Tag: climate change

Climate change is an indiscriminate force, disrupting weather patterns, threatening agriculture, and increasingly impacting public health. Nigeria, with a population of over 200 million, stands at a critical crossroads. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and the spread of diseases are already affecting the nation’s health. Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF and EMMANUEL CHIDI-MAHA report on Nigeria’s efforts to adapt to the reality of climate change while strengthening its healthcare system to tackle future challenges.

At the heart of Nigeria’s approach to climate and health lies the Nigeria Climate Change and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment Report (VNA). Unveiled during the recent multi-stakeholder annual review in the health sector, the report, presented by Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, is a groundbreaking document that aims to guide the nation’s health policy in light of the growing climate crisis. With this report, Nigeria has positioned itself as one of the nations willing not only to confront the challenges of climate change head-on but also to provide the data and strategies necessary to mitigate its adverse effects on public health.

“Under the able leadership of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria is taking action on climate issues across multiple sectors, including the health and social welfare sector. The Nigeria Climate Change and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment Report provides essential insights into the impact of climate change on health across Nigeria. By identifying climate-related health risks, the report supports the creation of a resilient health system capable of addressing the challenges posed by a changing environment. We recognise that surveillance and effective data sourcing and sharing are critical to this, as well as to many other efforts in our sector,” Prof Pate said.

The VNA offers a sobering look at how climate change is already altering Nigeria’s health landscape. It details how rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns are contributing to a rise in vector-borne diseases like malaria and cholera. The report also discusses how extreme weather events, such as floods and heatwaves, exacerbate existing health issues, placing even more strain on the country’s already overstretched healthcare system. Nigeria’s health system has long struggled with poor infrastructure, insufficient funding, and gaps in critical data, but climate change compounds these issues by introducing new, unpredictable health risks that require swift and effective responses. The VNA serves as a vital roadmap for building a healthcare system that can adapt to these environmental challenges while ensuring the well-being of all Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable populations.

One of the key insights from the VNA report is the critical importance of robust health data systems. The lack of timely, accurate health data in Nigeria has long been a significant barrier to effective health planning and decision-making. For years, the country has struggled with outdated and incomplete health data, which hinders efforts to address the most pressing health challenges and implement effective public health strategies. Recognising this, the Nigerian government has launched an ambitious effort to fill these gaps in health data by establishing a new expert working group. This group is tasked with conducting regular health mini-surveys, designed to bridge the five-year gap between the National Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS). With more frequent and detailed surveys, the expert working group will be able to generate real-time data that is crucial for monitoring trends, identifying emerging health threats, and ensuring that healthcare responses are timely and effective.

“It is through the provision of timely and reliable data that the expert working group will empower us to track our progress and address emerging health threats. The GI is a testament to our collective commitment to building a health system that is transparent, accountable, responsive, and resilient. The Nigeria Health Sector Regional Investment Initiative has taken a momentous step forward, reinforcing our administration’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure.

“This vital partnership represents a strategic alignment of public and private sector resources to address some of the most pressing challenges facing our nation. For the first time in history, our nation will benefit from a large-scale investment in advanced cancer treatment infrastructure. By combining cutting-edge technology with skilled personnel, this partnership embodies Mr. President’s vision under the NHSRII for a healthcare system that meets the highest standards of excellence. We are building a resilient healthcare system that will serve all Nigerians.

“As our determined leader, President Tinubu works assiduously to create new economic opportunities for Nigerians. Truly, the importance of the joint annual review cannot be overstated. More than a review process, it is a testament to our collective commitment to building a health system that is transparent, accountable, responsive, and resilient. The expert working group will implement regular health mini-surveys, bridging the current five-year gap in data collection from the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS),” said Pate.

This shift towards more frequent and accurate data collection is a vital move for Nigeria. The ability to track health indicators in real time will allow for the early detection of public health crises, such as disease outbreaks or rising mortality rates, and will ensure that resources are allocated efficiently. As the country deals with the impacts of climate change, the need for dynamic, data-driven decision-making is more critical than ever. With timely and accurate data, Nigeria can not only monitor the progress of its health programmes but also adapt quickly to the changing health landscape influenced by climate change.

Public-private partnerships in cancer care

In addition to bolstering health data systems, Nigeria is making significant strides in strengthening its healthcare infrastructure, particularly in the area of cancer treatment. Cancer has become one of the most devastating health challenges in Nigeria, with many families struggling to access timely and affordable care due to a lack of specialised treatment facilities and medical equipment. The country has long faced an urgent need for advanced cancer care facilities, and the government has moved decisively to address this gap through strategic partnerships with the private sector.

A game-changing moment in this effort came with the signing of the Sales and Purchase Agreement between the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and Siemens Healthineers. This agreement marks the beginning of a massive investment in cancer treatment infrastructure, including the construction of state-of-the-art cancer treatment centres across the country. For Nigeria, this partnership is a landmark achievement. For the first time in the country’s history, the government has secured a commitment to provide large-scale investments in cancer care, a development that will transform the lives of thousands of Nigerians who have been unable to access necessary treatment. This partnership is not just about providing cutting-edge equipment; it is about creating a sustainable cancer care ecosystem in the country—one that combines advanced technology with highly trained medical professionals who can operate the equipment effectively.

The opening of the first cancer treatment facilities, expected in mid-2025, will offer comprehensive cancer care services, including diagnostics, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery. This initiative is set to improve the quality of life for cancer patients across Nigeria, who often have to seek treatment abroad due to the lack of specialised healthcare infrastructure at home. The agreement also includes a training component, with Siemens Healthineers committing to extensive training programmes for Nigerian medical professionals. This investment in human capital is critical to ensuring that the healthcare workers who will operate the new equipment are fully equipped to deliver world-class care. Siemens Healthineers has also generously offered a 30% discount on the equipment, which will make cancer treatment more affordable and accessible for Nigerians.

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“By intensively narrowing time frequencies and implementing more dedicated approaches to enhancing data accuracy, it is through the provision of timely and reliable data that we will empower ourselves to track progress and address emerging health threats. This initiative is designed to ensure that the new equipment will be supported by a well-trained, capable workforce so that treatment can commence from the day these facilities are ready.”

“The partnership embodies Mr. President’s vision under the NHSRII for a healthcare system that meets the highest standards of excellence and addresses the real needs of the Nigerian people. We commend the leadership of Mr. Aminu Umar Sadiq, the Managing Director of NSIA, whose commitment, along with his team, has been instrumental in advancing this project.

“We are also grateful for the collaborative contribution from institutions such as the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAD) and our federal universities’ young hospitals, whose involvement has helped ensure that this project is closely aligned with Nigeria’s healthcare priorities. With the promise and ardent support of Mr. President, the dedication of our partners, and the unwavering support of all stakeholders, we are building a resilient healthcare system that will serve all Nigerians,” he said.

The cancer care initiative is just one example of how Nigeria is leveraging public-private partnerships to create a more resilient healthcare system. By aligning the resources and expertise of both the public and private sectors, Nigeria is building a healthcare infrastructure that will not only meet the needs of today’s population but also be prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. In addition to Siemens Healthineers, the Nigerian government has engaged key institutions such as the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAD) and various federal university hospitals in the development of these new cancer treat ment centres. These institutions will play an important role in ensuring that the facilities are well-integrated into the country’s healthcare priorities and that the care provided is aligned with the latest medical standards.

This collaborative approach—bringing together governmental bodies, international partners, and local healthcare institutions—demonstrates the effectiveness of a multi-sector approach to health system strengthening. It is a clear indication that Nigeria is committed to creating a healthcare system that is resilient, sustainable, and capable of meeting the needs of all Nigerians. “This investment in advanced cancer treatment infrastructure marks the first time in history that Nigeria will benefit from such large-scale, transformative healthcare advancements. Through this collaboration, we are combining cutting-edge technology with skilled personnel to ensure that Nigerians receive timely, high-quality care, especially in cancer treatment.

 “We recognise and appreciate the extraordinary commitment of Siemens Healthineers and the generous discount they have provided, along with their extensive training programmes for our healthcare professionals. We remain optimistic about Nigeria’s healthcare future, and with the support of our partners and stakeholders, we are building a resilient health system that will benefit every Nigerian,” Pate enthused.

The urgency for Africa’s transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy was a key focus at the Babacar Ndiaye Lecture 2024, held alongside the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C. Stakeholders called for a fair and equitable shift to renewables, criticising the global North for expecting Africa to bear disproportionate sacrifices despite its minimal contribution to climate change. Discussions also highlighted the role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the challenges posed by Africa’s high cost of capital. The event, honouring Babacar Ndiaye’s legacy, brought together leaders committed to Africa’s development. COLLINS NWEZE reports from Washington D.C

Poverty and climate change are two of the most pressing challenges confronting Africa today. The continent continues to grapple with a range of systemic issues, including financing constraints, persistent inflation, food and nutrition insecurity, limited fiscal space, trade barriers, natural disasters, environmental degradation, water and energy shortages, and the ongoing loss of biodiversity. These challenges are even more pronounced in small states and countries experiencing fragility, conflict and violence (FCV).

At the Babacar Ndiaye Lecture 2024, held on the sidelines of the recently concluded World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C., experts engaged in a comprehensive discussion on these critical issues, particularly poverty and climate change. The event also highlighted the opportunities and innovative solutions available to Africa in addressing these interconnected crises.

Speaking on the theme “Saving Lives Today versus Saving the Planet for the Future: Can the AfCFTA Resolve the Climate Change Dilemma?”, Nigeria’s immediate past Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, highlighted that Africa is warming at a rate faster than any other region, with the catastrophic impacts of climate change evident across the continent. He underscored that the global North’s stance on climate change reflects a stark double standard. While pushing fossil fuel-rich African nations to transition to renewable energy, the global North continues to view gas projects as a key component of its long-term decarbonisation strategies, and many continue to invest in new gas developments.

Osinbajo pointed to the devastating climate impacts Africa is experiencing, citing the ongoing crisis in the Horn of Africa, where the region is enduring its worst drought in 40 years. Since 2020, five consecutive rainy seasons have failed, leading to prolonged droughts in countries like Kenya and Somalia, while intense flooding has affected parts of West Africa, particularly Nigeria, Niger, and Ghana. In Southern Africa, Cyclone Freddy caused widespread destruction across Mozambique, Malawi, and Madagascar. Yet, despite bearing the brunt of these climate-induced disasters, Africa remains the least emitter of greenhouse gases, contributing barely 4% of global emissions. This stark disparity underscores the urgent need for a more equitable approach to global climate action and for the AfCFTA to play a central role in fostering sustainable, continent-wide solutions.

Osinbajo explained that the cause of these catastrophes is the result of historical and cumulative emissions from global north countries. Ironically, Africa experiences relatively greater devastation and is far less capable of mitigating the damage and losses caused by these extreme weather events. The continent, he added, is equally not sitting idly watching these two elements; it has come up with several measures. He asked: “By what means can AFCFTA resolve the dilemma of African nations who desperately need growth, jobs, livelihoods and food security without at the same time worsening the climate crisis?”

He said that Ndiaye’s place in this generation as the foremost contributor to the ideation and execution of development finance, policy and practice in Africa is firmly secured. He said the theme of the lecture, deliberately creates a false choice, since Africans really cannot choose to live today as a bargain for dying tomorrow. “The topic is meant to provoke our response to the critical reality that Africa is confronted with two existential crises—not one: climate change and poverty,” Prof. Osinbajo remarked. He then posed a pivotal question: “How can the AfCFTA resolve the dilemma faced by African nations, who urgently need growth, jobs, livelihoods, and food security, without exacerbating the climate crisis?”

According to him, Africa’s other existential crisis is poverty, as over a third of Africa’s population lives in extreme poverty, with population growing faster than Gross Domestic Product, unemployment, food security are huge challenges. He said the major economic sectors such as agriculture, mining and energy are resource-intensive, contributing to environmental degradation. Africa’s leaders face difficult trade-offs between accelerating growth in sectors that exacerbate climate change risks and delaying development for environmental concerns.

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Osinbajo explained that the significant contributor to the poverty situation is energy poverty, which essentially means lack of access to energy, electricity for cooking, heating, cooling, and this of course inhibits any real growth or job opportunities. “Empirical evidence demonstrates that availability of energy directly correlates with income, wealth and development both at the individual and societal level. And the energy poverty issue in Africa is massive. Over 600 million Africans have no access to electricity and 150 million have irregular access,” he said.

According to him, most African countries depend on fossil fuels for their energy needs and for fossil fuel-rich African countries, this is also a major source of export earnings and fiscal revenues. Ostensibly in keeping with their net zero obligations, there has been a growing trend among development finance institutions to withdraw from fossil fuel investment.

 In his opening remarks, President & Chairman of Board of Directors, Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah, extolled the virtues of Babacar Ndiaye, a committed Pan-Africanist, who passed away on 13th July 2017 in his native Senegal, but his contributions to Africa’s economic landscape continue to yield positive fruits. Oramah said Ndiaye, who founded Afreximbank, was a strong institution builder, who had  created most of the institutions that are making a huge difference on the continent including the Afreximbank, Africa Re, Shelter Afrique and the Africa Business Roundtable.

Oramah described Ndiaye as a selfless African who understood the power entrepreneurship and ensured he leveraged on it to grow African businesses. He highlighted Ndiaye’s exceptional leadership, as seen in the structuring of the shareholding of the bank. “They deliberately did not make it a wholly government-owned institution. You had a class A, class B that was reserved for African financial institutions and private investors. I remember very well at the beginning of the bank, because in some countries, they didn’t really have a private sector, the government took the shares and said that as their private sector emerged, they would then sell the shares to the private sector,” Oramah said in one of his reports on Ndiaye.

“Why I have just given all these examples will tell you that Dr. Babacar Ndiaye recognised that the vision he saw for the continent, using African capital and an African bank to develop the continent would not be possible without also creating the business, the entrepreneurs that will build the business that such a bank would finance,” Oramah stated.

Other highlights of the programme include the fireside by Prof. Osinbajo, which was moderated by Omar Ben Yedder, Publisher and Editor-In-Chief, African Banker. Prof. Osinbajo used the opportunity to explain further on this speech and his takes on other key issues in Africa.

There was also a video message by Ms. Amina Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group. She further extolled Ndiaye’s commitment to Africa’s development and economic transformation through business. Group Chief Economist and Managing Director, Afreximbank, Yemi Kale acknowledged the support of stakeholders while reaffirming that the vision of Ndiaye on transforming Africa’s business landscape will be sustained by the bank.

Furthermore, Osinbajo disclosed that the World Bank has decided to cease funding upstream oil and gas development in Africa. There are also the restrictions on financing downstream gas development by the European Union, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States. He said the implications of these actions are dire, where there are no immediate alternative sources of power and the cost of the transition to cleaner fuels may be prohibitive. Some studies show that divesting from fossil fuels could reduce GDP by as much as $30b for Nigeria, $22b for Algeria, $19.3b for Angola and … for Africa.

Suggestions for Africa’s development

Osinbajo suggested that Afreximbank’s collaboration with African Petroleum Producers Organization to promote an African Energy Transition Bank dedicated to supporting the oil and gas industry through the transition process will be very helpful in making the transition as painless as possible. “So, for Africa, the crucial question in the Energy Transition conversation is how is Africa to develop, provide well-paying jobs and decent lives for its growing population, within   carbon constraints… Historically, economic growth goes hand in hand with emissions growth,” he said.

On the way out, Osinbajo suggested that intra African trade, as demonstrated through the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreements (the AFCFTA) will substantially reduce this massive cause of global emissions. Equally, implementing the AfCFTA can boost intra-African trade by 35 per cent in 2045 while increasing GHG emissions by less than one per cent, compared to no AFCFTA or climate policies. He said the production and export of low-carbon fuels (such as hydrogen and Ammonia) is another great opportunity for African countries and in the past five years, we have seen many green hydrogen projects in Africa reaching Final investment decision (FID).

For instance, Namibia has received over $500 million in investments in Green Hydrogen. Its substantial investments in solar energy and other renewables, the clean energy required for hydrogen production have made it attractive for this type of investment. Some of that hydrogen we are told is being considered to power rail transportation in Africa. Angola is set to become the first exporter of green ammonia to Germany by 2025, its full capacity of its green hydrogen plant is planned for 280,000 tons annually. Other countries such as Egypt, Kenya, Morocco and Mauritania have green hydrogen production goals.

He posited that for Africa to pursue a climate positive growth path in trade and manufacturing, the continent needs to speak with one voice, and show up as shapers, not takers. The continent also needs to focus its economic growth and development plans on these green opportunities, structure their internal policies and regulation in ways that support climate positive trade and industry, among other suggestions.

Osinbajo highlighted Afreximbank’s $2 billion investment in special economic zones across Africa, including the Gabon Special Economic Zone (GSEZ), which focuses on the timber industry. GSEZ has created 16,000 jobs, attracted 120 investors, and helped Gabon become the world’s second-largest sustainable producer and exporter of veneer, and the first in Africa. Other zones, such as the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) in Benin and the Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA) in Togo, focus on local agricultural transformation. Afreximbank has also financed key infrastructure projects, including railways and the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway, crucial for regional integration and trade.