VP SHETTIMA TO HARVARD ALUMNI
: President Tinubu Has Proved His Leadership Mettle

** Says we’re exploring alternative energy sources, investing in green technology to transform lives of Nigerians

By: Our Reporter

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has proved his mettle as a courageous and decisive leader through bold and hard policies, including the removal of subsidy on petroleum products, which are gradually transforming Nigeria into one of the largest economies in the world.

He assured, however, that measures being put in place to address the challenges caused by the subsidy removal such as alternative energy sources, and investment in green technology will soon improve the living standard of Nigerians.

The Vice President stated this on Tuesday when he received a delegation from the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni on a Nigeria-Ghana Trek at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Fielding questions from the Harvard students alongside the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, and the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs Olu Verheijen, VP Shettima noted that President Tinubu is a good leader who is burning in an unquenchable desire to make Nigeria work.

He stated: “When we assumed the mantle of leadership, the greatest albatross around the neck of the Nigerian government over the past 50 years had been subsidy on petroleum products. We came to a point where we either get rid of the subsidy or the subsidy will get rid of the Nigerian nation.

“So, my boss (President Tinubu) took the bullet, and we knew that if we failed to address the fuel subsidy scam within the first three weeks of the administration, we wouldn’t dare to do that again. In his inaugural address, he took the bullet and announced the removal of the fuel subsidy. And we should know the consequences of unveiling a masquerade; they came after us. We stood our ground and the fuel subsidy was gone.”

On measures being taken so far to ease the hardship caused by subsidy removal, the Vice President noted that apart from the social palliatives, the administration is exploring alternative energy sources.

“We are investing massively in green technology – electric buses, electric cars and electric tricycles. Just two weeks ago, the Federal Executive Council approved an expenditure of N158 billion for the procurement of those items for the North East and it will be replicated in other sub-regions of the country,” he said.

Senator Shettima also said the realignment of the multiple exchange rate was another bold decision by President Tinubu which saved the country from corruption in the foreign exchange market.

“There was no need for you to work. If you had contacts, if you had goodwill in the Central Bank, they could allocate $50 million to you at the official exchange rate, which was around N300-N400 to the dollar, you could make a premium of N300 from the black market without lifting a finger. You can make $30 million within a week or two.

“Our fiscal policy, our tax reforms, are also a very monumental decision by the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Some of the decisions were very hard decisions. As I said, leadership is not a popularity contest. If you want to be popular, be a nice man, Bola Tinubu may not be a nice man but he is a good leader, and that is what leadership is all about. And we have to make this country work.”

The Vice President urged the delegation to ignore the negative narratives about Nigeria and focus on the development strides of the government.

Earlier, while introducing the delegation from the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni, leader of the group, Sheffy Kolade, said she represented a group of four West Africans who had invited fifty of their colleagues and friends on a Nigeria-Ghana Trek so as to move from curiosity on the outfit, colour of the skin, to learning where exactly Nigeria, the most populous black nation in the world, is heading.

She explained that a lot of the Harvard students have taken courses on Africa, African policies, and history, adding that the visit to the Vice President of Nigeria would give them first hand information about the programmes and policies of government and the path of progress the country is going, given the current trends in the West and how Nigeria is responding to the changing relationship dynamics in the world.

According to her, the delegation also wants to know how Nigeria is positioning itself and how it is transitioning from being an emerging economy to a self-sufficient emerging leader.

Also fielding questions bordering on trade policies, subsidy, energy, and security, among others, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Oduwole stated that Nigeria is leveraging on the trade policy with WTO, with a particular focus on the African Continental Free Trade Area.

She said Nigeria is pushing for export diversification away from oil and gas, stressing that though much of her earnings come from it, priority now is on technology which attracts about 70% of the GDP.

Also answering questions about government policies and the direction of the economy, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating of the Economy, Mr. Edun said over the last twenty months under the leadership of President Tinubu, Nigeria has made significant progress from where the economy was physically collapsing.

He said, “Today, there is stability in all sectors of the economy due to timely and sound policies, reduction in frivolous spending, removal of petroleum subsidy that was draining the government of up to 5% of the GDP and drawing from the Central Bank far beyond the limits.”

He said the inflation figure recently announced showed that inflation is falling, exchange rate is stable, the price of food items is lower, the prices of energy, petroleum products are lower, while the fiscal deficit shows there is commitment to prudence by the government.

On her part, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs Olu Verheijen, thanked the Harvard alumni, noting that their visit was what they envisioned when they formed the group about 20 years ago.

She said on the energy sector, there had been a lot of structural reforms, adding that even though the sector is less than 10% of the GDP, the country relies on it for foreign exchange earnings and fiscal income.

She noted that one of the policy thrust of the Tinubu administration is that energy becomes an enabler for diversification of the economy and associated income in order to trigger more productivity and income from other sectors of the economy.

“Aside from the removal of subsidy, the idea is that across the value chain, we undertake reforms that allow capital to flow and form around opportunities not only in Nigeria but also look through how we aggregate markets across the region and supply energy not only to Nigeria but across the region as well,” she stated.

VP SHETTIMA TO HARVARD ALUMNI
: President Tinubu Has Proved His Leadership Mettle

ActionAid Nigeria, Others Call for Urgent Intervention in Abor Isiaka Community’s Security Crisis

By: Michael Mike

ActionAid Nigeria, in collaboration with its state partner, the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), South Saharan Social Development Organisation(SSDO) has expressed deep concerns over the increasing security crisis in Abor Isiala, a community in Eha Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The crisis in the area has been reported to have led to massive displacement, loss of lives, destruction of farmlands and homes, and severe human rights violations.

ActionAid Nigeria, in a statement on Tuesday by its Country Director, Andrew Mamedu called on the Nigerian government, security agencies, and humanitarian organisations to take immediate actions to restore peace and provide urgent relief to affected individuals.

AAN lamented that the latest attack has left at least 30 people dead, over 300 affected forcing them to flee their homes, disrupting livelihoods, education, and social cohesion.

It said the attack, which began in 2022, saw the involvement of armed herdsmen which led to repeated waves of violence, killings, and destruction of farmlands, leaving the community in dire need of urgent intervention.

The statement read: “Specifically, the attacks have resulted in: Displacement of families: Over 7,000 residents have fled to neighboring communities and cities such as Awka, Enugu, Abuja, and Imo, leaving behind their homes and farmlands.

“Education disruption: 1,064 children are currently out of school due to the insecurity, with only 30% of children able to attend school amid fears of further attacks.

“Loss of livelihoods: Farmlands, which are the backbone of the local economy, have been destroyed, pushing many into food insecurity.

“Gender-based violence: Reports confirm cases of rape and assault on women, compounding the suffering of already vulnerable groups.

“Collapse of local infrastructure: Schools, churches, and markets in Ogomugo and Mgbede have been damaged, further crippling the community’s recovery efforts.
Through the Local Rights Programme,”

The statement added that: “ActionAid Nigeria has been actively working in Enugu State since 2021, across 10 communities, including Abor Isiala. Our interventions have focused on empowering local women’s rights organisations, combating harmful socio-cultural practices, addressing gender-based violence, providing educational support to children, and strengthening civic engagement with the government. Unfortunately, due to rising security challenges, our operations were scaled down in 2023 to only Isi-Uzo and Uzo Uwani LGAs.

“We appreciate the government’s effort in deploying police officers to the community. However, their presence was short-lived, as they left after just one day. To truly restore normalcy, we urge the government to deploy more security personnel who are well-equipped and prepared to maintain peace in the affected communities.”

ActionAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that: “The security crisis in Abor Isiala has had devastating consequences on the community, affecting livelihoods, education, and safety. The displacement of over 7,000 residents, the alarming number of out-of-school children, and the destruction of farmlands are indicators of a deepening humanitarian crisis. We call on the government to take decisive actions, including the immediate deployment of well-equipped security forces, investigation and prosecution of perpetrators, emergency humanitarian assistance, and reconstruction of critical infrastructure. Addressing the root causes of this crisis is paramount to ensuring sustainable peace and security for the people of Abor Isiala.”

ActionAid Nigeria joined her voice with other civil society organisations to call on the federal and state governments to take immediate steps to end the crisis by implementing the following actions:

“Immediate deployment of well-equipped and sustained security forces to prevent further attacks and restore confidence among displaced residents; Conduct a thorough investigation to bring perpetrators to justice and break the cycle of impunity; Commence emergency humanitarian assistance with the provision of urgent food, shelter, and medical aid for displaced families, especially women and children; Rehabilitation and reconstruction of schools, homes, and marketplaces to facilitate the return of residents and restore normalcy; Organise dialogue and conflict resolution mechanisms to address the root causes of the conflict and ensure lasting peace.”

ActionAid Nigeria further said that: “The security crisis in Abor Isiala is a humanitarian emergency that demands immediate and sustained action from all relevant stakeholders. ActionAid Nigeria stands in solidarity with the affected community members and will continue to advocate for their safety, security, and well-being. The people of Abor Isialacannot continue to live in fear and uncertainty. Immediate and decisive action is required to prevent further loss of lives and safeguard the future of the community.”

ActionAid Nigeria, Others Call for Urgent Intervention in Abor Isiaka Community’s Security Crisis

FG in Renewed Commitment to Fight Against Environmental, Health Risks, Vows Crackdown on Illegal Recycling Operations in Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government in its renewed commitment to addressing environmental and health risks associated with the improper disposal and recycling of used lead-acid batteries (ULABs) in the country, on Tuesday vowed to crack down on illegal recycling operations in Nigeria.

While promising to implement policies to promote safe and sustainable battery waste management in the country, the Federal Government expressed its readiness to take the battle to ensure that the country is free of pollution from lead to every nooks and crannies of the country.

Speaking at the International Conference on Upgrading the Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Sector in the African Region, organized by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV) on behalf of Oeko-Institut Germany, held on Tuesday in Abuja, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal while presenting his keynote address,, said there is the urgent need to regulate lead-acid battery recycling, warning against the severe health risks posed by unsafe recycling practices.

The Minister, who was represented by the Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Engr. Bahijjahtu Abubakar, said with Africa experiencing rapid economic growth and increased demand for energy storage, cautioned that the improper disposal of lead-acid batteries has become a serious environmental and public health challenge, particularly due to lead poisoning in informal recycling operations.

He said: “The Federal Government fully recognizes the dangers of improper management of used lead-acid batteries and has taken proactive steps to regulate and modernize the sector.

“We have recently launched the National Environmental (Battery Control) Regulation 2024, setting stringent guidelines for the collection, transportation, processing, and disposal of lead-acid batteries.”

Director General of NESREA, Dr. Innocent Barikor, underscored the importance of a collaborative approach in tackling battery waste management, highlighting the risks posed by unregulated recycling operations.

He noted that improper handling of lead-acid batteries has led to widespread soil and water contamination, air pollution, and severe health issues for workers and surrounding communities.

He assured that NESREA will intensify monitoring efforts, enforce compliance with environmental laws, and shut down illegal recycling operations.

In his remarks, Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Terseer Ugbor, called for urgent reforms in the sector, urging the government to develop strategic policies to make Nigeria a hub for battery recycling and manufacturing in Africa.

He further advocated for investments in research, development, and collaboration between public and private sectors.

He revealed that the House Committee on Environment had proposed the repeal and re-enactment of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act to become the Environmental, Social, and Health Impact Assessment Act, which he said would significantly strengthen battery recycling regulations.

He said, “In the business of lead-acid battery recycling, we are now seeing an overcapacity issue where even the cleanest recycling plants struggle to find lead batteries to recycle.

“With this in mind, Nigeria must reconsider its ban on used battery imports and grant concessions to companies with the capacity to recycle responsibly.” He added.

Representing the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Programme Component and Implementation Manager at GIZ, Joshua Yari Garba, commended Nigeria’s commitment to advancing sustainable battery recycling and reaffirmed Germany’s support.

Garba emphasized that Germany’s support has significantly reduced environmental hazards caused by battery waste, strengthened private sector investments, and created employment opportunities, particularly for women and youth.

He said, “For over 50 years, Germany and Nigeria have collaborated on environmental initiatives, with Germany providing technical support in the transition to a green economy.

“We hope that this platform will further provide opportunities to address pressing environmental challenges and foster economic growth in Africa,” he added.

FG in Renewed Commitment to Fight Against Environmental, Health Risks, Vows Crackdown on Illegal Recycling Operations in Nigeria