5m people to benefit from improved water supply, wastewater services

NaijaAgroNet:

A US$210 million World Bank project will improve the quality of drinking water supply and wastewater services to 5 million residents in Baghdad who suffer from water shortages and the outbreak of waterborne diseases due to inadequate infrastructure, rapid population growth, and the inflow of internally displaced people, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The Baghdad Water Supply and Sewerage Improvement Project, approved today by the World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors will support the Mayoralty of Baghdad and the Baghdad Water and Sewerage Authorities through improvement in utility management, and generate employment during the construction, operation and maintenance stages of implementation. The project will also help reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases and improve the quality of life, health, and sanitation.

“The recently completed National Water and Land Strategy (2015-2035) indicates that Baghdad will need substantial investments in its water supply and wastewater treatment systems over the next 20 years. Given limited availability of public funding, attracting commercial finance will be critical for implementing this ambitious strategy”, said Saroj Kumar Jha, World Bank Mashreq Regional Director. “In close coordination with the International Finance Corporation, this project will focus on creating a more favorable business environment, and on supporting the preparation of feasibility studies and transactions to enable private sector participation in the water sector.”

The residents of Baghdad deal with daily water service interruptions, especially during the hot summer months. Baghdad is one of the governorates impacted by outbreaks of waterborne diseases. Leakage from sewer pipes contaminates potable water networks and groundwater aquifers, which aggravates health and environmental problems. Contaminated water supply and improper disposal of sewage force families to spend a significant fraction of their income on medical treatment and to purchase bottled water. 

“Water supply and sanitation have immediate and major impacts on the quality of life of citizens”, said Thikra Alwash, Mayor of Baghdad. “We are committed to improving public services for the residents of Baghdad and to alleviating the burden households face on a daily basis in getting clean and reliable water supply. We are confident that improved access to these services can significantly strengthen people's trust and confidence in the state and contribute to building social cohesion when it is most needed”.  

“Major cities like Baghdad face a growing population but have inadequate water infrastructure and service delivery capacity”, said Abdulhamid Azad, Lead Water Resources Specialist and Project Team Leader. This project will improve the city’s water and sanitations services as well as support the Baghdad Water and Sewerage Authorities in improving their institutional knowledge and preparedness in relation to water security and urban water management. 

"Also, the project will finance capacity-building activities targeted to female technical and managerial staff to increase their professional skills and allow for career advancement within the Water and Sewerage Authorities.”  

The project will finance the construction of a service reservoir with a total capacity of 135,000 cubic meters, which will help the city manage its water supply better in case of climate-induced droughts. The project will also rehabilitate existing sewerage pumping stations thus reducing the public health effects of untreated wastewater discharged into the Tigris. The project will contribute to the reduction of physical losses by replacing about 130 km of water supply distribution network and the creation of district metering areas. 

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Emergency: UNICEF needs $3.6bn for 48m children in crises

NaijaAgroNet:

The UNICEF is urgently in need of $3.6 billion to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance to 48 million children living through conflict, natural disasters and other emergencies in 51 countries in 2018, reports NaijaAgroNet.

UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes, Manuel Fontaine disclosed in a press statement made available to NaijaAgroNet, noted that around the world, violent conflict is driving humanitarian needs to critical levels, with children especially vulnerable. Conflicts that have endured for years – such as those in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria and Yemen, among other countries –  continue to deepen in complexity, bringing new waves of violence, displacement and disruption to children’s lives.

“Children cannot wait for wars to be brought to an end, with crises threatening the immediate survival and long term future of children and young people on a catastrophic scale. Children are the most vulnerable when conflict or disaster causes the collapse of essential services such as healthcare, water and sanitation. Unless the international community takes urgent action to protect and provide life-saving assistance to these children, they face an increasingly bleak future,” Fontaine said.

According to Communication Specialist UNICEF Nigeria, Eva Hinds, parties to conflicts are showing a blatant disregard for the lives of children, hence children may not only be coming under direct attack, but are also being denied basic services as schools, hospitals and civilian infrastructure are damaged or destroyed. Approximately 84 per cent ($3.015 billion) of the 2018 funding appeal is for work in countries affected by humanitarian crises borne of violence and conflict.

The world is becoming a more dangerous place for many children, with almost one in four children now living in a country affected by conflict or disaster. For too many of these children, daily life is a nightmare.

The spread of water-borne diseases is one of the greatest threats to children’s lives in crises. Attacks on water and sanitation infrastructure, siege tactics which deny children access to safe water, as well as forced displacement into areas with no water and sanitation infrastructure – all leave children and families at risk of relying on contaminated water and unsafe sanitation. Girls and women face additional threats, as they often fulfil the role of collecting water for their families in dangerous situations.

“117 million people living through emergencies lack access to safe water and in many countries affected by conflict, more children die from diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation than from direct violence,” said Fontaine. “Without access to safe water and sanitation, children fall ill, and are often unable to be treated as hospitals and health centres either do not function or are overcrowded. The threat is even greater as millions of children face life-threatening levels of malnutrition, making them more susceptible to water-borne diseases like cholera, creating a vicious cycle of undernutrition and disease.”

As the leading humanitarian agency on water, sanitation and hygiene in emergencies, UNICEF provides over half of the emergency water, sanitation and hygiene services in humanitarian crises around the world.

When disasters strike, UNICEF works with partners to quickly provide access to safe drinking water, sanitation services and hygiene supplies to prevent the spread of disease. This includes establishing latrines, distributing hygiene kits, trucking thousands of litres of water to displacement camps daily, supporting hospitals and cholera treatment centres, and repairing water and sanitation systems. These measures save lives, have long-term impact and pave the way for other important services like health clinics, vaccination programmes, nutrition support and emergency education.

The largest component of UNICEF’s appeal this year is for children and families caught up in the Syria conflict, soon to enter its eighth year. UNICEF is seeking almost $1.3 billion to support 6.9 million Syrian children inside Syria and those living as refugees in neighbouring countries.

UNICEF said that working with partners and with the support of donors, intends in 2018 to provide 35.7 million people with access to safe water; Reach 8.9 million children with formal or non-formal basic education; Immunize 10 million children against measles; Provide psychosocial support to over 3.9 million children; Treat 4.2 million children with severe acute malnutrition.

Isaac Oyimah/GEE

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'A presidential poison for Buhari'

'A presidential poison for Buhari': Commentary@ITREALMS:  To us here in Nigeria, a colony is nothing new. The colony of Lagos established by the British in 1861 has famili...

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Feed the future Nigeria visiting scholars programme extends deadline

NaijaAgroNet:

The Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Policy Project visiting scholars programme for 2018 has gotten a new deadline extension till February 28, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The programme, which seeks application from the all states across the federation, entails successful applicants will visit the Michigan State University.

NaijaAgroNet gathered that at least, five graduate students visiting scholars will fill the positions for the academic year 2018 starting in August till May 2019.

Also on offer, NaijaAgroNet gathered, are three at the Masters level and two (2) at the PhD level.

The Masters Level positions will be awarded for a maximum 1 semester, and the PhD Level, a maximum of 2 semesters.

The student’s primary research supervisor who must be from a Nigerian University is expected to actively participate in the programme.

The advisor will be invited (and funded) to visit MSU for a period not exceeding 30 calendar days.

Those who meet the criteria and are interested, are advised to submit the materials as specified in the documents for the programme funded by USAID Nigeria Mission.

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Family Planning: LASG tasks media on accurate information

NaijaAgroNet:

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olajide Idris, has charged Nigerian media to ensure propagation of accurate information on Family Planning (FP), reports NaijaAgroNet.

Dr. Idris in his address to a three-day workshop on Advance Family Planning (AFP) Smart Media Advocacy by the Pathfinder International in Lagos, commended the orgnisers and enjoined all hands to be on the deck.

The Commissioner represented by the Director, Family Health Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Shade Oludara, said, “Media needs to spread the correct information at all times, and not confuse the people the more.”

Oludara who led a delegation comprising the Coordinator Family Planning, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Okaga Sidiat, stressed that Lagos would soon enter into some community health campaigns which media could help in propagating.

Equally, the Commissioner highlighted some traditions and misconceptions militating against adequate Family Planning uptake, especially on Modern Contraceptive Prevalent Rate (MCPR) in the state.

In some instance, he said, “Some people told our FP team in one of their sensitization programs that family planning is bad and as a woman, you need to bring out all the eggs God has given you by birthing, else it would turn to cancer.”

Equally speaking, Dr. Okaga, who doubles as Coordinaator, Reproductive Health in the state, urged media practitioners to always approach her office for confirmations and clarifications where necessary.

This, she said would forestall any misinformation, hence Pathfinder is trying to close this gap with this workshop.

She further outlined some key words media practitioners in family planning should take note of to include, Contraceptive Prevalent Rate (CPR), FP - family planning; and RH - Reproductive health to name a few.

According to her, when family planning is properly done, mortality rate will reduce drastically to over 30 per cent and meeting the target of 74 per cent CPR uptake by end of 2020.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Associate Director at Pathfinder International office in Nigeria, Dr. Habeeb Salami, said that the workshop objective is to change the narrative on family planning in the country for good.

Dr. Oludare later inaugurated the Lagos State Family Planning Media Working Group, led by Mrs. Chioma Umeha.

Remmy Nweke & Isaac Oyimah/ED, Ops

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Onshore wind power now affordable, solar to halve by 2020 - Study

NaijaAgroNet: 

The cost of generating power from onshore wind has fallen by around a quarter since 2010, with solar PhotoVoltaic (PV) electricity costs falling by 73 per cent in that time, according to new cost analysis from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), reports NaijaAgroNet.

The IRENA study, NaijaAgroNet reports, highlighted that solar PV costs are expected to halve by 2020, stressing that the best onshore wind and solar PV projects could be delivering electricity for an equivalent of USD 3 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh), or less within the next two years.

Also, NaijaAgroNet reports that global weighted average costs over the last 12 months for onshore wind and solar PV now stand at USD 6 cents and USD 10 cents per kWh respectively, with recent auction results suggesting future projects will significantly undercut these averages.

According to the Executive Summary of the study, onshore wind is now routinely commissioned for USD 4 cents per kWh. The current cost spectrum for fossil fuel power generation ranges from USD 5-17 cents per kWh.

The Director-General at IRENA, Adnan Z. Amin, was quoted as saying, “This new dynamic signals a significant shift in the energy paradigm. These cost declines across technologies are unprecendented and representative of the degree to which renewable energy is disrupting the global energy system." 

The study, NaijaAgroNet gathered was recently released on the first day of IRENA’s Eighth Assembly in Abu Dhabi on ‘Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2017’ highlights that other forms of renewable power generation, such as bioenergy, geothermal and hydropower projects in the last 12 months have competed head-to-head on costs, with power from fossil fuels.

The findings, NaijaAgroNet reported, had noted that by 2019, the best onshore wind and solar PV projects will be delivering electricity for a USD 3 cents per kWh, significantly below the current cost of power from fossil fuels.

NaijaAgroNet equally reports that for IRENA, competitive procurement practices together with the emergence of a large base of experienced medium-to-large project developers competing for global market opportunities, are cited as new drivers of recent cost reductions, in addition to continued technology advancements.  

“Turning to renewables for new power generation is not simply an environmentally conscious decision, it is now – overwhelmingly – a smart economic one. Governments around the world are recognizing this potential and forging ahead with low-carbon economic agendas underpinned by renewables-based energy systems. We expect the transition to gather further momentum, supporting jobs, growth, improved health, national resilience and climate mitigation around the world in 2018 and beyond,” Amin said.  

Further, NaijaAgroNet reports that IRENA study underscored that auction results are signaling that offshore wind and concentrating solar power projects commissioned in the period between 2020-22 will cost in the range of USD 6-10 cents per kWh, supporting accelerated deployment globally.

“IRENA projects that all renewable energy technologies will compete with fossils on price by 2020,” he said.

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Lagos tackles domestic waste, begins allocation of bins to houses

NaijaAgroNet:

In the wake of recent restructuring of the waste management system in Lagos state, the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) has commenced the allocation of bins to residences in Lagos State to ensure each building gets a dedicated waste bin for proper disposal of waste, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The bin, NaijaAgroNet gathered, is a 240-liter or 1,100 liter green receptacle with an orange lid, which is currently being deployed to houses across Lagos.

NaijaAgroNet also gathered that the exercise kicked off recently with targets to deliver 20,000 bins in two months beginning from Agege and Ikoyi areas of Lagos State with allocation based on property size, number of occupants and other factors.

CLI affirmed that the bins, which have been electronically tagged to facilitate prompt collection of waste and reduce incidences of theft and waste spillover, would eventually get to all houses in the state. Residents are expected to dispose their waste in the bins, which will be emptied regularly by Vision scape Sanitation, the Waste Collection Operator charged with residential waste collection.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Abiodun Bamigboye, reassured Lagosians that the various waste challenges they were concerned about would be effectively tackled by the Cleaner Lagos Initiative.

“Well-equipped and trained workers known as Community Sanitation Workers (CSWs) have been deployed, bins are currently going around to every house and fleets of vehicles suitable for specific purpose are on ground to deliver the task,” Bamigboye said.

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Nigerians spoil for war: Cow meat boycott takes effect February 1

NaijaAgroNet:

There is an online cow meat boycott campaign currently going on in Nigeria over the reported incessant attacks on Nigerian Christians, who invariably are the most patronisers of cow meat in the country, reports NaijaAgroNet.

They also alleged that killed Christian bodies are now being used in the preparation of Suya, a popular delicacy made usually from cow meat, unfortunately for other Christians to consume unknown to them.

Investigations by NaijaAgroNet showed that the campaign which is trending on all available social media including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Telegram, was to protest the attacks on other Nigerians especially the Christians by members of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and other unidentified herdsmen across the country.

Part of the message sighted by NaijaAgroNet indicated that the boycott takes effects from February 1st, and urging “Christians all over Nigeria have been asked to stop eating of Cow meat.”

The message insisted that since cow meat are now being “breeded with human and Christian bloods being murdered in cold blood on daily basis without government doing anything, would amount to double killing for those Christian victims.”

The campaign insisted that the ban from eating Cow Meet should be taken seriously as from February 1st in “solidarity for the lives of our dear Christian brothers and sisters killed by wicked Islamist group.”

Urging more people, especially Nigerian Christians to eat, ”more of fish, bush meat, pig, native goat, chicken, duck, snails, etc.”

The unendorsed prayer to Christendom, that Christian elders have discovered and come to the conclusion that Muslims love the life of Cows more than the life of Christians, alleging, “they have gone as far as killing Christians to prepare suya  for Christians to eat.”

For the campaigners, “Christians are the promoters of their sales of Cows and that is enough for them to respect Christians since we are the promoters of their businesses.”

They imagined the Southern Kaduna killings of over 1000 Christians slaughtered by Islamist, but the President Muhammadu Buhari’s led All Progressive Congress (APC) government kept quiet and rather reacted to the death of cows.

For the campaigners, “this is the only way we (Christians) can crumble their economy and bring them to their kneels to respect Christians.”

They equally appealed to Christians to share the protest message on Facebook, and WhatsApp on their contacts until it gets to everyone Christian in Nigeria.

Isaac Oyimah/GEE

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More trouble for PMB: NAPF demands for Piggery colony

NaijaAgroNet:

There seems to be more headaches coming the way of Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari as the National Association of Piggery Farmers (NAPF) has written him, alleging marginalization and demanding for a start, piggery colonies in 19 northern states, reports NaijaAgroNet.

NAPF in the letter addressed to the Presidency, and sighted by NaijaAgroNet which was signed by one Ogbuefi Animam Eze, who claimed to be the National Secretary of NAPF, also sent copies to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ministry of Defence, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Afenifere, Aka Ikenga, Oodua Peoples' Congress (OPC), Ijaw National Congress (INC), Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), and Nzuko Umunna deplore the marginalization of the association by the Federal Government.

“Our pigs have been variously targeted for elimination in several Northern states. Those Sharia compliant states have refused to allow our legitimate businesses to thrive. Our members have been hounded and harassed by the Hisbah Police and others. We deplore this,” the group said.

They also alleged that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) led Chief Audo Ogbeh, has paid deaf ears to our plight, as members demand that the marginalization must stop in order to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

Based on the foregoing, NAPF raised a six-point demand top on agenda being the demand for a 20-hectare Piggery Colony in the 19 Northern States especially Katsina, Kano, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe, Bauchi, Niger, Borno and Gombe.

NAPF insisted that equal opportunities should be given to all farmers and herders throughout the federation and went on to demand from the National Assembly the passage of a law on “Piggery Colonies in all Northern states.”

Further, NAPF demanded that a section of the Nigerian Army be employed in the protection of pigs and pig farmers form any attack, proposing FMARD set aside a budget allocation for the importation of Pig Feed from Argentina, whereas a special department of Piggery in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture should be created.

“Dear Mr. President, we are law abiding association. We prevent our members from being provoked by the government-backed Hisbah/Islamic horde that aim to destroy our pig farmers. We shall not be involved in attacking and killing the anti-piggery people in the Sharia States. If these things are not done, we can no longer guarantee that our members would not deliberately target our transducers,” NAPF said.

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Cattle colonies, insult on Nigerians – CAN

NaijaAgroNet:

The spate of agitations over planned establishment of cattle colonies by the Federal Government of Nigeria, have been wholesomely described as an insult on Nigerians, reports NaijaAgroNet.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) stated this in Abuja, Tuesday, saying that this is a term every Nigerian should condemn and resist.

CAN through the General –Secretary of Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Dr. Musa Asake, at the National Christian Centre, Tuesday, told newsmen that every Nigerian should condemn in strong terms and resist the attempt by this pro-Fulani government that 'cattle colonies' shall be established all over the country.

“This is an insult on all Nigerians. The idea of 'cattle colony' presupposes that the Fulanis are colonial masters,” CAN said.

Wondering, “How and when one ethnic group transmuted into a ‘colonial master’ over all the other 388 ethnic nationalities in Nigeria is unknown?”

Besides, CAN pointed out that this came up after Nigerians roundly rejected “grazing reserves”.

Further, alleged that the cattle colony is the handiwork of Islamists trying to deceive with change of nomenclature.

Emphasising that again and again, “Muslim leaders from the northern part of the country have demonstrated inability to respect the secularity of the Nigerian State and leave religion as an individual conviction according to Section 38 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution.”

CAN, therefore, demand from President Muhammadu Buhari, a holistic response to curb the horrendous menace of the Fulani herdsmen and Boko Haram, who to all intent and purpose have launched Jihad in Nigeria.

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