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House Raises the Alarm over Nigeria’s 3.5% Annual Deforestation Rate

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SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara
  • House Raises the Alarm over Nigeria’s 3.5% Annual Deforestation Rate

The House of Representatives has expressed its worry at the annual deforestation rate in Nigeria, put at 3.5 per cent by the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO)’s 2015 Global Forest Resources Assessment, amounting to approximately 350,000 to 400,000 trees.

The once enviable forests around the country are in real danger of being wiped out, the House said. Experts also believe the various ongoing efforts by the government and private sector operators to adopt tree planting and re-afforestation initiatives have not adequately compensated for the rapid loss of forest cover.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara speaking in Abuja Tuesday, recalled that Nigeria was once covered by extensive forests.

Dogara, who was represented by the Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor, spoke at the hearing of the ad hoc committee investigating massive deforestation and corruption that has crippled the environment and its effect on climate change, where he added that deforestation has long been taken for granted, but now faces the threat of wiping out forest reserves.

“I dare say the figure is on the increase, especially with the coming of foreign merchants in search of ornate species of wood called Rosewood, which Nigeria is fortunate to be blessed with but is fast becoming a nightmare for the nation,” Dogara said.

“We were alarmed when the FAO reported that Nigeria’s present forest status is less than 5 per cent, well below the international recommended 25 per cent forest standard (afforestation). With this statistics, as a parliament of the people, we cannot continue to fold our hands and watch our nation being destroyed; we must all join hands to preserve our environment. It is our collective heritage and responsibility,” he added.

Dogara said the legislature is concerned with the manner of implementation of various Deforestation, Desertification, Afforestation and Reforestation projects by government at all levels without clear cut success.

These he listed to include projects such as the Sahara Great Green Wall Projects, the Clean Gas Cook and the Wonder bag Initiative, the Presidential Initiative on Afforestation, the UN-REDD+, the FCPF projects and several other local and international projects, which were intended to return Nigeria back to its status of a country with rich forests.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Bede Eke in his address, said the nation’s rich forests and its forest reserves hold the key to take the nation out of the current economic recession and even its state of insecurity.

He lamented that the deforestation with its attendant adverse effects have caused challenges in the eco system, agriculture, health, environmental degradation, climate change, economy and security.

Proactive measures must therefore be taken to avert total destruction of Nigeria’s once enviable forest cover, Bede said.

“It is important to mention that the change agenda of the present administration anchored on transparency in public service and zero tolerance for corruption would amount to nothing if institutions and individuals continue to engage in business with impunity,” he said.

Bede added that strict adherence to the rules and regulations for doing business in Nigeria, whether for domestic use or export purposes, must be complied with by all.

“The rampant ransack and exploitation of our rich forests calls for serious examination of the desirability or otherwise of certain agencies, which from our view have failed the nation in its enforcement mandate,” he added.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Government

Senate Suspends Senator Abdul Ningi for 3 Months Over Budget Padding Allegations

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Abdul-Ahmed-Ningi

The Senate has announced the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi for three months following his allegations of budget padding to the tune of N3.7 trillion in the 2024 budget.

Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central and chairs the Senate Committee on Population, had made the claims in a recent interview with the Hausa service of the BBC.

During a plenary session, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, raised a motion to address Ningi’s allegations, citing the urgent need to address what he termed as “false allegations.”

The transcript of Ningi’s interview was read on the Senate floor, prompting deliberation on the appropriate action to take.

Initially, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim proposed a 12-month suspension for Ningi, but Senator Chris Ekpeyong moved to reduce it to six months.

Eventually, Senator Garba Maidoki amended the motion further, suggesting a three-month suspension.

The amended motion was put to a voice vote, and Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision to suspend Ningi for three months.

Following the ruling, Ningi was escorted out of the Senate chamber by the Sergeants-at-arms.

The suspension comes amidst division within the Senate over Ningi’s claims, with some senators disowning his allegations and calling for a thorough investigation.

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Ekiti Governor Unveils Multi-Billion Naira Relief Programmes Amid Economic Crisis

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Biodun Oyebanji

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, has announced a comprehensive relief package aimed at alleviating the hardship faced by the people of the state.

The relief programs encompass various sectors to cushion the impact of the economic downturn.

One of the key initiatives entails clearing salary arrears amounting to over N2.7 billion owed to both State and Local Government workers.

This move signifies the government’s commitment to addressing the financial burdens faced by its workforce.

Furthermore, Governor Oyebanji has approved a substantial increase of N600 million per month in the subvention of autonomous institutions, including the Judiciary and tertiary institutions.

This augmentation is intended to enable these institutions to implement wage awards in alignment with State and Local Government workers’ salaries.

In addition to addressing salary arrears, the relief programs extend to pensioners, with the approval of payments totaling N1.5 billion for two months’ pension arrears.

Moreover, an increase in the monthly gratuity payment to state pensioners and local government pensioners will provide additional financial support, totaling N200 million monthly.

The relief initiatives also encompass agricultural and small-scale business sectors.

The allocation of funds for food production and livestock transformation projects underscores the government’s commitment to enhancing food security and economic sustainability at the grassroots level.

Governor Oyebanji emphasized that these relief programs are part of the state’s concerted efforts to mitigate the adverse effects of the economic downturn and foster shared prosperity.

The comprehensive nature of the initiatives reflects a proactive approach towards addressing the challenges faced by Ekiti State residents.

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President Tinubu Orders Immediate Settlement of N342m Electricity Bill for Presidential Villa

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power project

President Bola Tinubu has directed the prompt settlement of a N342 million outstanding electricity bill owed by the Presidential Villa to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

This move comes in response to the reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and the AEDC.

The AEDC had earlier threatened to disconnect electricity services to the Presidential Villa and 86 Federal Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) over a total outstanding debt of N47.20 billion as of December 2023.

Contrary to the initial claim by the AEDC that the State House owed N923 million in electricity bills, the Presidency clarified that the actual outstanding amount is N342.35 million.

This discrepancy underscores the importance of accurate accounting and reconciliation between entities.

In a statement signed by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency affirmed the commitment to settle the debt promptly.

Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila assured that the debt would be paid to the AEDC before the end of the week.

The directive from the Presidency extends beyond the State House, as Gbajabiamila urged other MDAs to reconcile their accounts with the AEDC and settle their outstanding electricity bills.

The AEDC, on its part, issued a 10-day notice to the affected government agencies to settle their debts or face disconnection.

This development highlights the importance of financial accountability and responsible management of public utilities.

It also underscores the necessity for government entities to fulfill their financial obligations to service providers promptly, ensuring uninterrupted services and avoiding potential disruptions.

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