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ECOSYSTEM: Nigeria can generate $9 trillion in ecosystem services, says ERA/FoEN

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World Environmental Day: Nigeria can generate $9 trillion in ecosystem services, says ERA/FoEN

World Environmental Day: Nigeria can generate $9 trillion in ecosystem services, says ERA/FoEN

From Elvis Omoregie, Benin
The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN, yesterday, quoted the United Nations to have said that the Nigerian government can generate up to $9 trillion if it secures 350 million hectares of its degraded terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems between 2021-2030.
World Environmental Day: Nigeria can generate $9 trillion in ecosystem services, says ERA/FoEN
His words”According to the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem restoration 2021 -2030, “the restoration of 350 million hectares of degraded terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems could generate $9 trillion in ecosystem services.
” Restoration could also remove 13 to 26 gigatons of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
“The economic benefits of such interventions exceed nine times the cost of investment, whereas inaction is at least three times more costly than ecosystem restoration.”
This was contained in a statement signed by its Programmes Director and Administration, Mike Karikpo, Esq and made available to newsmen in Benin City.
He said that ecosystems are dynamic communities of plants, animals, and microorganisms interacting with the physical environment, landscapes, lakes, and oceans.
Karikpo said, however, owing to human activities especially since the advent of the industrial revolution and a neoliberal economic ideology that prioritizes profit over sustainability, they are being degraded at astronomical rates across the world and many of them may have been destroyed irreversibly.
Karikpo maintained that the ecosystems across the world support life on earth and considering the multiple crises we face such as the climate crisis, the coronavirus pandemic, financial and economic crisis, time is of the essence as governments at all levels, individuals need to act now to save our planet and save lives.
 The Programmes Director and Administration said, due to the importance of the ecosystems to the survival of all creatures, the United Nations has therefore set aside 2021-2030 as the UN Decade on its Restoration.
He stressed that degraded and destroyed ecosystems already cost the global economy 10% of its annual output and without concerted global actions to preserve, restore and enhance the viability of it, our capacity to make progress in critical areas such as education, health, and employment will be greatly compromised.
But Dr. Godwin Ojo, Executive Director, ERA/FoEN stated that “Restoring them will enhance biodiversity, clean polluted rivers, and contaminated soil and improve local livelihoods of our people.”
He stated further that, “its restoration will enhance the capacity of our soils and forests to store greenhouse gases rather than the false solutions of carbon capture and storage facilities that do not cut emissions at source and poses grave danger to ecosystems.
Speaking also, Chief Saint Emma Pii, member, Bodo Council of Chiefs, and Chairman, Board of Trustees, ERA/FoEN stated that, “our surest way of escaping the looming danger is to live in harmony with nature.

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RAMADAN CHARITY: TY BURATAI HUMANITY CARE FOUNDATION AND UFAM HOLDINGS LTD EXTEND FOOD RELIEF TO MANDO COMMUNITY

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*RAMADAN CHARITY: TY BURATAI HUMANITY CARE FOUNDATION AND UFAM HOLDINGS LTD EXTEND FOOD RELIEF TO MANDO COMMUNITY*

 

 

 

In a remarkable display of compassion and community support, the TY Buratai Humanity Care Foundation, in collaboration with UFAM Holdings Ltd, successfully distributed food relief to over 1,000 less privileged individuals in the Mando community, Afaka, Igabi, Kaduna State, as part of the Ramadan celebrations.

 

The initiative, aimed at alleviating hunger during this sacred month, saw community members receiving essential food items to ensure they can observe Ramadan with dignity and sustenance. The distribution took place at the Skill Acquisition Centre, where beneficiaries gathered to collect their food packages.

 

During the event, the Deputy Chief Imam of Mando Central Mosque, Sheikh Bashir Adam Saleh Algoni, expressed his gratitude for the philanthropic effort. “We appreciate this gesture immensely,” he stated. He urged the public to keep the Grand Patron of the Foundation, His Excellency Amb Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai, in their prayers, acknowledging his ongoing commitment to helping the less privileged. He also highlighted the contributions of UFAM Holdings Ltd, urging support for their charitable endeavors.

 

Beneficiaries of the food relief expressed their profound gratitude, offering prayers for Allah’s blessings on both the foundation and the company for their generous assistance during this holy month.

 

In his remarks, the Special Guest of Honour, His Excellency Amb Lt Gen Tukur Yusufu Buratai CFR Rtd, former Chief of Army Staff and Grand Patron of the Foundation, who was represented by Col Haruna Idris Zaria Rtd, thanked the public for their continuous prayers. He emphasized the importance of using the month of Ramadan to pray for the betterment of the country and an end to the insecurity plaguing the nation. He also urged the community to support and pray for security agencies, recognizing their sacrifices in maintaining peace and safety.

 

This charitable initiative not only highlights the spirit of Ramadan but also reinforces the importance of community solidarity and mutual support during challenging times.

RAMADAN CHARITY: TY BURATAI HUMANITY CARE FOUNDATION AND UFAM HOLDINGS LTD EXTEND FOOD RELIEF TO MANDO COMMUNITY*

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Obi’s Reform Agenda Rekindles Scrutiny of Nigeria’s Political Wealth

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Obi’s Reform Agenda Rekindles Scrutiny of Nigeria’s Political Wealth

By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG

“Momodu’s remarks spotlight elite affluence as analysts warn of resistance to cost-cutting reforms.”

Prominent publisher and politician Dele Momodu has reignited debate over the vast wealth attributed to sections of Nigeria’s political class, asserting publicly that certain politicians could raise as much as $500 million at short notice to secure presidential power. Though no names were mentioned, the claim has sharpened national conversations about transparency, accountability, and the true cost of governance.

Nigeria’s persistent struggle with corruption is well documented by bodies such as Transparency International, whose global assessments frequently rank the country low on public sector integrity. The optics of expansive private mansions, luxury assets, and foreign-based lifestyles among political families continue to fuel public suspicion, particularly in a nation grappling with inflation, debt pressures, and widespread poverty.

The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of reform advocacy by Peter Obi, who has consistently argued for cutting governance costs and institutionalizing fiscal discipline. Political economist Professor Pat Utomi maintains that entrenched elites often resist structural reform, describing elite capture as a systemic barrier to democratic accountability. Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka has similarly warned that democracy without transparency breeds cynicism and instability.

While no specific officeholders have been formally indicted in connection with Momodu’s remarks, the broader issue remains potent: public demand for principled leadership is rising, and scrutiny of political wealth is unlikely to fade as future elections approach.

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Obi Would Defeat Even Jesus at the Polls”: Viral Remark Sparks Political Debate Online

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Obi Would Defeat Even Jesus at the Polls”: Viral Remark Sparks Political Debate Online

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

A viral statement by a prominent supporter of former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has ignited widespread reactions across Nigeria’s political landscape. The supporter, popularly known as Mama Pee, declared during a live social media broadcast earlier this week that “If Jesus comes down to contest in Nigeria, Obi go win am,” a remark intended to emphasize Obi’s perceived popularity among his core supporters.

 

The comment, which surfaced on X and Facebook, quickly generated sharp responses from supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). While many Labour Party loyalists defended the statement as political exaggeration, critics described it as reflective of growing personality-driven politics.

 

Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the Labour Party and placed third according to official results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, has not issued any public response to the remark.

 

The episode underscores the continued intensity of political engagement following the 2023 general elections, with online discourse increasingly shaping narratives around Nigeria’s evolving democratic space.

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