Over 179 million Nigerians live in unclean environment-Report

By: Michael Mike

Over 179 million people in Nigeria are living in unclean environment, according to the State of the Nigerian Environment (STONE) study.

The Seventh Edition of the public presentation of the State of the Nigerian Environment (STONE) study showed that this was an improvement over last year’s record which stood at 183 million.

The report was made available on Friday at an event tagged: “cleanest state champions in Nigeria tagged “Stone 2024 Unplugged,” by the National Coordinator of a non governmental organisation (NGO), Clean-Up Nigeria (CUN), Mr. Prince Owoh.

According to Owoh the indicators used in the study aimed to promote comprehensive environmental policies targeting governments at all levels and citizens.

He noted that: “The 2024 zonal rating has significant merits, expected to improve Nigeria’s national cleanliness index rating.

“On one hand, the country has seen a slight improvement in reducing open defecation, from 24 per cent in 2023 to 20 per cent in 2024,” he said.

Owoh said that STONE aimed to highlight the importance of environmental cleanliness and sustainability in terms of waste management.

He said: “Nigeria’s sanitation situation is a mixed bag.Unfortunately, waste recycling efforts have declined, dropping from 26 per cent in 2023 to 19 per cent in 2024. This decrease is attributed to the rising poverty levels in the country.

“The Stone Study’s findings further revealed that only seven states demonstrated good personal hygiene and sanitation practices among their citizens.”

He however noted that the annual Cleanliness Performance Index rating ranked Akwa Ibom and Abuja as cleanest states in Nigeria which enabled some states show commitment to environmental sustainability.

“Akwa Ibom state recently launched massive improved waste equipment combined with improving its sanitation of citizens, offering valuable insights for improvement.

“The zonal emphasis rating fosters regional integration, making the competition more relevant to
local environments.

The National Coordinator who is also the Secretary, National Technical Study Group (NTSG), said that the cleanliness index rating would address specific cleanliness challenges in each state and drive positive change in Nigeria’s cleanliness and environmental sustainability.

“The zonal approach will also facilitate interstate collaboration and partnership, promoting another and adopt effective strategies to address their unique environmental challenges towards a cleaner and healthier nation.

Owoh while announcing the six zonal cleanest state champions in Nigeria, said “the yearly Cleanliness Performance Index Rating, chaired by Prof. Solomon Balogun, Chairman, STONE NTSG showed that Akwa Ibom is the cleanest state in the South-South.

“Enugu State in the South East, Lagos State in the South-West, Plateau in the North-Central, Borno in the North-East, and Kaduna State in the North-West.

“By highlighting successes and challenges in each zone, the zonal approach will inspire positive and responsibility among citizens for their local environment,” he stated.

He said this in turn will enhance six consecutive years effective data collection and analysis from 2018 to 2023.

These six zonal cleanliness champions were awarded the prestigious STONE Green Crystal Award in 2024, he said.

He said the zonal ratings will provide a more accurate assessment of strengths and weaknesses on a zonal basis, enabling states within each zone to benchmark themselves against one another.

He assured that the zonal rating would equally promote healthy competition, drive self-improvement and targeted interventions to change and showcase best practices.

Over 179 million Nigerians live in unclean environment-Report

Tinubu has sagacity in finding a lasting solution to Nigeria’s power problems. We need more patience, says Umar Abubakar

By: Michael Mike

A Nigerian citizen, Engineer Umar Abubakar, whose heart is drawn towards President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s capability to proffer needed solutions to Nigeria’s challenges, currently joins his voice to numerous lovers and die-hard believers of the All Progressives Congress political leader and declares support for the President’s sagacity in finding a lasting solution to Nigeria’s power problems.

In his words, Eng. Abubakar stated that the government has achieved significant milestones in improving the transmission network under the able leadership of Engineer Abdulazeez, a member of the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

Mr. Umar Abubakar, who started his primary school education in Kebbi State and proceeded to secondary school and polytechnic, where he was a distinction student, later completed his postgraduate studies and earned a Master’s degree at Ambrose Alli University in Edo State. He subsequently obtained a PhD in Accounting from Nasarawa State University.

To complement the competence of the present government, Eng. Abubakar also declared his vision and mission to work towards achieving the milestones and objectives set by this administration.

He said: “It is evident that the government started amidst turbulence, but by the grace of God, we are gradually achieving stability”. Initially, some people did not understand the government’s direction, but we are now witnessing improvements in the economy. For example, in the past two days, we have seen positive changes in the foreign exchange market and an improvement in balances daily. It has been a wonderful journey with significant foreign investments being realized.

Though we can say that Nigerians are always impatient, it is getting noticed now that the little patience we have extended to the government is yielding results. We have observed the naira appreciating, something we thought would not happen. Fuel is now readily available everywhere, and prices are gradually stabilizing.

The introduction of the CNG project has become one of the cornerstones of this administration. For instance, I recently visited a place where people were queuing to be part of the CNG arrangements. The government is doing well, and I believe 2025 will be a remarkable year with significant economic improvement. Every project encounters challenges at the beginning, but we are overcoming them gradually.

I appeal to my fellow Nigerians to remain patient and dedicated to their jobs to make these milestones achievable. I am confident that, with proper public support, this government will accomplish great things.

The President has good intentions. While the reforms he introduces are commendable, they should be discussed thoroughly to ensure proper understanding and inclusivity. I wish this government success, and I enjoy serving in this glorious administration.”

Working in the Federal Ministry of Power, Eng. Abubakar shared the numerous challenges encountered in the system, noting that these challenges have been identified and steps are being taken to address them.

He further highlighted his experience in finance administration under the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and other financially inclined agencies, adding that he is also a Chartered Accountant.

“Our administration has significant debts that need to be addressed, and we have introduced schemes to ensure these debts are paid off,” he stated.

According to Eng. Abubakar, the Honourable Minister of Power has taken the grid issue seriously. The solution lies in transitioning from a centralized grid to a mini-grid system, ensuring consistent electricity availability across states.

“The management is working hard to implement these solutions. With the current government initiatives, I believe power supply will be stable by 2025,” he said.

“It is impractical for everyone to have the same electricity band. The bands are designed to ensure fairness. For instance, Band A is for people with more consistent power supply, and naturally, they pay higher tariffs than those with less supply.

The introduction of these bands ensures payment fairness while incentivizing increased light hours. Each state now has the authority to manage its power supply, which aligns with government policies.”

Eng. Abubakar also addressed concerns about power distribution across states. “The Power Ministry is not rocket science; it requires effective administration. Whether the minister is an accountant or an engineer, the focus is on managerial capability. As an accountant, I can develop projections that ensure efficient power distribution.

Nigeria’s challenge is insufficient power generation—5,000 MW cannot meet the needs of over 200 million people. This shortfall must be addressed.”

He emphasized: “If given higher responsibility in the Ministry, with wisdom from the President and collaborative meetings, the power sector challenges can be resolved. Non-performing individuals should be replaced.

It should be noted that some believe Nigeria focuses excessively on hydropower. We need to diversify into other power sources like solar. No country survives solely on one power source. While hydro is cheaper, the government recognizes the need for diversification and is working on integrating other energy sources.

In terms of megawatts, distribution has been privatized, but some companies are not fully prepared for the task. The distribution companies must expand their capacity. It is the responsibility of the President and Minister of Power to ensure distribution is effective.

Until customers experience consistent electricity, the distribution reforms will have limited impact.”

Talking about an assessment of the President’s progress since May 29, 2023, especially in economic reforms, Eng. Abubakar said: “President Tinubu has been exceptional. Though misunderstood initially, he has made tough but necessary decisions. If asked to score him, I would give an 8/10. By the end of 2025, I believe Nigerians will have cause for celebration. The economic and tax reforms, particularly the consolidation of multiple taxes into one, are commendable.

I believe in President Tinubu’s capability to deliver results. With time, I saw the wisdom in his decisions. As an accountant, I recognize that progress requires patience. Prosperous nations have endured similar phases, and we must be willing to persevere.

While Mr. President continues to flourish in directing the affairs of the Nigerian economy, I wish President Tinubu prosperity and appreciate his vision and leadership. I wish him good health, wisdom, and continued success in making transformative decisions for Nigeria.”

Tinubu has sagacity in finding a lasting solution to Nigeria’s power problems. We need more patience, says Umar Abubakar

EU Provides Additional €1 million in Humanitarian Funding for Flood, Cholera in Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The European Union has allocated €1 million in emergency humanitarian funding to Nigeria to support the country’s response to the ongoing floods and cholera epidemic.

According to a statement by EU on Friday, this funding will help humanitarian partners on the ground deliver essential aid, including shelter, water, sanitation, hygiene services, and healthcare to those most affected by both crises.

According to the statement, in response to the devastating floods which have impacted Kogi, Delta, and Anambra States in October, the EU is providing €500,000 to support essential humanitarian activities in Nigeria.
The statement said the three states remain among the most affected. In several locations, the risk of flooding persists, as the water level remains high due to the river flow and to the soil saturation. The floods have affected over78,000 people and severely damaged thousands of houses and destroyed crops nearing harvest, particularly in areas affected by the convergence of the Niger and Benue Rivers.

It said the current funding will assist in providing food, shelter, water, sanitation, and protection services to the affected populations. Furthermore, this funding will allow anticipatory action with the replenishment of emergency stocks to be used in case of new floods occurring in the future.

Earlier in September this year, the EU had already allocated €1.1 million to humanitarian partners working in the Northeast and Northwest Nigeria as part of its response across West and Central Africa to address the impacts of flooding in the region.

The statement said in addition to the ongoing floods, Nigeria is also grappling with a cholera epidemic that has significantly impacted the health and well-being of affected populations, particularly in flood-prone areas. The cholera outbreak has been exacerbated by the floods, especially in regions with inadequate sanitation and poor access to clean water.

To support the response, the EU is allocating €500,000, with the hardest-hit areas include the northern states of Borno and Yobe, where overcrowding in displaced persons’ camps and unsafe water conditions have fueled the spread of the disease.

The statement added that this funding will be used to strengthen Nigeria’s health system through humanitarian partners by supporting medical care, water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions, covering case detection activities, establishing cholera treatment centers, and launching vaccination campaigns to curb the outbreak.

Nigeria is currently facing the twin challenges of widespread flooding and a cholera outbreak. The floods, which have affected over 1,3 million people across the country, continue to pose significant risks to both lives and livelihoods. The cholera outbreak, aggravated by poor sanitation and water contamination, threatens to further strain Nigeria’s health system. In response, the EU is working alongside Nigerian authorities and humanitarian organizations to provide urgent relief and to ensure early recovery for affected communities.

These additional funds bring the total EU humanitarian funding for Nigeria in 2024 to € 48,7 million focusing mainly on the Northeast and Northwest, affected by conflict and insecurity and with alarming rates of people in food crisis and children suffering from life-threatening malnutrition.
The European Union and its Member States are the world’s leading donor of humanitarian aid. Relief assistance is an expression of European solidarity with people in need all around the world. It aims to save lives, prevent and alleviate human suffering, and safeguard the integrity and human dignity of populations affected by natural disasters and man-made crises.

Through its Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations department, the European Union helps millions of victims of conflict and disasters every year. With headquarters in Brussels and a global network of field offices, the European Union provides assistance to the most vulnerable people on the basis of humanitarian needs.

EU Provides Additional €1 million in Humanitarian Funding for Flood, Cholera in Nigeria