Environment
Climate change: Commendations as Seplat begins bid to Plant 5m Trees in 5years

Leading indigenous energy company, Seplat Energy Plc was yesterday praised by the Federal Government and other oil and gas industry players for leading the charge to reduce Nigeria’s carbon count with an initiative to plant five million trees in the next five years.
The initiative, known as the ‘Seplat Tree for Life’ will kick-off in five states: Edo, Delta, Imo and two northern states.
Speaking at the launch of the initiative in Abuja, the Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva said Seplat Energy has proven over time to be one of the most responsible operators in the industry.
Chief Sylva said Nigeria is on course to achieve President Muhammadu Buhari’s net zero carbon emission by 2060 with the implementation of the Decade of Gas policy.
According to him, the initiative by Seplat is “in line with Mr. President’s commitment on net-zero carbon emissions by 2060. This requires initiatives such as this being undertaken by Seplat today, as well as sustained financial assistance, technology transfer and capacity building from international partners willing and able to assist us in this regard.
“Nigeria still requires fossil fuels, especially gas, as its base load energy source to address energy poverty and power supply. We have declared gas as our transition fuel, our pathway to net-zero carbon emission. This presents investment opportunities given the oil and gas reserves which can be commercialized”.
On her part, the Minister of State Environment, Sharon Ikeazor who praised Seplat for the initiative, said climate change has become one of the biggest challenges facing the present generation.
Also speaking, the Chairman of NNPC Limited board, Senator Margret Okadigbo said as one of the major contributors of greenhouse gases, the oil and gas industry must also be at the forefront of addressing issues of climate change.
According to her, “Tree planting is a simple and effective way to help reduce the impact of carbon emissions and restore much of the ecosystem. There is also social benefit of this initiative by Seplat, women and youth engagement for instance is an alignment with the UN SDGs and will break the circle of poverty and restiveness in our communities and provision of food security”.
Earlier, the Chairman of Seplat Energy, Dr Ambrose Orjiako said the company was determined to ensure that its carbon count continues to reduce, as its shift focus to cleaner energy.
He noted that while the company would continue to ensure access to energy in a sustainable manner, protecting the environment was also critical part of its operation
Dr. Orjiako pointed out that while it was important for the country to join the energy transition initiative, such transition must be fair and just taking into consideration the huge energy gap that exists in the country.
“The real message we are giving is that net zero carbon is not net zero fossil fuel. This is because there is a huge energy crisis in the world today and for developing countries, energy poverty. What we need is a way of solving the problem without damaging the environment”, he explained.
Giving details of the tree planting initiatives, Seplat Energy CEO, Mr. Roger Brown said: “The Seplat Energy Tree for Life initiative is essentially a commitment by SEPLAT to embark on an ambitious endeavor to plant five million trees in five years, starting with the five states of Edo, Delta, Imo and two Northern states.
“In addition, we plan to curate a scalable, strategic, and innovative Tree planting and Carbon Sequestration programme working with reputable partners to provide food security, reduce biodiversity loss, and support the net-zero agenda.
“We will deliberately engage women, youth and communities for sustainable food production and a sustainable environment through tree planting in their communities and mindset change.
“We have adopted a two-prong approach: To advocate for Tree Planting and Protection to instill the consciousness of the importance of tree planting and the responsibility of citizens to ensure its success.
“Plant Trees – run Afforestation/Restoration Programmes with a commitment to plant one million trees annually, comprising majorly economic trees”.
economy
Firm Boosts Access to Dairy Nutrition with Affordable Peak Mini

From Anthony Nwachukwu, Lagos
Dairy brand, Peak Milk has boosted Nigerians’ accessibility to its quality dairy nutrition range with the introduction of the budget-friendly Peak Mini – a smaller, more affordable pack from its signature Peak Evaporated Milk.
Unveiling the dairy brand, the producer, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, restated its commitment to providing high-quality dairy products to consumers as it has been doing in over 70 years in Nigeria.
According to WAMCO, the Peak Mini evaporated milk will provide affordable breakfast within the reach of every home with a budget-friendly nutritional breakfast with the same rich, creamy taste and high-quality.
Senior Brand Manager of Peak Milk, Moninnuola Kassim, stated that with Peak Mini, the company is “directly addressing the challenges many Nigerians face daily, one of which is affordability.
“Our smaller, affordable Peak Mini packs ensure that quality dairy nutrition remains within reach for everyone, regardless of income level.”
According to her, “many consumers have had to compromise on nutrition when considering costs, but with Peak Mini, that trade-off is no longer necessary.
The brand, Kassim said, maintains the same premium taste and nutritional benefits in a convenient and cost-effective package, and whether for breakfast cereals, tea or other meals, this innovation ensures that consumers no longer need to choose between quality and affordability.
According to her, FrieslandCampina WAMCO believes that every Nigerian deserves access to quality, nutritious dairy products,” and “Peak Mini is another step towards fulfilling that mission by providing a practical solution that meets the needs of everyday consumers.”
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Environment
Prolonged Public Holidays Come with Negative Economic Effects on Citizens – Anambra Residents

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

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)