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Tag: UN

  • UN, World Bank to boost climate finance

    The United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim have unveiled plans to accelerate the flow of finance for climate action, through a new platform dedicated to identifying and facilitating transformational investments in developing countries.

    Following meetings with world and business leaders, state and city representatives, and civil society, the two leaders pointed to the urgency for climate action and the need for a massive ramp-up of investment.

    “Countries are successfully reducing emissions and building resilience to climate change, but getting to the level of action needed to reach the global goals set in Paris two years ago, which require a huge leap in the flow of financing and investment for implementing the National Determined Contributions,” said Secretary General Guterres.

    He added:“The disasters we are currently seeing – including storms, floods and drought – are also demonstrating just how urgent the need is, especially for the small islands nations.”

    President Kim, who spoke during the Bloomberg Global Business Forum, said: “There are vast opportunities in developing countries in areas like clean energy and climate-smart agriculture that will lay the groundwork for a more prosperous and sustainable future. Our challenge is to create the conditions for investment to flow, and get all forms of finance working together for maximum impact.”

    The new Invest4Climate platform is designed to bring together national governments, financial institutions, private sector investors, philanthropies, and multilateral banks to support transformational climate action in line with the Paris Agreement.

    The platform will bring together investors with high-impact opportunities in developing countries such as large-scale development of battery storage, electric cars, and low emission air conditioning.  It will also facilitate such investments through the development of risk mitigation instruments and, based on demand, will work with national governments to improve policy environments.

  • ‘Nigeria needs $142bn to meet NDC’s target’

    ‘Nigeria needs $142bn to meet NDC’s target’

    The Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions’ ( NDC ) ambition under Climate Change Accord will cost estimated 142 billion dollars,  to meet the 2030 target.

    Minister of State for Environment Ibrahim Jibril disclosed this at the UN while presenting Nigeria’s progress report on climate change goal under the Sustainable Development Goals.

    The NDC is a binding agreement, which spelt out the actions a country intends to take to address climate change – both in terms of adaptation and mitigation – when it ratifies the Paris Agreement.

    The Minister said: “The delivery of our NDC will require a fundamental re-orientation of financial flows within the economy.

    “It is estimated that Nigeria will require around 142 billion dollars , translating to about 10 billion dollars per annum to meet her NDC target by 2030,” he said.

    He said Nigeria had recognised that climate change presented one of the greatest challenges of the world today.

    “In the midst of this vulnerability, an opportunity resides for Nigerian economy to grow in a manner that is climate resilient and empowers people whilst meeting its energy deficiency.

    “One of the innovative means of exploring this opportunity is through the issuance of green bonds, which has gained recognition as means of raising finance for climate friendly purposes.

    “Accordingly, the Federal Government has advance plans to issue a program of N150 billion in green bonds over the next few months.

    “This is with a pilot issue of N12.384 billion in the third quarter of 2017 and the balance over the course of the budget year.

    “Collaboration between Ministry of Environment and Finance continues to pull together the institutional partners necessary to achieve what would be Nigeria and Africa’s first sovereign green bond and the worlds third.”

    Jibril said Nigeria was partnering with the Lake Chad basin countries to address the challenges of drying up of the lake which will have adverse consequences on  the people and the ecosystem.

    “Equally, actions to fast track the environmental clean-up of the Niger Delta beginning with Ogoniland are undoubtedly one of the most significant decisions taken by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration.

    “The President’s action has now breathed new life into a four-year report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), which hitherto had experienced a series of false starts since it was published on Aug. 4, 2011.”

    The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said Nigeria’s progress towards localising the SDGs was with an emphasis on ensuring implementation across all levels of government.

    “Specifically, the Ministry incorporated and ensured policy linkages between the SDGs and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, a four-year medium term development plan launched on April 5, 2017.

    “The plan is aimed at ensuring sustained and inclusive growth; building a globally competitive and diversified Nigerian economy, investing in our people and building strong governance institutions to drive change.”

    Additionally, specific programmes and projects aimed at achieving the SDGS have been integrated into the 2017 National Budget, and will be included in future budgeting frameworks, she said.

  • Nigeria says UN Security Council composition outdated

    Nigeria says UN Security Council composition outdated

    Nigeria has again expressed its dissatisfaction with the current composition of the UN Security Council, describing it as old-fashioned and called for an urgent reform of the body.

    The Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande, told the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York that the current composition of the Council was undemocratic

    “The Security Council is the UN’s most powerful principal organ with the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security as well as accepting new members to the UN.

    “It approves any changes to its UN Charter and is vested with powers for the establishment of peacekeeping operations and the establishment of international sanctions.

    “The Council has the authorisation  for military action through Security Council resolutions and it is the only UN body with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.

    “First of all, the fundamental question is that in the current global reality, where everybody is talking democracy, United Nations must show example.

    “Clearly, it is an anachronistic notion to have a body composed of few countries that can veto the entirety of the global community through the Council is not representative.

    “It is an anomaly and I think that has been recognised but the politics of the reform not just of the UN in terms of the powers of the General Assembly and its functions.

    “In terms of the powers and limits of the powers of the Security Council and in terms of representation, this is the politics that is going on,” he said.

    The Nigerian envoy declared that Nigeria and some countries, currently left out, ‘rightly’ deserved a permanent seat on the Council considering the current realities.

    “But this journey, at the official level, started 25 years ago. Nigeria is at the forefront of that effort and doesn’t read this as a selfish move.

    “This (permanent seat) is the right of Nigeria and other serious nations to push and this is what other countries are also pushing.

    “Be they small states which are pushing, be they Africa that has not any representation, this is not something that would go away.

    “Nigeria and others are committed that we cannot have a democratic system which does not represent the majority of countries.

    “Our continent is completely out of contention; whether we get two or three, the debate is we have to be on the Security Council,” Bande said.

    The body has five permanent members – the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, France, the People’s Republic of China, and the United States – and 10 non-permanent members, elected on a regional basis to serve two-year terms

    The five permanent members can veto any substantive Security Council resolution, including those on the admission of new member states or candidates for Secretary-General.

    This, the Nigerian ambassador stressed, meant few countries overruling the entirety of the global community.

    “The debate is still ongoing whether it is even right to have veto power,” he said.

    The Nigerian envoy exuded confidence in the chance of Nigeria to get on board of the prestigious Council on its own global credentials or through the Africa’s continental slot.

    “We have every reason to be hopeful in terms of the contributions of Nigeria to the global community since 1960. I think we have good credentials,” he said. (NAN)

  • CISLAC urges FG to establish trust fund for recovered loot

    CISLAC urges FG to establish trust fund for recovered loot

    The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre ( CISLAC ) has urged the Federal Government to set up a separate trust fund to manage funds and assets recovered from proceeds of corruption.

    CISLAC stated this in a communiqué  signed by its Executive Director, Auwal Musa and Global Board of Trustees members, Mr Francis John and Dr Afia Zukiya and issued at the inauguration of the CISLAC global office in U.S. and the SDG 16 Shadow Report.

    The inauguration was held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

    The centre urged the Federal Government to “expedite action on asset recovery by setting up a special integrity trust fund to be monitored by the civil society.

    “This is to ensure that repatriated funds are duly channelled to sustainable development efforts.”

    It urged African countries, specifically Nigeria, to strengthen bilateral relations that would enable them to obtain the necessary information that would facilitate the repatriation of stolen funds from abroad.

    CISLAC, however, said that it was regretable that no clear institutionalised bilateral efforts had been made to curb illicit financial and arms flow or recover stolen funds of Africa, specifically Nigeria, domiciled in foreign countries.

    The civil society group expressed regret at what it termed the presence of an obnoxious CSO bill sponsored by a member of the National Assembly to scuttle the voice of the people.

    The centre stated that the bill is aimed at closing the space that should enable civil society groups to participate in the developmental efforts.

    CISLAC called for the discontinuation of the bill, saying it “poses no good intent for the development of citizens and further robs the country of inclusivity in governance.”

    In his remark, CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Musa,  acknowledged that Nigeria is in a critical period of  its history going by the current ethnic tension across the country.

    He, however, said the civil society had the mandate to advocate for peace, fairness and social justice as this would bring the much needed development.

    He added that sharing the SDG 16 Shadow Report was critical to inform of the current anti-corruption efforts of the Federal Government and entrench sustainable development.

    SDG 16 is dedicated to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, the provision of access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels.

    Musa urged the civil society and all other stakeholders to lend their voices to the clarion call on peace and stability and eschew corruption.

    The Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande, commended CISLAC on its giant strides and efforts at strengthening good governance.

    Bande said corruption was the bane of underdevelopment and social unrest in the country adding, it is the worst epidemic among religious, ethnic and socio-cultural factors affecting the country’s development.

    The Nigerian envoy observed that Nigeria had had some strong leadership whereby everything revolved around the leader but not around creating strong institutions.

    Bande called for the creation of strong institutions saying, building strong institutions should be everybody’s business.

    The Nigerian envoy urged Nigerians to promote Nigeria’s image abroad by highlighting the great achievements made by Nigerians while not losing sight of the challenges.

    The launch was attended by Nigeria’s Deputy Permanent Representative Amb. Samson Itebgoje, House Committee Chair on Poverty Alleviation, Muhammed Wudil, and Africa and Middle East Coordinator of the UN SDGs, Mr Hilary Ogbonna, among others.

  • Buhari means well for South-East, says Ikisikpo

    Buhari means well for South-East, says Ikisikpo

    Former Senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Mr. Clever Ikisipo, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari was passionate about developing the South-East and the South-South.

    Insisting that Buhari loved the geopolitical zones, Ikisikpo advised the people of the zones to forego their grievances and deep-seated suspicions to enable them benefit from the policies and programmes of the Federal Government.

    Speaking to the Nation in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Ikisikpo said Buhari was only interested in ensuring that peace reigned in the country adding that his push for peace and unity should not be misconstrued as hatred to a particular region.

    He said: “I call on all well meaning Nigerians especially the people of the South-South and South-East to give the PMB led government a chance and massively support the Change Agenda.

    “The people of this two regions will benefit a lot if they shelve outside their grievances and whatever suspicions they harbor and allow government policies and programmes mature”.

    He flayed persons criticizing Buhari’s speech at the just-concluded 72nd United Nations General Assembly saying the President’s speech was strategic.
    Ikisikpo said the speech was strategic for the international community grappling with security threats and for developing nations struggling to get looted funds repatriated to enable them fast track infrastructural development and economic growth.

    “Indeed, while we earnestly await the cooperation of the international community with the Buhari-led administration, all hands must be ready at home to help actualise the change agenda. The unity of Nigeria is important if we must maintain our giant status in Africa and pride of place in the world”, he said.

    He said the President was taking required steps to implement all the suggestions he made to the international community at home.

    He said: “The appealed to the UN to expand and consolidate on her peace and security roles in the globe, at home Buhari is practising peace by curbing insurgency and secessionist threats.

    “The President called on the UN to double her efforts on humanitarian crisis world over, at home is not turning blind eyes to Internally Displaced Persons ( IDPs ) in the North-East and the Army/IPOB clashes in the South-East and Militancy in the Niger-Delta.

    “Hence he dispatched five northern Governors to the south on peace tour. The President is much interested in a restructured UN, at home the ruling party has set up a restructuring committee to address growing agitations in the country”.

  • Trump speech, a dog’s bark – North Korea

    Trump speech, a dog’s bark – North Korea

    North Korea’s top diplomat has called United States President, Donald Trump’s speech to the United Nation “the sound of a barking dog.”

    Speaking to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Mr. Trump said he would “totally destroy” North Korea if it posed a threat to the U.S or its allies.

    Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho’s comments were North Korea’s first official response to the speech, the BBC reports.

    The North has continued to develop its nuclear and weapons programmes, in defiance of a UN ban.

    Mr. Ri told journalists near the UN headquarters in New York: “There is a saying that goes: ‘Even when dogs bark, the parade goes on’.”

    “If [Trump] was thinking about surprising us with the sound of a barking dog then he is clearly dreaming.”

    Speaking about North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, Mr. Trump had told the UN: “Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and his regime.”

    When asked what he thought of Mr. Trump calling Mr. Kim “rocket man”, Mr. Ri responded: “I feel sorry for his aides.”

  • BBNaija Bisola as education ambassador for UN General Assembly

    BBNaija Bisola as education ambassador for UN General Assembly

    The first runner up of BBNaija, Bisola Aiyeola, who is presently one of the ONE.org ambassadors, will be attending the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly in New York to campaign for girls’ education. The campaign aims to increase the access and quality of education for girls in Nigeria, with an emphasis on the northern part of Nigeria.

    Going as a ONE ambassador, a role she won while participating in the ‘Back to School’ presentation task, during the reality show, Aiyeola called on Nigerian lawmakers to prioritize girls’ education.

    While commenting on the presentation, Serah Makka, ONE Nigeria’s director, said “We are proud to congratulate Bisola! Her presentation was very moving as she highlighted the status of girls education. ONE looks forward to working with her to take our Campaign to the United Nations General Assembly in New York this September.”

    “During the UN General Assembly we will ask Nigerian and other African leaders to make education work for every girl by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 4. The event which will last for a week will be attended by various world leaders.”

    Other ambassadors for the ONE campaign include Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Bonang Matheba, and Waje.

  • IPOB: Ex-Senate President Ebute urges UN to intervene

    Former President of the Nigeria Senate, Ameh Ebute, has called on the United Nations UN) to begin the process of investigating the activities of the leader of the Independent People of Biafra (lPOB’s) leader, Nnamdi Kanu and members of the organisation.

    The ex-Senate President in a letter to the UN dated September 18, 2017 and made available to the Nation yesterday said this is because IPOB  has constituted itself into a terrorist organization and has continued to act in ways that terrorises the Nigerian State with intent to plunging the West African country into war.

    Senator Ebute pointed out to the world body which is currently sitting that the Nigerian Defence headquarters has  issued a proclamation which cited IPOB’s perpetration of acts like the formation of a Biafra Secret Service (BSS); advanced stages in the formation of Biafra National Guard (BNG); militants possession/use of weapons; physical confrontations and attempts to snatch military weapons from the military troops on patrol and unauthorized blockage of public access roads and extortion of money from hapless members of the general public as acts of terror.

    He explained to the world body that the activities of IPOB has led to its tagging as a terrorists organisation by Nigeria saying this is enough reason for the UN  to act in order to identity and do the needful.

    He said, “It is therefore imperative for the UN through its organ of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to invoke the suitable laws to intervene in an apparently smoldering crisis in Nigeria. Permitting the progression of this crisis to the level of explosion would be devastating and definitely affect peace and security on the African continent as a whole and create humanitarian crisis of international dimension.

    “ The UN is implored to further initiate actions that would save Nigeria from this pending catastrophe arranged by IPOB in order to safeguard international peace and security. Our experiences indicate that some terrorists groups tormenting Nigeria today have confessed to been foreign-backed and funded. It underscores the need to give more attention to IPOB’s fierce aggression on Nigeria.”

    Ebute expressed concern over what he described as the exposure of traits of terrorism in IPOB which he said has been exposed  through an intensive, painstaking security investigation and analysis of the activities of Kanu and his band of followers.

  • President Buhari at the UN

    President Buhari at the UN

    President Muhammadu Buhari is currently in New York to attend the 72nd Session of the UN General Assembly. Two days ago he delivered an impressive speech at the General Assembly which was warmly received by the world leaders attending the Session, including many African leaders. There are more than 100 world leaders attending the General Assembly. We should offer him our warmest congratulations for his bravery and patriotism in going to New York in spite of his recent grave illness, from which he has, obviously, not fully recovered yet. Attending a session of the UN General Assembly in New York is by no means an easy physical and mental task. Apart from the long flight to New York there are endless meetings to attend at the multilateral and bilateral levels, including meetings with his foreign counterparts, the multilateral UN and other financial agencies, potential foreign investors, particularly American investors, and the large Nigerian community in the United States. Many of these will be anxious to meet him and hear from him first hand reports about the disturbing political and economic situation in our country. From the official programe of his visit, which I have seen, and with which I am familiar, having once served at the UN, it is going to be a grueling progamme of meetings and events that could be telling on his stamina.

    Now, his brief speech at the UN General Assembly, the full text of which I have seen, was delivered on Tuesday, two days ago. It was forthright and broadly consistent with the basic objectives and principles of Nigeria’s foreign policy since independence in 1960. In that speech he reiterated Nigeria’s total commitment to democracy, not only for ourselves .but for the whole of Africa. He assured the world leaders that, despite some setbacks over the years, Nigeria’s “faith and commitment in democracy remains unshaken”.  He said the frontiers of good governance and democracy, including the holding of free elections, and the enthronement of the rule of law was expanding everywhere in Africa. In this regard he specifically referred to Nigeria’s role in promoting democracy in Africa by its direct intervention in resolving political conflicts in Africa, in such African countries as Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone and, more recently, The Gambia. Nigeria’s decisive role in those countries made a huge difference to their political future and stability, badly needed in Africa. Nigeria can be proud of its leading role in resolving conflicts in Africa, in most cases by sending peace keeping troops to troubled African countries under the aegis of the UN. President Buhari also acknowledged the positive role of the UN and the international community in assisting countries of the Lake Chad region in offering those countries relief and other humanitarian assistance.

    In his speech President Buhari expressed his concerns about the expansion of terrorism in the world including Boko Haram in Nigeria.  He referred to what he called the exemplary show of solidarity by the international community in assisting countries in the Sahel and Lake Chad region, including in containing the threats of Al Qaida and Boko Haram in the region. He expressed regrets over the bloody civil war and carnage in Syria which have led to the problem of massive Syrian refugees in Europe and the neighboring countries. In this regard he expressed his appreciation of the efforts of Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Greece for their assistance to hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, the major areas of conflict in the Middle East. He added that Nigeria too was providing relief and humanitarian assistance to millions in refugee camps in Nigeria afflicted by terrorism, drought, floods and other natural disasters.

    He conveyed his support and appreciation for what the international community was doing globally to promote gender equality, social inclusion, youth empowerment, education, creativity and innovation. This is appropriate as the theme of this UNGA Session is “Focusing on people: striving for peace and a decent life for all on a sustainable planet”.

    On the issue of widespread public corruption which he decried, he called for the cooperation of the international community in promoting global financial accountability by providing critical assistance and material support to combat corruption and asset recovery in which Nigeria is now closely involved.

    President Buhari decried the new conflicts erupting in Myanmar which he compared to the ethnic cleansing in Bosnia in 1995 and Rwanda in 1994 and called on the UN and the international community to condemn “the horrendous suffering … of a state backed programme of a total depopulation of the Rohingyas in Myanmar.” His comments on the Middle East were no less scathing. He referred to the continuing flouting (by Israel) since 1967 of several UN Security Council Resolutions on the Middle East which has led to the continuing suffering of the Palestinian people and the blockade of Gaza. Broadly, these comments are consistent with Nigeria’s well known policy in the Middle East which supports a two states solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict

    He expressed Nigeria’s support for the on- going efforts at reforming the entire UN system in which Nigeria has been involved since its admission to the UN in 1960. He also reiterated that any UN reforms should include the admission of one or two African members to the status of permanent members of the UN Security Council. This is a legitimate demand as the UN cannot truly be regarded as a global organization until its African members are treated equally, at all levels, with other regional groups. It is the only regional group that is excluded from the permanent membership of the UN Security Council with all its rights and privileges.

    Altogether, it was a good outing by the president. Nigeria’s views and policy on all these global issues were very well articulated. In the course of his stay in New York he will be holding more talks at both the bilateral and multilateral levels. This is where the real diplomacy takes place, not at the UN itself. When he meets President Trump, President Buhari will be asking for more arms supplies from the US to fight terrorism in Nigeria.  There is a mutuality of interests in evolved here. But he should also convey to him in very strong terms Nigeria’s concerns about the hostility of his government to black immigrants and the brutal manner in which blacks are being treated. This is totally unacceptable and intolerable in a civilized world.

     

    Am. O. Fafowora

    • Amb. Dapo Fafowora is a former Ambassador and deputy permanent representative of Nigeria to the UN, New York.
  • UN condemns deadly attacks on civilians in Borno

    UN condemns deadly attacks on civilians in Borno

    The Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon, on Tuesday condemned the deadly attacks targeting innocent civilians in Konduga, Banki and Ngala areas of Borno.

    Kallon expressed this view in a statement by Biodun Banire, Public Information Officer, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Tuesday in Abuja

    He said that four attacks in recent weeks, three of which were carried out by suicide bombers, had claimed the lives of over 45 civilians and injured countless others.

    Kallon said that the incidents were indicative of a surge in the brutal violence triggered by a regionalised conflict that is now in its eighth year.

    “Civilians are routinely killed in direct and indiscriminate attacks in the north-east of Nigeria.

    “This conflict, with all its brutality and horrors, is reaching new lows, with more than 80 children used as human bombs in 2017 alone.

    “I call upon all parties to the conflict to respect human life and dignity.

    “The latest attack occurred on September 18 in Konduga area, about 28 kilometers southeast of Maiduguri.

    “Three suicide bombers consecutively detonated explosive devices strapped to their bodies in Mashemari village, killing 13 and injuring many more,” he said.

    According to him, previous attacks in Banki and Ngala targeted camps for internally displaced persons and Nigerian refugees returning home.

    He said that these camps hosted thousands of vulnerable women, men and children, who had been forced to flee their homes and now rely on humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs.

    “The previous Konduga attack in August targeted a market in the town.

    “The frequency of the attacks is on the rise and ‘softer’ targets, such as camps for displaced persons, are being identified by insurgents.

    “This is an extremely worrying trend, while the Government of Nigeria has made significant progress in many locations in the north-east, allowing thousands of people to return home, there is more to be done.

    “I urge the Government of Nigeria to increase efforts to protect civilians,” he said

    He said that the protection of civilians was the focus of the ongoing humanitarian response in the north-east.

    Kallon noted with concern that 8.5 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance in the most affected states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa state’s.

    “Women, children and men face grave human rights violations and sexual and gender-based violence, including rape.

    “Since the start of the conflict in 2009, thousands of people have been killed, thousands of women and girls have been abducted and children have been used as so-called “suicide” bombers,” he said. (NAN)