🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Chartered Institute of Building Nigeria Hub advocates smart infrastructure for climate challenges
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The Chartered Institute of Building Nigeria Hub has called for the adoption of smart infrastructure and sustainable construction practices to address Nigeria's growing climate challenges. Onabekun Adekunle, Head of the Institute, stated that climate change necessitates a re-evaluation of planning, design, and construction processes to ensure sustainability and resilience. He warned that poor planning and unregulated urbanization exacerbate environmental degradation and social instability, contributing to resource scarcity, community displacement, and socio-economic tensions. Adekunle linked environmental issues like flooding, erosion, and desertification to livelihood threats. He emphasized that strategically planned and sustainably implemented infrastructure can foster stability, prosperity, and national cohesion. Adekunle urged stakeholders in construction and urban development to embrace green building practices, energy efficiency, and responsible material use, advocating for reduced carbon footprints and waste minimization. He also recommended integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance principles into infrastructure development and ensuring strict compliance with Environmental Impact Assessments. Adekunle concluded that climate action is a strategic investment in Nigeria's future, capable of reducing vulnerabilities, strengthening resilience, and creating economic opportunities, stressing that progress should not compromise the planet.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf has signed executive orders prohibiting the sale, trafficking, and abuse of illicit substances and unregistered pharmaceutical products without valid prescriptions. The new measures also include a movement restriction from 6 pm to 10 am in areas identified as centers of drug abuse and criminal activities. Governor Yusuf stated that these actions are in response to drug abuse being a significant threat to public safety, security, and social stability in Kano. Security agencies have been authorized to stop, search, arrest, and prosecute offenders, with the possibility of revoking Certificates of Occupancy for properties used in illicit drug trafficking. A Multi-Agency Anti-Substance Abuse Task Force has been inaugurated to enforce these directives, coordinate intelligence gathering, conduct enforcement operations, and implement public enlightenment campaigns and rehabilitation programs. The task force, led by Muhuyi Rimingado, includes representatives from various security agencies, traditional institutions, religious bodies, civil society organizations, and the business community, and is mandated to dismantle criminal hideouts and drug dens across the state.
Must ReadThe Federal Government of Nigeria plans to continue phasing out electricity subsidies and transitioning to cost-reflective tariffs across the power sector. Special Adviser to the President on Power Infrastructure, Sadiq Wanka, stated that vulnerable Nigerians will receive targeted support, possibly through a proposed Power Consumer Assistance Fund. Wanka acknowledged that cost-reflective tariffs are a challenging topic but affirmed the government's commitment to the policy, expecting the transition to occur within the next year or so. He highlighted that Nigeria's electricity sector lags behind many emerging economies in per capita consumption and infrastructure, requiring about $9 billion to $12 billion annually in investments through 2045, significantly more than the current $1 billion. The Electricity Act 2023 has liberalized the sector, creating new investment opportunities, particularly in embedded generation, mini-grids, industrial clusters, and renewable energy sources like solar and hydropower, which are projected to constitute 80% of installed capacity by 2045. Executive Director of Governance and Sustainability at Sahara Group, Ejiro Gray, emphasized the need for African journalism to critically examine energy transition narratives rather than merely echoing external assumptions.
Must ReadFormer Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, encountered anti-immigrant chants outside a South African court on Monday during her appearance in a case challenging her deportation. Adetshina was arrested in Cape Town last month for allegedly residing in the country illegally and is seeking to prevent the South African Department of Home Affairs from deporting her. The Cape Town Regional Court adjourned the matter until August 19. A video circulating on social media shows women shouting remarks such as “Go home, Nigeria is your home. We wouldn’t accept you in South Africa” at Adetshina as she left the court. This incident has sparked online reactions, with many users condemning the remarks as xenophobic, and occurs amidst ongoing debate regarding immigration and the treatment of foreign nationals in South Africa.