NEWS
NGOs Identify Gaps in Implementing Critical Climate Change in Enugu
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
The South Saharan Social Development Organization (SSDO) and ActionAid Nigeria, have identified potential gaps in resource allocation for critical climate change issues such as renewable energy, reforestation, and community awareness in Enugu State.
The two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) made this known in a press conference held in Enugu on Thursday titled: “Climate Change Mitigation Scorecard for 2022 in Enugu State.
”The SSDO’s Programme Manager for Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) II, Mr Udochukwu Egwim, told newsmen that the budget performance and implementation indicated a concentrated effort and tangible progress in waste management initiatives to about between 40 and 70 per cent.
Egwim noted that the state government under the period under review primarily supported the Garbage in Wealth Out Programme and the Beat the Plastic Pollution Pilot Scheme.
According to him, slower progress was observed in initiatives related to renewable energy and reforestation, emphasizing the need for increased attention and resource allocation in these areas.
He said: “Challenges in implementing climate-related projects include bureaucratic hurdles, resource constraints, and a lack of public awareness, necessitating strategic interventions.
“A gap in comprehensive climate change awareness among the population, policymakers, and key stakeholders was identified as well as a need for stakeholder engagement/advocacy is crucial for effective climate action, necessitating sustained collaboration and dialogue.
“A call for dynamic planning and strategic reallocation of resources to ensure a balanced and impactful approach across various climate-related sectors and continuous assessment to address evolving climate challenges and ensure sustained progress was highlighted.”
Egwim, however, said that there were recommendations that the state government needed to follow, which one is to diversify funds allocation to address multiple climate-related sectors for a balanced and impactful approach.
He noted that there was a need to prioritize resolutions from the just-concluded 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) held in Dubai, which included: Tripling renewable energy capacity globally and doubling the global average annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030.
The programme manager said that COP 28 also emphasized on accelerating efforts globally towards net zero emissions energy systems, utilizing zero and low carbon fuels; initiatives related to renewable energy, reforestation, and community awareness.
“Sustain stakeholder engagement and collaboration for a collective and inclusive approach to climate action as well as identify and address challenges in project implementation, including bureaucratic hurdles and resource constraints.
“Implement targeted awareness programs to bridge the knowledge gap on climate change impacts as well as consider a strategic reallocation of resources based on evolving climate priorities and challenges.
“Establish a system for continuous monitoring and evaluation to respond to emerging climate challenges and opportunities,” he said.
Egwim also called on the state government to check carbon-monoxide emission by investing in renewable energy such as using solar panels to trap the sun energy, which is in abundance in the state.
“The state can have a policy of replacing fuel generators with solar panels in all government offices; use solar/battery driven long vehicles to check emission, cut down on the number of cars on roads/streets presently causing serious traffic hold-ups within Enugu.”
Corroborating, Mr Wilfred Okeke, an expert in Climate Change issues, noted that negative climate change issues not addressed or mitigated remained the major cause of poverty in the country.
“Governments at all levels, organizations and enlightened individuals must take up the advocacy on climate change sensitisation and mitigation efforts, to our people in localities,” he said.
It would be recalled that the NGOs currently have four focal council areas, which their climate change message, action and discipleship had touched for some years in Enugu State: this council areas included: Aninri, Enugu South, Igbo-Eze North and Isi-Uzo.
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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