Katsina State Govt, UNICEF Mobilze Youths To Plant Trees
Category Environment
Katsina residents decry activities of scrap scavengers
FG declares 2 Benue LGAs open defecation-free
FG declares 2 Benue LGAs open defecation-free
Defecation
By Nicholas Dechi
Otukpo (Benue), Sept. 24, 2024 (NAN) The Federal Government has declared Ado and Ohimini Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue Open Defecation-Free (ODF).
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Terlumun Utsev, made the declaration on Tuesday in Oturkpo.
Utsev, who was represented by the Director, Quality Control and Sanitation, Mrs Elizabeth Ugoh, stated that about 48 million people in Nigeria were practising open defecation.
The minister expressed concern that it made Nigeria the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“We understand that we need to do much more if we are to eliminate open defecation and achieve 100 per cent access to sanitation and hygiene in the country.
“Open defecation has long been a challenge in many parts of the world, with far-reaching consequences.
“It compromises health, undermines education, especially for young girls, and even affects the local economy,” Utsev said.
“By eliminating open defecation, we are taking a crucial step toward achieving better sanitation, which translates to fewer diseases, higher productivity, and greater dignity for our people,” Utsev said.
In his remarks, Chief WASH, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)-Nigeria, Dr Jane Bevan, said that the organisation would continue to support all the 23 LGAs in Benue to achieve ODF status.
She stated that so far, 11 of the 23 LGAs had attained the status.
Benue Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment, and Climate Change, Mr Ugwu Odoh, in a remark, said that the achievement was a testimony to the collective resolve, perseverance and unwavering commitment to enhancing the quality of life for Benue citizens.
“The eradication of open defecation is a critical step towards creating healthier, safer and more prosperous communities.
“This accomplishment will not have been possible without the collaborative efforts of numerous stakeholders, including community leaders, partners, UNICEF, Self-Help Africa, and WaterAid, whose technical expertise and resources significantly contributed to our success.
“Others to also share in the achievement are the Federal Government under the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, local government officials, and other stakeholders,” Odeh said.
The Acting General Manager, Benue Rural Water and Sanitation Agency (BERWASA), Mr Tony Mkpen, appreciated Gov. Hyacinth Alia for his tremendous support of donor supported programmes.
“The harsh economic challenges at the moment have impacted negatively on government,” he said.
Mkpen gave the assurance that the state government would prioritise prompt release of counterpart funds for the programmes and upgrade LGA WASH units to departments with budget lines.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Peter Amine
Flood: NEMA urges Rivers to build emergency shelters
Flood
By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt, Sept. 24, 2024 (NAN) The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has urged the Rivers Government to construct emergency shelters that will provide accommodations for flood victims in the state.
Mr Adebiyi Razak, the South-South Zonal Coordinator, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
NAN reports that the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) recently warned of impending flooding in 11 states, following the gradual release of water from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam.
Razak stated that the emergency shelters would serve as temporary refuge for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) during the anticipated flooding.
“The IDP camps should be built on safer and higher grounds. Provisions should be made for food, medications and other essential items,” he said.
The NEMA official said there was an immediate need to clear the drainages and natural water channels to ensure proper channeling of water.
“Early warning information should be disseminated in local dialects to ensure effective enlightenment at the grassroots,” Razak urged.
The state coordinator commended Gov. Siminalayi Fubara for establishing a nine-member flood committee, tasked with coordinating emergency response and managing the effect of the incident.
He urged on the committee, led by the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, to take prompt actions towards mitigating the impact of the incident.
NAN reports that states predicted to be impacted by the water release are, Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Kogi, Nasarawa, Taraba and Rivers.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
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Edited by Azubuike Okeh
Gov. Idris directs repairs of collapsed bridge linking Niger Republic
Repairs
Katsina State Govt, UNICEF mobilse youths to plant 100,000 trees
The Katsina state government, with the support of UNICEF, has mobilized youth groups to plant 100,000 trees, to combat climate change in the state, through the Green Rising Nigeria Movement project.
The project is aimed at creating Nigeria Green champions of change initiative, tagged, ‘One Movement, 100,000 Journeys’.
Mrs. Stella Okafor-Terver, UNICEF WASH Programme Officer, Kano Field office, made this known while addressing participants at a one-day sensitisation workshop in Katsina on Tuesday.
The workshop was organized through the state Ministry of Youths and Sports Development, and that of Environment, to sensitize participants on the Green Rising Nigeria movement.
According to her, the UNICEF Initiates movement for 100,000 tree planting, turning plastic waste to wealth, and also mobilises youths for climate change actions.
Okafor-Terver further explained that, “the workshop was a follow up to the youth group identification meeting which was held in August.
“The workshop attracted about 30 different youth groups with about 100 youths in attendance, focusing on the fight against climate change impact on children and open defecation.
“The Green Rising 9ja movement is a UNICEF initiative through Generation Unlimited (GenU), aimed at raising awareness on climate change impacts among youth, public sectors and private sector partners.
“The movement aspires to mobilise and support 10 million children and young people in developing countries to take grassroots action to protect and adapt to the impact of climate change by 2025.”
She added that the movement involves tree planting, youth mobilisation, plastic waste recycling and the creation of a voluntary army to support efforts in addressing climate change in schools, communities, and healthcare centres among others.
The WASH programme officer, revealed that the aim of the workshop was to open the minds of the youth and young people to develop green skills via formal or informal training.
“The movement also plans to support about 10 million young people in developing countries to take grassroots actions on climate change to ensure a conducive environment.
“The Green Rising 9ja movement is already making strides in this regard,” Okafor-Terver said
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Environment, Alhaji Muntari-Kado, represented by the Director of Climate change in the ministry, described the UNICEF movement as timely.
He noted that the state government is committed to combating climate change, as it plans to plant one million trees in the coming year.
According to him, the state government is also planning to demolish all structures in dam areas and along other waterways to ensure a conducive environment and prevent flooding.
He pointed out that the decision was a clear indication of the state government’s support for UNICEF.
The permanent secretary said that the Green Rising Nigeria movement would yield positive results by encouraging youth involvement in the fight against climate change in the state.
In his contribution, the Director of Forestry, Muhammad Nasir-Iliyasu, emphasised the need for youth to adopt the culture of nurturing trees to maturity, in order to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
NAN reports that the green rising initiative is a new initiative from UNICEF, Generation Unlimited, and a wide ecosystem of public, private, and youth partners to support the global mobilization of millions of young people – at a grassroots level – to take concrete green actions.
This is to protect and adapt to the devastating impact that climate change is exacting on their families, neighbors, villages, towns, and cities.
The Green Rising commits to contribute to a just green transition in which the most vulnerable youth are empowered with the education, skills, and opportunities to be champions for the planet.
UNICEF will support 10 million young people to take action by 2025.
NAN / Foluke Ibitomi
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