The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • COP28: America’s energy agenda

    COP28: America’s energy agenda

    David Turk is United States Deputy Secretary of Energy. He speaks at the Washington Foreign Press Center’s on COP28 and U.S. energy policy priorities. United States Bureau Chief OLUKOREDE YISHAU attended the briefing. Excerpts:

    Importance of COP28

    Every country should be going to the COP reflecting on what they’re doing.  And I’m heading there on Saturday and will be there for a few days, joining Secretary Kerry and other members of the U.S. delegation.  Every country should be going.  This is the global stocktake year. 

    What are we all doing, right?  This is a global challenge; these are global emissions.  We’re seeing impacts of climate change around the world.  We’re certainly seeing extreme impacts of collimate change in the U.S. over the last year.  I know your countries are seeing it as well.  There’s not a country around the world that’s not being harmed and impacted in one way already, and emissions impacts will get even worse, especially if we don’t get our acts together.

    So during this global stocktake year, it’s incumbent upon all of us to look at what we’re doing.  Important to focus on pledges – and they’ll be a focus on the nationally determined contributions, of course, as there is in every COP – but it may be even more important to focus on what we’re actually doing:  What are the investments?  Where’s the progress?  Where’s the lack of progress?  What more do we need to focus on?

    I’m pleased to be part of this Biden administration in which we’ve made historic progress, unprecedented progress on our own climate footprint, reducing our GHG emissions and investing in a clean energy transition and into the clean energy future.  I’m not sure it can be overstated just how impactful these last few years have been, and maybe even more importantly the kinds of investments, the scaled investment, that we’re making in our own clean energy transition and what means in years to come, and frankly decades to come, given the volume and scale of what we’re doing.

    Inflation Reduction Act

    A lot has been talked about the Inflation Reduction Act, the bipartisan infrastructure legislation.  These are historic pieces of legislation that were passed in a previous Congress.  Just to give you a few numbers by way of scale, it’s an estimated – just at the tax incentive part of that – and these are 10-year tax incentives literally across the board in terms of encouraging, many of them 30 percent, some even bigger than that – encouraging our buildout of solar, of wind, of geothermal, of nuclear, you name it on the clean energy front, green hydrogen, clean hydrogen – we’re incenting it, we’re encouraging it, and we’re using a tax incentives lever about it.

    Important that these are 10-year tax incentives.  There’s been estimates of this being as – the original estimate was about $369 billion.  There’s been some other estimates that had it maybe even a trillion dollars of incentives going in the U.S. to build out our clean energy infrastructure as quickly as we possibly can.  That’s just one part of what we’ve done, one part of this historic legislation.

    Just in our department, the Department of Energy alone, we’ve been given $100 billion to work mostly in grants that go out to private sector to build out hydrogen, to build out geothermal, again to build out – in a complementary way to all these tax incentives, to build out our clean energy infrastructure.  We’ve recently announced $7 billion, just to give you one example, to build out clean hydrogen hubs across our country.  That is a big investment; that is a historic investment.  That’s not the kind of investment that we make on a regular basis, even in U.S. Government, as we big as we are and as much funding as we have.  These are really historic levels of funding that we’re working on here in the U.S. side.

    One other data – just in our department alone, in order to administer this $100 billion of grant program, it ends up being about 70 new program – seven, zero new programs – just to give you a sense of the diversity of what we’re talking about, in addition to the volume of funding.  We’ve hired up 800 new people to come and run these programs.  Again, that’s just one data point showing the scale of what we’re doing and we’re starting to see the real impacts of that — $150 billion worth of battery manufacturing investment, which is supporting our EV transition in our country going forward along those lines. 

    And we’re starting to see some real impacts on our own emissions as well.  Of course, that’s what we’re after, is we’re after emission reductions.  The latest estimates that we have is that our emissions in 2023 across the U.S. will go down 3 percent, even in the face of quite robust GDP growth that we’ve seen. 

    More must be done

    So we need to do more.  All countries need to do more.  We need to do more to make sure that we are achieving our climate reduction targets that we put on the table, that the President has put on the table, rightfully ambitious in our country.  And of course, other countries need to not only again set targets, set ambitious targets, but it’s actually how we’re achieving those targets. And I’m happy to get into any of those particulars if folks would want to, in terms of how we’re actually implementing our domestic strategy.

    Second point I’d like to just share is how does this dovetail with our international strategy and what we’re working on with partners across the world.  I’d like to highlight in particular what our department, our Department of Energy, is working on.  And this is very complementary to all the things that Secretary Kerry’s working on, that other departments across our government are working on.  I wanted to give a few examples.

    One, we have very robust bilateral partners with key countries around the world from the Department of Energy with our counterpart.  For instance, in Japan, we have a very robust partnership with METI.  We have a very robust partnership with the UK.  We have a very robust partnership with Nigeria.  We have a very robust partnership with Chile.  Literally countries around the world in a bipartisan or a bilateral basis trying to help each other, trying to share information, trying to work jointly where it’s appropriate on particular projects. 

    I mentioned the fact that we are building out a clean energy infrastructure in an unprecedented scale.  That has huge economic opportunities for our partners around the world.  And I’ve had a chance to travel in Latin America and Africa over the last year, and what I hear from countries is they not only want to take advantage of their natural resources, whether it’s lithium or other critical minerals that we’re going to need at scales unprecedented because of this clean energy transition, but they want to move up that value chain.  They want to make sure that they’re getting as much economic opportunity from those natural resources that they have.  That is very complementary and supportive by the United States to make sure that countries who have natural resources, the people in those countries, benefit from those resources, they move up that value chain. 

    From our end, from our perspective, the more diverse the supply chains, the more there are countries out there in this space, the better off in terms of the security of supply, the economic benefits from this clean energy transition being widely felt, including and especially for the most vulnerable countries, the least financially endowed countries around the world.  So that’s another area that we’re working on is global clean energy supply chains and making sure those benefits are felt around the world. 

    Net zero world

    The other effort I wanted to highlight in particular is something we call Net Zero World.  We have phenomenal resources here – technical resources, expertise here in our country, including 17 national labs across our country.  The Department of Energy administers those national labs.  We call upon that expertise.  I think it’s about 70, 80 thousand people that are employed in these labs all across the country – phenomenal expertise in any and all clean energy technologies.  Many of these labs were involved in early development, solar PV that we’ve now taken to sail around the world, and so many people around the world have been benefiting from that. 

    We came in, in this administration, very consciously wanting to not only have that expertise tapped for our own domestic purposes, accelerating our clean energy transition, but through Net Zero World, we’re working with a select number of partners around the world – if other countries are interested, and we’d be happy to have discussions – to make that national lab expertise available to help countries achieve their own clean energy targets but to do it quicker – to do it with modeling expertise, to do it with technological expertise, whether countries want to invest in hydrogen or their EV transition, or geothermal, or solar, or offshore wind.  This technical expertise is helping countries around the world that the U.S. is making available in a way that’s very mutually beneficial and supportive of our overall diplomacy as well. 

    And then the last point I wanted to make is specific to the oil and gas industry.  This climate conference in particular is getting a lot of attention, a lot of focus on the oil and gas industry.  The oil and gas industry is a major supplier of energy around the world, but it’s also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions around the world as well. 

    The two points I wanted to make on that front – and we’re working on this as the U.S. Government not only domestically but working internationally, and there’ll be some announcements that are made on this front – first of all is methane emissions, methane emissions throughout the oil and gas sector.  There are other sectors that have methane emissions – landfills, agriculture.  But there’s been a particular focus over the last several years, including the Methane Partnership that the U.S., working with the EU and countries around the world, have been really championing on that front.  This climate conference has an opportunity to really deal with methane emissions in the oil and gas sector. 

    To me this is the biggest no-brainer opportunity to reduce emissions, to reduce emissions quickly, to reduce emissions at scale.  It requires companies, not only the independent oil companies around the world but national oil companies around the world being serious, being transparent, allowing third-party verification so that we all can reduce our methane emissions and do it as quickly as we possibly can.  And again, there’ll be some announcements that are made in our continuing effort on that front. 

    Second point on oil and gas I wanted to make is focused on scope 3 emissions.  For those who follow these issues, there’s scope 1 emissions, scope 2 emissions, scope 3 emissions.  Scope 3 emissions for the oil and gas sector by far are the largest.  These are the emissions that are caused when people drive and get oil, spend gasoline in their cars, or diesel in their cars – the emissions that are put out by the products of oil and gas companies, so oil and natural gas whether it’s in a car or in a powerplant.  Scope 3 emissions for oil and gas companies are ten times or more higher than their scope 1 and scope 2 combined. 

    And so there’ll be some discussion at the COP of progress needing to be made on scope 1 and scope 2 in particular.  I just wanted to make the point that scope 3 is so much larger than scope 1 and scope 2.  Our hope is that there is an awful lot of focus on the Scope 3 emissions in oil and gas companies – again, whether they’re private companies, international companies, or the national oil companies are also constructive, aggressive, ambitious on Scope 3 emissions because they’re so much larger than Scope 1, Scope 2.  We’ve got to deal with all of those emissions if we’re going to be successful on our shared objectives.

    Nuclear power

    We think nuclear power – nuclear power right now in the U.S. is about 20 percent of our electricity generation, and a significant part, a quite large part of our existing clean energy generation.  And it’s 24/7 generating power as well. 

    Japan has an even higher percentage; France has an even higher percentage.  Other countries have different policies and approaches to nuclear, but within the U.S. we view it is a key part of our current clean energy generation, but also an expanding opportunity and an expanding part of our future mix and future mixes around the world.  That’s why we’re proud to be part of this effort to get countries signed up to triple the capacity for nuclear by 2050 period of time.  And this applies not only to existing nuclear, the bigger nuclear plants that folks are most familiar with, but this also applies to what’s called small modular reactors and other advanced nuclear technology that we’ve invested a lot of money in, Japan has, others have as well to have a diversity and array of nuclear options going forward. 

    There’s also a lot of exciting efforts and focus – and we’re doing this certainly at the Department of Energy and in the U.S. Government more generally – on fusion as well, which is getting new attention, including from the private sector investing $6 billion in fusion development, so that we have fission, we have fusion, we have a diversity of efforts going forward.  But this, I think, will be – the pledge you’re referring to will be one of the biggest announcements that’s made at the COP, and we’ll hopefully get a further momentum behind really building out and taking advantage of this terrific resource. 

    China and Middle East

      So let me take the China question first and then talk about the Middle East dynamics and at least how I see that playing out going forward.  First, on the China front, I want to really give a genuine and deserve a shout out to our leader on our international climate effort, Secretary Kerry.  His diligence – and I’ve known Secretary Kerry for years; I’ve had the privilege of working with him in trying to support what he’s doing – his diligence in working with and on all things climate, but especially working on the bilateral relationship with China, has just been extraordinary.  And a lot of the progress that was made at Sunnylands – in fact, a very large amount of that progress is really due to his doggedness, his determination, his leadership to go above and beyond. 

    We did have some challenges in getting China to come to the table, have discussions, and get this working group set up and really do the kinds of things that we did at Sunnylands.  Frankly, we would have loved to have had that kind of announcement a year or two years ago, and we’ve been working on it.  But you make the progress where you can find the progress on that front. 

    I think the important thing I’m watching for China coming out of this COP and then the weeks and months after that – important for them to self-reflect, just like I said every country needs to self-reflect, on the global stocktake.  And are they doing enough?  Is their NDC, their 2030 NDC – nationally determined contribution – as ambitious as it needs to be and should be as part of an overall global solution?  When I look at this, putting on my energy and climate analyst hat, is the answer is no, it’s not as ambitious as it needs to be.  (Inaudible) by 2030 for China is just not good enough.  They can do it earlier, they will do it earlier, and they should update their NDC accordingly – again, wearing my energy analyst, climate analyst – just trying to make the numbers kind of add up on that front. 

    To me, a lot of this is following the money, following the investment, and following the policy.  And China is expanding their solar and their wind at huge, unprecedented numbers.  That’s great.  But there’s also a lot of investment and investment decisions going into coal right now.  And so I think there needs to be an awful lot of focus on what is actually happening not only within China but what they do with their BRI, the Belt and Road Initiative, as well working with other countries.  And so I think every country needs to take a look at what they’re doing and make changes accordingly on that end. 

    On the Middle East dynamic, I think it’s really interesting if you take a step back and view the world – not only the government but the private sector’s focus on climate change over the last few years.  We’ve had COVID; we’ve had a Russian invasion of Ukraine and all that that has wrought.  We’ve got now the situation in the Middle East.  We’ve had some bumps on the road, but I think what’s interesting is the support – the public support, the government support, the private sector support – to deal with climate change as an existential challenge and to deal with it urgently – has had some fluctuation.  Different countries have had different elections, but it’s remarkable how durable that is and how much momentum there is behind clean energy transition. 

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    One data point for you there:  We’re now up to 10 percent of our vehicles sold here in the U.S. being electric vehicles.  That’s up from 3.4 percent two years ago and 6.7 percent a year ago, so the trajectory of what we’re doing – Europe’s already over 20 percent, China’s well over 20 percent, and I saw a statistic that they’re at a third of their vehicles sold being electric vehicles. 

    So we’re starting to see some real momentum, and a lot of that is just driven by the fact that these clean energy technologies are cheaper in many cases and certainly getting more cheaply by the day.  And the economics of it, the jobs of it, the industrial strategy of it is a very powerful momentum, powerful motivation for countries around the world.  So I think it’s remarkable how much progress, how much momentum we’ve had even in a very challenging few years geopolitically.

    Climate Change

    I feel incredibly proud to be part of this administration.  One of my big motivations for joining this administration – I’ve been working on climate issues, clean energy issues for quite a few years in my own career, and to be part of an administration, a historic administration that has seen the most progress ever – not only by any government in the U.S. but, I would argue, by any government in the world – over the last several years with this historic legislation, the volume of what we’re doing with the tax incentives, all of the things that I talked about.  So I feel incredibly proud of what we’re doing domestically.

    I think there’ll be a lot of – the key deliverables at the COP will be ones that the U.S., I’m proud to say, will be very much part of championing.  It was mentioned already, the tripling of nuclear capacity by 2050.  There’s also a tripling of renewables by 2030, and that’s something that we’re very supportive of.  There’s a doubling of energy efficiency rates by 2030 as well.  I feel like our NDC of reducing our emissions over 50 percent by 2030 is a very ambitious initiative and very much in line with a 1.5-degree scenario. 

    So I feel like we are not only putting the pledges on the table and working on the deliverables side, but the most important part – and I would ask everybody focus on this – is where are the investments, where are you actually achieving progress on the ground in reducing emissions, in reducing costs for technologies that benefit not only citizens and folks here in the U.S. but countries around the world.  And I feel like our record is a very strong one and feel very proud.

    I’d also say – I mentioned Secretary Kerry earlier – I think his record going back decades in terms of his commitment to climate is incredible.  I had a chance to work for Senator Biden when he worked – President Biden when he was a senator, and I know that climate is something that he is personally very passionate about.  Secretary Granholm, who I get the privilege of working with on a daily basis as our Secretary of Energy, is incredibly passionate about climate, as I am as well.  So the personal commitment – again, not just to show up in meeting and make a speech, but the commitment to actually walk the talk and to deliver – is incredibly impressive.  I think that is more important than, again, delivering a speech here or there.  It’s really the personal commitment to actually change the real world for the better and all the benefits that come from it.

    The issue – sorry, you mentioned one – oh, climate-smart agriculture.  I think climate-smart agriculture should get an awful lot more attention.  Secretary Vilsack and his team over at the Department of Agriculture is doing some remarkable work.  They got a lot more money from these historic pieces of legislation to work with farmers, ranchers across our country to do climate-smart agriculture.  I know there’s some efforts that they’re doing internationally as well, but I think this is a huge opportunity space.  It can be a win-win for farmers and ranchers but a win-win for our clean energy and climate transition going forward.

    One area I’m particularly excited about is something called agrivoltaics, which is working on the agriculture but the clean energy side and thinking about how to do clean energy, whether it’s solar or wind or others, as you’re doing farming and having another revenue stream for farmers and ranchers but also being part of the clean energy transition as well.  And I think (inaudible) a really exciting area.

  • Nigeria, UK strengthen ties

    Nigeria, UK strengthen ties

    • Tinubu, King Charles III meet

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described his meeting with British monarch, King Charles III, as significant.

    The duo met yesterday in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE) on the eve of the ongoing 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as Conference of the Parties (COP28).

    In a tweet on his verified X handle – @officialABAT, the President described the parley as a significant step towards strengthening the Nigerian-United Kingdom relations and partnership.

    Tinubu expressed optimism that the contributions of both Nigeria and the United Kingdom (UK) will impact positively on the world’s future in the efforts to set equitable global environmental standards.

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    The tweet reads: “I had a productive meeting with His Majesty, King Charles III of England who is also the Head of the Commonwealth, and a passionate climate advocate.

    “The meeting was a significant step in strengthening the partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, and I am optimistic about the positive impact our joint efforts will have on our planet’s future as we look forward to setting an equitable global standard for environmental stewardship at #COP28.”

    During the COP28 summit holding today and tomorrow, President Tinubu is expected to deliver Nigeria’s national statement.

  • Lagos, Abuja demolitions: Ohanaeze kicks

    Lagos, Abuja demolitions: Ohanaeze kicks

    • We follow rule of law, says govt

    Lagos State has defended the ongoing demolition of buildings in unauthorized places in parts of the state, saying the action is in accordance with the rule of law.

    The reaction followed the call by Ohanaeze Ndigbo on the state to suspend the demolition of houses following complaints it received.

    Its President Chief Emmanuel Iwuayanwu, who also complained about demolition in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), said he would soon meet with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the matter.

    Also yesterday, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi decried “demolitions across the country” in a tweet on his X handle.

    But Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said since the demolitions started, no one had come up to say his property was demolished unjustly.

    He said: “If we say we want a greater Lagos, a Lagos that will be home for all, that will develop at the pace of other megacities of the world, then rule of law should be sustained. The government is only demolishing buildings that are on canals and drainage channels. Let’s not forget that Lagos is below the sea level, and if we continue to abuse planning laws and regulations, we will all be affected when nature fights back.

    “The demolition has no colour, no religion, no professional, gender or ethnic bias to it. It’s based purely on the rule of law that people must get permits before they start any building project, whether residential or business. I am also sure no one will get a permit to build on water or drainage channels.

    “And since the demolition started, no one has come forward to say his property was demolished without due process. I know a local government chairman whose five houses have been demolished. So if anyone is saying it’s targeted at a section of residents, such person has not seen the full list of persons affected or has not done his homework right. The demolition has no ethnic coloration or bias.”

    Iwuanyanwu during a news conference, said: “It has been brought to my notice that many families have been thrown into serious difficulty due to the demolition in Lagos State.

    “I have carried out an investigation on what has happened in Lagos, and I appeal to the Government of Lagos State to intervene and ensure that justice is done. If anybody fails to obey the laws of the Land, the Igbo leadership will never support misconduct from any Igboman anywhere they live. I don’t have any doubt that there may be some instances where Igbo and perhaps other people whose property were demolished in Lagos did not fully comply with the laws of Lagos State. If any developer with impunity and without proper approval proceeds to develop a property anywhere in the world, he is taking a risk and his property stands the risk of being demolished.

    “On the other hand, if the property is properly purchased, with approvals from appropriate authority given before development, the individual deserves a happy and peaceful enjoyment of his assets. If any Government demolishes the property built with approval of the appropriate government department, such government by law must pay appropriate compensation for the damage incurred to the owner of the building.

    “I will make an attempt to see the Governor of Lagos State in the next few days. I will therefore appeal that the Governor of Lagos State kindly suspends the demolition of buildings until all the facts are cleared.

    “I have also got reports of violation of building regulations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. Because of the investment characteristics of Igbo, private properties and investments in Abuja are substantially owned by Igbos.

    “I will advise my people the Igbo to ensure that they comply with all legislations and local regulations to avoid demolition of their properties in Abuja and other parts of Nigeria.

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    He said Ohanaeze Ndigbo will establish an Ohanaeze Relief Agency to be controlled by top Igbo leaders with a mandate to  support other Nigerians when the need arises in the spirit of brotherhood.

    Obi decries demolitions

    Obi in a tweet on his verified X handle @PeterObi, said:

    “It’s with complete despondency and unhappiness that I have followed the ongoing demolitions of properties across the country, especially knowing the extra hardship such acts have been heaping on hapless citizens who are already battling with multi-dimensional Poverty.

    “What a responsive government should be doing under the current harsh economic conditions in the country is to come up with measures aimed at alleviating the people’s hardships and to carry out measures that will take more people out of poverty.

    “Even if there are some violations as the governments are claiming, this critical time is not auspicious for such an exercise knowing the hardship in the land and the consequences it will have on the poor who are struggling to make ends meet with their little resources.

    “The poor in our midst who are putting their meagre resources are going through very severe financial stress that should not be multiplied further. In some cases, the properties being demolished are the lifetime savings and retirement abodes of the aged and incapacitated.

    “My appeal therefore is for the respective governments involved in this act to consider the hardship in the country and try and put a human face to their actions. While we should enforce sensible regulations, all actions of government must show compassion.”

  • Unite real estate sector, Odunzeh urges Sanwo-Olu

    Unite real estate sector, Odunzeh urges Sanwo-Olu

    The governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party(NNPP) in the just concluded election in Imo State, Hon Uche Ben Odunzeh, has advised Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to unite the real estate sector by addressing pending issues on indigenous and non-indigenous investors .

    He remarked that before now, the Lagos State Government was issuing excision to indigenous families and non indigenous investors that had the flexibility of purchasing them and perfecting the title at the Ministry of Lands and Surveyor General’s office but in recent years this has changed with the emergence of only government allocation “selling land” .

    According to him, this trend has short changed indigenous and non indigenous investors removing them from the real estate sector, ultimately which gradually is affecting the supposed growth of the the real estate industry in Lagos state.

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    He said: “Most investors are now looking for other options leaving Lagos to do real estate. The Lagos state government must look at deregulating the real estate industry so it can grow faster”

    Odunzeh, who also is a pioneer in real Estate network marketing and the inventor of the 15% commission to realtors in real estate, is the chairman/CEO EUC homes Ltd

    Odunzeh, the Babalaje of Ibejuland, a respected high chief in Ibeju Lekki, lamented multiple places in Ibeju Lekki LGA where he has constructed at least 2km road access in each community, have been encroached by the Lagos State Government. He urged the Governor to carry all state actors along to ensure inclusivity.

    He also tasked the leadership of REDAN Lagos State state to act swiftly by addressing the lingering matters relating to real estate investors in Lagos State.

  • Edo PDP governorship primary process in shaky start

    Edo PDP governorship primary process in shaky start

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in Edo State began yesterday on a shaky note.

    A meeting called by the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party in Benin City, the state capital, was boycotted by those loyal to the National Vice Chairman (Southsouth), Chief Dan Orbih.

    The Orbih followers – members of the Legacy Coalition in Edo State chapter of the PDP – allegedly stayed away to protest how the chapter was being managed  in the Southsouth state.

    Apart from protest by the camp loyal to Orbih, Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, at loggerheads.

    Yesterday,  the governor said the party will determine the fate of Shaibu and others jostling to succeed him.

    Obaseki spoke in Bauchi, Bauchi State, when he and his Akwa Ibom counterpart, Umo Eno, paid a congratulatory visit to Governor Bala Mohammed on his victory at the Court of Appeal.

    In Edo, the crisis rocking the party deepened with the State Secretary, Hilary Otsu, disowning the purported SEC meeting and warning members to stay away.

    Otsu said: “Dear Edo PDP leaders, it has come to my notice that a certain notice of meeting has been sent to leaders of our party. Kindly note that the constitution of PDP empowers only the secretary to call meetings.

    “The purported notice, carrying an unverifiable printed signature is being circulated by mischief makers, who intend to cause confusion and further divide the party.

    “I have not abdicated my responsibilities to the party. So, I advise you to ignore this invite, as the party will not take kindly to such act of sabotage, going forward.”

    Another group within the party, believed be loyal to the governor, said it had launched a membership drive.

    In a statement, the State Assistant Secretary, Luckson Ogedegbe, said the party commenced registration of new members yesterday.

    It directed the State Working Committee (SWC) of PDP to drive the timetable for the 2024 governorship primary.

    Ogedegbe said the decision was taken at a meeting of leaders of the party across the state, which he claimed had 89 of the 120 expected members.

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    Claiming that key decisions were taken during deliberations on issues affecting Edo PDP, he said: “The SEC mandated the SWC to drive the time table of the coming governorship primary, as released by PDP’s National Working Committee (NWC).

    “The SEC mandated all ward chairmen to open the party’s registers in their various wards, and commence the registration of new members, starting November 30, 2023.

    “The SEC mandated the SWC to direct any ward where registration does not start by Friday, December 1, 2023 to open a new register.

    “The SEC directed that all ward registers must be submitted to Edo State secretariat of PDP at 59, Airport Road, Benin City, not later than December 6, 2023, for onward submission to the national headquarters of the party in Abuja.

    “The SEC directed that all activities of the party must be carried out in the various ward secretariats of PDP in Edo.”

    Ogedegbe also disclosed that the SEC of the party directed the SWC to set up committees in the local government areas and wards to monitor the party’s registration.

    Obaseki: PDP will decide my deputy’s fate

    Obaseki, who spoke on his deputy’ declaration to succeed him in office, said PDP will determine Shaibu’s fate and others jostling to run for September 21, 2024 Edo governorship poll.

    Obaseki insisted that only the PDP has the sole right to determine its candidate.

    Describing his relationship with his deputy as cordial, Obaseki said: “He wants to run for the office and he is free to do so and you know as a Nigerian, he has the constitutional right to run and nobody can or should stop him.

    “The party will decide and also the members of the party will decide who will fly the flag of our party in the forthcoming general election in Edo.

    “I’m only one out of the millions party members in Edo and I don’t think my vote would determine whether he becomes the flag bearer or not.”

    Obaseki said the visit to Bauchi was to also discuss some pertinent issues relating to the PDP Governors’ Forum and other matters affecting the country.

  • N300b needed annually to maintain federal roads, says FERMA

    N300b needed annually to maintain federal roads, says FERMA

    At least N300 billion is needed yearly for highway repairs, the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) said yesterday.

    It plans to explore other funding sources outside budgetary allocation.

    Managing Director, Emeka Agbasi, spoke during an interactive session with the House Committee on FERMA.

    He said the appropriations to the agency were inadequate.

    According to him, the 2023 allocation is far less than the required target, with less than 50 per cent of the total budget released so far.

    Agbasi, in a document submitted to the Committee, stated that aside from the 90 projects awarded by the agency in 2023, no fewer than 200 others are being processed.

    The agency executed 85 road projects valued at N132,288,002,695.20 as well as 79 projects valued at N17,144,883,320.78, while 53 projects executed through direct labour gulped N3,218,445,391.07.

    Agbasi said FERMA is exploring support from the Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (NIAF), Japanese Grant Aid, as well as multilateral support from the UK Export Finance Credit Facility (UKEF).

    It is also targeting special intervention funds through the Natural Resources Fund, Ecological Fund, and confiscated funds by anti-graft agencies.

    Committee chairman, Aderemi Oseni, warned that the House will not accept any excuse for non-performance.

    Speaking at its inaugural meeting with FERMA management, he said: “It saddens me to say that the state of our roads has reached a deplorable state, resulting in untold hardship for our fellow Nigerians, hampering economic growth, and tarnishing our nation’s image.

    “The image of FERMA in the eyes of the public is one of inefficiency, corruption, and ineptitude. 

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    “This is a reality we cannot ignore and is a perception that must be changed…

    “Our responsibility as the House Committee on FERMA is to uphold this principle by working tirelessly to improve the state of our roads, ensuring the safety and convenience of our citizens. 

    “Let me state unequivocally that the 10th National Assembly will not accept business as usual in FERMA.

    “The days of huge budgetary allocations with little or no impact on road maintenance are over. 

    “We are here to ensure that every naira spent by FERMA delivers tangible results for the Nigerian people…

    “We will demand performance, value for money, accountability, transparency, and professionalism from FERMA.

    “This House Committee will not hesitate to utilise the full instruments of the law to sanction any misdeeds that come to our attention.”

    Oseni said the House was aware of the numerous challenges faced by FERMA, such as inadequate funding, outdated equipment, a lack of capacity, and manpower shortages, among others.

    “Together, we can ensure that FERMA regains its credibility and fulfils its mandate,” the committee chairman said.

    Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, stressed the need to embrace new technologies in road construction.

    He spoke through the Director of Highways Construction and Rehabilitation, Adedamola Kuti at a public hearing by the House Joint Committee on Works, Environment, Justice and FERMA.

    Umahi urged stakeholders in the construction sector to prioritise quality.

    ‘Nigeria should embrace rigid pavement’

    Umahi got the backing of the Group Head of Corporate Communication, Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina.

    Chiejina urged professionals in the built environment to support advocacy for the use of rigid pavements for road construction.

    He spoke during the 2023 Annual Lecture and Awards organised by the Property and Environment Writers Association of Nigeria (PEWAN), with the theme: “Technology as the new normal in modern infrastructure delivery.”

    He said rigid pavement construction was more durable with a life span of over 40 years as against the 15 years or less for asphalt.

    Chiejina said Umahi should be supported in the concrete road advocacy because he was pursuing quality and durable road construction.

    He praised the minister for introducing rigid pavements, adding that the former Ebonyi governor was misunderstood in his good intention for quality road infrastructure delivery in Nigeria.

    He wondered why those opposed to the use of concrete, who are not cement manufacturers, are concerned that rigid road construction would cause an increase in cement prices.

    Chiejina urged journalists, engineers and other built sector experts to explain the benefits of the rigid pavement to Nigerians as the needed solution to bridging road infrastructure deficit in the nation.

    He explained the difference between rigid and flexible pavements as well as the type of construction materials used for long-term and short-term benefits.

    Chiejina listed the benefits of rigid pavement, also known as concrete road, as resistance to fuel, hydraulics, grease and other chemicals discharged by stationery vehicles.

    He said although concrete roads take longer to construct and may be more expensive, they are cheaper in the long term because of less maintenance cost.

    He said flexible pavements, also called asphalt roads, might be cheaper to construct but in the long run more expensive due to regular maintenance from constant degeneration.

    He also listed environment-friendly attributes of the rigid pavements in addition to the opportunity for recycling the materials; a situation not possible with flexible alternatives that cause high pollution and other dangers.

    “From an environmental standpoint, the entire flexible pavement process is more polluting,” he said.

    Chiejina, who received an award on behalf of the Dangote Group, commended PEWAN for the annual conference, aimed at setting an agenda for infrastructure development in Nigeria.

  • UK to partner Nigeria on lithium value chain

    UK to partner Nigeria on lithium value chain

    British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden has said his country’s National Economic Security Council is interested in partnership with Nigeria on energy minerals, such as lithium.

    Dowden spoke at the unveiling of a comprehensive investment package, comprising the lithium value chain, between him and Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake, in London.

    A statement in Abuja by Alake’s media aide, Kehinde Bamigbetan, said a comprehensive investment package, comprising the lithium value chain, topped talks between British Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden and Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake, in London, late evening on Wednesday.

    Hosting the meeting, Dowden said he chaired the British National Economic Security Council, which was interested in partnership with Nigeria on energy minerals, such as lithium.

    The British Deputy Prime Minister said the meeting was to kick off discussion between both countries and that officials of the Department of Trade and investors would sit down to work out the details of the partnership.

    He urged Alake to convey his pleasure to welcome President Bola Tinubu to the African Summit scheduled to take place next year.

    In his initial remarks, Alake said Nigeria has large deposits of minerals and ready to partner investors from the United Kingdom, adding that President Tinubu, as the Chief Marketer of Nigeria’s investment drive, would consider the invitation positively.

    The minister announced that President Tinubu’s administration had introduced value addition as a priority policy in the sector.

    “Our new policy places emphasis on local value addition rather than export of raw minerals so that the value of our mineral products can increase,” he said.

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    Noting that Nigeria and Britain have a long history, Alake told Dowden: “If Nigeria is not doing well, Britain should be concerned. And if Nigeria is doing well, Britain can benefit from the opportunities.”

    The minister said the Nigerian team would be willing to sit down with their British counterparts to take the discussion to the next level.

    Dowden hailed the Federal Government of Nigeria for its policy on value addition.

    The British Deputy Prime Minister noted that going up the value chain would create more economic opportunities for the partnership between both countries.

    He highlighted the importance of the relations between both countries, stressing that if the relations were bad, Britain would not be bothered with the supplies.

    “You are right on value addition. If the processing then happens within a Third World Country we are comfortable with, that would be good,” Dowden said.

    Founder and partner of Carousel Bio-Energy, promoters of the project, Jafar Hilali, briefed the meeting on his firm’s plans to intervene at every stage of the lithium value chain leading to the establishment of a lithium battery production factory.

    Hilali promised to assemble a consortium of British companies in power supply, infrastructure and lithium battery production with a projection to produce lithium battery-powered energy buses for Nigeria’s domestic market.

  • How we will help govt to address doctors’ mass exit, by MDCN

    How we will help govt to address doctors’ mass exit, by MDCN

    The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has said it is working out a plan with the Federal Government to increase the numbers of doctors and other healthcare workers trained in the country.

    The MDCN is the body that regulates the practice of medicine, dentistry and alternative medicine in Nigeria.

    The move, the council said, would help the country to address the current shortfall and shortages of doctors, medical practitioners and other healthcare workers in the Health sector.

    MDCN’s Registrar, Dr. Tajudeen Sanusi, announced the plan while addressing reporters after the induction of graduates of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI) into the medical and dental professions.

    The event, which was attended by UI Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale; the Provost of CoMUI, Prof. Olayinka Omigbodun; the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University College Hospital (UCH), Prof. Jesse Otegbayo; among other top management workers of the college, was held yesterday at the Paul Hendrickse Lecture Theatre. 

    Fifty-five health professionals, comprising 31 candidates were inducted for the Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) Graduating Class of 2023 Clinical Intake 2018, while 24 candidates were inducted for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS).

    Dr. Sanusi said the Bola Tinubu administration had demonstrated that it was ready to tackle personnel shortage in the Health sector by asking the council to work towards doubling the capacity of medical students and doctors in training without compromising the standard.

    He said: “The present government, through the two ministers in the Health Ministry, have been very passionate about these things. That is why they said we should try and see how we can double the capacity. When you look at it literally, you will say: ‘Double capacity? Is that not going to lower the standard?’

    “But when you to listen to them, they said we have many Federal medical centres where we have many specialists. There are many specialist hospitals with no specialists. Then, why can’t medical students rotate through those facilities? 

    “When you look at the United Kingdom (UK), medical students and doctors are never trained in one location. They move from location to location because each of the locations has got its own strength.

    “In that, we are working hand-in-hand with them (government), trying to see how we can increase carrying capacity. But the caveat is that we must not lower the standard. 

    “We are already identifying where problems are likely to arise. But we are trying all our possible best to see how we can improve in those areas so that we increase the carrying capacities of the laboratories at Basic Medical Sciences and other disciplines. And again, there is the recruitment of qualified personnel. Presently, most medical schools are saying they are short of personnel.”

    “We need to applaud the Federal Government for rescinding a decision that in service before, you retired as a Level 17 officer. If they wanted to engage you on contract, you would come down to Level 16. But they have removed that for the doctors; they can get you back on the same level you retired on and pay you the same salary on which you retired. 

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    “Then, we are trying to explore that for the benefit of the country. This is because there is no way you can actually dissociate medical education from healthcare delivery system; because it is skill acquisition through the hospitals, through the availability of human resources that teach these medical students.

    “We are trying our best. That is why we are collaborating with the present ministers so that we can actually increase the number of doctors and other healthcare workers we train.

    “We have observed that if you trained 10 before, out of the number, four or five will try to go out and you are left with five. If you now train 20, possibly seven or eight will go out and then you have about 12 remaining, it will improve the healthcare delivery system in the country.”

    The MDCN registrar, who said many young and newly trained medical professions who relocated to seek greener pastures outside the country through the “japa syndrome”, misconstrued the system.

    He said the council could not stop anyone from seeking greener pastures elsewhere.

    “Our advice is that when they go out there, let them avail themselves of postgraduate opportunities with the hope of returning to Nigeria to offer support for the healthcare workforce and to show some kind of gratitude to the Federal Government. That is the way we look at it,” Sanusi said.

  • Fiscal discipline key to Budget 2024 success

    Fiscal discipline key to Budget 2024 success

    Baba Yusuf (Pix)

    “If people cannot trust their Government to do the job for which it exists – to protect them and promote their welfare – all else is lost” … Barrack Obama, the 44th President of the United States of America.

    On Wednesday 29th November 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented the 2024 Budget proposal to the National Assembly for consideration. Mr. President requested for expedited passage of the Budget within the next month so that the January to December budget circle will be maintained, going forward. This is the first budget of his administration, having inherited the 2023 Budget from the administration of his predecessor, President Muhammadu Buhari. Therefore Mr. President and his team will take ownership of the 2024 Budget when passed, which Mr. The President calls the “Budget of Renewed Hope”. Nigerians will appraise the performance of this administration as wholesome with regard to the promises made.

    Notes some of the key assumptions and

     projections of the budget

    •An aggregate expenditure of 27.5 trillion naira is proposed for the Federal Government in 2024, of which the non-debt recurrent expenditure is 9.92 trillion naira while debt service is projected to be 8.25 trillion naira and capital expenditure is 8.7 trillion naira.

    •It is instructive to note that Mr. President presented a N27.5 Trillion Budget which is slightly 10% of the GDP of Nigeria with a target growth of 3.76% per annum. Therefore, in my opinion, the strategic objective to make Nigeria a $1Trillion economy in the next 7 years, without the requisite government waste management and cost containment initiatives will not be achievable.

    • This is especially so given the IMF projection that Nigeria’s economic growth rate will contract from circa 3% to about 2.9% and also considering the projected overarching global economic rate of about 3%.

    · The crude oil revenue benchmark of $77 per barrel is conservative and more realistic than the assumptions of the immediate past administration.

    •However, the N750 per US Dollar rate assumption may be somewhat aspirational given the current galloping inflation rate of over 24% and rising without other attendant variable impacts like effective monetary policy, quick turnaround management initiatives of the economy from an import-dependent to production economy, etc.  

    • I applaud the priorities given to Defense/ Security, Education, Health, and Poverty Alleviation 

    • Let us not forget the key elephant in the room of the over 133 multi-dimensionally poor citizens of this country with a struggling informal sector that accounts for 80% of the economy.

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     Accordingly, for the 2024 Budget to meet set objectives and make the intended impacts, there is a dire need for alignment between fiscal policies and fiscal discipline which have been a key failure factor of successive administrations.

     In addition to what I term Mr. President’s “boldness of assertions”, I advocate for the inculcation of what I term, “the practicality of discipline, and the political will of execution”. By this, I mean that there should be an immediate alignment between Fiscal Policy and Fiscal Discipline. Budget performance is dependent largely on Fiscal discipline, without which; increased revenue, increased foreign direct investment, and investment in critical infrastructure will amount to nothing. Without Fiscal Discipline, the strategic visions of government and action plans will either fail or will not be sustainable. Therefore, Fiscal discipline is a critical success factor for the effectiveness of the 2024 budget.

    Insecurity

    The insecurity situation in Nigeria needs to be dealt with as a matter of priority so as to engender more confidence and trust in FDIs and domestic investments. The insecurity issue must be addressed for the productivity of the country in terms of increased crude oil throughput, agriculture, and other non-oil sectors. 

     Monetary policy and fiscal policy

    There is a lot of ongoing conversation about monetary policy (and rightly so) in terms of getting the balance for the Naira, etc. But I believe that unless we critically consider the overall national fiscal policy vis-a-vis our fiscal discipline, the balance we are looking for on the monetary side will not happen. That is why I appreciate the decision by President Tinubu to set up the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms as part of Mr. President’s strategy to turn around the economy of this Country. Factors like fiscal discipline, cost of governance, catalyzing the productive sector of the economy, etc. will be critical success factors. Critical stakeholder engagements and a smart communication strategy are also very important at this point in time in our nation.

     I urge the Federal Government, The National Executive Council, and other key stakeholders to also have a critical look at the fiscal policy to Pari-Passu the monetary policy for optimum impacts on the economy.

     Curbing rising inflation

    The galloping inflation rate, currently at over 27% and projected to rise above 30% by the end of the year is a worrisome situation that if not addressed will certainly affect the achievement of the stability of the Naira. Even though the CBN has a critical role to play in curbing inflation, it will be a function of an overall government strategy with regard to how the Government intends to move forward and for all relevant arms and organs of government to move lockstep to curtail the inflation. Unless that is done all the work that will be done by the CBN will amount to naught, i.e. the CBN could be building and other arms and organs or government will be inadvertently or deliberately destroyed. Therefore, the leadership has to come from Mr. President. 

     Revenue generation imperatives 

     In my opinion, Nigeria’s revenue and debt doldrums are beyond increasing tax collections. According to the Debt Management Office (DMO) of Nigeria, Nigeria’s total public debt could rise to 37.1% of its gross domestic product (GDP) this year, nearing the government’s self-imposed 40% limit. If the current debt-to-GDP trajectory continues unchecked the consequences will be dire because the Government is almost at a standstill. Running the Government with 4% of total revenue while consistently in debt is a disaster about to happen.

     Therefore, while Tax is a key revenue source, the issue of revenue collection and management should be expanded beyond tax. The economic diversification strategy and the expected impacts of the Foreign Direct Investments which Mr. President has been actively pursuing where he has secured Billions of US Dollars in investment commitments which we hope will be fast-tracked to bring in US Dollars in the short to mid-term are also critical success factors. 

     Our revenue generation strategy should be all-encompassing. Some of my thoughts are as follows:

     •Apart from increasing tax collections, the entire fiscal discipline framework must change going forward.

    •Quintessential leadership at the top

    • Cutting/ containing the cost of governance

    •Prudence in government spending at the top, across, and to be cascaded down the structure and system of governance

    •Blockage of leakages and wastages in government

    •The more you get money and throw it into a bottomless purse, you can retain anything. Therefore, if we do not take seriously the issues of leakages/ wastages and prudence and Government behavior with regard to governance. 

    •Sincere, objective, result-oriented, and transparent fight against corruption. 

    •I would also like to see creativity by the revenue-generating government agencies and departments with regard to reigning in more revenue for Nigeria

    •Zero tolerance to non-performance across all MDAs

    •Total stoppage of budget padding between the Executive arm and the legislative arms of government at federal and sub-national levels, whereby, according to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); in the 2021 budget, a budget padding of about N300 Billion was inserted in the Budget, while a budget padding of about 100 Billion was inserted in the 2022 budget by MDAs.

    • In the case of the Private Sector, for the Government to ensure that those in Government who play with operators in the private sector circumvent the system to help “big businesses”, including the multinationals who do not pay tax or undercut the tax they pay and rein-in our revenue.

    •Zero tolerance to all forms of economic sabotage

    • The regulatory and law enforcement agencies like the EFCC and ICPC should be more result-oriented so that they move from the days of continuous prosecutions without tangible outcomes due to defective investigation, case-building, and prosecution strategy and operations. The fight against corruption should no longer be lip service but actionable and more impactful.

      The Communication Strategy of Mr. President and the MDAs should be transparent, show clarity, and be concise on what they are doing with revenues collected. That will engender confidence and trust in the citizens which will encourage citizens to see reasons why they should pay taxes

    Transparency and Accountability: Here again, transparency is critical, impactful projects and initiatives are critical, and constructive engagements with the citizens are key. If the big businesses and corporations pay the appropriate taxes people know that they are paying, and the government is delivering dividends or democracy, it is easier to make individuals, Nano, small, and medium-scale enterprises (NSME) pay taxes. 

    In all, I hope that the 2024 Budget will be effectively executed for the much-needed betterment of Nigeria and Nigerians because Nigerians are really suffering and in dire need of a quick and sustainable socio-economic turnaround.

  • Show of shame

    Show of shame

    Supremacy battles are indications of rank indiscipline in the armed security services. But these keep recurring among Nigeria’s security agencies for reasons that beggar belief.  That was the case with the recent faceoff between personnel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

    Air Force personnel penultimate Friday stormed the Kaduna State zonal office of the EFCC over arrest of some suspected Internet fraudsters said to include serving military personnel. The soldiers reportedly arrived at the EFCC office on Wurno Road, in the state capital, at about 10a.m. in three Hilux patrol vans and cordoned off the main gate, preventing EFCC officials from entry or exit from the premises. The standoff soon degenerated as the Air Force men and policemen attached to the EFCC engaged in a shouting match, threateningly brandishing their guns at one another. The NAF personnel were said to have stormed the anti-graft agency office in a bid to forcibly release their colleagues earlier arrested by EFCC operatives.

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    EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale gave his agency’s narrative of the encounter in a statement. He said operatives of the Kaduna zonal command had on November 13 arrested five suspects at a fun spot in Kaduna following credible intelligence about their alleged Internet fraud activities. “However, after the sting operation, six military personnel who witnessed the operation…stormed the Kaduna command and attempted to forcibly release the arrested fraud suspects. They were subdued and detained over the security breach,” he added. The intruders, according to him, are four Air Force personnel and two students of the Air Force Institute of Technology. Oyewale further explained that while the men were in detention, there was inter-agency engagement between the leadership of EFCC and the Air Force to resolve the issues. “Unfortunately, dialogue on the release of the combative Air Force personnel broke down on Friday, November 17, when some unruly NAF officers stormed the Kaduna command in commando-style to forcefully release their detained colleagues,” he said.

    EFCC released the detained Air Force personnel same day on administrative bail, but insisted they will be charged to court. “The officers were released to their service in strict adherence to the bail procedures of the commission,” Oyewale said, adding: “The commission reiterates the fact that no one is above the law and the due process will be followed in bringing the case to a conclusion.”

    NAF neither gave its own narrative nor refuted EFCC’s account, and so it’s all we have to go on. If it is true that Air Force personnel were nabbed for Internet fraud, and some others assayed to free them forcibly, the security agency needs to undertake internal disciplinary procedures separate from the judicial line of action being pursued by EFCC.