Category: Environment

Ebonyi govt. welcomes independent investigation into collapsed building
Ebonyi govt. welcomes independent investigation into collapsed building
Investigation
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Abakaliki, June 25, 2024 (NAN) The Ebonyi government said on Tuesday that it would welcome investigations by independent bodies to unravel the cause of a collapsed two-storey building in Abakaliki, on June 18.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that two trapped construction workers at the building owned by a serving state legislator were rescued alive while other workers escaped unhurt.
Chief Sunday Inyima, Ebonyi Commissioner for Capital City Development and Urban Planning, said this in Abakaliki while conducting a team from the Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NBBRI) round the debris.
“The government needs the truth on the cause of the collapse and that was why I inaugurated an investigative committee on the issue.
“The interest shown by independent bodies in conducting investigations into the incident gives us hope of unraveling the remote cause of the collapse,” he said.
He said that the government’s investigative committee was jointly headed by state chairmen of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON).
“Your own report will be different from the state government’s committee and if we get a unified report, it will mean that a good job has been done.
“When there are differences in both reports, we would review such differences to unravel the true cause of the collapse.
“We hope to get recommendations from both committees that would help in forestalling future building collapse in the state,” he said.
He thanked the team for rating Ebonyi very low in occurrences of building collapse, assuring that efforts would be intensified to forestall such occurrences.
The Leader of the team, Prof. Akaolisa Ezeagu, said it was constituted by NBBRI Director-General, Prof. Samson Duna, to investigate the cause of the collapsed building and recommend ways of forestalling such.
Ezeagu commended the commissioner for conducting the team round the scene and for providing relevant documents among others that would assist the team in its assignment.
“We are not in Ebonyi to witch-hunt anyone but to conduct scientific based investigation into the collapse and providing documented recommendations to forestall future occurrences.
“Building collapse has become a national menance but we are happy that Ebonyi ranks very low in such occurrences.
“Our recommendations on forestalling building collapse assist federal, state governments and developers to learn relevant lessons in checking such ugly occurrences,” he said.
He called for concerted efforts from stakeholders to check building collapse due to inherent fatalities and economic losses.
NAN reports that the team conducted relevant tests on the building’s debris and interfaced with relevant authorities in the state’s housing and construction sectors. (NAN) (www nannews.ng)
RCO/KUA
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Edited by Uche Anunne

June 25, 2024
NGOs, OXFAM train women on agriculture, climate change
Stakeholders, female farmers at a workshop on Climate Change and Access to Climate Finance
Climate
By Abigael Joshua
Abuja, June 25, 2024 (NAN) The Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), NGOs, are partnering with OXFAM to train women on agriculture and climate change.
Dr Michael David, Executive Director, GIFSEP, communicated this at a workshop on Female Food Heroes (Ogbonge), Women on Climate Change and Access to Climate Finance on Tuesday in Abuja.
David said that the training was crucial because female farmers produced largely the food eaten in the country.
“Climate change is impacting on how they grow their food; looking at the food inflation the country is facing, we can attribute climate change to one of the cause of food inflation in the country.’’
He said that it was paramount to train the farmers to become change agents in their various communities and states so they could train others on how to build climate change resilience and simple climate adaptation techniques.
David said that the Federal Government needed to support the smallholder farmers with interventions that would proper bumper farming harvest in the country.
“If we must attain the Millennium Development Goals by 2030, then we must empower the small scale farmers; we need to train more women not just the ‘Ogbonge’ women to help our country attain food sovereignty,’’ he said.
Similarly, Peggy Maimaji, Project Coordinator Together Against Poverty, OXFAM, said that the project worked with female farmers to address issues that were salient to them especially the impacts of climate change on farming.
She assured that project would continue to address issues of access to land and finance saying that OXFAM collaborated to award no fewer than 12 women farmers every year since 2012 through the female food hero project.
Monica Maigari, one of the participants from Kaduna State, who had been awarded by OXFAM in 2014 for her performances, commended the NGOs for the training.
Maigari said she had learned how to mitigate climate change as well as to adapt to it.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

AIJ/CJ/
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Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo
June 25, 2024
Mercy Corps, KTSG take tree planting campaign to communities
Mercy Corps, KTSG take tree planting campaign to communities
Desertification
By Zubairu Idris
Katsina, June 25, 2024 (NAN) Mercy Corps and the Katsina State Government have enlightened the residents on the importance of planting trees to combat desertification, mitigate climate change and preserve the ecosystem.
Mr Philip Ikita, the Senior Programme Manager, Mercy Corps, said on Tuesday in Katsina that the event was part of the activities to commemorate the 2024 World Environment Day, with the theme: “Our land, Our Future”.
Ikita stressed the need for collective efforts to promote the activities of land restoration, drought resilience and combating desertification.
He explained that the importance of land can never be overemphasised, saying, ” because we live on it and plant crops to survive.”
He, however, said one of the major factors posing threat to the environment was desertification.
Ikita urged farmers and herders to live in peace with one another and inculcate the habit of planting trees in their environment.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Musa Adamu, represented by a Director, Alhaji Nura Abubakar, said that human activities on the environment have negative consequences on the environment.
He said that it was such activities causing global warming and climate change, which affect not only the environment, but even the human beings and other living organisms.
The commissioner, therefore, urged the people to inculcate the habit of planting of trees and proper dumping of waste disposal to avert desertification and other environment related-diseases.
Also, the Director, Climate Change in the ministry, Dr Yusuf Gide, said as a result of desertification, some trees, plants, shrubs and animal species were at the stage of extinction.
He further revealed that desertification causes low agricultural productivity and increased temperature that have serious consequences on all living organisms.
Gide said that the government would continue to raise tree seedlings for free distribution to people as part of measures to fight against desertification.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that mercy corps, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), are currently implementing a project in the state.
The project tagged: “Conflict Mitigation and Community Reconciliation”, is being implemented in Batsari, Jibia, Danmusa and Kankara LGAs.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
ZI/BRM
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
June 25, 2024
FG, EU train journalists on climate change reporting
Workshop
By Mercy Omoike
Lagos, June 24, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Ministry of Environment in partnership with the European Union (EU) has commenced a three-day training for 36 media professionals on climate change reportage.
The training under the auspices of the Department of Climate Change (DCC) and the Nigeria Climate Response Programme 2020-2024 (NCCRP) kicked off on Monday in Lagos.
The media professionals were selected from the 36 states of the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EU funded NCCRP intends to enhance Nigeria’s capacity to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions pledge of 47 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases emissions by 2030 in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 13.
The workshop, the second in the series, would strengthen the capacity of media professionals in climate change reporting.
In her opening remarks, Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, the DCC Director of the Federal Ministry of Environment, urged journalists to responsibly and ethically report climate change issues.
“This workshop is organised to enhance the capacity of media professionals in the reportage of climate change.
“As professionals in this space, journalists have a unique opportunity and responsibility to report effectively the realities of climate change.
“We urge you to approach this workshop with willingness to learn and commitment to excellence.
“The knowledge you gain here will not only benefit you but will also help professionally in addressing climate change issues in your reports.
“As media professionals, you can shape the narrative on climate action responsibly, ethically and courageously tell your stories on climate change,” Abiola-Awe said.
Also speaking, Dr Todd Ngara, NCCRP Team Lead, said the training was organised to enhance the dissemination of climate change knowledge among media professionals.
“You are welcome to today’s training session, it shows the importance you as journalists place on climate change.
“You could be covering stories that will earn you money but you chose to learn about updates on climate change, this shows the importance the media attach to climate change.
“The NCCRP climate change programme has three tasks, which are monitoring, reporting and verification; as well as dissemination of climate change knowledge (where this training falls under).
“One of our goals is the dissemination of knowledge on climate change. Our aim also is to introduce a new curriculum on climate change starting from the primary schools to the secondary schools.
“We hope that apart from the knowledge journalists will get from this training, we hope their reportage will here after bring about more visibility for climate change effects,” Ngara said. (NAN) www.nannews.ng
DMO/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
June 24, 2024
FG distributes maize, sorghum, garri to Lagos residents
Food
By Fabian Ekeruche
Lagos, June 24, 2024 (NAN) The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed 1,674 metric tonnes of food items to Lagos state to cushion the effect of high cost of food items in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the food items included 780 metric tonnes of maize, which is equivalent to 15,600 bags of 50 kg maize; and 800 metric tonnes of sorghum, which is equivalent to 16,000 bags of 50kg sorghum.
The other included 94 metric tonnes of garri, which is equivalent to 3,760 bags of 25kg bag of garri.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of NEMA, Hajia Zubaida Umar, said the presentation of the assorted commodities was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Umar was represented at the event by the Zonal Director, Southwest, NEMA, Mr Steven Adewale.
She expressed gratitude to the President for fulfilling his promise to cushion the effect of high cost of food items by ordering the distribution of food items across the country.
“In fulfillment of his promise to reduce the impact of the current economic downturn experienced in the country and in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda, Mr President approved the release of 42, 000 metric tonnes of food commodities from the national strategic reserve under the custody of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
“The assorted food commodity include maize, sorghum and garri.
“The above food items will be given to all the local government areas in the state.
“Based on the directives of Mr President, 20 per cent of the food items will be given to religious organisations, while three per cent to boarding schools in all the local governments in the state,” Umar said.
Dr Rasheed Macauley, Head of Veterinary Services, who received the items on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the kind gesture.
Macauley said that based on the population of Lagos, he requested that more of the commodities should be sent to the state.
One of the recipients, Mrs Victory Olaleye, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government and Lagos state for the kind gesture. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
FBO/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
June 24, 2024
Flooding: KDSG, ACReSAL desilt 160km drainages in Kaduna
Flooding: KDSG, ACReSAL desilt 160km drainages in Kaduna
Desilting
By Ezra Musa
Kaduna, June. 24, 2024 (NAN) The World Bank-supported Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), on Monday began a 160-kilometers drainage desilting project across the state to mitigate flooding.
Abubakar Buba, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, who inaugurated the exercise in Kaduna said it would be conducted across the three Senatorial Districts of the state.
Buba pointed out that ahead of the rainy season, the drainages needed to be evacuated to allow free flow of water and prevent floods beginning with Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria metropolises.
He said that blockage of drainages was partly responsible for some of the past incidences of flooding in some parts of the state.
“As you may be aware, most drainages in major towns in the state have been taken over by refuse, sand plastics and other debris.
“As part of our proactive measures under the ACReSAL project, we want to clear them and ensure that the rain flows seamlessly into major drains and into River Kaduna,” he said.
The commissioner said sensitisation was ongoing by officials of the ministry, solid waste service providers as well as religious and community leaders.
He said that the sensitisation was key to ensuring that people desist from the bad habit of dumping refuse in drainages, adding that the effort was receiving tremendous support from the people
“All we want to see is for people to imbibe the habit of dumping their refuse in designated places and disposing of it in the prescribed manner,” the commissioner said.
On his part, ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Mr Jibril Dahiru, said that the effort was part of the project’s strategies to prevent erosion, land degradation and mitigate climate change.
Dahiru explained that ACReSAL was designed to address the menace of gully erosion and land degradation.
He pointed out that relevant agencies have already warned of impending heavy downpours.
“This means we have to take proactive steps to prevent flooding in Kaduna State, and we can do this by clearing our drainages and sensitising people against dumping of refuse in drainages,” Dahiru said.
He appealed to the residents to support the state government’s efforts in managing the environment. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
EMZ/BRM
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
June 24, 2024
NBMA says TELA Maize safe for consumption
Safety
By Abigael Joshua
Abuja, June 24, 2024 (NAN) The National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA), has assured Nigerians of their safety in the consumption of TELA Maize.
Mrs Gloria Ogbaki, Head Information and Public Relations, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
She said that the agency’s attention had been drawn to concerns being raised by Nigerians following the approval and launch of TELA maize in the country.
“NBMA wishes to state that the safety and health of Nigerians are of topmost importance, we will not compromise on this.
“We take into serious cognisance the concerns of Nigerians because maize is a staple crop which is of great importance to the country.
“NBMA is committed to ensuring transparency, safety and unbiased decision-making concerning genetically modified organisms,” she said.
Ogbaki said that the agency conducted a proper risk assessment and analysis of TELA maize to ensure that it was safe for human consumption.
She said that the risk assessment for TELA maize was thoroughly conducted by experts and scientists from the academia and other relevant agencies.
The NBMA information officer said that experts from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Standard Organisation of Nigeria and Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service were part of the certification process.
She further listed the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, National Agricultural Seed Council and some university research centres as part of the process.
“They worked with our internal review process, and confirmed that TELA maize meets safety standards.
“We urge Nigerians to remain calm and trust in the rigorous evaluation process. TELA maize has been approved based on scientific evidence, its benefits to farmers are significant,” she said.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
AIJ/AZU
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Edited by Azubuike Okeh
June 24, 2024
LASG reiterates commitment to flood-free state
Flood
By Fabian Ekeruche
Lagos, June 23, 2024 (NAN) The Lagos State Government on Sunday reiterated its commitment to a flood-free state.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, stated this at the end of an extensive inspection tour to various contravention sites and drainages across the state.
Wahab said that the government would continue to enforce the law, while reclaiming drainage setbacks.
He said the inspection team was out on a normal routine to ascertain the state of some drainage channels across the state baring in mind that most flooding issues were majorly caused by negative human activity.
The commissioner and his team visited Aladelola Street in Ikosi-Ketu where some individuals had cut the supporting iron under the culvert leading to the collapse of the channel.
He said the state public works office would cordon the road off and commence repairs immediately.
The team also visited Victory Estate collector, Ago Palace Way, where some unscrupulous individuals blocked water path and canals and engaged in illegal sandfilling and selling.
He said that an enforcement team had earlier been sent there, adding that the visit was to check enforcement and compliance level.
“We are here as a result of a written petition by residents complaining about several distortions.
“There had been a lot of distortion on these canals and roads by some individuals which has been causing flooding in the area,” Wahab said.
At Sangotedo by the Lagos Business School, Wahab said there is a natural stream that is supposed to discharge into System 63 and from there to Omu creek.
According to him, the stream has been blocked and reduced by illegal structures built along the channel.
He said that a 48-hour contravention notice have been served to owners of buildings lying within the channels.
On the process of serving contravention notices, Wahab said property owners whose buildings and fences fall within drainage channels would first be served a 48-hour notice.
He said that the initial notice would be followed by another 14 days notice before the commencement of enforcement.
He said that the government would commence full enforcement after the expiration of all notices.
The team was also at Ajiran Primary Channel, Chevron Drive, to ascertain the level of the on going dredging of the channel.
He added that there was going to be the construction of a new alignment for free flow of water in the axis.
At Ilabere Collector at old Ikoyi, the team observed that there was an encroachment on the alignment and said that the fences would be removed in the next few days.
He said that the government is fixing a major infrastructure around Ilabere and if the collector is not properly handled, the infrastructure will be destroyed.
“Lagos despite its peculiarities as a coastal state with low-lying terrains and a high population density among others has remained afloat because of various measures put in place by the government,” Wahab said.
He explained that the ministry has strengthened its drainage enforcement activities in ensuring due diligence concerning all drainage channels and restoring Right-of-Ways on all channels.
He added that the ministry would continue its intense all-year-round clearing and cleaning of major primary and secondary drainage channels.
“I tell people climate change is real and there is a cholera outbreak.
“We must know that all these things are interwoven.
“We must all be responsible and responsive as a people, people cannot continue to brazenly abuse the environment and expect that there will be no consequences, Wahab said.
He appealed to the residents to always take ownership of their environment, desist from unwholesome act of illegal waste disposal, illegal construction of buildings on drainage, drainage setback and Right-Of-Way.
The commissioner was accompanied by the Permanent Secretaries, Environmental Services, Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen and Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite.
Others included the Managing Director of LAWMA, Dr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, General Manager, LASPARK, Mrs Toun Popoola and the General Manager, LASEPA, Dr Tunde Ajayi, among others. (NAN)(ww.nannews.ng)
FBO/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
June 23, 2024
Combined team of emergency responders puts out Christ Embassy fire

Fire
By Fabian Ekeruche
Lagos, June 23, 2024 (NAN) A combined team of emergency responders has put out a fire that engulfed Christ Embassy Church, Ikeja, on Sunday morning.
Mrs Ibitayo Adenike, the Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of the Lagos Territorial Office, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
Adenike told NAN that NEMA received an alert about a fire at the main auditorium of the Christ Embassy Church on Oregun Road in the early hours of Sunday.
“The immediate cause of the fire which started around 7.00 a.m. was not known but it spread quickly causing the roof of the auditorium to cave in.
“The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) and other emergency responders fought the inferno and was eventually able to put it out late in the afternoon,” Adenike said.
She added that an integrity test would be carried out on the structure before further actions can be taken.
Adenike noted that emergency responders at the scene of the incident included the Lagos Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), NEMA, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, LSFRS, the Police and the Red Cross.
Earlier, the Director of the LSFRS, Mrs Margret Adeseye, had called for calm as the situation was under control.
Adeseye said excavators were deployed during the operation to pull down some parts of the building to ensure complete extinguishment of the fire and to prevent further structural collapse.
The director said the cause of the incident was yet unknown adding that investigations are underway to determine the cause.
She said that no casualties were recorded.
Also, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, said that the massive fire had been brought under control.
“Dampening down is ongoing, with monitored property salvage.
“The operation involved all key stakeholders.
The building will be subject to materials testing.
There were no casualties or mortality despite any reports to the contrary,” Oke-Osanyintolu said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
FBO/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
June 23, 2024
Christ Embassy fire under control – LSFRS
Fire
By Fabian Ekeruche
Lagos, June 23, 2024 (NAN) The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) said that the fire that engulfed the main auditorium of Christ Embassy Church Headquarters, Oregun, Ikeja, has been put under control.
Mrs Margret Adeseye, Director, LSFRS, confirmed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.
Adeseye said the fire impacted the main auditorium of the church.
She said that the fire escalated because the church’s fire service thought they could handle the situation by themselves without recourse to the Lagos fire service.
She said the cause of the fire could not be ascertained at the moment until after proper investigation. (NAN)
FBO/JNC
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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
June 23, 2024