Connect with us

Environment

Adamawa Govt. Bans Firewood Merchants From Felling Live Trees

Published

on

Share

Disturbed by growing deforestation, occasioned by felling of trees, the Adamawa government has banned cutting and conversion of live trees into charcoals and firewood.

The Director Forestry in the Ministry of Environment, Mrs Sarah Gundiri, made this known during an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Yola.

Gundiri said that the activities of charcoal and firewood dealers were threatening the existence of gazetted and non-gazetted forest reserves in the state.

“The activities of firewood and charcoal dealers have increased by 80 percent due to population growth and increase in demand for energy by households and factories.

“On yearly basis, millions of trees are being cut across the state by firewood and charcoal merchants without replacement.

“Following the indiscriminate felling of trees, the state government has now banned the cutting of live tree species for any business activity,” Gundiri said.

She expressed concern that the state was losing its natural vegetations and experiencing rapid desertification due to high level of deforestation activities.

Gundiri noted that the state’s 19 gazetted forest reserves had been grossly affected by activities of the charcoal and firewood merchants.

She warned the merchants to desist from felling trees for firewood, adding that anybody caught with such illegal activities would be made to face the wrath of the law.

Reacting to the development, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa, Chairman, Amalgamated Union of Charcoal and Firewood Sellers in the state, said that the union was aware of the ban.

Inuwa, however, said that it would be very difficult for the less-privileged, majority of whom, he said, used charcoal and firewood to stop using those items divert to gas or electricity for their households needs.

“We are aware of the ban on cutting of live trees species by the state.

“In fact, we have sensitised our members to avoid cutting the trees. Instead, we have been encouraging them to go after dry ones,” Inuwa said. (NAN)

Environment

Prolonged Public Holidays Come with Negative Economic Effects on Citizens – Anambra Residents

Published

on

Share

Anambra residents have slammed the additional day approved by the Federal Government for the Muslim faithful to celebrate the 2024 Eid-Ei-Fitr, saying this will have negative effects on the economy.

The Federal government had early declared April 9 and 10 as Muslim-Ummah for the successful completion of a month’s spiritual rejuvenation.

Reports says that residents of Anambra capital city believe that the additional day which they did not plan for will result in economic hardship to the citizenry.

Most respondents believe that people had planned to resume their economic activities instead of wasting their time staying at home doing nothing..

Former Chairman, Awka Chamber of Commerce, Chief Felly Akosa, described the additional day to the two days approved earlier as “unfair to the economy of the country as people were unprepared for the additional day.

Akosa said that although it is right for the Muslim faithful to celebrate their holiday after a month-long fasting, the process needs to be carefully planned for in place of the additional rest day which could inhibit business activities.

Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, National Vice President of Igbo Apex Social Cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said the policy would cause huge economic waste as businesses are put on hold,

He advised that, in future, a proper and well planned programme needs to be in place before declaring a public holiday for any celebration that will be national.

“Our economy and other sectors are not very healthy,” and it would, therefore be appropriate to plan well to avoid declarations that will hamper the citizens’ welfare.

Mazi Christian Beluchukwu, a business man in Awka, described the extension of the Eid-El-Fitr public holiday to Thursday, April 11, as an added hardship for the citizenry.

Beluchukwu said that any public holiday for three days, April 9 to 11, to celebrate any feast in the country is an economic loss to the nation.

He said that it was best to stick to the two-day national public holidays as this gives room for the people to plan their activities very well.

He stated that his wife went to a public hospital on Tuesday and was unattended to because there was no doctor on seat to provide medical attention.

“She resorted to visiting a private hospital which cost extra money which the public hospital is expected to handle at a reasonable cost. (NAN)

Continue Reading

Environment

World Bank Fund: Corporation Rehabilitates Treatment Plant, Reticulation in Jos South

Published

on

Share

The Jos Water Services Corporation (JWSC) has said that the World Bank fund received would be used to boost water supply to Bukuru and environs in Jos South Local Government Area.

Mr Apollos Samchi, the Managing Director of the corporation, said that N1.7 billion would be expended on the rehabilitation of water treatment plant, over head steel tank and laying of pipes to homes of consumers.

Samchi, who disclosed this on Friday in Jos, during a two-day capacity building workshop, said that the projects were expected to be completed in four months.

Reports says that the workshop organised for contractors has at its theme: “Implementation of Environmental and Social Management Plans for Projects in Jos South.

The MD said that the projects would ensure steady provision of potable water to residents in Gyel and Kurgiya in Jos South Local Government Area.

He said the treatment plant when rehabilitated would pump out 5,000 cubic litres of water daily.

The MD further stated that the reticulation exercise would cover residents who weren’t initially connected to public water supply in the area.

Samchi said that the essence of the workshop was to ensure that the contractors were trained to develop adequate measures and controls to minimise and mitigate potential environmental and social risks that could adversely affect the project implementation.

He called on all the contractors handling the projects to ensure that they adhered to the environmental and safety standards and deliver within the specified timeframe.

In his remarks, Mr Jonathan Malann, the Plateau Project Coordinator, Sustainable Urban, Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene programme (SURWASH), also advised contractors to adhere to the environmental and safety standards as provided by the World Bank.

The Federal Government had received $700m financing from the World Bank to ensure that all its people have access to sustainable and safely managed WASH services.

The seven participating states are Plateau, Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Katsina, and Kaduna.(NAN)

Continue Reading

Environment

Erosion Control Project: Gombe SEC Approves N389m Compensation for Residents

Published

on

Share

The Gombe State Executive Council (SEC) has approved payment of N389 million as compensation for residents that would be affected by the gully erosion control project at Federal College of Education (FCE) Technical and its surrounding communities.

The Commissioner for Finance, Gombe State, Malam Mohammed Magaji, stated this at the end of the SEC meeting on Friday in Gombe.

Magaji said the payment, which would commence immediately, would be for individuals and organisations along the gully erosion site.

He said almost 1000 persons were expected to benefit from the gesture.

According to him, the compensation is part of the requirements of the World Bank, which specifies that such payments be made to property owners.

Magaji said the payment would also be made to ensure seamless resettlement of affected persons.

“The beneficiaries are in hundreds, almost a 1,000 people; there is compensation for houses, and also for business premises.

“There is also stipends for the elderly living around that area so that they are able to have good livelihood,” he said.

The commissioner for Education, Hajiya Aishatu Maigari, also said the SEC approved upgrade of the five mega senior secondary schools in the state to sustain improvement in the education sector.

Maigari said the upgrade would be carried out based on the needs of each of the schools.

She stated that infrastructure in some of the schools were already being upgraded to global standards.

“We have seen construction of toilets, installation of solar-powered light, construction of roads, school clinics, boreholes and many more,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had on Nov. 23 signed a N12 billion contract with Triacta Nigeria Ltd. for a 21-kilometre gully erosion control work in six communities within Gombe metropolis.

The project is under ACRESAL project, a World Bank-assisted project to address the challenges of land degradation and climate change in northern Nigeria. (NAN)

Continue Reading

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

Economy3 hours ago

Naira Bounces Back, Appreciates by 2.6% Against Dollar at Official Market 

Share The Naira on Wednesday bounced back after consistent three days losses and appreciated at the official market trading at...

NEWS3 hours ago

Ecobank Nigeria Bags Client Excellence Award

Share Ecobank Nigeria, a subsidiary of Ecobank Group, has been conferred with the Client Excellence Award by the Deutsche Bank...

NEWS3 hours ago

Foundation Unveils Project to Dismantle Barriers Against PWDs’ Access to Buildings

Share Cedar Seed Foundation (CSF), a disability inclusive organisation, has unveiled the Accessibility 365(A365) Hall of Fame and Shame project....

NEWS3 hours ago

Zamfara to Implement N70,000 Minimum Wage soon—HoS 

Share The Zamfara Government says it will implement the N70,000 minimum wage very soon, the State Head of Service, Allhaji...

NEWS3 hours ago

NAFDAC Busts Fake Alcohol Factory in FCT

ShareThe National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Wednesday raided an illegal alcoholic drink factory in...

NEWS3 hours ago

Security, Governance, Citizen Responsibility Crucial to Nation’s Growth — I-G

Share Mr Kayode Egbetokun, the Inspector-General (IG) of Police, on Wednesday said the combination of security, governance and citizen responsibilities...

NEWS3 hours ago

NNPC Board Makes key Leadership Appointments

ShareThe Board of Directors of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), has announced the appointment of Mr Adedapo Segun...

NEWS3 hours ago

Achebe Airport Airfield Lighting to Cost N490m 

ShareThe Anambra government has approved N489.716 million for Airfield Lighting at Chinua Achebe International Airport, Awka. The Anambra State Executive...

POLITICS3 hours ago

Ondo Polls: Shettima Seeks Massive Votes for Aiyedatiwa 

Share Vice-President Kashim Shettima has implored voters in Ondo State to re-elect Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr Olayide...

OPINION3 hours ago

A Call to President Tinubu on ASUU Strike

ShareBy Ali Muhammad Idris The Nigerian education sector has been in turmoil for years, with repeated industrial actions by unions...

Copyright © 2021 Daily Asset Limited | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc