Month: April 2024

Mr Zissimos Vergos, Deputy Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, has urged all stakeholders to collaborate in efforts aimed at eliminating waste and environmental pollution.

Vergos made the call at an event in commemoration of Nigeria’s first International Day of Zero Waste, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The theme of the event is, ‘Beat Waste’.

He stressed the urgency of the situation, shedding light on the alarming statistics of global waste production and its grave implications for the future of humanity.

Emphasising the importance of strengthening waste management worldwide, he highlighted the need to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns.

‘Each year, humanity generates between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste, yet global waste management services struggle to cope, leaving 2.7 billion people without access to proper waste collection.

‘Only about 60 per cent of municipal solid waste is managed in controlled facilities, exacerbating the
threat of waste pollution to human well-being and economic prosperity.

‘This issue is intertwined with the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution.

‘Without immediate action, annual municipal solid waste generation is projected to soar to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050, further exacerbating the environmental challenges we face’.

According to him, the EU’s relentless dedication to waste reduction is evident in efforts to implement the waste hierarchy and setting ambitious targets for waste prevention and management.

He said the proposal to revise the Waste Framework Directive is ongoing, aiming to significantly curb waste generation by 2030.

Vergos shed light on collaborative initiatives like the Global Alliance on Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (GACERE), uniting nations in the fight against plastic pollution and championing sustainable practices.

He announced the EU’s partnership with Nigeria through the Circular Economy Working Group, a testament to
joint efforts in fostering green growth and inclusivity.

He commended the Federal Ministry of Environment for their unwavering dedication, acknowledging their pivotal role in shaping policies and regulations to combat waste.

The deputy ambassador underscored the importance of collective action in embracing the zero waste culture and urged everyone to ‘Beat Waste’ together.

Ms. Val Ahmadu, Policy Advisor at the Netherlands Embassy, emphasised the International Day of Zero Waste’s significance in promoting global waste management and sustainable consumption patterns, highlighting collaborative solutions over blame.

She hailed Nigeria’s circular roadmap launch as a significant stride toward sustainable development and lauded recent partnerships with Dutch firms for waste management initiatives.

Ahmadu stressed that these efforts not only address waste but also fostered economic growth and job creation.

She said that Nigeria’s transition to a circular economy was an opportunity to combat climate change and
waste issues.

Ahmadu reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to global collaboration, expressing pleasure in working with the EU.

Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, highlighted innovative strategies to address the global waste crisis, advocating for reduced single-use plastics, increased recycling, and composting.

He said Nigeria is one of the fastest-growing countries in the world with a population of over 200 million, generating about 32 million tonnes of solid waste per year.

According to him, the large volume of waste being generated in the country presents circular economy business opportunities across the waste management value chain.

He urged a recommitment to zero waste living, emphasising the importance of sustainable practices and policy changes to drive progress towards a circular economy.

Lawal stressed the power of community and collaboration in minimising waste and preserving resources for a healthier environment.

He explained that the alarming statistics underscored
the urgency of action to mitigate waste pollution’s impacts on human well-being and the planet’s health.

Lawal also emphasised the need for immediate intervention to prevent further escalation of the crisis.

The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the Nigeria Circular Economy Roadmap, aimed at guiding the country’s transition while defining the government’s role in enabling the private sector to drive implementation through policy.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has commended residents of the territory for their patience, following the inconveniences the ongoing projects across the FCT have caused.

Wike gave the commendation in Abuja on Wednesday, after he inspected some ongoing projects in the territory.

‘I commend all of you for your support and the residents of Abuja, who have been making some sacrifices.

‘Some roads have been diverted while some areas are experiencing huge traffic due to the ongoing road projects across the city,’ he said.

He promised that some of the projects would be delivered in May, to celebrate President Bola Tinubu one year in office.

‘Where we are now is Goodluck Jonathan Highway, which is being completed and going to be part of the roads that we believed, will be commissioned in May.

‘We have spotted some areas where we think the contractor, Salini, should make some adjustments. Overall, it will be completed and in one or two weeks the streetlights will be on.

‘We
also went to Guzape Lot II, where the roads infrastructure being provided will also be completed and before May ending, the project will be handed over to us by Gilmor,’ he said.

The minister also inspected road projects in Diplomatic Zone, Guzape, though not part of the project for inauguration in May, according to the minister, but would be completed in the next one and half year, if funds were released.

He assured residents that the FCT Administration would make the funds available to ensure its completion.

‘Generally, I think we are doing well,’ the minister added.

On the road resurfacing projects in Asokoro, being handled by Julius Berger, the minister assured residents that all road resurfacing projects would be completed before may.

He added, ‘even though we are not inviting Mr President to commission them, but let the world know that Abuja is wearing a new look.’

The minister also thanked Tinubu for signing the N1.28 trillion FCT 2024 appropriations into law, adding that the development would en
able the FCT Administration to begin procurement processes.

‘What you will see will be a revolution in terms of infrastructure. With this budget, a lot of things will be done, not just on roads, but also in health and education sectors,’ he said.

Wike urged residents to commend the government where it made improvements rather than condemnation all the time.

‘There are those who will never be happy in their lives. They are sadists. If anybody said that there is no improvement in streetlight, he is a sadist.

‘We are trying to make some repairs of those that have been vandalised which is not easy.

‘Don’t bother about sadists, there is nothing we can do about them,’ the minister said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Dr Chike Okogwu, founder, Centre for Ability Rehabilitation and Empowerment (CARE), an NGO, has appealed to the Federal Government to establish disability service desk in all domestic and International Airports.

Okogwu said the idea was to assist as well as check cases of discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

He said this on Wednesday, while handing over some assistive devices and operational guidelines of Aviation accessibility project for PWDs, to the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), in Abuja.

He said the project which was initiated by CARE in collaboration with OXFAM initiative, was designed to support PWDs to get easy access to airports facilities across the country.

According to him, we have successfully completed a disability service desk at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja to provide all the disability needs when travelling by air.

Okogwu, however, said the group could not sustain the project, hence the need for the commission to
take over and ensure its sustainability.

‘Our aim was to improve the accessibility and inclusivity of air travellers within the disability communities because the facility we erected at the airport include installation of ambi lifts and stair climbing for PWDs.

‘Others are wheelchairs, umbrella for Persons with Albinism, Manual Waiting wheelchair, all enabling better mobility for Persons with Disabilities.

‘We also provided sign language for the deaf,’ he said.

Okogwu expressed the need for the federal government to increase the budgetary allocation of NCPWD to one trillion naira (N1 trillion) as against the current allocation of one billion naira (N1 billion).

According to him, this will help the commission to deliver on its mandate of attending to over 30 million persons with disabilities which constituted 15 per cent of Nigeria’s population.

Responding, the NCPWD Boss, Mr James Lalu, assured the visitors of federal government’s readiness to take-over the project with a view to providing relief to PWD
s while travelling by air.

Lalu also expressed commitment to deploy manpower that would ensure the sustainability of the project.

He also promised that the commission would deploy at least three of its personnel in each of the airports across the country to provide essential services to PWDs.

He appealed to the visitors to assist in training his staff to administer the project effectively.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria