Headlines January 20 Headlines from Nigeria’s Major Newspapers

NATION

*Herdsmen kill Taraba monarch, 28 others in fresh attacks

*Rain of tributes as Ambode, Anyaoku, Fashola, Obi, others mourn Ekwueme

*Court nullifies Olubadan chieftaincy review

*Buhari dismisses allegation of ethnic bias at dinner with APC leaders

*I'M NOW MY CHILDREN'S BABY— 104-year-old Taple Lankan

*No final word yet on cattle colonies

*Act fast on herdsmen menace, ACF, Northern Elders, Okogie, others tell FG

*Court orders forfeiture of Osborne Towers Flat 7B

*Policemen deployed in Ogun community as herdsmen kill farmer

*Itsekiri group lauds Malami over Maritime University memo

*Ijaw leaders gather in Bayelsa, seek unity, economic integration

*NIS elevates 8,821

*2019: INEC targets 80m voters

*Police arraign four over illegal possession of firearms

*Let's not sweep restructuring under the carpet—Obasanjo

*FRSC decorates promoted officers, marshals

*REVEALED: Syndicate behind illegal refineries in Bayelsa

*APDA rejects cattle colonies, opts for ranches, grazing reserves

*CLI: Lagos, firm step up waste evacuation across metropolis

*Fight anti-corruption war with courage, NSA tells EFCC cadets

*Police place N10m bounty on Taraba lawmaker's killers

*Modu Sheriff's loyalists defect to APC in Edo

*Amosun tasks journalists on unity

*Nigeria develops herbal drugs for treatment of Ebola, Malaria

DAILY TRUST

*Lives of real Fulani herders of Nigeria

*APC urges members to shun Enugu rally

*2019: States where biggest battles will be fought

*I have faith in Buhari – Oshiomhole

*CISLAC lauds reps on passage of PIB

*Nigeria now has political will to fight corruption – NSA

*5 killed by Boko Haram during night attack on Adamawa village

*Buhari: I'm 'locked up' in Aso Villa

*Presidency inaugurates c'ttee to trace, freeze terrorism funds

*Don't overlook restructuring – Obasanjo

*IMN sues Sokoto gov't, others

*Shipping sector could contribute N3tr to 2018 budget – Kashim

*Scenes from 2017 Daily Trust African of the Year Award Dinner

*Lives of real Fulani herders of Nigeria

*Soldier come, soldier go farm: Inside Nigerian Army's ranch

*Why we have rodents in Aso Villa – PermSec

*Nigeria now has political will to fight corruption – NSA

*Don't over look restructuring – Obasanjo

*APC officials kidnapped by gunmen in Niger

*Wike: Buhari under pressure tobdeclare state of emergency in Rivers

*We're new generation of Nigerian leaders– Gov. Shettima

*Presidency inaugurates c'ttee to trace, freeze terrorism funds

*Inter faith forum canvasses for indivisible Nigeria

LEADERSHIP

*I'm Not An Ethnic Jingoist – PMB 

*Shipping Charges: NSC Moves To Recover N1trn From Terminal Operators

*My People Still Under Siege – Ortom

*Time To Shift Emphasis From White Collar 

*NSE All-Share Index Crosses 45,000 Mark

VANGUARD

Insecurity: Don't Walk Alone, NYSC DG Warns Corps Members

*How Biola Carried On After Three Miscarriages

*APC Govs Okay Buhari For Second Term, Amaechi's Appointment As DG Campaign Team

*We'll Help Benue To Stop Herdsmen Killing, Northern Govs Vow

*UNN Graduate Ugochukwu Releases Gospel Hit Song 'Izurukaeme'

1:04 AM Court Fixes Feb 14 To Hear Ex-militant's N3bn Libel Suit

*Captain Hosa Okunbo @ 60: A Salute To Conqueror Of Land, Sea And Air

*Edo Agog As APC Receives PDP Reps Member, Ex-PDP Guber Aspirant, Followers

*Our Target At Akwa United Is The NPFL Title — Bassey

*Amending NDDC Act Will Eradicate Marginalisation —Sen Nwaoboshi

*Boko Haram Kills Five In Adamawa State

*Gunmen Abduct Five Oil Workers In Delta States

THE SUN

*El-Rufai backpedals, asks sacked teachers to reapply

*Stalled Rivers road project: Wike blasts Amaechi, FG

*Floodgate of tributes for Ekwueme in Lagos

*Tension in Ibadan as court sacks Ajimobi's 21 new Obas

*Kidnappers on rampage in Niger, abduct 8 APC chieftains

*Only arrest of Miyetti Allah leaders can restore our hope in Nigeria –Gov. Ortom

*Herdsmen killings, big dent on Buhari's govt –Ben Obi

*Buhari, don't run in 2019 –Amb. Hagher

*Buhari should stop herdsmen Killings now–Ogbeha

*Elections: Wike warns INEC, Security agencies

GUARDIAN

*Nigeria vs Rwanda: CHAN Eagles need huge improvements

*Boko Haram kills five in Adamawa

*Bayern boss backs Dortmund's stance on Aubameyang

*Ibadan Chieftaincy: We'll appeal judgment, says Ajimobi

*Drug crime concern mounts on Paris metro

*NPC protest: FG urges workers to resume

*Police refute explosion report at Osun varsity

*Ex-FBI chief Comey to teach ethical leadership course

*New Pentagon strategy looks to counter China, Russia

*Van Persie set to seal Feyenoord return

*Man City midfielder Fernandinho signs contract extension

*Fury moves closer to Joshua showdown

*Guardiola has no bitterness over failed Sanchez bid

*Drogba looks to future as stellar career winds down

*Neymar on the spot as Lyon await PSG

*ERGP: FG committed to effective implementation to boost FDI, says Enelamah

*VAIDS: FG targets 15 % tax GDP contribution, says Udoma

*Consumers paid more for petroleum products in December, says NBS

*Nigeria to tap into $19 trillion IoT market through OBUNO engine

THISDAY

*DJ Spinall Starts 2018 on the Cover of Simple Magazine

*Efe Prime opens year with 'Blessed Be the Name'

*Cindy Blessing: How I Perfected My Craft

*Seyi Shay, Friends Thrill Fans With YOLO Concert

*A Frank Epistle to Governor Rochas Okorocha

*Glitz And Glamour at Welcome Party of Celebrity Housemates Reality TV...

*Imohimi Edgal: My Father Used to Call Me Mobutu Sese Seko

*LETTER OF APPRECIATION TO MRS AISHA BUHARI

*Ear, Nose and Throat Issues

*Pastor Tunde Bakare – Politics of ''Follow Follow''

*Obaseki's New Model for Economic Revolution

*Senator Basheer Lado and Return of "Talakawa" Politics

*Jay Osi: Samuels The 'Ibadan Boy and His Golden Age

*Four D Associates, NCC, SEMA Collaborate on Emergency Responses

*CES 2018: LG, Google, Others Stretch Consumers' Imagination

*In Imo, Madumere Radiates Hope for APC

*Cowbell Mathematics Initiative Levels up at 20th Anniversary

*Truecaller Expands Offerings, includes Contact Backup,Others

*New Movie, 'Wetin Women Want,' Stars Mercy Aigbe, Oge Okoye, Others

*Benue Killings: The Unhealthy Narrative

*Kelechi Iheanacho: Back from the Brinks

*Don't Laugh at NTA, Support them to Grow Domestic Sports

*City Hope to Bounce Back with Newcastle Visit after Anfield Slip

*Bayern Takes on Bremen Live on StarTimes

*Home-based Eagles Redeem Pride, Beat Libya 1-0

*Nigeria Olympic Committee Backs Dolphins Swimming League

*Pacers, Nike Boys Win BallOff Football Tourney

*Nadal Coasts Past Dzumhur, Books Q'Final Place

*Agassi Backs Djokovic to Go All the Way

*Football Preliminaries of NOGIG 2018 Begins

*The God Father of Football Flair Bows Out

*Wordsmiths Explain Why They Write

*The 19th-Century Philosophy That Drives President Buhari's Cattle Colony Policy

*Is Sex An Allure for Sustainable Tourism?

*Would PDP Now Be a Coveted Bride?

*Top 5 Celebrity Live Bands That ROCKED 2017

*In-Short International Film Festival 2017

*Do not let your mistakes define you!

PUNCH

*APC govs told Buhari to run for second term – Okorocha 

*N100bn cattle ranch fund: One year after resolution, Reps yet to begin probe 

*I'm not in a hurry to do anything, says Buhari 

*Killings: We're still living in fear, Ortom tells APC govs 

*Cattle colony: FG plans agro-rangers to protect farmland 

*Osinbajo inaugurates committee to trace sources of terrorists' fund 

*Buhari's wife shares videos of President's critics 

*4,000 Nigerians volunteer to embark on voter education 

*Govt must attend to all ethnic grievances, says Obasanjo 

*2019: Registered voters may hit 85 million –INEC 

*FG may commercialise State House clinic 

*Proscription: IPOB rejects judgment 

*Court nullifies installation of 21 kings in Ibadan

*Cancer: Scientists make breakthrough in early detection, cure 

*N5.3bn fraud: Court reaffirms order for Nnamani's arrest

*Tinubu, Akande would have been part of meeting, if there was the need – APC spokesman

*John Alechenu, Olalekan Adetayo, Femi Makinde and Eniola Akinkuotu The National 

*PICNI spends N1bn on Chibok school reconstruction

*Soldiers, policemen among groups with high HIV risks – FG

*B'Haram didn't shoot down crashed helicopter – Military

*Explosion: NLPGA to train gas truck drivers, others on safety

*Ambode, Anyaoku, Obi, others eulogise Ekwueme

*NIPRD develops herbal drugs for Ebola, malaria treatments

*MPC meeting unlikely over non-confirmation of new members

*Nigeria's oil exports to slip in March – Survey

*NIMASA, NGA seek pollution-free environment

*FG to borrow N385bn via local bonds

*Kidnapped Bayelsa ex-commissioner regains freedom

*Military alone can't secure oil installations in N'Delta – Delta deputy gov

*Buhari was under pressure to declare state of emergency in Rivers –Wike

*Ijaw traditional rulers, leaders meet in Yenagoa

*Group condemns killings in Rivers communities

*'APC has opportunity to take over C' River in 2019'

*Stop harassing Jonathan's family, MASSOB tells Buhari

*MASSOB, IPOB dare herdsmen, deploy 10,000 men

*Edo council poll: Ex-council chairmen not disqualified, APC says

*Don Waney: We're tired of insecurity in our area – Council boss

*CHAN 2018: Eagles beat Libya, top Group C

*Getting to W'Cup second round, difficult task – Rohr

*Eagles will have access to girlfriends in Russia – Rohr

TELEGRAPH

*12 UNIOSUN students slump inside lecture room

"Defamation: Ogundokun slams N1bn suit on Iwo monarch

*Alleged N4.5bn fraud: Court affirms arrest warrant on Nnamani

*NSA to EFCC trainees: Don't show mercy to corrupt Nigerians

*Residents should remove abandoned vehicles –Police

*Promasidor increases competition's prize to N2m

*Akwa United aim high

*MFM ready for Africa

*Tsehuan confident of Yobe Stars' good run

*Moses set for Chelsea return at Brighton

ONE INJUSTICE BEGETS ANOTHER

By

OSA

 "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me".

The above poetic lines on how one injustice begets another injustice  masterfully conveyed by prominent Protestant pastor Martin Neimoller (1892-1984) during the Nazi reign of terror are evocative of the toleration of injustices in Nigeria. The toleration of injustices in Nigeria is producing more gruesome and barbaric injustices in Nigeria. Instead of tackling the injustices headlong we hypocritically resort to sweeping them under the carpet in the pretence that time will heal the wounds of the injustices. But unfortunately the efflution of time has not managed to heal the wounds of the injustices in Nigeria. As Martin Luther King Jr. rightly stated "one injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere". When, for example, genocidal attacks and killings were committed against the Igbos on the threshold of the Nigerian Civil War little did we know that  48 years after the Civil War the entire spectrum of Nigerian society will be the target of the most vicious genocidal attacks and killings. Yesterday they came for the Igbos and massacred the Igbos. Today they are coming for the rest of us in order to massacre the rest of us. Who knows who they will go after tomorrow. We are helpless. We cry out but nobody hearkens to our assistance.  

Within the last three years, the Fulani herdsmen have successfully carried out countless genocidal attacks and killings in different Nigerian communities. Just last week, the bodies of about 80 citizens of Benue State murdered by the Fulani herdsmen between January 1 to 2 2018 were given mass burial amid tears of sorrow. Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has declared that the Fulani herdsmen have murdered no fewer than 1,878 citizens of Benue State within the last three years. He blamed the murder on the security lapses in the Buhari government. Apart from the genocidal killings by the Fulani herdsmen, gross human rights abuses, State-sanctioned killings, extra-judicial killings, sectarian killings and religious killings have been recorded in the last three years. Equally, there have been brutal killings of defencelless civilians by the military in the last three years. For example, following the attack by the army on the Shia Muslim community ostensibly to rescue the Chief of Army Staff from alleged assassination, about 1,000 defencelless and unarmed civilians were murdered in Zaria between 12th to 15th December 2015 or thereabout. On February 9, 2016 the Nigerian soldiers shot and killed countless defencelless civilians who were peacefully holding prayers inside the football field of Ngwa High School, Aba in Abia State. The photographs of the murdered victims circulated on whatsApp at that time. The painful aspect is that while investigations on the Aba massacre were still going on, the Onitsha massacre occurred on May 30 2016. Over 30 civilians were murdered and many injured by the military after the several clashes involving the military, police and members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and members of the Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) during the Biafra day celebration at Nkpor-Agu, Niger Bridge, Onitsha and Asaba.

 In March 2016 the Fulani herdsmen murdered two Catholic reverend sisters and burnt about 17 houses in Abbi, Uzo Uwani Local Government Area, Enugu State. On April 25 2016 more than 50 innocent citizens of Ukpabi-Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Council of Enugu State were murdered by the Fulani herdsmen. The herders also burnt many houses and sacked many communities in Uzo-Ukpabi Council and its environs. Shortly after the Ukpabi-Nimbo massacre, the Fulani herdsmen murdered a Delta State monarch and some Delta State citizens. In the same April 2016 the Vicar-General of  the Otukpo Catholic Diocese Rev Fr. John Adeyi was kidnapped by some gunmen  suspected to be Fulani herdsmen ‎along Odoba Otukpa-Okwungaga road, Otukpo, Benue State. Sadly, two months later his decomposed body was found somewhere even after his kidnappers had collected N1.5 Million ransom. On June 2 2016,  a 70-year old citizen of Imo State called lady Mrs. Bridget Agbahime was murdered in Kano for alleged blasphemy of the Koran. Recently, a Kano Magistrate discharged all the five suspects who allegedly killed Mrs Agbahime. Case closed.   Barely 10 days after Mrs Agbahime was murdered, a 41-year old Christian man called Francis Emmanuel was almost stabbed to death in Kaduna for allegedly eating meat during the Ramadan. On the 9th of July 2016 a mother of seven, Mrs. Eunice Elisha, who was also the wife of a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastor was murdered in cold blood in Abuja by Muslim fanatics while she was preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In August 2016, suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked and killed a seminarian of the Catholic Church and others at Enugu-Atakwu community, in Nkanu West Local Government Area, Enugu State. The kidnappers reportedly mowed down everybody in sight during their shooting spree.

Between 2016 and 2017 hundreds upon hundreds of citizens of Southern Kaduna were murdered in several renewed genocidal attacks carried out by the Fulani herdsmen. For example, in one attack which occurred in December 2016, a total of 808 people were killed in 53 villages across the four local government areas in the state. Between September 8 and October 17, 2017 the Fulani herdsmen murdered about 75 persons and injured 23 others after they attacked two communities in Irigwe Kingdom, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State. The herders also displaced about 13,726 persons from the communities and burnt about 489 houses during their attacks. On December 8 2017 some Fulani herdsmen invaded Omala and Yagba West local government councils respectively in Kogi State and murdered about 10 persons there after setting their farmlands ablaze. In Omoku, Rivers State, about 17 Christian church worshipers were killed during the last New Year Eve by the same Fulani herdsmen. Some husbands were dragged out of their houses and murdered in front of their wailing wives by the same Fulani herdsmen. On January 12 2018 Fulani herdsmen attached Dangaji and Ungwan Gajere villages both in Birni Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State and killed 10 indigenes of the area

The chronicle of the killings is endless. If you like, there are three dimensions to the afore-mentioned murders. The first dimension is the constancy of the murders. The second is that to date none of the murderers have been brought to justice. The Kano Magistrate Court has discharged all the five suspects who allegedly murdered Mrs Agbahime.  The third dimension is that the State security appears helpless in the face of the vicious genocidal attacks and killings.  How long shall we sit back and watch our parents, children, relatives, brothers and sisters and townsfolks being slaughtered.

A failed thesis By Ray Ekpu 16 January 2018 | THE GUARDIAN

President Muhammadu Buhari is a trained and experienced soldier. He went through rigorous training at the Nigerian Military College, the Mons Officers' Cadet School, Aldershot in the United Kingdom as well as the Defence Services Staff College at Wellington, India. His training at the elite Army War College in the United States was the equivalent of a finishing school for top-drawer soldiers. He has also tasted battle in the war theatres in the Congo as well as in Nigeria during the Biafran war. So in military and security matters he has earned his epaulettes and appropriate bragging rights to go with them. When, therefore, his campaigners told Nigerians in 2015 that he would rescue the Chibok School girls captured during President Goodluck Jonathan's tenure and that he would tame the other security demons many Nigerians had no reason to nurse any doubt. He has rescued some of the Chibok girls from captivity but many of them still remain locked away in a place we know not.

Since his assumption of office as President in 2015 many other security challenges have sprung up challenging the ingenuity of this battle-tested former general. They have stretched his military know-how to its elastic limit. Now with the myriads of security issues that have mushroomed many analysts are wondering whether Buhari was properly assessed or simply overrated. To be fair to him a lot of the problems that have arisen are not of his own making. Some of them, for example, kidnapping and herdsmen crisis, have been simmering for several years without previous governments seriously attacking them.

The main thrust of this article is to examine whether or not Buhari's strategy is a winning one. His strategy seems to be based on the thinking that since blood is thicker than water, blood will win the day for him. He chose to appoint all his top security chiefs from his own part of the country. The roll call: Dan Alli (Minister of Defence), Lawan Danbazzau (Minister of Interior), Babagana Monguno (National Security Adviser), Tukur Buratai (Chief of Army Staff), Lawal Daura (Director General, DSS), Ibrahim Idris (Inspector General of Police) and Ahmed Abubakar (Director General, NIA). The federal character implications of this skewed selection may not have occurred to him readily but he apparently thought if he chose his "contrymen" they will not hesitate to protect his interest or to do his bidding. What he apparently did not avert his mind to is that extreme familiarity may not necessarily breed contempt for him but recalcitrance, lackadaisicalness and a my-brother-will-do-nothing-to-me attitude. Besides, some of the people who have compromised the security of the country, for example, the herdsmen, are their "contrymen". The security men's sense of duty seems, despite Buhari's directives to them, to conflict with their bonds of kith-ness and kin-ness. They do not think it will be appropriate to punish their brothers and sisters who are causing mayhem in the country and a poor security image for Buhari and the country. I do not believe, as some people have alleged, that Buhari is guilty of complicity in the matter. There is no way a leader would gladly permit some people even if they are his kinsmen to damage his legacy as they are doing to him now. My belief is simply that Buhari is unable to muster the political will to tackle the issue frontally and forcefully.

The President has asked the security agencies to fish out and bring to justice criminals who have been committing mayhem but so far no one has been punished. That is not only a disobedience to lawful instructions but an affront to constituted authority. That the President's instructions are not carried out and the failure to carry it out does not attract any punishment shows a pathetic lack of political will by the President. If he would step back and reflect he would notice that those who have done the greatest havoc to his legacy have been the people territorially close to him. The EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, has failed confirmation screening at the Senate twice because of a damning report written about him by the Department of State Security Service. And who runs that department? Buhari's man.

The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir David Lawal, whose corruption case was investigated by the Senate poisoned, with his rough tongue, Buhari's relationship with the Senate. As a mark of loyalty to Lawal, Buhari assumed the status of his emergency defence lawyer on a matter that he should have distanced himself from as a sign of the seriousness of his anti-corruption crusade. It took a ferocious fight by the media and civil society groups for Buhari to remove Lawal from office. The public is uncertain whether or not he will go on trial. The Maina corruption saga, its cover-up attempt, his promotion and his mysterious escape give a sordid image of either a government in disarray or one in want of rectitude. And who are the major culprits? Buhari's men.

Now the mindless massacre of 73 human beings by Fulani herdsmen in Benue State on New Year's day was a wicked new year's gift to Nigeria. A few months ago the same group of gangsters had burnt a whole village called Agatu, killed and maimed hundreds of people. There are said to be about 40,000 displaced persons in the State now. When I saw the rows and rows of caskets, all 73 of them, lined up for burial tears welled up in my eyes. I knew what they were burying were not the caskets but human beings who were bubbling with life a day before their extermination by some nihilists. The nihilists said in justification for the killing: "because our cows were stolen."

I am not from Benue State but my brother and friend, Dan Agbese comes from there. We work together in Lagos but each time that these mindless murderers have struck I have had to express my condolences to him. On this last occasion I did not know how best to convey my feelings. I simply said to him: "sorry for all these killings." And my eyes were misty with tears. Dan has no relation among the dead. Neither do I. but I felt as if I had. Come to think of it are we not all related one way or another by our joint humanity. Our joint humanity is our umbilical cord which these fellows with terrorist credentials are taking away. But what saddens me more is the tepid response by the Federal Government. Yes, there is the obligatory press release condemning the atrocity and expressing the President's feelings of sorrow and condolence to the families of the lost persons. This has now become so mechanical that it is almost meaningless. Why doesn't the President speak to the nation and convey in his own voice the gravity of his feelings. That is what leaders elsewhere do. What is stopping him from doing that? Why doesn't the President enter the aircraft and land in Makurdi, or Kaduna or Port Harcourt or wherever these killings happen at a horrendous scale and personally sympathise with the people. That is what Presidents elsewhere do to show their sadness, sobriety, sympathy and empathy and the desire to curb the excesses. The President would be arriving at any of these killing fields with the full force of his moral authority and presidential aura to indicate that he truly cares. Yes, the President ordered the \minister of Interior and Inspector General of Police to move into Benue and do what they are paid to do. The fact of asking these two men to go to the theatre of the killing means it was serious enough to demand even the President's presence. It would have made a huge difference. I hope the President can still do it when it is not too late. It is his voice that can assuage the feelings of the bereaved not the voice of his hired hands.

Something else happened a day after the 73 dead persons were surrendered to the worms in a mass grave. Seven governors of the ruling party, APC, went to Buhari and told him he should run for re-election in 2019. It is their right to say to the President whatever they want, but don't they have human feelings? Seventy three people had just been buried the day before from the reckless activities of some herdsmen who are destroying the President's legacy. If they loved the President they should have advised him to go to Benue and make some mollifying gestures to the angry people of that state. Instead their leader, Nasir El-Rufai, governor of Kaduna State said arrogantly: "We are politicians and those of us you see here want the President to contest the 2019 election. We have no apologies for that." That is insensitive. That is heartless. What sort of politicians are these?

That statement is like pissing on the dead bodies of the 73 persons. It is unconscionable, crude and cruel. The timing is supremely imperfect. Is it that all that they care about is the 2019 election? If this trend of mindless killings continues or escalates unchecked how do they know that we will still have anything to call a country by then? Or an election to contest.

From all indications Buhari's thesis of securing the country by appointing only his "contrymen" to man the key security arms has suffered a severe setback. It has failed. He therefore needs to do an urgent rethink so as to retool the security architecture of the country and reduce the prevailing agony.

No land for cattle colonies in our state, Benue leaders tell Buhari

Story Baba vox Baba 

Cattle herd used to illustrate the story.

Prominent leaders from Benue State have told President Muhammadu Buhari that there is no land to allow for the establishment of cattle colonies as being proposed by the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh.

They made their position known to the president on Monday after they held a closed door meeting with him in the State House, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Governor Samuel Ortom, who led the delegation and addressed the press after the meeting, said Mr. Ogbeh, "who is a son of the soil has explained that cattle colonies are a combination of several ranches" and is proposing that ten thousand hectares should be provided for that purpose.

"In Benue, we don't have ten hectares for colonies, other states may have, but we don't have in Benue State," he said.

Among those in the delegation are former senate president, David Mark; former governor, George Akume and several others

Buhari Change!

In those days when PDP destroyed the economy for

16 years, a bag of rice was N7500 and a litre of petrol

was N87.

A dollar was N170.

A 'Bajaj' motorcycle was N82,000

A 10kg bag of Semovita was N1,100

A 10kg bag of Wheat meal was N700

The Lagos-Abuja transport fare was N2500

A 75ml of palm-oil was N70

A bottle of Coca cola was N60

A tin of Peak milk was N80

A pack of Ciprotab drug was N1100

Infact, Those guys destroyed the economy totally!

Wicked people!!!

....... ....... .......

Thank God for our APC Messiahs that have come to

revive the economy;

a bag of rice is now N16,000 and a litre of petrol is

now N350.

A dollar is N368!!!

A 'Bajaj' motorcycle is now N280,000

A 10kg bag of Semovita is now N3000

A 10kg bag of Wheat meal is now N2800

The Lagos - Abuja fare is now N15,500

A 75ml of palm oil is now N400

A bottle of Coca cola drink is now N100

A tin of Peak milk is now N220

A pack of 'Ciprotab' drug is now N3200

....... The most interesting fact about this is that

They did this in just 2years.

Do we need to give them another 14years to do more. It's not the parties that's the problem but the mind set of the people in the parties. The question remains who is fooling who ?Nigerians we need to be wise because I see a black cloud coming Down on us very soon if we don't do the right thing now. May God help us all" IN GOD WE TRUST

Breaking News

A gas plant is currently on fire in Magodo part of Lagos State.

A brief statement by the spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Bisi Kazeem, said the fire at the 2nd Coming Gas plant has spread to other properties in the neighbourhood.

Mr. Kazeem ‎advised motorists to seek other routes to avoid the area.Meanwhile casualty has been recorded.

Letter to Mr President

BY TRIBUNE ONLINE

JANUARY 09, 2018

I saw the tears of the oppressed and they have no comforter, power was on the side of their oppressors.—Ecclesiastes, 4;1.

I read and meditated on what the preacher says in this chapter of the Holy Scriptures on new year day and tears flowed. Mr President, the game so beloved by the Nigerian political elite is going toward what is known in football as injury time. As all soccer fanatics know, it is indeed the most critical moment, distinguished by anxiety and acute uncertainty. Within the twinkling of an eye, anything can go wrong and invariably, things do go wrong. Carefully laid down plans go up in smoke. The players themselves with tired limbs, declining vision and deteriorating coordination look towards the referees for early deliverance since events have conspired to make it impossible  to settle for a draw, and a clear winner must emerge; it is this fleeting moment that determines whether the match will end in penalty shoot-out or the phenomenon known as "sudden death".

This is the moment that has stolen upon us. As the country lurches and staggers from one crisis to another, as one measure is hurriedly abandoned for even more inept solutions, as the rule of law is recklessly abandoned at all levels of government for rule of man, it is clear that we are faced with what is known as an "organic crisis". Nations are also like human beings and when an affliction becomes terminal, when suffering is unbearably acute, when human misery is so stark and remorseless, it is time to consider the virtues of euthunasia. Looking through the glass, the Niger Delta crisis, herdsmen crisis, the Boko Haram insurgency, the high level of corruption and looting across government's MDAs, it is glaring that we have in our hands a classic recipe for organic crisis. That is why we must talk. Regardless of the centrifugal forces that may be pulling Mr President in different directions, restructuring  of the country is not negotiable. Our history is not our enemy but the way we deal or not with our history could be our enemy. A country that has not really faced its past cannot decide on her future.

Our forefathers spent many years like their counterparts in America deliberating on a people's constitution that would accommodate Nigeria's diversity. They came up with the 1960 and '63 constitutions. The constitutions addressed the derivative principle; the areas which produce the bulk of the nation's resources have the right to a significant proportion for the revenues collected from the region. Under the 1963 Constitution, the Federal Government was entitled to pay each region a sum equal to 50 per cent of proceeds of mining rents and royalty in respect of minerals derived from each region. The Federal Government was obliged to credit to the Distributable Pool Account (DPA) 30 per cent of the proceeds of the royalty and mining rent received by the Federal Government, after remitting 50 per cent to the producing region. The Federal Government was only entitled to keep for itself only 20 per cent. The 30 per cent in the Distributable Pool Account were shared among the regions based on population, size etc. Each region was assured that she entitled, as of right, to about half of the entire proceeds of its region and also a further part constituting its own share from the Distributable Pool Account, that was the position till 1966 with the advent of the military, the federal structure was dismantled and discarded. The fiscal system was also destroyed. These are the major outcome of military sabotage of the Nigerian federal system.Mr President, l do not belong to  the school of thought that the only quality upon which you need to run Nigerian well is good leadership. l believe that far more important than leadership are, solid political and economic structures. In other words, the structure of a house is far more important than the interior decoration. A good house must be able to withstand inclement weather and the rigour of reasonable existence; it must not be constantly under threat of collapse. In a normally functioning federal system where fiscal relations among the federating states are properly established, it should not be, for instance, the  responsibility of the Federal Government to make pronouncement  on policy issues like salary increase that are bound to disproportionately affect the states. For instance, workers of the old Western Region were paid a minimum daily wage of five shillings, well above what was paid at the federal level and other regions. Governor of New York State of America earns more salary than the almighty american President. Today, it is however ironical that the oil  producing states and a highly commercial and industrial state like Lagos appear incapable of paying the level or above of wages being paid to federal employees. This is a manifestation of the distortion in fiscal federalism that needs to be corrected.

Mr President, if only successive military regimes have curbed their penchant for suspending and undermining parts or whole of the constitution that are very necessary for good governance and socioeconomic well being of the citizenry, may be Nigeria would have been saved these unnecessary crises that she presently finds herself. That is why we need a living constitution in order to settle all these anomalies. Thomas Paine, in his 'Rights of Man', 1789, which is generally acknowledged as validly stated; "A constitution has to be original act of the people. The people do ordain and establish… does not a mere echo of revolutionary sentiment." It reflects a confirmation, that America Constitution obtains its entire existent force and efficacy from the people to be governed by it. That is why our constitution does not command the sacred obsession and is being violated with impunity by the government and people, because it is an imposition of military arrangement. Mr President, the World is full of multinational states. Those that practice true federalism with full autonomy to federating units such as France, America or Switzerland, succeeded. Those that have failed, failed because they did not practice true and genuine federalism. They have run multicultural states along unitary lines and they have paid dearly for it.

The Soviet Union was formed in 1919, it disintegrated in 1989 after a span of 70 years. Yugoslavia was formed in 1919, it disintegrated in 1991 after 72 years. A great lesson for us to learn. If after more than 100 years of Nigeria's creation and  more than 50 years as an independent state and  she still appears to be an artificial creation or just a geographical expression as stated by the legendary philosopher, Pa Obafemi Awolowo in 1947, that confirms that our leaders are truly not committed to the concept of a just and equitable Nigeria. In a relaxed federation, different states develop at their own pace as it was done during the First Republic. If Josif Tito had done this, there would still have been a Yugoslavia today. I wish you a happy New Year.

• Aduwo is Executive Director/CEO Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity

Letter To President

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/letter-mr-president/?amp_markup=1

Letter To Mr.President

"I saw the tears of the oppressed and they have no comforter, power was on the side of their oppressors."

Ecclesiastes, 4;1.

I read and meditated on what the preacher says in this Chapter of the Holy Scriptures on new year day and tears flow.

Mr. President, the game so beloved by Nigerian political elite is going toward what is known in football as injury time; as all soccer fanatics know, it is indeed the most critical moment, distinguished by anxiety and acute uncertainty.

Within the twinkling of an eye, anything can go wrong and invariably, things do go wrong. Carefully laid down plans go up in smoke. The players themselves with tired limbs, decline vision and deteriorating coordination look towards the referees for early deliverance since event have conspired to make it impossible  to settle for a draw, since a clear winner must emerge; it is this fleeting moment that determines whether the match will end in penalty shootout or the phenomenon known as "sudden death".

This is the moment that has stolen upon us. As the country lurches and staggers from one crisis to another, as one measure is hurriedly abandoned for even more inept solutions, as the rule of law is recklessly abandoned at all levels of government for rule of man, it is clear that we are faced with what is known as an "organic crisis".

Nations are also like human beings and when an affliction becomes terminal, when suffering is unbearably acute, when human misery is so stark and remorseless, it is time to consider the virtues of Euthsnasia. Looking through the glass, the Niger Delta crisis,herdsmen crisis, the Boko Haram insurgence, the high level of corruption and looting across government's MDAs, it is glaring that we have in our hands a classic recipe for organic crisis. That is why we must talk.

Regardless of the centrifugal forces that may be pulling Mr President in different directions, restructuring  of the country is not negotiable. Our history is not our enemy but the way we deal or not with our history could be our enemy. A country that has not really faced its past cannot decide on her future.

Our forefathers spent many years like their counterparts in America deliberating on a People's Constitution that would accommodate Nigeria's diversity. They came up with the 1960 and '63 Constitutions. The Constitutions addressed the derivative principle; the areas which produce the bulk of the nation's resources have the right to a significant proportion for the revenues collected from the region.

Under the 1963 Constitution, the Federal Government was entitled to pay each region a sum equal to fifty percent of proceeds of mining rents and royalty in respect of minerals derived from each region. The Federal Government was obliged to credit to the Distributable Pool Account (DPA) thirty percent of the proceeds of the royalty and mining rent received by the Federal Government after remitted fifty percent to the

producing region. The Federal Government was only entitled to keep for itself only twenty percent. The thirty percent in the Distributable Pool Account were shared among the regions based on population, size etc. Each region was assured that she entitled as of right to about half of the entire proceeds of its region and also a further part constituting its own share from the Distributable Pool Account, that was the position till 1966.

With the advent of the military, the federal structure was dismantled and discarded. The fiscal system was also destroyed. These are the major outcome of military sabotage of the Nigerian federal system.

Mr.President, l do not belong to  the school of thought that believe the only quality upon which you need to run Nigerian well is good leadership. l believe that far more important than leadership are, solid political and economic structures. In other words, the structure of a house is far more important than the interior decoration. A good house must be able to withstand inclement weather and the rigour of reasonable existence; it must not be constantly under threat of collapse.

In a normally functioning federal system where fiscal relations among the federating states are properly established, it should not be, for instance, the  responsibility of the federal government to make pronouncement  on policy issues like salary increase that are bound to disproportionately affect the states. For instance, workers of the old Western Region were paid a minimum daily wage of five shillings, well above what was paid at the federal level and other regions. Governor of New York State of America earns more salary than the almighty American President.

Today, it is however ironical that the oil producing states and a highly commercial and industrial state like Lagos appear incapable of paying the level or above of wages being paid to federal employees. This is a manifestation of the distortion in fiscal federalism that needs to be corrected.

Mr. President, if only successive military regimes have curbed their penchant for suspending and undermining parts or whole of the constitution that are very necessary for good governance and socioeconomic wellbeing of the citizenry, may be Nigeria would have been saved these unnecessary crises that she presently finds herself. That is why ,we need a living Constitution in order to settle all these anomalies.

Thomas Paine in his 'Rights of Man', 1789, which is generally acknowledged as validly stated; "A Constitution has to be original act of the people. The people do ordain and establish… does not a mere echo of revolutionary sentiment."

It reflects a confirmation, that America constitution obtains its entire existent force and efficacy from the people to be governed by it.

That is why our constitution does not command the sacred obsession and is being violated with impunity by the government and people, because it is an imposition of military arrangement. Mr. President, the World is full of Multinational States. Those that practice true federalism with full autonomy to federating units such as France, America or Switzerland, succeeded. Those that have failed, have failed because they did not practice true and genuine federalism. They have run multicultural states along unitary lines and they have paid dearly for it.

Soviet Union was formed in 1919, it disintegrated in 1989 after a span of 70 years. Yugoslavia was formed in 1919, it disintegrated in 1991 after 72 years. A great lesson for us to learn. If after more than 100 years of Nigeria's creation and  more than 50 years as an independent State and  she still appears to be an artificial creation or just a geographical expression as stated by the legendary philosopher, Pa Obafemi Awolowo in 1947, that confirms that our leaders are truly not committed to the concept of a just and equitable Nigeria.

In a relaxed federation, different states develop at their own pace as it was done during the First Republic. l wish Josip Tito had done this there would still have been a Yugoslavia today. Many states in India use their languages up to University level, what is wrong in the North, East and West using Hausa, lgbo, and Yoruba respectively up to the University level?

Those aspiring for jobs at the federal and international levels will then strive to acquire proficiency in English.

As it is, we are entangled in a mission impossible of building a Nations State from some the incongruous, multicultural units. It is a task that cannot be accomplished.

Mr. President, Nigeria is a country of nationalities and nobody should shy away from this naked fact. There is no Nigerian who is a Nigerian first before his /her nationality or tribe.

Mr. President, let your heart continue to be ruled by unconquerable goodwill and irresistible earnestness for Nigeria's continued oneness.

l wish you happy New Year.

-Olufemi Aduwo is

Executive Director/CEO

Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity Ltd/Gte

Fw: Letter To Mr.President

"I saw the tears of the oppressed and they have no comforter, power was on the side of their oppressors."

Ecclesiastes, 4;1.

I read and meditated on what the preacher says in this Chapter of the Holy Scriptures on new year day and tears flow.

Mr. President, the game so beloved by Nigerian political elite is going toward what is known in football as injury time; as all soccer fanatics know, it is indeed the most critical moment, distinguished by anxiety and acute uncertainty.

Within the twinkling of an eye, anything can go wrong and invariably, things do go wrong. Carefully laid down plans go up in smoke. The players themselves with tired limbs, decline vision and deteriorating coordination look towards the referees for early deliverance since event have conspired to make it impossible  to settle for a draw, since a clear winner must emerge; it is this fleeting moment that determines whether the match will end in penalty shootout or the phenomenon known as "sudden death".

This is the moment that has stolen upon us. As the country lurches and staggers from one crisis to another, as one measure is hurriedly abandoned for even more inept solutions, as the rule of law is recklessly abandoned at all levels of government for rule of man, it is clear that we are faced with what is known as an "organic crisis".

Nations are also like human beings and when an affliction becomes terminal, when suffering is unbearably acute, when human misery is so stark and remorseless, it is time to consider the virtues of Euthsnasia. Looking through the glass, the Niger Delta crisis,herdsmen crisis, the Boko Haram insurgence, the high level of corruption and looting across government's MDAs, it is glaring that we have in our hands a classic recipe for organic crisis. That is why we must talk.

Regardless of the centrifugal forces that may be pulling Mr President in different directions, restructuring  of the country is not negotiable. Our history is not our enemy but the way we deal or not with our history could be our enemy. A country that has not really faced its past cannot decide on her future.

Our forefathers spent many years like their counterparts in America deliberating on a People's Constitution that would accommodate Nigeria's diversity. They came up with the 1960 and '63 Constitutions. The Constitutions addressed the derivative principle; the areas which produce the bulk of the nation's resources have the right to a significant proportion for the revenues collected from the region.

Under the 1963 Constitution, the Federal Government was entitled to pay each region a sum equal to fifty percent of proceeds of mining rents and royalty in respect of minerals derived from each region. The Federal Government was obliged to credit to the Distributable Pool Account (DPA) thirty percent of the proceeds of the royalty and mining rent received by the Federal Government after remitted fifty percent to the

producing region. The Federal Government was only entitled to keep for itself only twenty percent. The thirty percent in the Distributable Pool Account were shared among the regions based on population, size etc. Each region was assured that she entitled as of right to about half of the entire proceeds of its region and also a further part constituting its own share from the Distributable Pool Account, that was the position till 1966.

With the advent of the military, the federal structure was dismantled and discarded. The fiscal system was also destroyed. These are the major outcome of military sabotage of the Nigerian federal system.

Mr.President, l do not belong to  the school of thought that believe the only quality upon which you need to run Nigerian well is good leadership. l believe that far more important than leadership are, solid political and economic structures. In other words, the structure of a house is far more important than the interior decoration. A good house must be able to withstand inclement weather and the rigour of reasonable existence; it must not be constantly under threat of collapse.

In a normally functioning federal system where fiscal relations among the federating states are properly established, it should not be, for instance, the  responsibility of the federal government to make pronouncement  on policy issues like salary increase that are bound to disproportionately affect the states. For instance, workers of the old Western Region were paid a minimum daily wage of five shillings, well above what was paid at the federal level and other regions. Governor of New York State of America earns more salary than the almighty American President.

Today, it is however ironical that the oil producing states and a highly commercial and industrial state like Lagos appear incapable of paying the level or above of wages being paid to federal employees. This is a manifestation of the distortion in fiscal federalism that needs to be corrected.

Mr. President, if only successive military regimes have curbed their penchant for suspending and undermining parts or whole of the constitution that are very necessary for good governance and socioeconomic wellbeing of the citizenry, may be Nigeria would have been saved these unnecessary crises that she presently finds herself. That is why ,we need a living Constitution in order to settle all these anomalies.

Thomas Paine in his 'Rights of Man', 1789, which is generally acknowledged as validly stated; "A Constitution has to be original act of the people. The people do ordain and establish… does not a mere echo of revolutionary sentiment."

It reflects a confirmation, that America constitution obtains its entire existent force and efficacy from the people to be governed by it.

That is why our constitution does not command the sacred obsession and is being violated with impunity by the government and people, because it is an imposition of military arrangement. Mr. President, the World is full of Multinational States. Those that practice true federalism with full autonomy to federating units such as France, America or Switzerland, succeeded. Those that have failed, have failed because they did not practice true and genuine federalism. They have run multicultural states along unitary lines and they have paid dearly for it.

Soviet Union was formed in 1919, it disintegrated in 1989 after a span of 70 years. Yugoslavia was formed in 1919, it disintegrated in 1991 after 72 years. A great lesson for us to learn. If after more than 100 years of Nigeria's creation and  more than 50 years as an independent State and  she still appears to be an artificial creation or just a geographical expression as stated by the legendary philosopher, Pa Obafemi Awolowo in 1947, that confirms that our leaders are truly not committed to the concept of a just and equitable Nigeria.

In a relaxed federation, different states develop at their own pace as it was done during the First Republic. l wish Josip Tito had done this there would still have been a Yugoslavia today. Many states in India use their languages up to University level, what is wrong in the North, East and West using Hausa, lgbo, and Yoruba respectively up to the University level?

Those aspiring for jobs at the federal and international levels will then strive to acquire proficiency in English.

As it is, we are entangled in a mission impossible of building a Nations State from some the incongruous, multicultural units. It is a task that cannot be accomplished.

Mr. President, Nigeria is a country of nationalities and nobody should shy away from this naked fact. There is no Nigerian who is a Nigerian first before his /her nationality or tribe.

Mr. President, let your heart continue to be ruled by unconquerable goodwill and irresistible earnestness for Nigeria's continued oneness.

l wish you happy New Year.

-Olufemi Aduwo is

Executive Director/CEO

Centre for Convention on Democratic Integrity Ltd/Gte

Africa is paving the way to a climate-resilient future

By Olufemi Aduwo

Since the presentation of the World Bank's first Africa Africa Climate Business Plan at the COP 21 in Paris in 2015 and the Transport Chapter in Marrakech in 2016, a lot of progress has been made on integrating climate adaptation and mitigation into our transport projects.

The World Bank initially committed about $3.2 billion toward mainstreaming climate action into transport programs in Sub-Saharan Africa in the form of infrastructure investments and technical assistance. Following the Paris Agreement, and building on African countries' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) , the size of this portfolio grew to $5 billion for 2016 to 2020.  In 2017, the institution added another $1.9 billion to that amount, bringing the total to $6.9 billion in projects with climate co-benefits— more than twice the size of the original portfolio. These investments will help improve the resilience of transport infrastructure to climate change and improve the carbon footprint of transport systems.
 
Climate change has already started to affect African countries' efforts to provide better transport services to their citizens.  African transport systems are vulnerable to multiple types of climate impact: sea level rise and storm surge, higher frequency and intensity of extreme wind and storm events, increased precipitation intensity, extreme heat and fire hazard, overall warming, and change in average precipitation patterns. The increased frequency and intensity of extreme climate event challenges the year-round availability of critical transport services: roads are damaged more often or are more costly to maintain; expensive infrastructure assets such as ports, railways or airports can be damaged by storms and storm surges, resulting in a short  life cycle and capacity than they were originally designed for. Critical infrastructure such as bridges continue to be built based on data and disaster risk patterns from decades ago, ignoring the current trend of increased climate risk. For Sub-Saharan Africa alone, it is estimated that climate change will threaten to increase road maintenance costs by 270% if no action is taken.

Since the adoption of the first concept of the Africa Climate Business Plan, several success stories have demonstrated how the World Bank is continuing to standardize the approach to accounting for climate finance in its projects and define the contribution each project is making to the reduction in GHG emissions. The move will lead to more uniform reporting of mitigation and adaptation co-benefits, particularly as explicit inclusion of climate-smart measures becomes more common in World Bank-financed operations.

In the Central African Republic, for instance, a new project to upgrade rural roads has been developed to take climate change into consideration through every step, from infrastructure design to road construction works and maintenance arrangements. This long-term, climate-smart approach is expected to improve the durability of road improvements by a significant margin.  A community-based maintenance system will make a particularly important contribution to the climate resilience of the targeted roads.
 
Another example of how the World Bank has successfully assisted African governments in incorporating climate adaptation and mitigation into project design is the $300 million Dakar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) pilot project which was approved by the World Bank in 2017. The project design includes the construction of 18.3 kilometers of fully segregated bus lanes in Dakar, build or provide terminals, metro-style stations, bus fleets, and intelligent transportation systems (ITS), improve access for pedestrians, better integrate the system into the urban environment, and restructure the public transit network.

The project is expected to reduce long-term greenhouse gas emission by 1.5 million tons of CO2 emissions equivalent by shifting riders from older buses to new, efficient, high-quality buses and by adopting a holistic, integrated land use and transport planning policy.

For the people of Dakar, the project will increase access to public transit services, reduce travel time, and improve comfort and safety. For public transit users within a one-hour radius, it will increase access to employment opportunities by 7%. By 2020, two-thirds of the population will have access to at least 8,000 more job opportunities than they do today. The increase will disproportionately benefit poorer areas in the northern suburbs, where access to more than 120,000 employment opportunities will be made possible.

This pilot project is included in Senegal's Nationally Determined Contribution and can easily be expanded or replicated in other African cities facing the same mobility challenges as Dakar. The project is the backbone of an ambitious and comprehensive strategy for sustainable urban mobility and low-emission transport modes. It is included in the Emerging Senegal Plan, the government's plan to make Senegal an emerging economy by 2035.

The road connectivity program in the Central African Republic and the Dakar BRT are among many projects that demonstrate how interventions looking to improve mobility, boost economic growth, and create jobs can also deliver significant climate co-benefits. This is at the core of the World Bank's approach to sustainable development: our work is based on the premise that socioeconomic gains and climate action shouldn't be seen as conflicting interests, and instead can reinforce each other. With the expected surge in urbanization and infrastructure investment across Africa, the region has a unique opportunity to grow in a way that is economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable. The World Bank's Africa Transport team stands ready to support these efforts and develop innovative solutions that will help turn this vision into reality.

--
Posted By Blogger to Welcome to <br> Voxpopulid on 1/05/2018 05:55:00 am

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Posted By Blogger to Welcome to <br> Voxpopulid on 1/05/2018 06:03:00 am

Africa is paving the way to a climate-resilient future

Since the presentation of the World Bank's first Africa Africa Climate Business Plan at the COP 21 in Paris in 2015 and the Transport Chapter in Marrakech in 2016, a lot of progress has been made on integrating climate adaptation and mitigation into our transport projects.

The World Bank initially committed about $3.2 billion toward mainstreaming climate action into transport programs in Sub-Saharan Africa in the form of infrastructure investments and technical assistance. Following the Paris Agreement, and building on African countries' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) , the size of this portfolio grew to $5 billion for 2016 to 2020.  In 2017, the institution added another $1.9 billion to that amount, bringing the total to $6.9 billion in projects with climate co-benefits— more than twice the size of the original portfolio. These investments will help improve the resilience of transport infrastructure to climate change and improve the carbon footprint of transport systems.
 
Climate change has already started to affect African countries' efforts to provide better transport services to their citizens.  African transport systems are vulnerable to multiple types of climate impact: sea level rise and storm surge, higher frequency and intensity of extreme wind and storm events, increased precipitation intensity, extreme heat and fire hazard, overall warming, and change in average precipitation patterns. The increased frequency and intensity of extreme climate event challenges the year-round availability of critical transport services: roads are damaged more often or are more costly to maintain; expensive infrastructure assets such as ports, railways or airports can be damaged by storms and storm surges, resulting in a short  life cycle and capacity than they were originally designed for. Critical infrastructure such as bridges continue to be built based on data and disaster risk patterns from decades ago, ignoring the current trend of increased climate risk. For Sub-Saharan Africa alone, it is estimated that climate change will threaten to increase road maintenance costs by 270% if no action is taken.

Since the adoption of the first concept of the Africa Climate Business Plan, several success stories have demonstrated how the World Bank is continuing to standardize the approach to accounting for climate finance in its projects and define the contribution each project is making to the reduction in GHG emissions. The move will lead to more uniform reporting of mitigation and adaptation co-benefits, particularly as explicit inclusion of climate-smart measures becomes more common in World Bank-financed operations.

In the Central African Republic, for instance, a new project to upgrade rural roads has been developed to take climate change into consideration through every step, from infrastructure design to road construction works and maintenance arrangements. This long-term, climate-smart approach is expected to improve the durability of road improvements by a significant margin.  A community-based maintenance system will make a particularly important contribution to the climate resilience of the targeted roads.
 
Another example of how the World Bank has successfully assisted African governments in incorporating climate adaptation and mitigation into project design is the $300 million Dakar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) pilot project which was approved by the World Bank in 2017. The project design includes the construction of 18.3 kilometers of fully segregated bus lanes in Dakar, build or provide terminals, metro-style stations, bus fleets, and intelligent transportation systems (ITS), improve access for pedestrians, better integrate the system into the urban environment, and restructure the public transit network.

The project is expected to reduce long-term greenhouse gas emission by 1.5 million tons of CO2 emissions equivalent by shifting riders from older buses to new, efficient, high-quality buses and by adopting a holistic, integrated land use and transport planning policy.

For the people of Dakar, the project will increase access to public transit services, reduce travel time, and improve comfort and safety. For public transit users within a one-hour radius, it will increase access to employment opportunities by 7%. By 2020, two-thirds of the population will have access to at least 8,000 more job opportunities than they do today. The increase will disproportionately benefit poorer areas in the northern suburbs, where access to more than 120,000 employment opportunities will be made possible.

This pilot project is included in Senegal's Nationally Determined Contribution and can easily be expanded or replicated in other African cities facing the same mobility challenges as Dakar. The project is the backbone of an ambitious and comprehensive strategy for sustainable urban mobility and low-emission transport modes. It is included in the Emerging Senegal Plan, the government's plan to make Senegal an emerging economy by 2035.

The road connectivity program in the Central African Republic and the Dakar BRT are among many projects that demonstrate how interventions looking to improve mobility, boost economic growth, and create jobs can also deliver significant climate co-benefits. This is at the core of the World Bank's approach to sustainable development: our work is based on the premise that socioeconomic gains and climate action shouldn't be seen as conflicting interests, and instead can reinforce each other. With the expected surge in urbanization and infrastructure investment across Africa, the region has a unique opportunity to grow in a way that is economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable. The World Bank's Africa Transport team stands ready to support these efforts and develop innovative solutions that will help turn this vision into reality.

--
Posted By Blogger to Welcome to <br> Voxpopulid on 1/05/2018 05:55:00 am

Africa is paving the way for Climate resilient

Since the presentation of the World Bank's first Africa Africa Climate Business Plan at the COP 21 in Paris in 2015 and the Transport Chapter in Marrakech in 2016, a lot of progress has been made on integrating climate adaptation and mitigation into our transport projects.

The World Bank initially committed about $3.2 billion toward mainstreaming climate action into transport programs in Sub-Saharan Africa in the form of infrastructure investments and technical assistance. Following the Paris Agreement, and building on African countries' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) , the size of this portfolio grew to $5 billion for 2016 to 2020.  In 2017, the institution added another $1.9 billion to that amount, bringing the total to $6.9 billion in projects with climate co-benefits— more than twice the size of the original portfolio. These investments will help improve the resilience of transport infrastructure to climate change and improve the carbon footprint of transport systems.
 
Climate change has already started to affect African countries' efforts to provide better transport services to their citizens.  African transport systems are vulnerable to multiple types of climate impact: sea level rise and storm surge, higher frequency and intensity of extreme wind and storm events, increased precipitation intensity, extreme heat and fire hazard, overall warming, and change in average precipitation patterns. The increased frequency and intensity of extreme climate event challenges the year-round availability of critical transport services: roads are damaged more often or are more costly to maintain; expensive infrastructure assets such as ports, railways or airports can be damaged by storms and storm surges, resulting in a short  life cycle and capacity than they were originally designed for. Critical infrastructure such as bridges continue to be built based on data and disaster risk patterns from decades ago, ignoring the current trend of increased climate risk. For Sub-Saharan Africa alone, it is estimated that climate change will threaten to increase road maintenance costs by 270% if no action is taken.

Since the adoption of the first concept of the Africa Climate Business Plan, several success stories have demonstrated how the World Bank is continuing to standardize the approach to accounting for climate finance in its projects and define the contribution each project is making to the reduction in GHG emissions. The move will lead to more uniform reporting of mitigation and adaptation co-benefits, particularly as explicit inclusion of climate-smart measures becomes more common in World Bank-financed operations.

In the Central African Republic, for instance, a new project to upgrade rural roads has been developed to take climate change into consideration through every step, from infrastructure design to road construction works and maintenance arrangements. This long-term, climate-smart approach is expected to improve the durability of road improvements by a significant margin.  A community-based maintenance system will make a particularly important contribution to the climate resilience of the targeted roads.
 
Another example of how the World Bank has successfully assisted African governments in incorporating climate adaptation and mitigation into project design is the $300 million Dakar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) pilot project which was approved by the World Bank in 2017. The project design includes the construction of 18.3 kilometers of fully segregated bus lanes in Dakar, build or provide terminals, metro-style stations, bus fleets, and intelligent transportation systems (ITS), improve access for pedestrians, better integrate the system into the urban environment, and restructure the public transit network.

The project is expected to reduce long-term greenhouse gas emission by 1.5 million tons of CO2 emissions equivalent by shifting riders from older buses to new, efficient, high-quality buses and by adopting a holistic, integrated land use and transport planning policy.

For the people of Dakar, the project will increase access to public transit services, reduce travel time, and improve comfort and safety. For public transit users within a one-hour radius, it will increase access to employment opportunities by 7%. By 2020, two-thirds of the population will have access to at least 8,000 more job opportunities than they do today. The increase will disproportionately benefit poorer areas in the northern suburbs, where access to more than 120,000 employment opportunities will be made possible.

This pilot project is included in Senegal's Nationally Determined Contribution and can easily be expanded or replicated in other African cities facing the same mobility challenges as Dakar. The project is the backbone of an ambitious and comprehensive strategy for sustainable urban mobility and low-emission transport modes. It is included in the Emerging Senegal Plan, the government's plan to make Senegal an emerging economy by 2035.

The road connectivity program in the Central African Republic and the Dakar BRT are among many projects that demonstrate how interventions looking to improve mobility, boost economic growth, and create jobs can also deliver significant climate co-benefits. This is at the core of the World Bank's approach to sustainable development: our work is based on the premise that socioeconomic gains and climate action shouldn't be seen as conflicting interests, and instead can reinforce each other. With the expected surge in urbanization and infrastructure investment across Africa, the region has a unique opportunity to grow in a way that is economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable. The World Bank's Africa Transport team stands ready to support these efforts and develop innovative solutions that will help turn this vision into reality.