The National Association of Charcoal Producers, Dealers, Exporters and Afforestation of Nigeria (NACPDEAN), says it is committed to sustainable forest development that would address high forests deficit in Nigeria.

The President of the association, Mr Babatunde Edu, said this on Saturday in Kaduna during the inauguration of Kaduna State officials of the association.

He said, that their focus is to ensure planting of trees and establishment of more private indigenous plantations of economic trees.

The association was also working towards creation of industrial alternative charcoal that is not made from wood.

According to him, though Nigeria has earned as much as over 73.2 million U.S. dollars in charcoal trade as at 2019, their focus is to ensure sustainable environment.

The association also held sensitisation on its activities that centred around the theme, “Advocacy on Sustainable Afforestation and Reforestation for Kaduna State Posterity.”

NACPDEAN was established to streamline the sector and ensure orderliness in the conduct of charcoal commodity business within and outside the country.

“It is important to inform you of the high level of forests deficit gaps in Nigeria according to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

“Reports from the Global Forest Watch indicates that, between 2001 and 2021, Nigeria lost 1.14 million hectares of trees cover as a result of the several activities like industrial agriculture and food, which takes 80% of deforestation.

“Logging, petroleum exploration, urban development, forest burning, grazing and other activities are involved in deforestation as well,” Edu said.

He explained that from 1960 to early 70s when attention was paid to the sector, export of wood products and agricultural commodities provided more than 70% of the country’s GDP.

“Based on the above point, NACPDEAN was formed to enforce compliance of tree planting in the charcoal sector,” Edu said.

He said that the global wood charcoal market revenue amounted to $24.2 billion in 2018, and has remained relatively unchanged since then.

“In production as at 2019, Nigeria is ranked the second largest producer in the world with 4.5 million tonnes after Brazil with 5.5 million tonnes, and first in Africa, with a combined 28% share of global production by FAO,” he added.

According to him, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) ranked Nigeria 8th in global wood charcoal consumption in 2019.

Edu believes that with proper planning, Nigeria will earn much foreign exchange from the global charcoal market, without hurting the environment.

“The main objective of the association is for the nation to have abundant forest cover and sustainable forest development,” he added.

Edu said during the inauguration of new officials of the association for Kaduna State, that the task before them was to curb deforestation.

“Our plan in Kaduna state is to put in more efforts in curbing forest crime, deforestation, and achieving afforestation with adequate revenue earnings.

“And boosting the sub-sector to yield more employment and empowerment for our members, stakeholders, communities, and the government of Kaduna state,” the association president said.

In his remarks, the Secretary-General of NACPDEAN, Mr Kngsley Amadi, appealed to Kaduna State Government to facilitate compliance of stakeholders to afforestation policy.

Amadi urged the government to provide the association with land across the state for its afforestation and reforestation project.

He said the government should also enforce compliance to Afforestation Pass and Right.

This, he said, is a compulsory requisite for charcoal stakeholders, to champion sustainability drive and adherence to the newly revised charcoal guidelines.

In his remarks, Kaduna State Governor, Sen. Uba Sani, represented by the state Director of Forestry, Mr Hassan Chumbi, urged them to embrace modern ways of producing charcoal without degrading the environment.

He said that the government would partner with them to ensure the success their afforestation and reforestation project in the state.

The Director-General of Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Mr Obadiah Nkon, says the office increased revenue generation to about N18 billion from 2019 to May 2023.

Nkon said that out of the amount, N4.3 billion was generated in 2021 alone, being the highest collection in a year since the inception of the MCO.

According to him, the MCO has recorded tremendous achievements in the last four years, from 2019 to date.

“The key among the achievements include upgrading of the SIGTIM software to the web-based online mineral title administration and management, which is the electronic mining cadastre system.

“The electronic mining cadastre system (eMC+) was unveiled to stakeholders on Nov. 1, 2022 to improve service delivery.

“The eMC+ will also ensure transparency and accessibility of information,” he said.

The D-G said that the adoption of digitalisation was key to reducing operational cost and further reduce impediments to trade and access to market to both government and private business operators.

He said that the office had participated in numerous local and international conferences, such as London Mines and Money, Australia Down Under, Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) to woo prospective investors.

“Other conferences include participating in African Mining Indaba, Capetown, South Africa.

“Participation in the conferences has served as a dependable platform for attracting foreign investment to the mining sector.

“The office has as well increased in mineral title application submission by investors in the mineral sector.”

Nkon also said that the MCO had completed e-recording and archiving of mineral title documents ready for integration into the eMC+ online system.

He said that the office had also recorded achievements in the areas of acquisition, geo-referencing and geocoding of topographic maps of Nigeria for integration into the mining cadastre digital database.

According to him, the office has been able to produce thematic mapping of mineral title restricted in protected areas in Nigeria mining cadastre digital database.

“The MCO is working more closely with other departments and agencies of the Mines and Steel Development Ministry, for synergy and cooperation in the sector.

“We have established offices in six geo-political zones of the country with creation of the press and Research, Development and Sustainability units at the headquarters.

“This is to effectively enhance the sector for efficiency and transparency of the office activities across the country,”he said.

The Lagos State Government is calling on residents to be safety conscious in the process of converting petrol to Gas for domestic use.

The call follows the recent removal of subsidy payments on petrol in the country, which has led to a hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, and pushed many Nigerians to explore new ways of powering their generators by converting petrol power generating sets to Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG generators.

The Director General, Lagos Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, mentioned that the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration is committed to ensure safety of lives and properties of its citizens and will leave nothing to chance to intensify advocacy in that regard.

He stated that powering generators and plants with alternative fuels like Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) offer several benefits.

According to him “CNG and LPG are generally cheaper than petrol, offering potential cost savings over the long term. These fuels are cleaner, and so do not contaminate the air as much as petrol and diesel do Natural gas and LPG are often more abundant and domestically sourced in certain regions compared to petrol. This can provide greater fuel availability and independence from fluctuations in petrol prices or supply disruptions.

“CNG and LPG combustion generally produce less noise compared to petrol. This results in quieter generator operation, which can be beneficial for residential use and minimize noise pollution.”

He declared that the Lagos State Government would continue to alert the general public of the safety hazards and risks inherent in the conversion process in the use of these LPG- powered generators at homes and offices.

He said “Spark or heat from the generator can cause fire outbreak if gas leakage occurs from the hose or cylinder valve and explosion could also occur if the generator house is not properly ventilated thereby allowing gas leak build up in enclosed space.”

“LPG is bottled under high pressure with potential for explosions if not properly handled.Gas cylinders can fall and roll off if not placed on even flooring. When this happens, the gas hose can pull out leading to uncontrolled leakages and corrosion of gas cylinders can occur also when left in the rain or in humid environment.”

“Exposure to direct sunlight can expose cylinders to excessive temperature with attendant risk of explosion while poor installation of the hybrid carburettors on generators can as well increase the risks of accident. In other words, CNG should be discouraged for household generating sets except for special cases like large estates with plants for power generation.”
He maintained that the use of sub-standard, dilapidated or expired cylinders could increase risks of gas explosion.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Ms Shola Shasore stressed that it is important to note that converting a petrol generator to use alternative and less expensive fuels may require modifications and the installation of appropriate conversion kits by qualified professionals.

Shasore said the general public is hereby advised to engage ONLY qualified technicians for this service.

She however advised the public to contact the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources or Lagos State Safety Commission for guidance on professional vendors and installation as well as appropriate safety guidelines

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Auwal Zubairu Gambo has commissioned the newly-renovated Naval Ratings’ accommodation at NDC Quarters, Ushafa and the Naval Officers’ Quarters in Gudu, together with an Administration Building, Parade Ground and Special Forces Holding Bay at Naval Unit, in Abuja.

The inauguration ceremonies which took place at various locations in Abuja, saw top Naval officers, ex- officers, unit commanders and CNS Coursemates graced the occasion.

Speaking after commissioning the Naval Unit Administrative building, Gambo, explained that project commissioning is a sign of commitment to enhancing the welfare of naval personnel.

“The commissioning of the R Adm AO Suleiman Special Forces Holding Bay Navy Town Abuja, named after the pioneer Commander of the NN SBS who is here with us, signifies our commitment to the personnel’s welfare and acknowledgement of the vital role they play in our Naval and joint operations.

“The commissioning of a new parade ground emphasizes our dedication to upholding the highest standards of military professionalism and ensuring that NN personnel have the necessary infrastructure to train and perform at their best.”

Gambo enjoined the officers of the Nigerian Navy to maintain the facilities, which were provided as part of creating an enabling working environment for them.

The commandant of the Naval Unit, commander A. Muhammed, expressed gratitude towards the commissioning of the projects.

Muhammad said, “As we gather here today to commission these projects, I feel a strong sense of gratitude for these noble ideas conceived and executed by the CNS.

“This kind gesture will enhance stability, efficiency and proficiency for officers and ratings of NUA. It will also boost their morale and thus, foster commitment for readiness in service delivery.”

Director-General of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Alhaji Nura Kangiwa, says Nigeria is the most competitive gastronomy tourist destination in Africa in terms of diversification of ethnic groups and unique foods culture.

Kangiwa said this in Abuja on Saturday at the Third Edition of Gastronomy Festival with the theme titled “Culinary Arts – The Gateway to Growing Tourism Destination.”

He added that the country had taken the lead in gastronomic tourist destination in Africa, saying that the institute would continue to complement government’s efforts to sustain the tempo.

“Nigeria is the most competitive gastronomy tourist destination in Africa. This can be found in the diversity of our ethnic groups and corresponding unique foods culture.

“The exhibition of today’s foods shows the abundance of Nigerian cuisines.

“Gastronomy is a cultural expression of nations through their food choices, sources of ingredients and types of cuisines, as it is typically thriving in culturally rich destinations like Nigeria.”

According to the director-general, Nigerian cuisines are reflective of the nation’s gastronomic beauty and diversity.

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In her remarks, Dr Ngozi Owundiwe, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture (FMIC), said that gastronomy was the source of the nation’s identity due to its contribution to tourism development.

Owundiwe, who was represented by the Director, Domestic Tourism in the ministry, Mrs. Patricia Narai, said “Nigerian cuisines identify us as a nation, as well as telling the good story of our people.

“It has rapidly become a major growing component in the contribution to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to all developing countries around the world.”

Also speaking, the Director-General, Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC), Dr Chidia Maduekwe, said Nigeria was rated as one of Africa’s best destination hubs for hospitality and tourism.

Maduekwe said that there were lots of hospitality and tourism sites and locations across the country that had yet to be harnessed.

He added that operational existing sites and locations had continued to provide leisure and development.

According to him, these have helped to promote green grass revolution and environmental protection and safety.

“These sites and locations have become the spots for the advertisement and consumption of special Nigerian cuisines and delicacies.

“These all add up to the promotion of domestic cultural integration and development.”

In his remarks, Senegal Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Nicolas Nyouky, commended NIHOTOUR for partnering with Senegal embassy on sharing of good cuisines.

“Nigeria is in the spotlight in the field of gastronomy due to its cooking techniques,” he said.

Mr. Li Xuda, Cultural Counsellor, Embassy of People’s Republic of China, commended NIHOTOUR for strengthening the partnership between Nigeria and China on showcasing their cultural heritage.

In a bid to avert a possible collapse and its attendant effects, officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) have sealed off a Seven-Floor structure located at 107B, Ajose Ogun Street, Victoria Island Lagos.

According to the General Manager of LASBCA, Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki, the structure which houses Heirs Insurance and UBA Bank is suspected to be exhibiting signs of structural failure as preliminary investigations revealed that some floor tiles on the fourth floor have popped off along the expansion joints of the building.

He informed that an on-the-spot assessment of the building further revealed that in an attempt to cover up the suspected structural defects of the building, the developer had already started renovation/remodelling works without carrying out proper tests to ascertain the cause of the defects, hence the evacuation and seal-off order on the building pending further investigation.

Whilst appreciating the whistleblower for calling the attention of the State Government to the condition of the building, Arc. Oki urged all developers/owners to always do the right thing at the appropriate time by adhering strictly to the building codes of the State.

The Banaue Rice Terraces are 2,000-year-old terraces that were most likely carved by hand into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the indigenous people.

As a National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines they are considered to be the Eight Natural Wonder of the World by many Filipinos.

They are an outstanding example of an evolved, living cultural landscape that can be traced as far back as two millennia ago in the pre-colonial Philippines.

The terraces are located approximately 1,500 metres (5,000 feett) above sea level, and are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces.

It is said that if the steps were put end to end, it would encircle half the globe.

While the historic terraces cover an extensive area, the inscribed property consists of five clusters of the most intact and impressive terraces, located in four municipalities.

They are all the product of the Ifugao ethnic group, a minority community that has occupied these mountains for thousands of years.

The most popular place to look at the rice terraces is called the Sunrise Viewpoint, where local Igarot tribes people pose for photographs and sell wood carvings.

Declared in 2009 as free from any genetically modified organisms, farming in the area has been carried out as it was hundreds of years ago. But, the thriving economy in the Banaue Rice Terraces is tourism.

The tourism industry has developed a number of activities for visitors which may include the traditional sight seeing of the terraces and visits to the tribes at the foot of the terraces.

Around 170 people been relocated from the western French town of La Laigne after an earthquake on Friday evening.

The quake, believed to have been between magnitude 5.2 and 5.8 was felt from Rennes in the north-west to Bordeaux in the south-west.

Homes, schools and churches were damaged, with hundreds of buildings declared uninhabitable.

Earthquakes above magnitude five are unusual in France, with the last affecting the country in November 2019.

Two people were injured in the town of Deux-Sevres following Friday’s tremor.

The Charente-Maritime region just north of Bordeaux was particularly affected.

In La Laigne, the local fire service chief Didier Marcaillou warned the church had become “completely unusable” and a top government regional official said that most of the houses in the town centre were affected.

“The school will have to be closed as a precaution,” Nicolas Basselier said.

One woman cried as she told local station BFMTV that she had could no longer live in her home. “I wouldn’t wish this on anyone,” the woman, named Christine said. “In my son’s room you can fit your entire hand through the crack in the wall.”

Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne described the earthquake as “unusual” and expressed her solidarity with those “who may have been worried”.

“We will obviously ensure that everyone has access to rehousing,” Ms Borne said.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the government would initiate an accelerated natural disaster recognition procedure to help quickly assess the structural damage to buildings.