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Despite Difficult Times, Fund is Made Available for Energy Transition, Says Bagudu
Despite Difficult Times, Fund is Made Available for Energy Transition, Says Bagudu
By: Michael Mike
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu has said despite the difficult economic times, the federal government has ensured that fund is made available for the nation’s energy transition programme.
Speaking at a conversation: “Unlocking Climate Finance: Actionable Pathways for Nigeria’s Low Net Emissions Growth,” organised by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) and Enzi Ijayo Africa Initiative, in Abuja on Monday, the Minister who was represented by Special Assistant,
Bolaji Onalaja, said: “There is no understatement of the importance of Climate action for all governments. It is particularly important for Nigeria given that the country has significantly suffered from the effects of climate change, from desertification in the Lake Chad Basin, which has led to migration of herders southwards and has contributed to banditry and clashes with farmers; to the degradation of mangrove forests; and to the frequent floods that have had a devastating impact on livelihoods across the country.”
He noted that “there is a need to raise financing to fund the energy transition, but at the same time as we face a challenging fiscal environment and other short term priorities (including ramping up oil and gas production, and taming inflation, it can sometimes be difficult to prioritize the mainstreaming of climate action but this administration led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been consistent and has even included in the 2024 budget the inclusion of an energy transition fund and the implementation of the Presidential CNG initiative.”
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director, APRI, Olumide Abimbola said: “We know that climate change is already inflicting immense damage on lives and livelihoods, often to the people who have the least capacity to adapt to its effects such as in Africa. In the six years between 2012 and 2018, extreme weather events in the form of floods and droughts cost Nigeria over 31 billion dollars.”
Abimbola said: “We also know that over the past years, the position of African countries has largely been shaped by the Global North. There is an increasing need for Africans to shape and chart the continent’s climate transition pathways in line with local climate and socio-economic realities, as well as development priorities. Here, African countries such as Nigeria have a leading role to play.
“Nigeria is the most populous African country, the country with the youngest African population, the largest petroleum production, and one of the largest economies on the continent. What Nigeria does, can do, or plans to do, especially around financing, is of immense consequence for the continent.
“The global realities of climate change mean that the landscape for finance and global geopolitics is changing significantly. As climate and ESG considerations become increasingly important in accessing finance from the Global North, plans that do not have climate action in view are finding it more difficult to attract financing.
“This is leading to a significant decline in new investment in fossil fuels, for example, with investments into energy financing of any kind increasingly being based on climate considerations. For Nigeria, navigating between weaning itself off fossil fuel dependence and accelerating renewable energy investments is of extreme importance.”
He noted that: “In the last year, Nigeria received about two billion dollars in climate financing, a small fraction of the need, even in the energy sector alone,” adding that “increasing flows will not come from simply articulating our vision for climate action or making bold statements of intent. They will only come when we begin to internally reflect and shape what climate transition, especially a just transition, means to us – and when we begin to implement reform initiatives directed at clearly demonstrating that our plans are fact-based and rooted in the realities of our political economy.”
He said: “For us to do this, we need to reflect internally and evaluate actionable pathways for Nigeria’s Low Net Emissions Growth. Pathways that do not compromise on our development priorities, and that also incorporate resilience in the realities of foreseeable climate impacts.”
He said: “We need to ask ourselves critical questions such as: Is Nigeria doing the right thing in the right way or are we just dangling the prospect of billions of dollars of climate finance in the offing? Should Nigeria be looking to design more flexible short-, medium- and long-term strategies that will be fit for purpose? How should Nigeria be maintaining a balance between adaptation and mitigation? Should the focus be more on consumer-led promotion of technology products, rather than top-down, policy-driven prescriptions?”
Despite Difficult Times, Fund is Made Available for Energy Transition, Says Bagudu
ISWAP attacked Marte, two soldiers killed during battle with terrorists
…Terrorists fled on sighting Super Tucano…
By: Zagazola Makama
Atleast two Nigerian soldiers have paid the supreme price during gun battle with ISWAP terrorists in Marte town in Borno State on Monday.
Intelligence sources said that the terrorists reportedly infiltrated the town at about 2 a.m.. they were engaged by troops of the battalion stationed in Marte, with reinforcement from the Brigade Headquarters and close air support from the Nigerian Air Force.
The coordinated counteroffensive forced the terrorists to retreat, abandoning their plans to overrun the town. two soldiers were killed in the firefight.
The attackers reportedly fled with some motorcycles and two vehicles. A number of unserviceable military vehicles, classified as beyond economic repair, were also set ablaze by the insurgents during the raid.
“There is no report of any arms or ammunition being taken by the enemy,” a military officer confirmed.
As of the time of filing this report, the Brigade Commander was on ground in Marte to assess the situation.
ISWAP attacked Marte, two soldiers killed during battle with terrorists
News
Embrace the benefits of straighter, healthy teeth and confident smiles, Prof. Ajayi Advises Nigeria
Embrace the benefits of straighter, healthy teeth and confident smiles, Prof. Ajayi Advises Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
Prof Emmanuel Olubusayo Ajayi, the pioneer Nigerian Fellow of the World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO) has advocated that the populace should embrace the benefits of straighter, healthy teeth and confident smiles by learning about the life-changing benefits of orthodontic care, and also uptake orthodontic treatment that are being provided by the Consultant Orthodontists in our various Dental facilities throughout the federation.
Prof Ajayi stated that research has shown that the mouth is the most assertive facial feature and the dental appearance is a determining factor in the overall facial aesthetics of an individual.
He further stated that research continues to show that well-aligned teeth are linked to enhanced oral function, improved self-esteem, and a lower risk of developing certain dental or jaw-related problems.
This year’s World Orthodontic Health Day (WOHD) theme, “A World of Smiles” emphasizes how orthodontic treatment can transform not just oral health but also self-esteem and overall health and well-being of individuals. The World Orthodontic Health Day provides the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about how orthodontics, a sub-specialty of Dentistry does more than just the straightening of teeth with fixed appliances which includes braces, removable appliances and aligners butalso to emphasize the utmost benefits the patients gained from their beautiful and confident smiles said Prof Ajayi.
Orthodontic problems are of public health importance and do constitute a great concern as the inability to chew one’s food without difficulties, communicate orally and pronounce words correctly, breathe normally andsmile without pleasing facial appearance will definitely impart productive social interactions and quality of life of individuals. It is therefore obvious that one cannot be truly healthy without good oral health and smiles.
Prof Ajayi emphasized that irregularly arranged teeth, crooked teeth, crowded, misplaced, unerupted or blocked-out teeth, spacing of teeth, protruding teeth, upper or lower jaws that are too far forward or back, upper and lower teeth that do not meet in front or back with gap in-between them or teeth which are abnormally related and oral habits amongst other myriads of occlusal anomalies can be treated by a Specialist / Consultant Orthodontist who are primarily Dental Surgeons but who had undergone at least 3 – 6 years of Post-graduate Master programme and or Residency training at the University Teaching Hospital.
Prof Ajayi further emphasized that a well aligned teeth and beautiful smile will enhance oral function, boost confidence, transform lives, support a positive self-image and contribute to a better quality of life of all Nigerians.
Prof Emmanuel Ajayi is also the Chairman of Professor Emmanuel Olubusayo Ajayi Orthodontics Advancement Foundation and he is committed to improving the lives of children, teenagers, and adults through state-of-the-art orthodontic treatment and upholds the highest standards of care, and strives to educate the community on the far-reaching benefits of a healthy smile.
Embrace the benefits of straighter, healthy teeth and confident smiles, Prof. Ajayi Advises Nigeria
25 years after first forensic lab in Lagos, NDLEA gets two more in Abuja and Enugu
By: Michael Mike
After over 25 years of conducting forensic analysis in a single laboratory facility in Lagos, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has established two new laboratories and upgraded the existing one to enhance accessibility, expedite timely analysis, and prosecute cases efficiently following a surge in drug seizures over the past months.
The two additional laboratories built in Abuja and Enugu, according to a statement on Monday by the spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi are strategically located and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities designed to meet the highest standards of quality and safety protocols, as well as ensuring a safe working environment.
Speaking on the development, the Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) said “the newly constructed laboratories will enable us to enhance our forensic analysis capabilities, increase our capacity to process cases efficiently and strengthen our fight against substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.”
He noted that while the two new facilities were set to commence operations, the existing one in Lagos has undergone a comprehensive renovation and refurbishment, transforming it into a state-of-the-art facility. “This project was made possible through the sponsorship of the US International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)”, he stated.
Babafemi said beside equipping the laboratories with additional cutting-edge analytical instruments, the agency in collaboration with the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN), has conducted the training and certification of 20 NDLEA forensic analysts, meant to empower them to sign off on drug analysis reports, thereby enhancing the agency’s forensic capabilities.
He noted that this is in addition to the implementation of robust quality control measures, following the agency’s successful participation in three rounds of the UNODC International Collaborative Exercise (ICE) programme, which is an important part of International Quality Assurance Programme (IQAP) to ensure quality management systems, accuracy and reliability of results.
While commending the officers, men and women of the agency’s Directorate of Forensic and Chemical Monitoring for working with him to break the over 25 years jinx, Marwa said the milestone achieved in the area of forensic analysis is borne out of his commitment to equipping the laboratories with state-of-the-art instruments and developing the expertise of the agency’s personnel to ensure accurate and reliable forensic analysis, research methodologies and tackling the challenges posed by emerging New Psychoactive Substances (NPS).
“The newly constructed drug laboratories and renovated facilities mark a significant milestone in the Agency’s history, and we are delighted about this achievement”, Marwa added.
Meanwhile, the US-INL has donated a new advanced equipment to the agency to enhance the operations of the NDLEA forensic lab in Lagos. The handover of the spectroscopy device was done by the Director of INL in Nigeria, Ms. Candace Spradley who commended the collaboration between NDLEA and the INL. She said the donated equipment will enhance the agency’s capacity to detect and analyse suspicious substances.
A team of top officials of the agency who received the US delegation and the equipment at the Ikoyi Lagos headquarters annex of NDLEA was led by the Director, Seaport Operations, DCGN Omolade Faboyede. Others include the Director, Forensic and Chemical Monitoring, ACGN Patricia Afolabi; Deputy Director Media and Advocacy, ACGN Rita Geh Okpere; Head, Special Operations Unit, ACGN Akinola Idowu Grace and Commander, Lagos State Strategic Command of the agency, CN Abubakar Liman Wali, among others.
25 years after first forensic lab in Lagos, NDLEA gets two more in Abuja and Enugu
ISWAP attacked Marte, two soldiers killed during battle with terrorists
VP Shettima: We’re Building Bridges To Take MSMEs Across Borders Of African Market
Embrace the benefits of straighter, healthy teeth and confident smiles, Prof. Ajayi Advises Nigeria
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