Nation
HYPREP Harps On Wetlands’ Protection
As the global community celebrated the 2024 World Wetlands Day recently, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project ( HYPREP) has emphasised the need to protect wetlands in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta region and Ogoniland.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who gave this indication in a statement in Port Harcourt to mark this year’s World Wetlands Day, said the theme of the celebration, ‘Wetlands and Human Wellbeing’ resonates deeply with Nigeria, a nation blessed with abundant wetlands that play vital role in supporting biodiversity and the livelihoods of communities, adding that HYPREP takes the opportunity to highlight the critical importance of wetlands in Nigeria’s rich and diverse ecosystem, the Niger Delta.
According to him, the change in attitude towards the environment, sustainable use of the ecosystems and co-management of ecological infrastructure by communities are essential components of a sustainable wetlands restoration regime.
He, therefore, posited that all stakeholders must work together to implement sustainable practices that protect and restore these vital ecosystems for the benefit of the current and future generations, stressing that HYPREP is committed to raising awareness about the significance of wetlands and advocating for their protection.
While calling on the government at all levels, civil society organisations, businesses, communities and the public to join hands in preserving these critical ecosystems, Zabbey said, “Our collective efforts can contribute to achieving sustainable development goals, particularly those related to clean water and life on land and underwater, as well as climate action”.
The Project Coordinator further indicated that HYPREP encourages individuals and communities to engage in activities that promote wetland conservation, such as clean-up drives, educational programmes and tree-planting initiatives.
“Working together, we can ensure that wetlands continue to thrive for the benefit of the current and future generations. We therefore urge you to appreciate the beauty and importance of wetlands and please, to be stewards of these ecosystems,” he pleaded.
He said the theme of this year’s celebration recognises wetlands as critical to all facets of human wellbeing, including psychological, mental, social and spiritual, stressing that it underscores the intrinsic value of wetland ecosystems to sustainable development and human wellbeing.
“Wetlands, including mangroves, lagoons, creeks, ponds, rivers, associated seasonal water bodies, sustain life, foster biodiversity, and ensure the health and prosperity of our communities through their regulatory, provisioning, protecting, replenishing and sustaining functions,” he said.
Zabbey hinted that over 4,000 hectares of mangroves have been destroyed by decades of oil spills in Ogoniland alone, which he said has exacerbated poverty, as traditional livelihoods dependent on healthy mangroves are destroyed.
According to him, the degradation of these crucial ecosystems poses risks to biodiversity and compromises the wellbeing of communities that depend on wetlands for their survival.
He noted that a range of these ecosystems exists in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta region, where they contribute to the sustenance of various local cultures, offering valuable resources for fishing, agriculture, traditional and spiritual activities.
The Project Coordinator said mangroves typically serve as natural buffers against floods; store and purify water as well as provide food and habitat for various plant and animal species, adding that despite their invaluable contributions, wetlands face numerous threats, including urbanisation, reclamation for social projects, plastic and crude oil pollution, deforestation, dredging and the impact of climate change.
Zabbey disclosed that HYPREP has taken bold steps to restore hectares of shoreline and mangrove ecosystems in Ogoniland, which have been degraded, by undertaking a preliminary shoreline clean-up assessment of over 3,000 hectares of shoreline; conducting a chemical characterisation of oil levels in the sediment; delineating the 3,000 hectares of the assessed shoreline into 833 grids; and starting the process of remediating 1,747 hectares of the 3,000 hectares.
According to him, the Project has also piloted mangrove rehabilitation of 460 hectares while at the same time providing skill training to 5,000 Ogoni youths, including artisanal refiners, to create alternative livelihoods, as a means to prevent recontamination of remediated ecosystems.
He further hinted that 90 Ogoni youths and women have been trained in mangrove restoration and empowered with grants to set mangrove nurseries, while HYPREP has also created and funded Environment Clubs in secondary schools in Ogoniland, to sustain its education, awareness and sensitisation campaigns on the risks of wetland degradation.
Donatus Ebi
The Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr Chioma Ejikeme, has reiterated the commitment to service delivery for pensioners.
Ejikeme said this during the Customer Service Week in Abuja, yesterday.
He said that commission had a mandate to deliver good service delivery to the pensioners.
Ejikeme, who was represented by the Director Civil Service Pension Department, Mr Kabir Yusuf, said that the customer service week was important to operations of PTAD.
“Customer service is the support that you give to a customer, whether it is an existing customer or potential customer in the process of delivering or making enquires about a service.
“To be a good customer service representative you need to be knowledgeable, have good attitude and attribute especially to the senior citizens and have empathy,” he said.
Ejikeme said that all PTAD staff had most of the attributes of a good customer representative.
“We provide excellent customer service by going to verify our aged pensioners who cannot do it by themselves anywhere across the country.
“There is a dedicated team that was mandated to go round to confirm the aliveness of those who can not confirm their aliveness either because the are too old or have health issues,” the executive secretary said.
The National Coordinator, SERVICOM, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, said that the official theme of the 2024 customer service week was “ We Go Above and Beyond For Our Customers.”
She commended PTAD and the SERVICOM team for organising the 2024 customer service week.
“This is in line with the best practice of celebrating frontline workers and service takers.
“Customer service week is celebrated annually during the first full week in October.
It calls attention to the importance of people to boost morale team work and departmental collaboration in supporting pensioners.
“ It is a platform to reward employees for the significant work they do,” Akajemeli said.
She said that the objective of the customer service week was to celebrate the hard work and dedication of employee who strived to create positive customer experiences.
She said that it was time to show customers that the organisation valued their experience and feedback, through comment cards, dedicated hotline, among others.
Akajemeli said that it raised awareness internally and externally about the importance of good customer service in building customer loyalty and satisfaction.
She said that the benefit was to increase motivation, show appreciation, encourage friendly competition, boost employee retention, create a positive workplace and increase productivity.
The Head, Surveillance Department at the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mr Abdulrahman Saleem, said that good service delivery was the key success of every establishment.
Salem said that PTAD operated with standard, considering the success it had achieved so far.
Saleem said that pensioners required the best service attitude and behavior.
“ I give kudos to PTAD for its efforts and encourage it to do more.
“Therefore I urge PTAD staff to keep up the standard and continue to give good service to the pensioners,” he said.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, has honoured Flying Officer David Sangokoya for winning the 2023/2024 Royal Air Force College Cranwell International Cadet Sword of Honour.
Abubakar honoured the officer during the presentation of cheques to 13 beneficiaries of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Group Personal Accident Insurance Policy (GPAIP) in Abuja, yesterday.
He described the achievement as ground-breaking as it was the first time an African cadet had won the prestigious award since the Academy’s creation over 100 years ago.
According to him, the feat underscores the excellence that exists within NAF, and proof that NAF officers and cadets can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world.
“To our awardee, you have set a new standard, not just for your peers, but for every cadet and officer that will come after you.
“This accomplishment is a powerful reminder that no goal is out of reach when one is armed with dedication, discipline and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
“Your journey as an officer has begun with this prestigious accolade, but the true measure of your success will be seen in how you serve, lead and contribute to the mission of NAF and the defence of our great nation.
“As we celebrate this historic occasion, we extend our deepest gratitude to the United Kingdom Government for its unwavering support in providing world-class training opportunities to our personnel.
“This has enabled our officers and men to gain invaluable skills and knowledge, strengthening not only our bilateral ties but also our collective ability to address global security challenges,” he said.
The CAS said that the NAF looked forward to continuing the fruitful partnership for the mutual benefit of Nigeria and UK countries.
He expressed gratitude and unflinching loyalty to President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to the welfare and training of members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and NAF in particular.
“I must also take a moment to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the leadership of the Nigerian Defence Academy and the instructors who helped to mould and prepare this cadet for the global stage.
“Their dedication and commitment to developing top-notch officers is evident in this ground-breaking achievement.
“You have not only trained a leader but have given the Nigerian Air Force a legacy we will all cherish,” he said.
National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has advocated private sector involvement to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The Director-General of the authority, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, made the call at a high-level policy dialogue on sustainable health system reforms in Nigeria in Abuja, yesterday.
The Tide’s source reports that the dialogue was organised by the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), a coalition of private sector stakeholders, to address the multifaceted challenges plaguing the country’s healthcare system.
The dialogue has “Private Sector Support for SWAP (Sector Wide Approach) in Healthcare” as its theme.
Represented by Dr Yakubu Agada-Amade, the NHIA Director of Standards and Quality Assurance, Ohiri explained the crucial role of private sector collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system
He highlighted the “One Plan” under the SWAp framework, which seeks to unify health sector efforts, ensuring efficient resource use, effective governance and expanded healthcare access.
He also stressed the importance of overcoming barriers that historically hindered the implementation of healthcare interventions in Nigeria, such as inadequate financing, weak governance systems, and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
He added that “the dialogue explored innovative approaches, including digital health innovations and financing mechanisms to accelerate the implementation of the National Health Act and mandatory health insurance coverage.
“With enrollment in health insurance growing by 14 per cent over the past year, NHIA can push for greater inclusivity, particularly targeting the informal sector through flexible payment systems and partnerships with telecommunications companies.”
He called for stronger synergy between public and private health actors to ensure universal access to quality healthcare and sustainable reforms in line with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
Panelists from the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), Healthcare Providers Association of Nigeria (HCPAN) and Health and Managed Care Association of Nigeria (HMCAN) echoed the sentiments, underscoring the private sector’s role in expanding insurance coverage and improving healthcare delivery.
They commended NHIA’s efforts toward driving reforms to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp).