due the flood, ” Ali said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the visit to Mosun kingdom was spiced with the award of chieftaincy title to the HYPPADEC boss and Alhaji Isa Ozi-Salami, the Kogi Representative on the governing board of the commission.

While Yelwa was crowned as the “Ondaihi” (Galadima) of Bassa Land, Ozi-Salami was crowned the “Oniereza Ogbanyi of Mozum kingdom. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Sarafina Christopher

The National Charcoal Producers, Dealers and Exporters Association of Nigeria (NACPDEAN) is set for a consultative meeting with government agencies to sensitize charcoal stakeholders on importance of afforestation.

The association made this known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

According to Mr Babatunde Edu, National President of the body, the meeting is to sensitize stakeholders on the effects of deforestation, the benefit of afforestation and innovative processing procedures to boost the forest resources in Nigeria.

“This is with emphasis on the association trust policy on issuance of Afforestation Pass and Charcoal Lifting Rights by the National Association for compliance of stakeholders to streamline the sub-sector in furtherance to the association’s aims and objectives.

“NACPDEAN is to ensure compliance of stakeholders on afforestation to mitigate climate change.

“We also exist to fast-track growth and development of the sector and to increase the contribution of the sub-sector to the Nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Edu also noted that the event is scheduled to hold on Thursday, 16th March 2023, at the Presken Hotel Ikeja, Lagos, by 10a.m. with the Theme: “Sustainable Afforestation & Reforestation for Nigeria’s Posterity.”

“All Exporting Stakeholders in the charcoal sub-sector are invited to the consultative meeting with the government and also shipping companies, freight forwarders, and terminal operators will be in attendance,” he said.

NAN also reports that the event will be in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment (FMOE), Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Nigerian Shippers’ Council, and Nigerian Export Promotion Council, among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Angela Okisor/Vincent Obi