NEWS
Energy Poverty Has to be Tackled Headlong — Osinbajo
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says energy poverty has to be tackled headlong for African countries to attain middle-income status and an inclusive prosperity for its people.
Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said the vice president delivered a Special Public Lecture at the University of Pennsylvania (UPENN) in Philadelphia, U.
S.The vice president spoke on the title “Energy Transition in Africa.
”Osinbajo outlined specific pathways that would lead to climate-positive economic growth on the continent and at the same time lead to the realisation of the global net-zero emissions targets.
“Africa’s endowments, renewable energy, natural resources and a young workforce, present a compelling set of circumstances for several pathways to climate-positive growth.
“Low emissions consumption and production, the point being that Africa can, instead of going the carbon-intensive path to providing energy, goods and services for its own needs, take full advantage of green technologies and practices.
“There is the distinct advantage that Africa can actually pursue a green course of growth without worrying about costly legacy infrastructure.”
The vice president said that second pathway had to do with the recognition that global zero carbon ambitions could be realised without intentional carbon removal technologies and practices.
He said that Africa could ramp up her own potential to do it at scale through a combination of planned land use and ecosystem management, and investment in emerging engineered removal technologies.
“The third pathway is that, with its abundant reserves of renewable energy and raw materials, Africa can become a hugely competitive green manufacturing and energy hub for the world that could also accelerate the greening of global industry.
“Thus, the paradox of an energy-poor continent becoming the green industrial powerhouse of the world is easily resolvable and must be.”
The vice president proposed that the developed world change its perception of Africa.
He charged that the continent should not be seen merely as a victim but as a solution in the climate change conversations and the attainment of the global net zero targets by 2050-2060.
On energy poverty, Osinbajo argued that it could only be resolved if there was a significant investment in renewable energy.
“And that can only happen if we create the energy intense anchor demand that makes the investment in additional renewable energy bankable.
“Therefore, it is not which comes first – renewable energy generation capacity or industrial deployment, both must be developed concurrently.”
Osinbajo also spoke on Africa’s dependence on its oil and gas resources.
He said that the use of gas as a transition fuel would not significantly derail the commitment to carbon-negative growth.
“Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan attempts to chart an energy transition pathway which has as its bedrock, the development of renewable energy, specifically solar.
“The plan is to develop 250 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2060.
“The plan outlines our decarbonisation strategies in the areas of power, oil and gas transportation; it also militates against medium to long-term job losses in an industry that has dominated the economy for decades.
“It recommends the role of gas as a transition fuel, to balance large influxes of solar power on the grid, its use as a cheaper, and relatively clean option for base load power for industry, as we watch the cost of solar batteries plunge.
“There are also practical ways in which gas, especially propane, will bridge the gap before the full use of renewables is commercially practical.
“To illustrate the point practically, recently some discussions have been taking place about the decommissioning of industrial scale diesel and petrol generators used at base stations of telecommunication companies in Nigeria,” he said.
Previous speakers who had featured at the UPENN Special Lecture series hosted by the U.S. Ivy League University’s Centre for Africana Studies, include Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka and the President of Botswana, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi.
Earlier in her welcome remarks, Prof. Beth Winkelstein, Interim Provost, UPENN, said that the planet was facing an existential struggle against climate change for the earth.
“And indeed for us to last, we must join with our fellow nations around the world in this struggle.
“Like many countries, including the United States, Nigeria is challenged by competing and sometimes conflicting interests and its development prospects are complex.
“Nigeria holds amongst the continent’s largest proven oil reserves and faces a potentially perilous future of climate-induced sea level rise and drought.
“In short, global progress in the battle against climate change needs Nigeria’s partnership and participation,” she said.
On his part, Prof. Tukufu Zuberi of the Africana Centre, spoke about the relationship between the university and Nigeria.
He thanked the vice president for honouring the institution’s invitation, noting that the lecture series was part of its efforts in correcting the negative perceptions about Africa.
“Africa in many ways, has not been treated fairly in conversations, often this treatment is simply a result of not understanding Africa,” he said.
After the lecture, Wale Adebanwi, Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, led an interactive session with the vice president.
Earlier on arrival, Osinbajo had met with the leadership of the university and was later conducted around the Penn Museum by Prof. Tukufu Zuberi.(NAN)
By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu, Thursday congratulated the two governors who emerged as leaders of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).
The President’s felicitation was contained in a statement from the State House signed by Abdulaziz Abdulaziz at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“I congratulate the Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, on his emergence as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), and the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Hope Uzodinma, on his election as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).
“In the same vein, I also congratulate His Excellency Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, and his Kaduna State counterpart, His Excellency Senator Uba Sani, on their elections as deputy chairmen for the two respective forums,” he said.
“Being called upon by their peers to lead them is a testament to the trust and confidence reposed in them by the governors,” President Tinubu added.
The President tasked the new leaders to use their tenures to advance the peace, unity and socioeconomic development of the country and join hands with his administration to engender the Renewed Hope agenda.
“As chief executives of states, governors are critical to the overall success of our administration and the desire for a Nigeria that works for all.
“As an important fulcrum in our journey to a more prosperous and safe country, what states do or do not do matter a lot. I am therefore obliged to ask the new leaders to use their good offices to bring about a convergence of vision between the Federal Government, under my leadership, and governments at the state level.
“It is my prayer that you acquit yourselves diligently in discharging the responsibilities bestowed on you through this election,” President Tinubu added.
CRIME
Security Operatives Kill One, Disperse Protesting Youths at Conoil offshore platform in Bayelsa
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
A supposedly peaceful protest by youths of Sangana community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa state turned sorrowful following the shooting at a boat conveying the protesters to an oilfield operated by Conoil in the area.
It was learnt that Ikiowori Benson, one youth, hit by the gunshot lost his life, while two persons in the team of community youths were still missing and others critically injured after the incident reportedly happened on Monday.
Armed security personnel attached to the offshore facility christened “Antie Julie”, within 0ML 59 operated by Conoil, opened fire on the youths when they approached the facility to demand the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Conoil and Sangana.
Reacting to the incident, Ambrose Timipre-Ayah, the youth leader of Sangana said that he and 10 other youths from the community approached the Conoil facility unarmed, with the sole aim of registering their displeasure with the company.
He said he was shocked when the armed security operatives opened fire on them, killing one person instantly. He said two persons were missing and two others receiving treatment at Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.
Also, Rueben Preboye, the Community Development Committee (CDC) Chairman of Sangana, noted that while Conoil has been operating in the community for about 25 years, the company has been delaying the implementation of the MoU.
According to him, the MoU lasts for three years subject to renewal, noting that the 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022 MoUs have not been implemented and accumulated over 300million naira and 420-million-naira worth of projects.
The Sangana CDC chairman said he had the same issue with Conoil when he was the youth leader of the community in 2010.
However, when contacted, Mr. Richard Adebayo, the Community Relations Manager of Conoil declined to comment on the incident.
The spokesman of the joint military force deployed to protect facilities in the Niger Delta, Major Adenegan Ojo could not be reached by telephone and has yet to respond to sms requesting reaction.
It will be recalled that on Oct 31, 2021, a gas leak from a rig Adriatic-1 within the oilfield contaminated the environment in the community and attracted regulatory sanctions by the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency
The Defence Headquarters says troops of Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) have destroyed 47 illegal refining sites, and apprehended 65 suspected oil thieves and other criminals in the last two weeks.
The Director, Defence Media Operation, Maj.-Gen. Musa Danmadami, said this on Thursday in Abuja at the bi-weekly news conference on the operations of the armed forces.
Danmadami said the troops had sustained the tempo in the war against oil theft, illegal refineries and other criminal activities through aggressive raid, patrol as well as clearance operations amongst others.
He said the troops recovered 186,000 litres of crude oil, 42,750 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, 4,500 litres of Premium Motor Spirit and 200 litres Dual Purpose Kerosine.
The spokesman said that 250 storage tanks, 220 ovens, 32 dugout pits, 31 wooden boats, one gas welding cylinder, and one pocking gas were recovered.
Others are two gas burners, two gas gauge, two adjustable spanners, one pumping machine and four outboards engines.
Danmadami said the troops also recovered 300 ammunitions, 15 AK47 magazines, 211 mobile phones, three vehicles, 100 wraps of suspected cannabis sativa, three and four pinches among others.
He said the troops had on May 18, raided a suspected criminals house at Ibaa community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers.
“All recovered items and apprehended suspected criminals have been handed over to the relevant authority for further action.
“Equally, it is worthy to mention that a total of N604.4 million was denied the oil thieves.
“The air component on May 18, conducted air interdiction operation at Krakrama active with illegal refining activities.
“Accordingly, the location was struck, with several illegal refined products and equipment destroyed in the air strike,” he said.
In the South East, Danmadami said the troops of Operation UDO KA continued to clamp down on the Indigenous People of Biafra, Eastern Security Network terrorist and other criminalities in the zone.
He said the troops neutralised five terrorists and apprehended nine suspects, as well as recovered several arms, ammunition and other items during the period.
In the South West, he said the troops of Operation AWATSE apprehended 26 suspected criminals and recovered one locally made pistol, three cartridges, 280gm of tramadol and two bottles of codeine. (NAN)
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