Connect with us

Metro

27 million people going hungry as worst in decade food crisis hits West Africa – Report

Published

on

A report by West Africa Oxfam says West Africa has been hit by its worst food crisis in a decade, with 27 million people going hungry with a possibility of a rise to 38 million by June.

This alert is issued by eleven international organizations in response to new analyses of the March 2022 Cadre Harmonisé (CH), ahead of the virtual conference on the food and nutrition crisis in the Sahel and Lake Chad organized by the European Union and the Sahel and West Africa Club.

The Regional Director of Oxfam, a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice, Assalama Dawalack Sidi, speaking on the situation said “This is 40 percent more than the number we had last year at the same time, at the same period and this is four times more than the numbers we used to see ten years ago… so this is why we really want to call on donors’ attention, on governments’ attention because we know that there are so many other crises here and there but this crisis does deserve to be visible”.

The body further says drought and worsening floods have reduced the food sources as well as regional conflicts and the war in Ukraine.

“Six out of the 12 countries where Oxfam operates in West Africa import their wheat from Ukraine or Russia, and because of this crisis in Ukraine, this is no longer possible. And if they cannot import wheat, that means it is creating a shortage in the food available in the countries and therefore increasing the prices and making it very difficult for people to afford food”, explains Assalama Dawalack Sidi.

Recall that last month, Africa’s richest man, Dangote, Dangote Group CEO, Aliko Dangote of Nigeria which is the largest economy in West Africa asked the country’s President to place an embargo on the export of maize to ensure food security in the country amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

“We would start seeing people exporting maize to earn foreign exchange, which I believe we should stop,” he pointed out. “We need to grow more so we don’t have a shortage of food. It is about food security, and it’s serious.” Dangote said.

 

Metro

Nigeria to begin seasonal reviews of oil firm’s plans on gas flaring

Published

on

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, has revealed that the government intends to begin seasonal reviews of the plans of international and indigenous oil companies.

The minister said the plan will be executed through the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency to ensure the companies stay on course to end routine gas flaring by 2030.

Salako made this statement at the national stakeholder’s engagement meeting on methane mitigation and reduction in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector on Tuesday in Abuja.

The health and well-being of present and future generations, as well as the objectives of climate protection, are seriously threatened by methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that has a far higher warning potential than carbon dioxide.

Methane emissions reductions will bolster climate action and yield advantages for public health, food security, and economic growth, particularly in the oil and gas industry.

He noted that “Collaborative efforts of government institutions have led to the development of methane guidelines.  In addition, the Federal Ministry of Environment through the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency will be commencing the periodic review of the plans of international and indigenous oil companies to ensure they stay on course to end routine gas flaring by latest 2030.

“Furthermore, Nigeria is poised to embark on methane reduction projects that will enable Nigeria’s commitment to methane reduction and meeting net zero emissions by 2060. It is therefore reassuring to see initiatives such as the project methane mitigation and reduction in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which is being initiated with today’s event.

“This national stakeholders engagement event is expected to serve as a platform to discuss the complexities of methane mitigation and reduction within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Presentations here today, will provide insights and an overview of existing policies, and implementation strategies, including key stakeholders involved in these efforts. Through rigorous research and collaborative efforts, we can identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for effective national actions.”

Nigeria is one of the largest oil producers in the world, as well as being a mineral-rich state but has had to deal with environmental hazards from the exploration of the resources. Nigeria is dealing with a wide range of environmental issues, including water and air pollution, oil spills, deforestation, desertification, erosion, and flooding (induced by insufficient drainage systems), which are primarily the results of mineral extraction activities.

Continue Reading

Metro

US earmarks $10m concessional loan to Zambian enterprises

Published

on

About 260 Small and Medium Scale enterprises in Zambia will benefit from $10 million concessional loans by the United States government.

This was revealed by some US Senators who met with President Hakainde Hichilema in Lusaka on Tuesday on the sidelines of a meeting to learn more about the impact of US government investments and programmes in the country.

US Senator Patty Murray who led the delegation that met with Hichilema said the funds would be made available by the International Development Finance Corporation (IDFC) and would be used as concessional loans for the enterprises to expand their storage and production capacity for maize and soya beans.

Murray added that the loan would also improve production of other nutritious and affordable consumer food products, thereby strengthening food security in the country which is currently being ravaged by devastating drought.

“The loan facility was a follow up to the earlier support from the U.S. Agency for International Development, last month at the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment Lobito Corridor Private Sector Investment Forum in Zambia,” Murray said.

The delegation, which had Senators Christopher Coons, Gary Peters, Catherine Cortez Masto and Peter Welch in tow, also met with key government ministers and officials over the two days they spent in the country.

As part of the meeting, the US delegation said they would explore how the US government can support reforms to the business enabling environment to attract greater investment and better spur economic growth.

The delegation also discussed decades-long US support for the health and agriculture sectors and strategies for systematically expanding agricultural productivity and sustaining Zambia’s improvements in public health, as well as emphasizing the central roles of the rule of law and fundamental freedoms to accountable and responsive democratic governance.

After the meeting, President Hichilema took to his Facebook page to post about the positive outcome of the dialogue.

“This morning at State House, we held a meeting with the U.S. congressional delegation led by Senator Patty Murray.

“The other senators included Senator Chris Coons from Delaware, Senator Gary Peters from Michigan, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto from Nevada and Senator Peter Welch from Vernmont.

“During the meeting, a wide range of issues were discussed including the friendship that Zambia shares with the United States.

“We briefed the delegation on how Zambia is repositioning its social, economic and political journey, with the national development plan as the blue print

“We also discussed other issues including the drought, food security and jobs for the women and youth.

“We also thanked them for the support in the recently concluded debt restructuring process. We shall continue to engage with partners for the betterment of our country.”

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Sports16 hours ago

Tragedy as coach killed, players injured in Sierra Leone club bus crash

One of the coaches of Sierra Leonean club, Port Authority FC, Lamine Bangoura, a former international, has been confirmed killed...

Tech16 hours ago

Radisson Group targets 25 hotels in Morocco by 2030

The Radisson Hotel Group says it has set a goal of setting up 25 hotels in Morocco, which will expand...

Culture16 hours ago

Moroccans celebrate ‘special towncrier’ who works only during Ramadan

Moroccans have continued to celebrate a “special towncrier” otherwise known as “Nafar”, who works only during the Ramadan period. The...

Metro18 hours ago

Nigeria to begin seasonal reviews of oil firm’s plans on gas flaring

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, has revealed that the government intends to begin seasonal reviews of...

Metro20 hours ago

US earmarks $10m concessional loan to Zambian enterprises

About 260 Small and Medium Scale enterprises in Zambia will benefit from $10 million concessional loans by the United States...

Strictly Personal22 hours ago

Road deaths are symbolic of our national failure, By Tee Ngugi

“Killer roads claim 25 lives,” screamed the headline of the Daily Nation on March 18. Among this number were 11...

VenturesNow22 hours ago

Ghana seeks to hasten debt restructuring talks

Barely days after Zambia announced a significant development in resolving its protracted debt restructuring,  Mohammed Amin Adam, Ghana’s Finance Minister,...

Politics23 hours ago

South Africa: Opposition Democratic Alliance open to coalition with ruling ANC

The Democratic Alliance (DA), the second-most popular party in South Africa, has revealed that it would not rule out a...

Metro24 hours ago

‘Trust in Tinubu, things will get better soon’, Buhari’s ex-spokesman Adesina tells Nigerians

A former spokesman to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Femi Adesina, has joined his voice to those asking Nigerians to be patient...

Tech2 days ago

AgriTech4Egypt Innovation Challenge opens applications for tech-prenuers

The 2024 edition of the AgriTech4Egypt Innovation Challenge has called for applications from tech-prenuers and purpose-driven scientists working on agri-tech...

Trending