₦airaland Forum

“Tinubu Doing His Best, Hardship Will Soon Be Over ” — Ganduje tells Nigerians


National chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has assured Nigerians that the economic challenges facing the country will soon be over.

Ganduje gave the assurance amidst a nationwide protest against hunger and pervasive hardship which began on August 1.

The APC national chairman, while addressing a delegation of APC USA in his office on Wednesday, also said President Bola Tinubu is working so hard to improve the living conditions of Nigerians.

He said the present hardship is not peculiar to Nigeria, adding that many developed economies of the world are facing turbulence in one way or the other.

“There’s no doubt, as a developing country, even the so-called developed economists, they have their turbulence in one way or the other,” Ganduje told the five-member delegation.

“So, it’s not surprising that Nigeria is having its own shell of the problem. This is not the first time.

“Whenever there is a reform agenda, obstacles must be on the way, as a result, people must suffer in one way or the other.

“But, in the long run, everything will be according to the plan. We are aware that our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, came in to introduce reforms.”


The leader of the APC USA team, Prof. Adesegun Labinjo, irreducible Nigerians to support President Tinubu in his quest to pilot the economy out of the woods.

“In the face of all the turmoil that the sponsor of the ongoing protests projected will happen or is happening in Nigeria, we’re here to support our President, Dr. Ganduje, our party, and its leadership,” he said.

Source : https://politicsnigeria.com/tinubu-doing-his-best-hardship-will-soon-be-over-ganduje-tells-nigerians/

After Politics Nigeria Report on Dangote, House Speaker disbands Oil & Gas committee

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass has dissolved an ad hoc committee investigating the oil and gas sector and the rift between Dangote Refinery and sector players/NMDPRA.

The committee, was among other things, tasked with investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries.

In a statement on Wednesday, spokesman of the house, Akin Rotimi said the action was to ensure efficacy, independence, and effectiveness of the investigation.

The decision to disband the committee came after a Politics Nigeria exposè that revealed how Dangote refinery may have deceived a group of lawmakers who went on tour of the facility in July.

Backed with verifiable evidence, the report detailed how the diesel fuel refined at the facility contained a high level of the harmful sulphur content—at least 400 percent more than European Union (EU) standards. Whereas, the CEO of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote had told the visiting lawmakers that the fuel produced by his refinery had low sulphur content.

Also, contributing to the decision are multiple accusations of bribery against the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere. However, the Green Chambers has denied the allegations of bribery or any inducement.

According to Rotimi, the disbanded committee will be succeeded by a newly constituted ad-hoc committee with the same mandate.


“The House remains committed to addressing these vital issues and ensuring thorough oversight. Further details on the new committee’s operations will be provided in due course.”

Background

Politics Nigeria gathered that trouble began when Mr Ikenga asked the committee members to halt the process of NNPCL going to the open market to source for funding of $2 billion and thereafter convene a press conference.

This move was resisted by a majority of the committee members who noted that such would be counterproductive as they do not have all the details of the matter.

According to Daily Nigerian, the lawmakers also kicked against any press conference or briefing, pending the time the joint committee starts its sitting, a move that didn’t go down well with Mr Ikenga.

Ikenga reportedly went behind to lobby lawmakers to begin to send out press releases. In a Whatsapp group opened for the Committee, Ikenga was accused of getting money from Dangote Refinery to take sides and was asked to step aside for a neutral person from the downstream to be co-chair, a move he resisted.

The members, it was gathered, became livid by the manner in which Mr Ikenga had taken the investigation personally by already writing a favorable report for Dangote refinery and waiting for the members to adopt and sign, an action which they have all rejected.

It was also gathered that Ikenga sponsored 15 lawmakers to convene a press briefing, calling for the suspension of the management of NNPCL and NMDPRA, despite the joint committee chairman, Prince Okojie’s kicking against such moves.


This led to Mr Okojie, his vice chairman and clerk writing to the Speaker to distance themselves from the statements made by the 15 lawmakers.

https://politicsnigeria.com/dangote-nmdpra-politics-nigeria-oil-and-gas-committee-disbanded/

DaddyCoool:
Obidigbo, who is the President of Osisioma Foundation, said President Tinubu should realise that he inherited a crop of kleptomaniacs from former President Muhammad Buhari’s eight years of maladministration

This statement is true but he forgot to add that baba then added his own kleptomaniacs so that we now have kleptomaniacs squared!

Hahahahaha hahaha, you are very funny

Obidigbo is a very intelligent man

More

31. It was always the intendment of the Act to ensure that the National Council on Climate Change is constituted as it is— high level. In doing this, I leaned on my experiences as a community leader, former member of the diplomatic community, former member of the executive arm of government, private sector practitioner, to decide that the leadership must be by the President in order to avoid the confusion and inaction caused by what I call “Peer jealousy.” Climate Change is a serious issue and therefore deserves the attention of the highest level of government to bring clarity and transparency to the implementation of the Act, and also to eliminate peer jealousy.



32. A deeper dive into the provisions of the Act especially as it concerns provisions by some Sections is necessary. The focus here will be on the provisions for carbon budgeting and net zero, national action plan, vertical implementation, etc.



Carbon Budgets

33. The Act in Section 19 empowers the Ministry responsible for Environment, in consultation with the Ministry responsible for national planning, to set a time-bound carbon budget. In particular, Section 19(1)(a) stipulates thus: “set carbon budget for Nigeria to keep average increase in global temperature within 2 degrees Celsius and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.” Once the carbon budget is set, it shall be approved by the Federal Executive Council. The carbon budget will help make five-yearly provisions that will help with emissions reductions and guide the country to net zero by 2050-2070.

National Climate Change Action Plan

34. Section 20 of the Climate Change Act empowers the Secretariat to develop a five-yearly National Action Plan. This is to be done in collaboration with the Ministries responsible for Environment, Budget and National Planning. It shall serve as framework that guides Nigeria's climate actions and has to also be approved by the Federal Executive Council. The key components of the Action Plan shall be: an articulated carbon budget for the five-year cycle, consistent with the carbon budget; an articulated annual carbon budget for each of the years that make up the five-year cycle; past, current and projected GHG emission profile of GHG emission sectors of the economy; details of past, current and proposed climate mitigation and adaptation actions across the sectors of the economy including the rationale, costs, funding source and benefit of such action; details on the level of compliance with international climate commitments; and proposed incentives for private and public entities, which achieve GHG emission reduction.



35. It is important to point out that Section 20(3) of the Act makes provision for public participation in the development of the Action by stipulating that it shall be published and made open to the “general public for consultation for a period not less than eight weeks, ending 14 days before its presentation to the Council.”



Carbon Trading



36. Aware of the flourishing global carbon market and the opportunity for the country to explore it for climate finance, Section 15(e) makes provision for the setting up of mechanisms for carbon emissions trading and carbon tax. At COP28 in Dubai, President Tinubu would go ahead to appoint … “Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr. Zacch Adedeji, and the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Mr. Dahiru Salisu, to co-chair the Nigeria Carbon Market Activation Plan.”[11]





Beyond the National, Implementation of the Act at the Zonal and State Levels

37. The Act makes provision for implementation at not only the federal level, but also at the zonal and state levels. Consequently, the Act stipulates in Section 11(1) (a) and (b) that the Secretariat to the National Council on Climate Change shall also have the following: Six Zonal Coordinators for the six geo-political zones; and State Directors for the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

38. It is important to point out that due to the federal structure of the country, the National Assembly can only legislate for the country on items that are in the Exclusive List. Environment is not on that list hence it will be important for state Houses of Assemblyy to "domesticate" the Act. This will effectively obliterate the type of confusion raised by the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act due to contradictory judgements from courts of coordinate jurisdictions. However, the Zonal Coordinators and the State Directors can oversee implementation at the zonal and state levels respectively in an advisory and collaborative manner, or for institutions that are federal in nature.

39. What the foregoing emphasizes is that Nigeria's Climate Change law was painstakingly drawn up to advance and enforce multilevel actions towards not only meeting the country's climate change goals, but to also ensure that the country is set on the path of sustainable development, leveraging on climate actions.

The Climate Change Act and the Issue of Locus Standi

40. The Climate Change Act makes provisions for the right of citizens to sue in relation to inaction on issues concerning the environment. It is important to reference first that the tone for the enactment of the Climate Change Act was set by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Section 20 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria states that “the State shall protect and improve the environment and safeguard the water, air and land, forest and wildlife of Nigeria.[12]” Furthermore, Section 33(i) of the Constitution states that “every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.” These provide grounds for citizens to seek redress in court in the event that efforts are not being made to protect the environment, thus endangering their lives.



41. The issue of locus standi was given judicial backing in the Centre for Oil Pollution Watch v NNPC (2018) LPELR-50830(SC) case where the Supreme Court of Nigeria stated clearly that in matters of environmental pollution, citizens who are impacted by environmental actions have the locus standi to sue. In this case, the Supreme Court liberalized and broadened the rule of standing as it highlighted “that public spirited individuals and organizations can bring an action in courts against relevant public authorities and private entities to demand their compliance with relevant laws and to ensure the remediation, restoration and protection of the environment.”



42. In furtherance to this, Section 34(1) of the Climate Change Act explicitly provides that “a person or private or public entity that acts in a manner that negatively affects efforts towards mitigation and adaptation measures made under this Act commits an offence and is liable to a penalty to be determined by the Council.” In Section 34(2), the Act empowers the court to make decisions in lieu of such violations.



Government Actions in line with the Provisions of the Act



43. Following assent to the Act by former President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR on November 17, 2021, the Federal Government has taken a number of actions to ramp up climate action in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Apart from the constitution and inauguration of the Council and its Secretariat by President Buhari, President Tinubu has further taken some very bold steps. In an opinion piece published on CNN, Mr. President affirmed this commitment of the country’s climate change actions thus: “Nigeria has taken significant steps and acted decisively in enacting the Climate Change Act and committing to net-zero emissions between 2050 and 2070.[13]





44. Some of the key actions taken subsequently by the Government are:



· Enactment of the Electricity Act 2023 with its provisions in Sections 164-167 for improved access to renewables.



· Removal of petroleum subsidy.



· Launch of the Presidential Initiative for Compressed Natural Gas.



· Unveiling at the global stage in December, 2023 at Dubai, United Arab Emirates, during COP28, and its subsequent launch in Abuja of Nigeria’s Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) to guide the country’s efforts at achieving net zero.



· Flagging off the Nigeria Carbon Market Activation Plan at COP28, and also joined the African Carbon Market Initiative.



· Signing of a $500 million renewable energy pact and a gas export deal with Germany’s DWS which will convert flared gas into high-grade natural gas[14].



· Mandating Ministries, Departments and Agencies to only buy CNG-powered vehicles as part of efforts to decarbonize the transportation sector.



· The official launch in April, 2024, by the Federal Executive Council of the National Clean Cooking Policy.



· President Bola Tinubu appointed Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp) as the lead arranger and developer of Evergreen City, Nigeria’s Green Industrial Zone, and also approved the establishment of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen - the Supervisory Technical Working Group - to oversee the pioneering endeavour. This action was taken with the clear objective of making Nigeria the leading manufacturing hub in Africa for renewable energy technologies, green solutions, and climate-adaptation technologies for the maximum benefit of Nigerians and Africans at large.



· The Launch on May 23, 2024 of Nigeria NDC Implementation Framework 2023-2030

· Etc.







Summary



45. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen. We are no longer debating whether climate change is real or not. We know that it is, as severe and unpredictable weather events around us affirm daily. From the floods we now witness frequently, the massive landslide in Kaokalam village in Papua New Guinea that reportedly killed 2000 villagers in their sleep, the midair storm that hit two international airlines: Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways, the heat wave in Mecca that killed 1,300 persons, irregular rainfalls, the menace of gully and coastal erosion, desertification and land degradation leading to loss of arable land, loss of over 90 percent of Lake Chad, forced migration, competition for scarce resources and food insecurity, confrontation and security challenges, even the die-hard sceptic knows that the world is reeling under the impacts of climate change.



46. At the inaugural Summit for Clean Cooking in Africa held on May 14, 2024, in Paris, Dr Fatih Birol, Executive Director, International Energy Agency (IEA), declared: “Today, 4 out of 5 families use open fire or basic stoves for preparing meals. And the toxic fumes coming from the cooking practices are causing respiratory diseases especially for women and children. And each year, more than 500,000 people mainly women and children die prematurely because of the respiratory diseases caused by the cooking practices. This is not acceptable in this 21st century.” According to Dr. Iziaq Salako, Honourable Minister of State, Environment, Nigeria accounts for over 77,000 fatalities annually. Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) disclosed that over one billion Africans lack access to clean cooking, and also loose lives, millions of man-hours in search of firewood, charcoal, causing deforestation and desertifications, etc. He announced that the AfDB has pledged US$2bn to actualize access to clean cooking over the next 10 years. Similarly, Dr. Tedros A. Ghebreyesos, Director-General of World Health Organization disclosed that “WHO estimates that every year 3.2 million people die from household pollution generated by dirty fuels and stoves for cooking.”



47. Yet all these challenges present us with golden opportunities for green-growth, sustainable development, and building a planet where we are respectful of nature and its healing powers. Clearly, Africa’s and by extension Nigeria’s priorities are economic growth, creation of employment for its over 477 million youthful population under 35 years, climate resilience, benefit from blue economy, access to clean cooking and also to energy generally, to take advantage of the abundance of over 60 percent of critical mineral resources required for the production of over USD$7 trillion Electric Vehicles (EV) market. We must leverage on all available opportunities through partnership, global collaboration, finance mobilization, climate diplomacy, green industrialization, etc.



48. It has become clear that without increased emission reduction efforts in all sectors--industrial, energy, transport, open fires, clean cooking, the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius will stay unreachable. According to Gauri Singh, Deputy Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), industry decarbonization represents the next great transformation across different sectors. Decarbonization can create growth opportunities through technology advances, and new sustainable revenue streams while creating a new generation of equitable and sustainable jobs.



Conclusion



49. What I have tried to do here today is to show how a legislation and its implications can play a key role in advancing this journey. This is important because from Section 1, it stipulates, “This Act provides a framework for achieving low greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, inclusive green growth and sustainable economic development by…”





50. And to re-affirm that Nigeria's Climate Change Act, fully activated by several presidential pronouncements, is eminently positioned to guide our actions. President Bola Tinubu in his opinion piece published by CNN declared; “We envision Africa becoming the leading green manufacturing hub globally, with targeted support and access to global markets. Nigeria and much of Africa possess a unique advantage--we do not need to decommission coal-fired power plants. We have an unparalleled opportunity to leapfrog decades of conventional, high-emission industry by building our industrial future on a new green foundation.”



51. I will like to end by using an example very close to all of us gathered here today at the Coal City, to buttress how a good legislation can help enforce action and ensure that goals are achieved. On April 22, 2024, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), transferred regulatory oversight of the Enugu electricity market to the Enugu State Government. This was inline with the Constitutional amendment we effected during the 9th Assembly, and the subsequent enactment of the Electricity Act 2023, which unbundled the electricity sector and has now made it possible for States, and even private investors to go into the market and leverage on off grid and mini grid options to tackle the energy problem we have in this country. Without legislation, this would not have been possible.



52. In essence then, legislations such as the Climate Change Act are critical for transformative actions. This legislation along with the accompanying actions by the Nigerian government are aimed at ensuring that no critical segment, or poor and vulnerable groups are inequitably pushed behind in our coordinated march towards climate justice and just energy transition to achieve a low-carbon and environmentally sustainable economic development.



53. May God bless us all


More https://www.google.com/amp/s/thenationonlineng.net/onuigbo-stresses-critical-role-of-legislation-in-tackling-climate-change/amp/

See the full text of the lecture below:

CLIMATE CHANGE ACT: IMPLICATIONS FOR CLIMATE ACTION IN NIGERIA

PAPER PRESENTED BY REP. SAM ONUIGBO FCIS, FNIM, KJW, DURING THE CLIMATE JUSTICE AND JUST ENERGY TRANSITION CONFERENCE IN HONOUR OF PROFESSOR CHINEDUM NWAJIUBA’S 60TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, AT THE COAL CITY UNIVERSITY, ENUGU, 16-17 JULY, 2024.

[Protocol]

Background

1. The Bible says in the book of Romans 12:15, “Celebrate with those who celebrate…” I am delighted to be here today to celebrate with my brother and erudite scholar, Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, former Vice Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, on his Diamond Jubilee.

Appreciation

2. Let me first express my gratitude to the Coal City University, especially the Vice Chancellor and the Faculty of Natural and Applied Science; past and present students of Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba; the Centre for Climate Change and Development of the Alex Ekwueme University; friends and well-wishers of Professor Nwajiuba; and indeed everyone else involved in putting together this important “Climate Justice and Just Energy Transition Conference” in honour of the 60th birthday of my good friend. I am also grateful for the opportunity to stand before all of you to present this paper on the “Climate Change Act: Implications for Climate Action in Nigeria.”

Thank you all.

Introduction

3. History has taught us that in our constantly evolving world, it is not the strong that survive, but those willing to adapt to change. This is especially true for the climate crisis which affects every facet of our lives. This has led to several efforts by international organizations to converge several times to find solutions to the climate crisis.



4. The evolution of global efforts at addressing climate change was well-captured in Peter Jackson’s “From Stockholm to Kyoto: A Brief History of Climate Change.” Jackson opined that “[i]n the midst of the current international debate on global warming, it is instructive to note that it has taken the United Nations and the international community some two generations to reach this point.[2]” It was not until the UN Scientific Conference which was held in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1972, that the United Nations first developed action plans and a declaration mentioning climate change as a global problem. Consequently, the governing board of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was established.



5. It would take another twenty years before the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, where the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 were adopted with the latter specifically seeking to deal “with the protection of the atmosphere, establishing the link between science, sustainable development, energy development and consumption, transportation, industrial development, stratospheric ozone depletion and transboundary atmospheric pollution[3].” The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was also established on May 09, 1992. The UNFCCC has since become the rallying point for global action on climate change.



6. After the birth of the “Rio Triplets,” comprising the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), UNFCCC, and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the world has moved from the Kyoto Protocol of 1997 to the Paris Agreement of 2015. The Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which was adopted in 2015 and fully enacted in 2016 (former President Buhari signed for Nigeria on September 22, 2016 at the UN Headquarters, New York) is the current global instrument of the UNFCCC in the fight against climate change.



7. I have referenced this piece of history to set the scene for our conversation, as it shows incremental global efforts at tackling climate change— efforts which we must continuously improve on collaboratively.



8. Now more than ever, the world seems to be coming to a consensus that large-scale and coordinated climate action is the only path to a sustainable future. So, despite differing opinions, we were able to agree, at COP28 in Dubai, to a just and gradual phase-out of fossil fuels, and the tripling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030.[4] While I fully understand the implications of fossil fuels phase-out for a hydrocarbon dependent rentier state like Nigeria, we must also remember the cost of inaction and the grave danger of stranded critical assets. What is important is to ensure that our transition is done in a just and equitable way.



9. Since COP28, the International Energy Agency has launched an online tracker of global efforts to meet the renewable energy commitments at COP28[5]; the Biden administration has unveiled US$7bn in grant funding for solar under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All programme[6]; the World Bank in partnership with the Africa Development Bank has unveiled a US$500bn plan to provide clean energy for 300million Africans; the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has in conjunction with other partners, sought stakeholders’ input in the development of Regional Energy Transition Outlooks, and the Federal Government of Nigeria has released N100bn[7] as part of funding for the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative to reduce emissions in the transportation sector and cushion the effects of subsidy removal.



10. There is a huge sense of urgency globally in tackling the climate crisis with even the legislatures across the globe making efforts to provide legal backing to their respective countries. Make no mistake about it, without legislative backing, it is impossible for governments to be legally bound to their climate change commitments. The world seems to have come to terms with this and has encouraged increased legislative actions to back up climate change commitments and goals by countries. But how can legislation help in driving climate action?

The Role of Legislation in Climate Change

11. According to Ruth Wolstenholme:

Parliamentarians can play a crucial role in addressing this challenge - ensuring government accountability and effectiveness as well as providing a vital knowledge link with constituents, both aspects being important in ensuring a country’s response and resilience to climate change. Parliamentarians also have opportunity to promote the voice of citizens at home and during international negotiations.[8]

12. This aptly captures the critical role of legislators in the battle against climate change. Without legislators making the laws, providing oversight, engendering knowledge sharing with their constituents, and generally holding everyone accountable, no country will effectively meet its climate change goals and obligations.



13. It is therefore appropriate to state here that, aware of the importance of the role of legislation for climate change, the government of the United Kingdom set the ball rolling in 2008 with the first standalone climate change legislation. Other countries of the world followed suit.



Comparative Review of Some Climate Change Laws



14. The UK Climate Change Act was structured around four key pillars, namely: Goal; Pathway; Toolkit; and Monitoring Framework.



15. Through this structured approach, the Act defines goals to be achieved as captured by its 2050 Emissions Target and Climate Change Risk Assessment; and lays out a clear pathway to achieving these goals. For them, the pathway to doing this is through Carbon Budgets and setting up of a National Adaptation Programme. It further demands that the government continuously comes up with policies to help keep these goals in sight, while providing a monitoring framework to evaluate progress through the setting up of the UK Climate Change Committee, an independent non-departmental public body formed under the Climate Change Act “…to advise the United Kingdom and devolved governments and Parliaments on tackling and preparing for climate change.”[9]



16. However, unlike the Nigerian Climate Change Act, the UK Climate Change Committee is an independent body which advises the government on tackling climate change, and where necessary, point out to, or warns the government on where it is falling short of the objectives of the Act.



17. Here in Africa, a review of the Climate Change Acts of Kenya and Uganda also shows a commitment to emissions reduction, adaptation, and climate resilience. For each, there is an effort to establish an overseeing structure to help guide action. For instance, the Kenyan Act established the position of a Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury who must formulate a National Climate Change Action Plan while drawing analytical support from the Climate Change Directorate. Uganda, on the other hand, has a National Climate Change Advisory Committee which provides independent advice to the Policy Committee on the Environment, and also to the Minister. It also requires the presentation by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of a certificate of approval from the Climate Change Committee, indicating that the MDA has made adequate provisions for climate actions in their budgetary provisions.



18. Specifically, Section 30(b)(6a) of the Ugandan National Climate Change Act states “The Minister shall, in consultation with the Chairperson of the National Planning Authority, issue a certificate certifying that the Budget Framework Paper is climate change responsive and contains adequate allocation for funding climate change measures and actions

“(6b) The Minister and the Chairperson of the National Planning Authority shall evaluate all votes of the Budget Framework Paper before issuing the certificate referred to in subsection (6a).”



19. Like Nigeria, both countries are also federations with sub-national units. In that vein, Kenya's Climate Change Directorate provides national coordination and advice to counties, with the counties also having to adopt the Act. In Uganda, the Natural Resources Department of each District is expected to liaise with the National Department on Climate Change for advice on all issues regarding climate change.



20. A detailed look at the Climate Change Acts of the two countries will also reveal conscious efforts at multi stakeholder engagements, finance mobilisation, alignment with the Paris Agreement and specific sustainable growth needs of the countries, etc.



21. Furthermore, aware of the key role that climate action has to play in Africa’s sustainable development, the African Union during the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, in February 2023, mandated the African Union Commission to convene a summit on Climate Change. This resulted in the inaugural Africa Climate Week/Africa Climate Summit which was held in Nairobi Kenya, in September 2023[10]. I was privileged to participate in the extraordinary session for legislators which was convened at the Kenyan National Parliament.



22. I have taken us on this journey of reflecting on the key provisions of the climate change laws of some countries to re-iterate my point at the beginning that climate legislations are critical as they provide legal backing for countries to attain their climate change goals. Without these legal frameworks, there will be no obligation to enforce.





Nigeria's Climate Change Law: Key Provisions



23. A lot of thinking went into the drafting of Nigeria’s Climate Change Act. The Act was structured to provide overarching guidelines on climate action in the country. Primarily, the focus of the Climate Change Act 2021 was to galvanise actions that are intended to realize the aims and aspirations of the delivery of the triplets of Rio de Janeiro 1992 (climate change, biodiversity governance, sustainable forest and land management to fight off desertification); actualize its net-zero pledge; and particularly the goals of the Paris Agreement of reducing global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This Act has provisions that have highlighted the importance of climate action and recognised the importance of biodiversity governance with desertification as part of the major challenge facing the country today.

24. In 2021, Nigeria updated her ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are the essential tools and framework for attaining her commitments towards reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. The updated NDC has an unconditional contribution of 20% below business-as-usual by 2030, and 47% conditional contribution on international support in finance mobilization and technical know-how. It covers the key prioritized sectors of Agriculture, Energy, Forest and Other Land Use (FOLU), Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU), Oil & Gas, Transport, Waste and Water. The NDC Implementation Framework was launched to drive the delivery of Nigeria’s NDCs targets through 2030. It is in line with these objectives that the Explanatory Memorandum of the Act states that it is “…to provide for the mainstreaming of climate change actions, establish the National Council on Climate Change, and related matters.”

25. Consequently, Part 1—Objectives and Applications of the Climate Change Act 2021— Section 1 states that, “The Act provides a framework for achieving low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, inclusive green growth and sustainable economic development by ensuring that Nigeria formulates programmes for achieving its long-term goals on climate change mitigation and adaptation…in line with national development priorities….”



26. Section 2 which is on jurisdiction, states that the Act applies to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government of Nigeria, and to public and private entities within the territorial waters of Nigeria, while Section 3 establishes the National Council on Climate Change and vests it with immense powers to make policies and decisions on all matters concerning Climate Change in Nigeria.



27. Indeed, there are critical sections of the Act which reflect its intendment to serve as a holistic legal framework for climate action that will translate to the building of a resilient, green, and sustainably developed country. For instance, Section 15 of the Act makes provision for the setting up of the Climate Change Fund which will help address the funding issues associated with climate actions in the country. Sections 19 and 20 speak specifically to carbon budgeting and National Climate Change Action Plan respectively. Both are targeted at providing specific guidelines to action that will help us transit to net zero while building our future in a green, resilient and sustainable way. Sections 22, 23, 24, and 25 assign responsibilities to not just public entities, but also to the private sector, MDAs, and civil society organisations, while Section 26 speaks to the need for climate education and the inclusion of climate education into our educational curricula at all levels bearing in mind that climate change is inter-generational.

28. As part of efforts to address the convergence of the Rio triplets (climate change, biodiversity, and desertification), Sections 27, 28, and 29 focus on the use of nature-based solutions such as REDD+ (Reducing Emission from Deforestation and forest Degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks). This was clearly in sync with why the United Nations in March 2012 introduced Environmental-Economic Accounting to address climate change, engender biodiversity conservation, and the restoration of degraded lands and forests.

29. It is important to also point out that the Act in Section 22 mandates every MDA to have a Climate Change Desk Officer of a Directorate cadre whose responsibility it is to ensure that climate action is mainstreamed into the annual plans and budgeting of all MDAs in Nigeria. One important aspect of climate action is the need for proper monitoring, evaluation, and reporting. We were fully aware of this hence the provision for National Assembly oversight in Section 21, and public engagement in Section 30.

30. A very critical part of the Climate Change Act is the establishment of the National Council on Climate Change in Section 3, while Section 5 outlines the composition of the Council. The Council, as you might have noted is made up of Ministers from several Ministries, Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, representatives of the private sector, women, youths, persons living with disabilities, and Civil Society Organisations, with the President of Nigeria as the Chairman of the Council and the Vice President as the Vice Chairman. This is because climate change is a cross-cutting issue and therefore everyone must be involved.

A member of the Governing Board of North East Development Commission (NEDC), Rep Sam Onuigbo, has asserted that legislations such as the Climate Change Act are critical for transformative actions.

He noted that the law along with the accompanying actions by the Nigerian Federal Government are aimed at ensuring that no critical segment, especially the poor and vulnerable groups are inequitably pushed behind in the country’s coordinated march towards climate justice.

Onuigbo, who sponsored the Climate Change Bill in the Ninth National Assembly maintained that the drive towards climate justice and just energy transition will enable the country to achieve a low-carbon and environmentally sustainable economic development.

The former lawmaker made the assertions while delivering a keynote address titled “Climate Change Act: Implications for Climate Action in Nigeria,” during the Climate Justice and Just Energy Transition conference in honour of Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba’s 60th anniversary celebration at the Coal City University, Enugu.

Onuigbo, who is also chairman of Climate Change and Security Committee of the NEDC Board, noted that history has shown that “in our constantly evolving world, it is not the strong that survive, but those willing to adapt to change.”

He urged the Federal Ministry of Education to work with all levels of educational institutions to include climate change education in their curricula, in line with Section 26 of the Act.

He stated: “This is especially relevant for the climate crisis which affects every facet of our lives. This has led to several efforts by international organizations to converge several times to find solutions to the climate crisis.

“The evolution of global efforts at addressing climate change was well-captured in Peter Jackson’s “From Stockholm to Kyoto: A Brief History of Climate Change.” Jackson opined that “[i]n the midst of the current international debate on global warming, it is instructive to note that it has taken the United Nations and the international community some two generations to reach this point.

“It was not until the UN Scientific Conference which was held in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1972, that the United Nations first developed action plans and a declaration mentioning climate change as a global problem. Consequently, the governing board of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) was established.”

Onuigbo, who was named as one of the 30 Global Leaders on Climate Change in November 2023 by the New York-based Business Insider magazine, declared: “Now more than ever, the world seems to be coming to a consensus that large-scale and coordinated climate action is the only path to a sustainable future.

“So, despite differing opinions, we were able to agree, at COP28 in Dubai, to a just and gradual phase-out of fossil fuels, and the tripling of global renewable energy capacity by 2030.[1] While I fully understand the implications of fossil fuels phase-out for a hydrocarbon dependent rentier state like Nigeria, we must also remember the cost of inaction and the grave danger of stranded critical assets.”

While contending that what is important is “to ensure that our transition is done in a just and equitable way,” Onuigbo recalled that since COP28, the International Energy Agency has launched an online tracker of global efforts to meet the renewable energy commitments at COP28.

Tracking some positive international global actions, he said: “The (President Joe) Biden administration has unveiled US$7bn in grant funding for solar under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All programme; the World Bank in partnership with the Africa Development Bank has unveiled a US$500bn plan to provide clean energy for 300million Africans.

“The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has in conjunction with other partners, sought stakeholders’ input in the development of Regional Energy Transition Outlooks, and the Federal Government of Nigeria has released N100bn as part of funding for the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative to reduce emissions in the transportationn sector and cushion the effects of subsidy removal.”

He therefore asserted that there is a huge sense of urgency globally in tackling the climate crisis with even the legislatures across the globe making efforts to provide legal backing to their respective countries.

“Make no mistake about it, without legislative backing, it is impossible for governments to be legally bound to their climate change commitments. The world seems to have come to terms with this and has encouraged increased legislative actions to back up climate change commitments and goals by countries,” the former lawmaker stated.

Quoting Ruth Wolstenholme, Onuigbo declared that “Parliamentarians can play a crucial role in addressing this challenge by ensuring government accountability and effectiveness as well as providing a vital knowledge link with constituents.

He maintained that since both aspects are important in ensuring a country’s response and resilience to climate change, lawmakers “also have opportunity to promote the voice of citizens at home and during international negotiations.”

“This aptly captures the critical role of legislators in the battle against climate change. Without legislators making the laws, providing oversight, engendering knowledge sharing with their constituents, and generally holding everyone accountable, no country will effectively meet its climate change goals and obligations.

“It is therefore appropriate to state here that, aware of the importance of the role of legislation for climate change, the government of the United Kingdom set the ball rolling in 2008 with the first standalone climate change legislation. Other countries of the world followed suit,” he noted.

the former federal lawmaker, while itemizing some key provisions in Nigeria’s Climate Changer Law, disclosed that a lot of deep thinking went into the drafting of Nigeria’s Climate Change Act.

His words: “The Act was structured to provide overarching guidelines on climate action in the country. Primarily, the focus of the Climate Change Act 2021 was to galvanise actions that are intended to realize the aims and aspirations of the delivery of the triplets of Rio de Janeiro 1992 (climate change, biodiversity governance, sustainable forest and land management to fight off desertification); actualize its net-zero pledge; and particularly the goals of the Paris Agreement of reducing global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“This Act has provisions that have highlighted the importance of climate action and recognised the importance of biodiversity governance with desertification as part of the major challenge facing the country today.

“In 2021, Nigeria updated her ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which are the essential tools and framework for attaining her commitments towards reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.

“The updated NDC has an unconditional contribution of 20% below business-as-usual by 2030, and 47% conditional contribution on international support in finance mobilization and technical know-how. It covers the key prioritized sectors of Agriculture, Energy, Forest and Other Land Use (FOLU), Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU), Oil & Gas, Transport, Waste and Water.

“The NDC Implementation Framework was launched to drive the delivery of Nigeria’s NDCs targets through 2030. It is in line with these objectives that the Explanatory Memorandum of the Act states that it is “…to provide for the mainstreaming of climate change actions, establish the National Council on Climate Change, and related matters.

Source : https://dailytrust.com/climate-change-legislations-are-critical-for-transformative-actions/

There is tension in Ukum Local Government Area in Benue State following the killing of 11 persons by heavily armed bandits on Wednesday morning.

The attack has led to a massive protest in the area which has been plagued by insecurity despite several joint security operations aimed at eradicating the menace.

According to residents, dozens of heavily armed men launched an attack on Ayati, the headquarters of Borikyo ward, shooting dead the 11 people and leaving many others with various degrees of injury.

The incident forced angry Borikyo youths to besiege the Sankera-Ayati-Sai road and Ukum local government secretariat to express their grief over the incessant killings in the community.


It was learnt that the angry protesters vandalised the council secretariat, shattering windows and destroying other things at sight with stones and sticks.

“The gunmen opened gunfire and killed seven people on the spot at night. More bodies were recovered hours later bringing the causalities to 11. Now, the youths are protesting seriously,” a resident said on the condition of anonymity.

“They have barricaded the roads with the dead bodies, asking Governor Hyacinth Alia to act because the killings have continued so long without any clear steps to end the madness.


“They are protesting at Sankera, the headquarters of Ukum LGA. Angry youths are currently demonstrating to register their grievances about the continuous killing of innocent and defenceless people of Borikyo in Ukum LGA on a daily basis without any action from government to arrest the ugly situation.”

Internal Security Adviser to the Benue State Governor, Chief Joseph Har, told journalists in Makurdi that the protesters were threatening to burn down the LG secretariat because of the killings in the area.

“They have barricaded the roads with the dead bodies, asking Governor Hyacinth Alia to act because the killings have continued so long without any clear steps to end the madness.

“They are protesting at Sankera, the headquarters of Ukum LGA. Angry youths are currently demonstrating to register their grievances about the continuous killing of innocent and defenceless people of Borikyo in Ukum LGA on a daily basis without any action from government to arrest the ugly situation.”

Source :https://politicsnigeria.com/breaking-angry-protesters-dump-dead-bodies-on-major-road-after-bandit-attack-in-benue/

Southeast Senators have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to order the release of detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The delegation of 15 senators, led by former Abia State Deputy Governor and ranking senator, Enyinnaya Abaribe, argued that the ongoing detention of Kanu is stalling social and economic activities in the Southeast region.


In a closed-door meeting with the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbem, SAN, the Senators emphasized the urgent need for Kanu’s release.


Abaribe, speaking on behalf of his colleagues after the meeting, expressed concerns over the deteriorating economic and social conditions in the Southeast, attributing it to Kanu’s continued incarceration.

Abaribe stated that Kanu’s peaceful agitation has been hijacked by criminals, leading to increased violence and loss of lives, including those of security personnel.

He said he met with Kanu at the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Abuja on Monday, where Kanu agreed to comply with any conditions set for his release.

The former Deputy Governor expressed confidence that releasing Kanu would help to restore peace and stability in the Southeast, which has been troubled since Kanu’s detention in 2021.

Source : https://politicsnigeria.com/southeast-senators-plead-with-president-tinubu-for-nnamdi-kanus-release/

The Federal Government has warned that unauthorised disclosure or leakage of official documents, capable of impacting the country negatively, is a punishable offence.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume, gave the warning on Tuesday in Abuja, at a workshop organised by the Bureau for Public Service Reforms, BPSR, in collaboration with his office.

The workshop is themed: “Renewing Hope and Strengthening of National Unity through Effective Communication and the Role of the Official Secret Acts in Maintaining Confidentiality and National Security.’’

Represented by Dr Nnamdi Mbaeri, a Permanent Secretary attached to his office, Akume said unauthorized leakage of sensitive official documents constitutes a felony and there is no defence for such, either in the Constitution or Freedom of Information Act.

He reiterated that Section 97 (2) of the Criminal Code Act of Nigeria, provides: “Any person who, being employed in the public service, without proper authority abstracts, or makes a copy of, any document the property of his employer is guilty of a misdemeanour and is liable to imprisonment for one year”.

He recalled that the government had devised measures in the past to contain the leakage of sensitive official information in MDAs through the issuance of service-wide circulars by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation in August 2021.

“This was reinforced by the issuance of another service-wide circular in February 2024 on the unauthorised circulation of official documents with information on social media.


“This was done to re-emphasise other extant regulations prohibiting unauthorised disclosure or leakage of official documents

“There is the need to regulate the activities of the civil society organisations who use the Freedom of Information Act to harass, intimidate and siphon resources from public officers through the dissemination of fake and unfounded information.

“This should be properly addressed by all the practitioners in the communication and related industries,’’ he said.

Source : https://politicsnigeria.com/leak-official-documents-go-to-jail-fg-warns-civil-servants/

...

Many Feared Trapped As Rochas Okorocha’s House Collapses In Abuja | #Politicsnigeria

A five-storey building belonging to Rochas Okorocha, a former governor of Imo State, has collapsed.

The building was located along Ahmadu Bello Way in Abuja.

Eyewitnesses say the building, which was under renovation, collapsed on Tuesday evening.

It was gathered that security operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command immediately cordoned off the area.

Eyewitnesses said some persons might have been trapped in the building.

“There is a possibility that there could be some people inside the collapsed building who may have died. I saw two people being pulled out from the rubble now and taken to the hospital while rescue operations were ongoing. The emergency responders are not coordinated yet for efficient operations,” an eyewitness said.

But a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Command, Josephine Adeh, said three persons were rescued from the collapsed building.

The statement partly reads: “The FCT Police Command hereby confirms that yesterday, July 1, 2024, about 8:40 p.m., there was a building collapse at Unity House, Area 11 by Nkwere Street.

“In response to the distress call, the Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni, promptly moved to the scene with multiple patrol teams as first responders to cordon off the area for possible rescue.

“Three victims were successfully evacuated from the collapsed building and rushed to the hospital for medical care.”

Source : https://politicsnigeria.com/many-feared-trapped-as-rochas-okorochas-house-collapses-in-abuja/

How Konga ex-CEO, Nick Imudia died — Househelp | #Politicsnigeria

The maid (name withheld) of the former Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian e-commerce giant, Konga, the late Nick Imudia, has provided more details about the death of the boss.

According to a close friend of the deceased who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the househelp said late Imudia called her a day earlier and handed her a piece of paper with five telephone numbers, including that of his brother in the US.

“She [househelp] said Nick told her to keep the numbers, that she would need them at the appropriate time. Thereafter, she said he went into the bathroom and heard the shower running, indicating that he was having a bath,” Late Imudia’s friend said according to Vanguard.

“She said after some time, she observed that the shower was still running and wondered what he could still be doing for so long. She knocked on the door, but there was no response and she left.

“Moments later, she said the private guard knocked on the door and informed her to come and see what had happened to Nick.


“She rushed downstairs and found him in a horrible state. Immediately, she rushed upstairs and still met the shower on. By the time she opened the door, she discovered there was nobody in there.”


Meanwhile, the family, according to the deceased’s friend, had requested the release of Imudia’s body for burial.


The family had ruled out suicide as the cause of his death, stating that he never showed any signs of stress and was never diagnosed as depressed before his tragic passing.

Source : https://politicsnigeria.com/how-konga-ex-ceo-nick-imudia-died-househelp/

The political impasse in Rivers State continues unabated, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) boycotting a stakeholders’ meeting to discuss the conduct of local government elections in the state’s 23 councils.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) has announced October 5, 2024, as the date for the election.

RSIEC Chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (rtd), made the announcement on Monday at the Commission’s headquarters, amidst the absence of the two major political parties.

Chief Tony Okocha, the APC’s caretaker committee chairman, alleged that he received no official invitation.

“I was not invited. My party was not invited. My party is too big not to be officially invited for an event like that. I am too big to attend an event I was not officially invited. RSIEC refused to officially invite me as a chairman of a major opposition party in the state.

“I saw the information of the stakeholders meeting on social media. I was in the church on Sunday, and I sent a mail to the chairman of RSIEC, and he replied that APC was a major stakeholder. My party can only take part in the election if things are done right,” Okocha said.

Meanwhile, Hon Solsuema Osaro, the Rivers state chairman of the interparty advisory council (IPAC), confirmed that 17 out of 19 political parties in the state will participate in the elections.

“17 parties were in the stakeholder meeting. I want to thank the Governor, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for his determination to allow for the conduct of the elections. APC and the PDP were not in the meeting. We don’t know why they were not there. But I can assure you that the 17 parties at the meeting will gladly participate in the election,” he said

The Commission’s chairman, Justice Enebeli, speaking at the Parley said, “We are practicing the tenets of democracy. The tenets of democracy thrive on certain principles, which is what we are seeing here.

“The citizens have the right for political participation. The majority may rule, but that rule is counterbalanced by the rights of the minority.”

The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by security agencies, civil society organizations, the media, and other stakeholders.

There has a political crisis in the state, which began on June 17, 2024, when the tenure of former council chairmen loyal to Minister Nyesom Wike ended. The former chairmen resisted vacating their offices, citing an amended Local Government law, which they claimed extended their tenure by six months.

The governor, Siminalayi Fubara, eventually appointed caretaker chairmen committees for the council. He also mandated that protocols for the conduct of local government elections be made, immediately.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force subsequently have taken over the council secretariats, pending a federal high court judgment.

Source : https://politicsnigeria.com/rivers-crisis-continues-as-pdp-apc-shun-stakeholders-parley-for-lg-elections/

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmoud Yakubu, says the flood disaster that hit some state recently affected over 4000 Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines at the commission’s office.

Yakubu disclosed this at the opening of a two-day induction retreat for Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Monday in Lagos.

The INEC chairman, however, said the commission had been able to recover no fewer than 3,500 of the machines.

The INEC Chairman said the machines in the state would not be enough for the election and that the commission would call for additional support from neighbouring states.

On the retreat, the INEC chairman said it was not just about induction of new appointees but an opportunity to review performance, reappraise processes, discuss innovations, and engage service providers.

He noted that it was also an opportunity to interface with lawmakers on critical areas of reform and explore new frontiers “in our continuous effort to improve organisational capacity for better service delivery.”

He continued: “In March 2022, we had an induction retreat for new National Commissioners, followed by another one on election logistics in October, and then another retreat for new RECs in November.



“The most recent retreat was held in August last year for the review of the 2023 general elections.


Today, we are holding another retreat to induct 10 new RECs: nine of them were sworn in on December 12, 2023, and one of them on January 30, 2024.”

The INEC boss said that in a matter of weeks after the swearing-in, many of the new RECs were saddled with the task of conducting re-run elections in a few locations in some constituencies or bye-elections in entire constituencies.

According to him, INEC will conduct four major elections before 2027, listing them as the Anambra, Ekiti, and Osun governorship elections.


“Therefore, as we think, reflect, and innovate for credible elections, we are also instantly implementing the reforms and innovations that we can introduce through administrative action.


“Since elections is a process governed by law, we also plan to intensify our engagement with the National Assembly for activities that require legal reform,” he said.

Source : https://politicsnigeria.com/flood-affected-over-4000-bvas-machines-for-edo-election-inec-chairman/

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has vowed to appeal the dismissal of his fundamental rights suit against the Federal Government by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday.

POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Justice James Omotosho struck out the suit for lacking merit, ruling that Kanu failed to provide evidence to support his claims of violation of his fundamental rights by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Department of State Services (DSS), and its Director General.

However, Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimako, said that they would appeal the judgment.

“We will appeal,” he said.

In the dismissed suit, Kanu alleged that the DSS and its Director General breached his right to a fair hearing by preventing his lawyers from having unhindered interactions with him to prepare for his treason trial. He claimed that DSS officials eavesdropped on his conversations with his lawyers and did not allow them to take notes during pre-trial meetings.

Kanu sought a declaration that the respondents’ actions amounted to a denial of his right to be defended by legal practitioners of his choice. However, Justice Omotosho found his claims unmeritorious due to lack of credible evidence.



Kanu has been on trial since 2015, initially arrested over his secessionist push. He fled the country in 2017 but was rearrested in Kenya and repatriated to Nigeria in 2021, and has been in DSS detention since then

Source : https://politicsnigeria.com/nnamdi-kanu-reveals-next-line-of-action-after-losing-n1bn-suit-against-fg/

Congratulations to him

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UBA Bank

peaceful co-existence of all party members in every cradle and cranny of the state.

“It is on record that he has, at various times, been able to successfully reconcile warring party members across board to ensure cohesion.

“The incident today was about a meeting convened to reconcile the different factions of the party in Alimosho local government area which was unfortunately infiltrated by uninvited thugs with ulterior motives.

“We appreciate the security agencies for promptly bringing the situation under control.

“The victory of the progressives in Lagos State since the inception of this dispensation has been due to life-changing policies by our responsive and responsible government and strict compliance with party discipline.

“Lagos State APC has a time-tested mechanism for settling disputes and will not hesitate to wield the big stick if need be. The sacrifices of the founding fathers of the party to engender democracy cannot be sacrificed on the altar of indiscipline and intolerance.

“We acknowledge protests as an integral part of democracy, but it has to be within acceptable norms without infringing on the rights of others.”

Source : https://politicsnigeria.com/lagos-apc-members-beat-up-party-chairman-at-state-secretariat-video/#google_vignette

The peaceful protest in Rivers State has taken a dangerous turn as a group of men believed to be operatives of Asari Dokubo’s private military company, commonly known as Amama Soldiers, attempted to attack the demonstrators.

However, their efforts were thwarted by the quick intervention of the police.

POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported that the crisis in Rivers State has continued to Monday (today) as former council chairmen of 21 out of 23 local governments have taken to the streets, rejecting the takeover of their offices.

The protests, which began early in the morning, have seen the former chairmen and their supporters waving placards with inscriptions such as “Police, continue occupying the councils” and “Sim Fubara can’t continue to act as he likes.”

The crisis in Rivers State deepened last week when the Police Command prevented some chairmen from accessing their secretariats, following a directive to take control of all 23 local government council secretariats.

Source : https://politicsnigeria.com/just-in-rivers-protest-turns-ugly-as-dokubos-men-attempt-to-attack-demonstrators-video/

This man makes sense

There is heavy security presence around Nasarawa Palace, the official residence of the deposed 15th emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero.

Politics Nigeria earlier reported that the Kano State Government had ordered the eviction of the deposed traditional ruler.


Addressing journalists on Thursday evening, the attorney-general and commissioner of justice in Kano State, Haruna Isah Dederi, said Bayero should be evicted because all is set for the reconstruction and renovation of the property.

In a video seen by our reporter on Friday morning, security personnel have blocked all entrances to the palace which is owned by the Kano State Government.

The move, Politics Nigeria understands, is to prevent thugs from interfering with the planned demolition of the Nasarawa Palace.

In a separate video seen by our correspondent, a bulldozer and excavator were seen headed to the palace.

Recall that the Federal High Court in Kano had nullified the removal of Emir Bayero and others by the State Government.


However, the Kano State Government has insisted that Emir Sanusi Muhammad II remains the emir of Kano.

Source : https://politicsnigeria.com/heavy-security-at-emir-bayeros-residence-as-kano-govt-mobilizes-bulldozers/

BREAKING!!! Abia Governor, Alex Otti Sacks Chief Press Secretary, Kazie Uko | #IgbereTV

By Wisdom Nwedene

Following the sack of Kazie Uko, the Governor of Abia State, Dr Alex Otti has appointed Mr Ukoha Njoku as his new Chief Press Secretary.

Mr Njoku is a prolific writer who hails from Abariba in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.

More details soon...

STAY WITH IGBERE TV. AFRICA'S NO1 COMMUNITY TV.

Source : https://igberetvnews.com/1468308/breaking-abia-governor-alex-otti-sacks-chief-press-secretary-kazie-uko/

By Wisdom Nwedene

An Indigene of Ebonyi State, Mr Fidelis Igube is currently in depression after Enugu State Government under Governor Peter Mbah demolished his only source of income.

Speaking with our correspondent, Mr Igube said he has been in depression since last month when his shop which he locked and went back home only to come in the morning to see that it has been demolished.

He begged the Ebonyi State government and other good spirited Nigerians to come to his rescue as he has no means to survive the Economic hardship in the country.

According to him, "I have been depressed because my condition wasn't like this."

"I was doing very well in Enugu State where I was into Phone Accessories but one Morning when I came to my shop, I discovered that my shop has been demolished by the Enugu State Government because according to them, they want to build Bus Terminal".

"I didn't remove even pin from my shop before it was demolished. I am begging our dear Governor, Rt. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru and other good spirited Nigerians to come to my rescue because I'm dying of hunger," he told our correspondent.

Source : https://igberetvnews.com/1468302/ebonyi-man-tears-enugu-state-government-demolished-store-photos/

This is the best school in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. Hope High International School, My Favourite

President Bola Tinubu addressed Nigerians this morning on the occasion of Democracy Day, which is also the 25th anniversary of unbroken democracy in Nigeria.

The presidency has released the full text of the president’s speech. Please read below:

TEXT OF PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU’S NATIONAL BROADCAST ON THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNBROKEN DEMOCRACY IN NIGERIA, DEMOCRACY DAY 12TH JUNE 2024 ABUJA

My fellow Nigerians, let me begin by congratulating all of us for witnessing the celebration of another Democracy Day today, the 12th day of June 2024. This year also marks our nation’s 25 years of uninterrupted democratic governance. On this day, 31 years ago, we entered our rites of passage to becoming a true and enduring democratic society. Going through this passage was hard and dangerous.

During the fateful six years that followed, we fought and struggled for our natural rights as human beings put on this earth by the divine hand of our Creator. We lost great heroes and heroines along the way. In this struggle, the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, the most significant symbol of our democratic struggle, his wife, Kudirat, General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua and Pa Alfred Rewane, among others sacrificed their very lives.

They bravely surrendered their futures, so that our nation might have a better one. Let us honour the memories of Chief Anthony Enahoro, Chief Abraham Adesanya, Commodore Dan Suleiman, Chief Arthur Nwankwo, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Chief Frank Kokori, Chief Bola Ige, Chief Adekunle Ajasin, Chief Ganiyu Dawodu, Chief Ayo Fasanmi, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief Olabiyi Durojaiye, Dr. Beko Ransome-Kuti, Chima Ubani, and others who have transited to the higher realm.

The sacrifices of General Alani Akinrinade, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Professor Wole Soyinka, Chief Ralph Obioha, Chief Cornelius Adebayo, among many others, should never be forgotten. For at least six years, they bore the pains and difficulties of life in exile. While the exiled pro-democracy activists kept the fire burning, their comrades at home sustained the pressure on the military brass hats.

Among the latter are Olisa Agbakoba, Femi Falana, Abdul Oroh, Senator Shehu Sani, Governor Uba Sani, Chief Olu Falae, and other National Democratic Coalition leaders such as Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Chief Ayo Opadokun. The sacrifices they made, and the precious gift brought about by their selfless devotion can never be repaid. Neither shall it be forgotten.

We could not have won the battle against military dictatorship without the irrepressible Nigerian journalists who mounted the barricades along with the pro-democracy activists. We celebrate them today, along with their media establishments such as The Punch, Guardian, National Concord, Tribune, The News/Tempo, and TELL Magazines. Military authorities proscribed these media establishments and jailed their journalists for standing for free speech and civil liberties. Despite the lethal might of the military government, what appeared to be high and unyielding walls of dictatorship came tumbling down. The dismal fortress exists no longer.

The power of an idea, the power of the people proved more potent than all the guns and munitions, than all the guns, the munitions and the threats of the strongmen. The nation exited the yoke of military rule in 1999 to become the most populous democracy on African soil, the beacon of democratic self-determination for the black race and one of the largest democracies in the world. This change stands as a pivotal moment in human history. From this change, we shall never turn, nor shall the annals of mankind’s progress forget the sublime meaning of this great moment.

Today, 25 years later, we celebrate the silver anniversary of our journey in democracy. We have steadied the course. Democracy is neither a foreign nor abstract concept devoid of real-life meaning for us. Neither can we afford to reduce or minimalise it to being nothing but the mere holding of periodic elections where one candidate and party outdo another. While elections attract dramatic attention, they are but one aspect of democracy. Democracy is a way of life that encompasses a broad outlook of which elections are but a part. As such, a nation can have elections without being democratic. But a nation cannot be truly democratic without holding elections. That we have established a tradition of holding transparent, open, and fair elections gives credence to our democratic bearing. That we have experienced peaceful transitions of government affirms our democratic temperament.

Fellow Nigerians, true democracy shines its light into the daily lives of the people who live under its nurturing wings. It affords us the freedom and liberty to think as we want, live where we want and pursue whatever legitimate endeavour that suits us. Democracy does not assume some false or forced unity of opinion. In fact, democracy assumes that conflicting ideas and differing opinions shall be the order of the day. Given the diversity and variety of the human experience, there must be diverse perspectives and viewpoints.

What democracy demands is that we do not resolve differences through force and repression. But we make allowance for the legitimacy of views that differ from our own. Where other forms of government impose against the will of the people, democracy aims to make leaders sufficiently humble that they conduct themselves as servants of the common good, not as viceroys of the narrow interests of the mighty.

My dear compatriots, Nigeria faced a decision of untold gravity twenty-five years ago: Whether to veer toward a better destination or continue aimlessly in the fog of dictatorship. We made the right choice then. We must continue with that choice now. As Nigerians, we must remind ourselves that no matter how complicated democracy may be, it is the best form of governance in the long run. We must also be aware that there are those among us who will try to exploit current challenges to undermine, if not destroy, this democracy for which so much has already been given. These people do this not to make things better but to subject all other people and things to their control and dominance until the point that, if you are not counted among their elite, then your life will be small and no longer owned by you. This is the great battle of our day and the major reason we specially celebrate this Democracy day.

Fellow Nigerians, our Democracy is more than a historic fact. It is a living, breathing reality. The true meaning of this day is not to focus solely on the great deeds of the past that have brought us to this point. Yes, we pay eternal honour to those who laid down their lives, sacrificing everything to pave the way for the nation. I stand uniquely placed in this regard. I was among those who took the risk to midwife the birth of our democracy. I am now a direct and obvious beneficiary of the fruits of those historic efforts. As president of this nation, I am morally and constitutionally bound to preserve this precious form of governance. I vow to do my utmost best to protect your rights, freedoms, and liberties as citizens of Nigeria. Even more than that, I pledge to do whatever is necessary to cement democracy as our way of life.

Although the challenges are steep and multiple, I am grateful to lead Nigeria at this moment in her history and point in her democratic journey. I come before you also to declare that our most important work remains before us. This real test has never been whether we would rise to challenge the slings of misfortune and grievous pain of dictatorship. The real test is whether we shall lower our guards as the shadow of despotism and its evident physical danger fade. I say to you here and now that as we celebrate the enshrinement of our political democracy, let us commit ourselves to the fulfilment of its equally important counterpart, the realisation of our economic democracy. I understand the economic difficulties we face as a nation.

Our economy has been in desperate need of reform for decades. It has been unbalanced because it was built on the flawed foundation of over-reliance on revenues from the exploitation of oil. The reforms we have initiated are intended to create a stronger, better foundation for future growth. There is no doubt the reforms have occasioned hardship. Yet, they are necessary repairs required to fix the economy over the long run so that everyone has access to economic opportunity, fair pay and compensation for his endeavour and labour.

As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you. In this spirit, we have negotiated in good faith and with open arms with organized labour on a new national minimum wage. We shall soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine what has been agreed upon as part of our law for the next five years or less. In the face of labour’s call for a national strike, we did not seek to oppress or crack down on the workers as a dictatorial government would have done. We chose the path of cooperation over conflict. No one was arrested or threatened. Instead, the labour leadership was invited to break bread and negotiate toward a good-faith resolution. Reasoned discussion and principled compromise are hallmarks of democracy. These themes shall continue to animate my policies and interaction with the constituent parts of our political economy. I take on this vital task without fear or favour and I commit myself to this work until we have built a Nigeria where no man is oppressed. In the end, our national greatness will not be achieved by travelling the easy road. It can only be achieved by taking the right one.

The words of the American President Franklin Roosevelt certainly ring true: ” There are many ways of going forward. But only one way of standing still”! We dare not slumber lest the good things awaiting our immediate future pass us by. We dare not plant our feet in idle standstill in the middle of the intersection of hope and despair. We know the proper way forward and we shall take it! The initial rays of a brighter tomorrow now appear on the early horizon. An abundant future and our capacity to achieve that future lie within our reach.

Democracy and the institutions it begets offer to take us to our profound destination. Let us board this progressive train together. Together, let us move Nigeria forward. Let’s continue to keep the fire of democracy burning. Let’s keep the torch lit for generations to come. May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and preserve our democracy. I wish us all a Happy Democracy Day.

Source : https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/06/june-12-full-speech-our-economic-reformsll-ensure-opportunity-for-all-president-tinubu/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1AxPn7BgpAlvqA0dKpBktJkBz-LFogJ9pA47Eb6eT0QtlHZS-a6otVhhw_aem_AZWC7KIQHGAy99CP352en0NB5SPFiMtsUxTUZ0wy8o0lQa40cb_VqrfE6aHREK1troI0CPTaXJk9C23Zf6MDa2n9

I Will Never Turn My Back on You – President Tinubu Tells Nigerians, Speaks on Economic Reforms | #Politicsnigeria

President Bola Tinubu has vowed never to turn his back on Nigerians.

He also urged Nigerians to bear the pains of economic reforms, saying the measures are necessary to put the nation on a sound economic footing.

He made the disclosure on Wednesday in a national broadcast marking the 25th anniversary of Nigeria’s democracy.

Tinubu said, “As we continue to reform the economy, I shall always listen to the people and will never turn my back on you.”

President Tinubu also addressed the recent negotiations with organized labour on a new national minimum wage, stating that the government has negotiated in good faith and will soon send an executive bill to the National Assembly to enshrine the agreed-upon wage for the next five years or less.

He said it is important to have both political and economic democracy, urging the nation to continue working towards a brighter future.

The president acknowledged the economic difficulties faced by the country and the need for reforms to create a stronger foundation for growth.

He added, “In the end, our national greatness will not be achieved by travelling the easy road. It can only be achieved by taking the right one.

“The words of the American President Franklin Roosevelt certainly ring true:

“ There are many ways of going forward. But only one way of standing still”!

“We dare not slumber lest the good things awaiting our immediate future pass us by. We dare not plant our feet in idle standstill in the middle of the intersection of hope and despair.

“We know the proper way forward and we shall take it!

“The initial rays of a brighter tomorrow now appear on the early horizon. An abundant future and our capacity to achieve that future lie within our reach. Democracy and the institutions it begets offer to take us to our profound destination.

“Let us board this progressive train together. Together, let us move Nigeria forward.

“Let’s continue to keep the fire of democracy burning. Let’s keep the torch lit for generations to come.”


Source : https://politicsnigeria.com/i-will-never-turn-my-back-on-you-president-tinubu-tells-nigerians-speaks-on-economic-reforms/

A fresh crisis seems to be brewing within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following a disagreement between the party’s leadership and its presidential candidate in 2023, Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku, a former vice president, believes that for the PDP to reclaim power from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), it has to form a merger with other political parties in the country.

The Adamawa politician also believes that any PDP politician that is opposed to the idea of a coalition is working for the APC to entrench a one-party state in the country.

But the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, after its 587th meeting, said the party is not engaged in any merger, fusion, or amalgamation talks with any other political party or interest.

Spokesperson of the party, Debo Ologunagba, told journalists that the party can win elections without forming a coalition.

“Disregard any report suggesting any form of merger between the PDP and any other political party as such is not in the contemplation of our great party,” Ologunagba said.

However, speaking with the National Coalition for PDP Support Group, which paid him a solidarity visit in Abuja on Tuesday, Atiku said, “Anyone in the PDP who opposes the merger with other political groups is a fifth columnist working for the APC to turn the country into a one-party state.”



Recently, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi met with Atiku, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, and former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, all of the PDP, which fuelled speculations that the proposed coalition or merger ahead of the 2027 elections

Source : https://politicsnigeria.com/2027-presidency-atiku-pdp-leaders-disagree-on-merger-with-other-parties/

Any vancant position?

The newly appointed Director of New Media, Edo State Chapter of the All Progressives (APC) Governorship Election Campaign Council, Mr John Mayaki, on Sunday rejected the offer, citing personal reasons for his decision.


He disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Benin and noted that he was honoured to have been considered for the position.

Mayaki explained that the potential impact of his working relationship with someone who he said was initially penciled down for the position further informed his decision.


He said that accepting the position could create an uncomfortable situation, adding that he prioritised maintaining a harmonious work environment.


Mayaki said: “I have communicated my decision to the relevant leaders before the final announcement. As a person of faith, I strive to live by principles that promote peace, integrity, and goodwill.

“I do not wish to hold grudges or engage in actions that could generate bad blood between myself and others. It is essential for me to act in a manner that aligns with my values and fosters positive relationships.”

Mayaki’s rejection comes barely 24 hours after the vice chairman of the APC in Edo State, Francis Inegbeniki, resigned his membership of the party.


Inegbeniki’s resignation was contained in a letter dated June 8, 2024, addressed to the ward chairman of Opoji, Esan Central Local Government,

Inegbeniki said that some recent developments in the party in his local government area and state conflict with his principles and values.

He noted that this has led him to do a serious evaluation of his political future in the state and decide on the way forward.


Source : https://politicsnigeria.com/newly-appointed-apc-media-director-rejects-position-after-vice-chairmans-resignation/

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has explained why he recommended naming one of the newly commissioned roads in the FCT after renowned author and Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.

He made this known while speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the Full Scope Development of the Arterial Road N20 from Northern Parkway to the Outer Northern Expressway.

Wike revealed that the decision to name the road Wole Soyinka Way was made to honour individuals who have made significant contributions to the country’s progress and development.

“The proposal to dedicate the road to Prof. Wole Soyinka is rooted in the importance of honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to progress and development during their lifetime, thus setting an example for others,” he said.

According to Wike, the contract for the construction of the road was awarded in 2020 at a cost of N30.6 billion, and its completion has brought relief to residents of the FCT. He praised the contractor for ensuring the timely completion of the project.

In her remarks, the Minister of State, FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, thanked President Bola Tinubu, the leadership of the National Assembly, and members of the Federal Executive Council for their support to the FCT Administration. She also appreciated the contributions of FCDA engineers, the construction team, and other stakeholders who worked together to make the Arterial Road N20 a reality.

Source : https://politicsnigeria.com/wike-reveals-reason-behind-naming-fct-road-after-wole-soyinka/

DonMarkuzi:
For the past 2 weeks I have been trying to access my funds in the bank but to no avail, all channels of transmission were blocked. Little did I know it was the end of the road.

So, your money is still there?