President Buhari Ratifies Paris Agreement on Climate Change

President Muhammadu Buhari ratifies Paris Agreement on Climate Change as Nigeria becomes the latest country to ratify the Paris Climate agreement, which aims to avoid the most devastating effects of climate change by cutting carbon emissions.

Nigeria had demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to global effort to reverse effects of the negative trend by signing of the agreement at a special event in New York, hosted by the former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in September last year.

To date, out of the 197 parties, 141 have ratified the convention. The Paris agreement entered into force on November 4, 2016, 30 days after the date on which at least 55 parties to the convention accounting in total for at least an estimated 55 per cent of the total global greenhouse gas emissions have deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the depository.

With the ratification, Nigeria has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions unconditionally by 20 per cent and conditionally by 45 per cent. The Paris agreement is expected to deliver $100 billion per year by 2020 in support of developing countries, to take climate action.

Under the agreement, each country submitted an emissions reduction proposal known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). Nigeria is considering 30 per cent energy efficiency in industries, homes, businesses and vehicles, and increased use of natural gas in generators and renewable energy.

Other measures being considered include stopping gas flaring, capture of gas, setting standard for appliances, generators, buildings and climate smart agriculture, all is expected to lead to $4.5 billion benefits to the country.

UNICEF Trains 24 Health Workers on Malnutrition

According to the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Nutrition Specialist, Walton Beckley, UNICEF has trained 24 health workers in Borno, on measures to prevent malnutrition among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

child protection

Beckley explained that the training was to teach mothers and caregivers ways to utilise their meagre resources to provide adequate nutrition for the children.

He said also that the objective was to sensitise health workers in IDPs camps so they in turn could use the information to educate mothers on how to prevent malnutrition in their children or wards.

FG ISSUES FRESH DIRECTIVES TO ACCELERATE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW VISION FOR NIGER DELTA

The Federal Government has issued a new set of directives in its bid to accelerate the implementation of the Buhari administration’s new vision for the development of the Niger Delta.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, issued the directives at a recent meeting of the inter-ministerial working group following up on the renewed Niger Delta interactive engagements of the Buhari administration.

For instance, the Federal Government has given all contractors including those handling Niger Delta Development Commission projects in the region a 30-day ultimatum from today to return to site or face prosecution.

The Federal Government has also specifically directed that the list of all contractors who have not returned to site within the stipulated period be compiled and submitted to the Ministry of Justice and the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission for investigation and prosecution.

A concerted implementation work plan that would respond to the developmental issues and projects proposed by PANDEF is also being prepared, while fresh mandates are also being issued to all the relevant MDAs as appropriate.

This includes the FG’s directive to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ministries of Niger Delta Affairs; Environment; Power, Works and Housing to proceed with the design and implementation of work plans in line with the administration’s new vision for the region.

Ministries and agencies of government involved in furthering the establishment of the Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta state, have also been directed to come up with a clear path to the eventual actualisation of the objective including consideration for a possible and timely take-off grant for the university.

The meeting also discussed the plans to continue presidential visits to the remaining States with oil-producing communities so as to effectively conclude the interactive engagements with the people of the region.

Specific instructions have also been given to the Ministry of Environment to ensure and report on the progress of the Ogoni Clean-up, for which a Project Office is now located in Rivers State and is functional.

A directive has also been issued to the Ministry of Environment for a plan to commence considerations for the clean-up of other polluted areas in the oil-producing communities.

The membership of the Niger Delta inter-ministerial group comprises officials from the Presidency, all relevant ministries including the Petroleum Resources, Niger Delta Affairs, Environment, Power, Works and Housing and Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme among other MDAs.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Vice President
March 21, 2017