News

Experts Present Guidelines To Tackle Climate Change and Economic Growth

Published

2 years ago

March 21, 2023

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Experts Present Guidelines To Tackle Climate Change and Economic Growth

By: Michael Mike

Experts in environmental field have come out with key policy steps to address the threat of climatic changes and launch the country into a new era of industrial development and economic growth.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the leader of the group (Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), a non-partisan organisation devoted to sustainable policy research, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, said after months of research, the group has unraveled 11 key steps and decisions that if taken in the next five years, there would be a socio-economic transformation required to enable Nigeria to meet the government’s 2060 net zero carbon emissions mission target.

Okereke, who is an internationally recognized scholar, flanked at the press conference by Executive Director, Society for Planet and Prosperity, Oghenemere Orugbo and CEO, GCA Capital Partners, Obi Ugochukwu, recalled that at
the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26), Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari committed to achieving net zero by 2060, which would be in line with the Climate Change Act and Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, released in August 2022 and was developed to serve as the pathway toward achieving the 2060 net zero target. He noted that Nigeria has also launched a long-term vision for 2050, which is expected to inform the development of its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy.

He said riding on the shoulder of Mr. President’s announcement at COP26, the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) a non-partisan organisation devoted to sustainable policy research on the 28th of July 2022 launched the project “Nigeria: Top 10 Net zero Measures” with funding from the European Climate Foundation (ECF), disclosing that the Top 10 measures were later developed into 11 measures after critical examination by experts.

He said: “The main aim of the project was to map 11 key steps and decisions that if taken in the next 5 years will underpin a socio-economic transformation required to enable Nigeria to meet the government’s 2060 net zero target, the project was also aimed at presenting these steps and decisions in a format that is accessible to a wider public through communication materials that can stimulate and inform a wider public debate, involving civil societies and policymakers.”

He revealed that: “In selecting the top 11 measures, the Society for planet and prosperity engaged with senior experts from the government, the private sector, trade unions, civil society organisations, academia and think tanks, the media, and international development partners. They were invited to discuss and assess the benefits of successful implementation of each measure against four criteria, which are deemed to fairly represent the breadth of the development challenges facing the country.”

He said according to the report, prioritized measures that if implemented jointly over the next five years would significantly positively impact the ability of Nigeria to embark on a low-emission development pathway to a net-zero emission future are; (1) A strong focus on generating renewable electricity both on and off-grid (minimum of 30% of on-grid electricity from renewables), (2) Elimination of diesel and gasoline generators for electricity generation by 2030. (3) Plant 300 million trees [this decade] and promote Agro-forestry, reforestation and afforestation, including community-based forest management and recovery. (4) End (associated) gas flaring by 2030 (5) Reduce wood cooking from the current 72% of the population to 20% of the population by 2030 / introducing clean cooking into 30 million households (6) Embark on the construction of 300,000 green homes in the next 12 months and 1.5 million over the next 5 years (7) A modal shift in transport by realizing a shift of passengers to Bus Rapid Transport (BRT); backed up by enforcement of emissions standards in vehicles. (8) End landfilling of untreated waste and transit into properly designed and managed landfills with state-of-the-art gas collection (9) Increase the amount of irrigated land (ha) using renewable energy for pumping from 24.35% to 100% (and associated increase use of off-grid power in communities) (10) Consistent economy-wide Energy Efficiency improvements (-50% from 2015 baseline) Examples are reducing electricity transmission losses and replacing 4 million incandescent bulbs with Tubular Fluorescent Lamps (TFLs) or Light-emitting Diode (LEDs), equipment standards. (11) Landscape-scale restoration and recharging of the Lake Chad basin.”

He revealed that: “A rough calculation indicates that the eleven measures could result in an emission reduction of about 174.01 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030 similar to the fossil emission of Algeria or Iraq in 2021.”

He said: “Therefore, it is very important to note that the total implementation of all the measures in this report will facilitate the achievement of Net zero by 2060 as pronounced by Mr. President at COP26.”
Monday,
Okereke lamented that Nigeria is facing existential threat due to climate change, insisting that something urgently needed to be done to avert and stimulate the nation’s economy as the world is fast moving from fossil fuel.

He said the nation is presently at two extremes, the need to control climate change and build the economy and safeguard Nigeria over dependence of oil revenue, insisting that this must be top priority for the incoming administration.

Experts Present Guidelines To Tackle Climate Change and Economic Growth

News

Nigeria Congratulates Trump on inauguration as 47th President of US

Published

10 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Nigeria Congratulates Trump on inauguration as 47th President of US

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Republic of Nigeria has congratulated President Donald Trump following his successful inauguration as the 47th President of the United States of America.

The Nigerian government in a statement by acting spokesperson of the ministry of foreign affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa said: “Nigeria and the United States of America have enjoyed cooperation in diverse areas of mutual interest, especially in the promotion of good governance, sustainable development, and the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.”

The statement added that: “Nigeria therefore looks forward to further strengthening our historic, strong, and vibrant strategic partnership for the benefit of all our people.”

Nigeria Congratulates Trump on inauguration as 47th President of US

International

Saudi Arabia Sponsors 20 Nigerian on Pilgrimage

Published

11 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Saudi Arabia Sponsors 20 Nigerian on Pilgrimage

By: Michael Mike

Twenty Nigerians are being sponsored by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Programme for Umrah 2025.

They are expected to perform the lesser hajj (Umrah) in Saudi Arabia fully sponsored by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

A press statement on Tuesday in Abuja by the Embassy of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Abuja read: “As part of its dedication to promoting Islamic unity and facilitating access to Islam’s most sacred sites for Muslims around the world, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in Abuja hosted a grand farewell ceremony for 20 Nigerian pilgrims selected for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Programme for Umrah 2025.

“The ceremony held under the leadership of His Excellency Faisal bin Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi, Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, highlighted the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to supporting Muslims and fostering spiritual connections through pilgrimage.

“The programme, initiated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, provides Muslims from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to perform Umrah with full sponsorship, symbolising Saudi Arabia’s role as the spiritual heart of the Islamic world.”

In his keynote address, Ambassador Al-Ghamdi expressed profound gratitude to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their steadfast dedication to Islam’s holy sites.

He praised their exceptional leadership in enhancing the services provided to pilgrims and ensuring that their journey to the sacred sites is both spiritually fulfilling and logistically seamless.

He said: “The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince have prioritised the well-being of pilgrims, viewing it as a sacred duty and an immense honor. Through this programme and other initiatives, Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen bonds of brotherhood among Muslims while ensuring their comfort and safety during their spiritual journey.”

Ambassador Al-Ghamdi revealed that the Kingdom had invested over $100 billion in the recent expansion and modernisation of the Two Holy Mosques. According to him, these ambitious projects, encompassing state-of-the-art infrastructure, advanced crowd management systems, and cutting-edge technology, reflect Saudi Arabia’s commitment to accommodating the increasing number of pilgrims visiting Mecca and Medina each year.

He added that the Kingdom spares no effort in mobilising resources to improve the pilgrimage experience for all Muslims.
He also emphasized the importance of adhering to the Kingdom’s laws and regulations, designed to maintain order and ensure the safety and comfort of all pilgrims.

“The leadership of Saudi Arabia remains fully committed to serving the guests of God. This is a responsibility we hold dear, and we continuously strive to enhance the spiritual and logistical aspects of the pilgrimage experience,” he said.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Programme has become a symbol of the Kingdom’s efforts to unite Muslims worldwide and facilitate access to the holiest sites in Islam. Each year, the initiative provides thousands of pilgrims with the opportunity to perform Umrah, covering all costs, including travel, accommodation, and other logistics.

The guests expressed their sincere thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God protect him, for this generous hospitality provided by the Kingdom’s leadership in serving Islam and Muslims and serving the House of God and the Holy Land.

Saudi Arabia Sponsors 20 Nigerian on Pilgrimage

News

Zulum Decorated With Peace Studies Society Fellowship

Published

11 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Zulum Decorated With Peace Studies Society Fellowship

By: Michael Mike

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has been decorated with the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) fellowship.

The decoration on Monday at the Government House in Maiduguri by the society’s president, Nathaniel Awuapila, assisted by Professor Isaac Albert, who represented the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Zulum is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE), and the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA). He has received honorary fellowships from the National Postgraduate Medical College and the Environmental Management Association of Nigeria (EMAN).

Responding, Governor Babagana Zulum expressed his gratitude for the honour and assured his commitment to partnering with the society to achieve sustainable peace and development in the region.

He noted that the non-kinetic measures adopted by the government had yielded positive results, highlighting that over 200,000 repentant insurgents and their families had surrendered to the authorities.

The brief occasion was attended by the Secretary to the Borno State Government, Dr. Bukar Tijani; the Head of Services, Barrister Mallam Fannami; Deputy Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor, Dr. Babagana Malumbe; the Vice President of the SPSP, Professor Jude Momodu; the Secretary General of the SPSP, Dr. Lanre Yusuf; members of the Borno State Executive Council; and Senior Government officials, among others.

Meanwhile, the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) has announced a plan to commission a study on the positive impact of the Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum.

The President of the Society, Nathaniel Awuapila, stated this earlier during the visit to the Governor in Maiduguri.

He said: “Your Excellency is no exaggeration by any means when we speak on behalf of SPSP to say that around the Sahel, you are a model. A model in post-conflict reconstruction, a model in managing post-conflict societies. A model in peacebuilding and development. These are qualities that we have seen demonstrated as we observed what has happened in Borno over the years and even in infrastructural development.”

He also stated that “the society has decided to commission a study. We have asked the question, How is this possible? Those questions are on the lips of people who get to know what is happening in Borno. We will commission a study to see how your contribution impacted the people and could become a model for people to study around the Sahel and indeed globally.”

Speaking earlier, Professor Albert commended Zulum for the laudable projects he executed across parts of Borno. He said, “We are not here, sir, really to honour you but to honour ourselves, to attach ourselves to some of the things you have achieved, and to say that we are proud of you.”

He added, “We have gone around the state and seen some of the projects that you have done. This is not the first time we have seen this project. We saw them in magazines and newspapers, and we physically saw the projects; we touched them.”

Zulum Decorated With Peace Studies Society Fellowship