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Global Emission: ActionAid Calls for Cancellation of Nigeria, Other Developing Countries Debt
Global Emission: ActionAid Calls for Cancellation of Nigeria, Other Developing Countries Debt
By: Michael Mike
ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has called for the cancellation of Nigeria’s foreign debt as well as that of other African countries to appease for the damage done by global emission.
The Country Director of AAN, Mr Andrew Mamedu made the call at the weekend in Abuja, while noting that in reality African countries as well as other developing countries across the globe are not owing any debt but rather they are owed by developed countries and the Global North.
Mamedu, while calling for conversation around compensation for global emission, expressed concern about the disparity in the interest rate charges on loans between the low income earners and developed countries.
He said the amount agreed to be paid by developed countries for global emission should be redistributed to disadvantaged countries.
He stressed that the Global North is indebted to the developing countries and should be made to pay.
Mamedu argued that climate change is real and we should be pushing for climate justice, which means that the countries responsible for depletion of the ozone layer and subsequent climate change
should be made to pay for their damage.
He said: “So with the global emission conversation, there’s an agreement that for global emission, there’s a specific . that each country should pay, and this amount that is being paid should be redistributed to countries that are disadvantaged. “And surprise you to note that the Global North contributes over 97% of global emission. So with that calculation, with what, for instance, I’ll pick a country like the United States.
“What the United States is currently doing in terms of global emission, the United States has up to 80 trillion dollars that it owes for global emission. But if you project it between now and 2050, so between 1960 to 2050, the United States alone has about 80 trillion dollars. And with that projection, countries like Nigeria, if Nigeria is projected to what Nigeria would get, Nigeria would get 9.9 trillion dollars as payback.
“So look at the calculation, Nigeria is owing about 50 billion dollars, right? But for our climate emission, Nigeria is supposed to then get paid 9.9 trillion dollars between 1960 and now. So the question is, who is owing who? I think we need to sit down on the roundtable and renegotiate this.
“It is unacceptable that, particularly the Global North, the high-income countries, they also are indebted because of the level of risk.”
On the disparity issue of interest rate charged between the developed and developing countries, Mamedu said: “So a country like Germany pays an interest rate of 0.8 percent. Why is a country like Nigeria charged 2 to 3 percent? “You see the difference for their own same loan that we have taken. And what that means is, it is affecting the money’s amount available for our social sector, from education to health, to water, and housing.
“So the social sector is affected. Women, agriculture, young persons are affected. We are not able to have adequate resources to run this.
“So we need to come back to the negotiation table and look at these loans that Nigeria and African countries, not just Nigeria, particularly African countries, how do we come to a point where those loans are cancelled? Or secondly, the issue of the rates that are paid in servicing those loans. Are they fair to the countries? And thirdly, the issue of global emission, the amount that is owed by these countries, the developed countries, the countries that are emitting more, like the United States is top on that list.”
He said that: “By the time you see the full reports, there’s a whole report, huge analysis around this, that shows that we are not the ones in debt. Actually, it’s those countries that are indebted to us and we are happy to sit on the table to start discussing this. Enough of this whole neocolonialism mentality, enough of this new agenda.
“So climate change is real. Climate justice for us is what we are pushing for. And part of climate justice is that the global emission that people are responsible for should be paid for.
“And if they are being paid for, those countries that are suffering from it, which are those in the global South, like us, we should be benefiting. And we can then categorically say that they owe us, 9.9 trillion dollars. And we should start thinking of how they will pay that amount between now and 2050. “
Global Emission: ActionAid Calls for Cancellation of Nigeria, Other Developing Countries Debt
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NEWMAP-EIB, Great Green Wall Forge Stronger Ties on Watershed Management, Degraded Land Restoration
NEWMAP-EIB, Great Green Wall Forge Stronger Ties on Watershed Management, Degraded Land Restoration
By: Michael Mike
The National Project Coordinator of the Nigeria Climate Adaptation – Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB), Engr. Ayuba Yalaks has a courtesy visit to the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NGGW) to deepen collaboration in watershed management, combat land degradation, and promote environmental sustainability.
During the visit, Engr. Yalaks congratulated the Director General of NGGW, Alhaji Saleh Abubakar, MFR, on the successful hosting of the 10th Anniversary of the Great Green Wall, recently observed in Dutse, Jigawa State. He described the anniversary as “highly impactful and a strong testament to the agency’s leadership role in environmental restoration.”
He commended the DG and the agency for initiating a five-year strategic plan to plant date palm (dabino) trees across the NGGW’s shelter belt corridor of the sahel — a project designed to enhance livelihoods, strengthen food security, biodiversity, ecosystem restoration, green jobs, food security and ensure a long-term sustainability and developing resilience of the impacted communities along the belt.
He further eluded to the fact that the “Great Green Wall is not just a Wall of Trees across the Sahel but a Wall of Hope, Security, Green jobs opportunities, Economic growth, and peace”.
Highlighting NEWMAP-EIB’s mandate, Engr. Yalaks noted that the project — funded by the European Investment Bank with a five-year lifespan — is dedicated to climate change adaptation, erosion control and flood management, and watershed management. He stressed that the NGGW remains a key partner in advancing Nigeria’s vision for a green environment, green jobs, and a green economy in line with Mr. President Renewed Hope Initiatives for an improved and better green environment for the betterment of the Nigerian people.
“ As a green project, We provide bioengineering solutions to protect and sustain the civil engineering infrastructures we have put in place. Much of the erosion and flooding we battle today is manmade, caused by human quest for livelihood, and that of poor urban town planning and deficit in urban drainage infrastructural investment. With the increase in the rate to which our forest cover is being degraded and ever rising temperature, the depletion of the ozone layers our rainfall pattern becomes disrupted. Therefore, reversing this trend is critical and called for collective action” he said, which the current government regime is tackling head-on today with the NEWMAP=EIB intervention project.
Engr. Yalaks also encouraged the NAGGW to invest more in research and development, focusing on how planted trees — such as Neem, date palm etc — can generate value chain, including solutions for managing post-harvest losses, herbicides and pesticides, soil fertilizer, pharmaceuticals etc. This will provide ownership and sustainability of the NGGW across the Sahel Region of the Nigerian corridor.
In his response, the Director General, NGGW, Alhaji Saleh Abubakar, MFR appreciated the visit and pledged continued collaboration with NEWMAP-EIB. Both parties reaffirmed their shared vision and commitment to tackling watershed challenges, restoring degraded lands, and building a sustainable and resilient environment for the benefit of Nigerians across the Sahel.
The NPC was accompanied on the visit by all FPMU Specialist Staff, and in attendance with the DG, NGGW was some top management staff of the agency.
NEWMAP-EIB, Great Green Wall Forge Stronger Ties on Watershed Management, Degraded Land Restoration
Policeman earlier presumed killed in Zamfara bandit attack found alive
By: Zagazola Makama
The Zamfara Police Command says a police inspector earlier presumed killed in a bandit attack on Adabka village in Bukkuyum Local Government Area has been found alive.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that AP/No 287155 Insp. Utanga Micheal, reported missing during the Aug. 8 incident in which a Police Mobile Force personnel and a Civilian Joint Task Force member were killed, was rescued after spending five days hiding in the bush.
According to sources, a joint rescue team comprising police operatives, local vigilantes and residents of Adabka traced the officer to the fringes of the surrounding bushes, where he had evaded the attackers.
“He was handed over to the village head, who took him to Adabka Primary Health Care Centre for initial treatment before arrangements were made to refer him to the Federal Medical Centre, Gusau,” the sources said.
Sources said efforts were ongoing to recover missing arms, including riot gunners, taken during the attack.
Policeman earlier presumed killed in Zamfara bandit attack found alive
Two killed, two abducted in bandit attack in Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits have killed two persons and abducted two others in an attack on Ruwan Bore village, Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
Sources told Zagazola Makama that the attack occurred at about 1:30 a.m. on Monday when a group of armed men invaded the village, shooting sporadically.
“Two persons were shot dead while two others were abducted to an unknown destination,”said the sources.
The sources added that upon receipt of the report, troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA were mobilised to the area in search of the perpetrators and to rescue the abducted victims.
The sources said assured pf efforts track the attackers.
Two killed, two abducted in bandit attack in Zamfara
NEWMAP-EIB, Great Green Wall Forge Stronger Ties on Watershed Management, Degraded Land Restoration
Policeman earlier presumed killed in Zamfara bandit attack found alive
Two killed, two abducted in bandit attack in Zamfara
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