NEWS
Osun Holds Inter-Agency Workshop On Climate Change
As part of efforts to develop a Climate Action Plan, the Osun State Government organized a one-day inter-agency workshop for desk officers and focal persons from its Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MADs).
Biztellers reports that the workshop held on Tuesday, at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Environment and Sanitation, at the Government Secretariat in Osogbo, was to enlighten them on their roles on climate action.
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It was put together by the Department of Climate Change and Renewable Energy of the ministry.
While declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner for Environment, Hon Mayowa Adejoorin noted that the workshop was important as it provides a platform for participants to upgrade their knowledge about climate change, its effect and how it affects the society.
He said, “As the world is going digital, so also the climate change is making a wave. All department in this place are supposed to be here, because if you understand what climate change is, you should know that it affects all our daily activities.
“I want to implore you to concentrate and learn what the expert will be telling you, not everyone of us had too much knowledge of climate change. I also learned through the process, when I resumed I only know climate change theoretically, I know what it means. By virtue of my profession, I know what climate change is but not its effect, it’s economic advantage.
“I want you to concentrate, listen to the experts, take notes, so that when you get to your various MDA you’d be able to educate them on why we need to promote Climate change according to the desire of this government, ably led by Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, he has really encouraged us to promote this climate change to any level we can, and he has been doing so many things to encourage this ministry and the host of this climate change agenda.”
On his part, the Consultant to the State Government on Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Prof Chinwe Obuaku noted that Climate Change is an issue that affect all sectors stating it as the reason for having a Climate Change Desk Officer across Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the state.
In her words, “The main objective for this is to train desk officers on their roles and responsibilities for our Climate Change Agenda.
“When we conceived the idea of this workshop, I made it known that it will be intellectually stimulating for every one of us and we’ll have to do a couple of tasks in-house. So this workshop is designed for us to understand our individual capacity gap and needs.
“What we are doing today is something that a lot of states in Nigeria haven’t done yet. Two weeks ago we were in Abuja to attend a GHG Data Analysis and Inventory Stakeholders Meeting and it turned out that Osun state is actually one of the state within the Southwest that is doing well in terms of Climate Action.
“Climate Change is an issue that affects all sector, you look at Methane, Nitrous oxide, CO2 and then you’ll begin to reflect on which of the sectors that generate most of the Green House Gas emissions.
“You also need to realize that human activities contributes about 80% to our Carbon footprint and then natural disasters contributes about 20% and when you look at the measures taken to curb human activities, that’s when you begin to mitigate and then when you look at natural activities, you begin to adapt to that.”
NEWS
N1.7trn Loan: Atiku Blames NASS For Worsening Nigeria’s Debt Burden
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has criticized the federal government’s plan to secure an additional N1.7 trillion loan through Eurobonds to cover a shortfall in the 2024 budget, describing the borrowing as unsustainable and harmful to Nigeria’s economy.
In a statement shared on Thursday via his X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku accused the Bola Tinubu-led administration of burdening Nigerians with debt while failing to provide clear answers about the country’s fiscal challenges.
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He also faulted the National Assembly for enabling what he called a “voracious appetite” for loans.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate expressed alarm over a recent World Bank report ranking Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), calling the development troubling.
“The recent report released by the World Bank, showing Nigeria as the third most indebted country to the International Development Association (IDA), is very concerning,” Atiku stated.
He raised further concerns about the government’s decision to benchmark the proposed loan at an exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official rate being over N1,600.
“What makes this particular loan proposal even more concerning is that it is benchmarked at the exchange rate of 1 USD to N800, whereas the current exchange rate from the Central Bank of Nigeria stands at over N1,600 to 1 USD,” he said.
Atiku questioned the need for additional borrowing, given the government’s earlier claims of record-high revenue collection.
“In July this year, Tinubu boasted that the FIRS and Customs under his watch had collected all-time high revenues to finance the budget. Why are they still borrowing?” he said
He accused the government of a lack of transparency, describing the borrowing spree as detrimental to Nigerians already struggling under economic hardship.
“There is something that they are not telling Nigerians, even as they are being crushed by a combination of their failed trial-and-error policies and loan rackets.”
Atiku also referenced a report by BudgIT, a budget monitoring group, which criticized the 2024 budget for its inefficiencies.
He alleged that corruption, rather than infrastructure or development needs, was driving the government’s borrowing decisions.
“These loans are powered by corruption and not for infrastructure and development needs. This voracious appetite for humongous loans is deeply concerning,” he said.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s financial history, Atiku lamented the return to significant foreign indebtedness just years after former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration cleared the country’s debt.
“It is agonizing to see that just a few years after the Obasanjo administration took us out of foreign indebtedness, we are today back at the top spot in the same conundrum,” he stated.
He called for a more cautious approach to borrowing, urging the government to prioritize fiscal responsibility and transparency to avoid worsening Nigeria’s economic challenges.
International News
ICC Issues Arrest Warrants For Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Others
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken a historic step, issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
The charges include crimes against humanity and war crimes allegedly committed during Israel’s recent assault on Gaza.
In a detailed statement, the ICC accused the Israeli leaders of “intentionally and knowingly depriving the civilian population in Gaza of objects indispensable to their survival, including food, water, and medicine and medical supplies, as well as fuel and electricity.”
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The ICC’s move marks a significant escalation in international scrutiny of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu and Gallant are alleged to have orchestrated policies that caused severe harm to the civilian population in Gaza, leading to widespread condemnation from human rights organizations.
Alongside the charges against Israeli officials, the ICC also issued an arrest warrant for Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif. Deif has long been a central figure in Hamas’s military operations. Israel’s military claims to have killed him in a July airstrike, although this has not been independently verified.
The warrants highlight growing calls for accountability amid the ongoing conflict in the region. The ICC’s actions are likely to provoke heated debate and may complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.
With the warrants issued, global attention now turns to how the international community will respond and whether any practical steps will be taken to enforce them.
NEWS
Edo State Governor Sets Up Committee To Recover Missing Gov’t Vehicles
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has inaugurated a 12-member committee tasked with recovering government vehicles reportedly in private hands.
The committee, led by Kelly Okungbowa, has been given a two-week mandate to retrieve the vehicles and ensure their return to the state government.
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Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Benin City, Governor Okpebholo emphasized the importance of accountability in the management of public resources.
He urged the committee to carry out its assignment thoroughly and within the bounds of the law.
In his response, Okungbowa expressed gratitude to the governor for entrusting the team with the assignment, vowing to deliver results within the stipulated timeframe.
“A lot of vehicles used by the past administration are missing, as those in custody of the vehicles have refused to return them,” Okungbowa said.
“The governor deemed it fit to inaugurate us today with a mandate to recover all government vehicles in private hands.”
The committee, which includes representatives from Edo’s three senatorial districts, is set to investigate and recover the vehicles based on credible intelligence already at their disposal.
“We already have vital information regarding some persons still holding government vehicles,” Okungbowa stated. “We will do the job according to the law, and both the government and the people will be satisfied with the outcome.”
He also called on members of the public to assist the committee by providing information about any government vehicles that may still be in private possession.
“We want to appeal to members of the public who might be aware of anyone still keeping government vehicles in their houses to please inform us to enable the committee to recover such for the Edo State Government,” Okungbowa said.
The committee’s vice chairman, Rt. Hon. Victor Edoror, a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, will work alongside other members to ensure the success of the initiative. The public can reach the committee at 08110165121.