NEWS
NGO Deploys Air Quality Sensors to Strengthen Climate Action Advocacy in N/Delta
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The Media Awareness and Justice Initiative (MAJI) has said it has commenced deployment of 200 air quality monitoring devices to collect empirical data to support climate action activism aimed at addressing oil pollution and addressing climate change.
Executive Director of MAJI, Onyekachi Okoro, announced this at a preliminary consultation and interactive meeting with stakeholders on the effect of climate action in Nigeria held in Yenagoa. Okoro explained that MAJI, an environment focused Non-Government Organisation (NGO) has so far deployed some 30 air quality monitoring devices across oil communities prone to oil pollution at the pilot stage to collect and transmit real time empirical data on measurement of air particles from the field.He said that the project tagged Strengthening Data for Climate Action in Nigeria (SD-CAN) is supported by funding from the United Nations Democracy Fund and will train stakeholders in the use of the devices to monitor the environment.He said that MAJI is collaborating with the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and has trained officials at the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the agency on the workings of the devices used to monitor air quality across the world.Okoro, a renowned filmmaker and environmental crusader noted that the introduction of technology in data gathering on environmental variables like air particles,carbon emissions and toxicity will strengthen the arguments for environmental justice often dismissed as mere emotions and lacking empirical evidence by polluters who escape liability due lack of credible data evidence.Representatives of the academia, media, oil community leaders, NGOs regulators and Bayelsa Ministry of Environment participated in the interaction.The participants examined the challenges around data collection, data quality, integrity and access and recommended collaboration amongst the stakeholders to overcome identified challenges.Maria Olodi-Osuma, a Media Professional urged the stakeholders to evolve strategies that would leverage on the competence and experience of journalists who cover the environment rather than relying on untrained hands who used the social media to disseminate unverified information that lack credibility.She noted that perceptions by the stakeholders about the impact of media in raising awareness on climate change is born out of lack of knowledge as the media practitioners were doing their jobs amidst various challenges including risks to lives and personal safety.In his contributions, HRH David Osene, (Ogbolo XI) Paramount Ruler, Elebele Community, Ogbia LGA in Bayelsa regretted the historic neglect of the environmental hazards faced by residents of oil communities.According to the traditional rulers, several oil and gas leak incidents have been swept under the carpet on the grounds that the evidence presented by the communities were not scientific and therefore denied compensation and remediation.Osene applauded the efforts by MAJI to strengthen the capacity of communities and stakeholders to collectively advocate for environmental justice.He pledged to mobilise women and youths in his domain during the training phase of the MAJI project at the Kolo Creek Oilfields.Also Grace Orumiefa, Chairman of Bayelsa chapter of National Association of Women Journalists urged MAJI to ensure that oil firms operating in the Niger Delta region to be part of the project.
By David Torough, Abuja
The founders and Senior Pastors of Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), Dr. Paul and Dr. (Mrs.) Becky Enenche, have successfully trained and empowered 100 individuals in agribusiness as part of their commitment to youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and economic development.
Dr.
Paul Enenche made the announcement during the church’s Thanksgiving and Testimony Service on Sunday, highlighting the initiative as a strategic effort to promote self-reliance and agricultural productivity.According to the cleric, each beneficiary will be allocated at least one hectare of farmland to commence farming activities upon completion of the training programme.
He further disclosed that the beneficiaries will receive monthly stipends to support them until their agricultural produce is ready for harvest.Dr. Enenche noted that the training and empowerment programme represents a significant investment, with each participant’s training costing approximately ₦500,000.
The beneficiaries, who constitute Batch A of the Entrepreneurship Agribusiness Training Programme, graduated from the C.S.S. Farm and Skills Acquisition Centre located along the Keffi–Abuja Road. The entire programme was fully sponsored by Dr Paul,Dr (Mrs.) Becky Enenche and the church as part of their ongoing efforts to empower individuals with practical skills and sustainable means of livelihood.
The initiative reflects the church’s commitment to transforming lives through both spiritual and socio-economic empowerment.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality ahead of the 2027 general election, saying INEC has no candidate or political party to favour.
In a post obtained from INEC’s X handle on Sunday, Amupitan stated this during a visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Amb.
Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, as part of the commission’s stakeholder engagement and preparations for the 2027 elections.The visit formed part of activities surrounding INEC’s planned interactive meeting with staff and readiness assessment at the zonal level.
The INEC chairman was accompanied by National Commissioners, the Acting Director-General of the Electoral Institute, his Chief Press Secretary, Chief Technical Assistant, Chief of Staff, Special Aides and other senior officials of the commission.
Amupitan described traditional institutions as important stakeholders in the electoral process because of their influence and reach within communities.
He said elections were fundamentally about the social contract between citizens and those entrusted with public office, stressing that public trust was essential to the success of democracy.
According to him, INEC has commenced preparations early because of the size and complexity of conducting elections across Nigeria.
He said the commission had moved away from last-minute preparations and was testing, auditing and strengthening its operational systems well ahead of the 2027 polls.
Amupitan assured the Emir that INEC remained committed to neutrality, fairness and transparency in the conduct of elections.
“We have no candidates, we have no political party, we have no interest other than the sovereign will of the people of Nigeria,” the INEC chairman said.
He added that the commission would continue engaging traditional institutions and other stakeholders as it intensifies preparations for the 2027 General Election.
The Nigerian Forest Security Service (NFSS), Kano State Command, has deployed personnel to Garko Local Government Area to track and contain dogs suspected to be infected with rabies.
The service said the suspected rabid dog had bitten 18 people in Garko and its environs.
The NFSS State Commander, Abdullahi Al’ameen, disclosed this in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the service, Usman Abdullahi-Umar, on Sunday in Kano.
Al’ameen said: “The command received a distress report at about 2 p.m. that a dog suspected to be rabid has attacked residents in Garko town.
“The dog has so far bitten 11 persons in Garko town before moving to neighbouring communities, including Raba, Kadage, Gurjiya and Dausai.
“It has also attacked and bitten seven additional persons in the affected communities.”
The commander further explained that they had received another report that two more dogs had been infected with rabies in the area.
Al’ameen said personnel of NFSS Garko Division, under the leadership of the Divisional Forest Officer, Auwalu Muhammad, had been deployed to the affected areas to track and contain the infected dogs.
He urged residents of Garko and neighbouring communities to remain vigilant and report sightings of stray or suspected rabid dogs to the nearest NFSS office or other security agencies.
The commander also advised residents who might have been bitten by suspected rabid dogs to seek immediate medical attention.
Al’ameen assured residents that the NFSS would continue to monitor the situation and take necessary measures to prevent further attacks.(NAN)
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