Climate Watch: FEC approves flood intervention contracts ahead of rainy season

Despite directly impacting our communities, health and livelihood, climate-related reports usually take a back seat to dominant news beats like politics and business. Climate Watch aims to ensure you never miss important stories on climate change and actions being taken towards limiting its impact.

Here is a round-up of last week’s climate stories: 

Following the hike in cooking gas prices, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited announced on January 13, that it will supply 100 percent of its liquefied petroleum gas (butane and propane) to the Nigerian market. In response to this, Sharon Ikeazor, minister of state for environment, said the decision to suspend cooking gas exportation will help restore forests which are mowed for wood and also address climate change in Nigeria. Find out more here. 

Meanwhile, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, made a case for gas during the 2022 World Economic Forum last week. He asked that African countries be allowed to use gas as a transition fuel. He said as the world aims for a net zero future, Africa’s economy should not be jeopardised but be allowed to have a just transition using gas. He also called for more investments in Nigeria’s renewable energy scheme, aimed at electrifying five million homes with solar energy. Read further here.

The federal government in collaboration with Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), an international organisation that works to ensure a clean energy transition, said it is set to launch the Nigeria integrated energy planning tool. In a post on its website, SEforALL stated that the launch which will take place on February 3 will be hosted by Osinbajo. It also said the integrated energy planning tool will be data-driven and interactive and help Nigeria achieve its 2060 net zero energy transition goals. The tool will be powered by extensive geospatial modeling and layers of data, and for the first time cover electrification, clean cooking, and productive use.

Ahead of the rainy season which is predicted to begin in March of every year. The federal executive council (FEC) has approved contract awards for flood control in the six geo-political zones. Lai Mohammed, minister of information, said the 14 projects were approved for award under the ecological fund. In two memos presented on behalf of the president, Mohammed said one was for the approval for the award of contracts for the 2022 emergency procurement of first and second quarters accelerated soil erosion, flood and pollution control intervention projects. A total of  N15.1 billion was approved for the contract awards. Get more information on this here.