Economy
Climate change: AfDB to double financing for Africa to $25bn by 2025
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed to double its climate finance for Africa to 25 billion dollars by 2025, with more than 50 per cent devoted to climate adaptation.
The President of the bank, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, made this known at a virtual High-Level Launch of the Global Centre on Adaption (GCA) office in Africa on Tuesday.
According to the European Commission, climate adaptation means anticipating the adverse effects of climate change and taking appropriate action to prevent or minimise the damages, or taking advantage of opportunities.
Adesina said that the fund would address climate risks the continent faced to ensure the continent was not short-changed by the global climate finance.
“I am delighted with the launch today of the Global Center on Adaptation for Africa (GCA) hosted by the African Development Bank.
“The bank has committed to doubling its financing for climate to 25 billion dollars by 2025 with over 50 per cent devoted to climate adaptation.
“Africa must not be short-changed by global climate finance.”
He reiterated AfDB’s continued partnership with the GCA to mobilise more resources for climate adaptation and ensure access to finance is sustained in the continent.
He urged African leaders to collaborate their efforts toward the sustenance of the centre to ensure sustainable development in the continent.
Also speaking, Mr Ban Ki-moon, Co-Chair of the Board of GCA and 8th Secretary-General of the UN said the launch would accelerate adaptation in Africa.
Ban said the GCA would also promote sustainable development in line with international best practices.
“This is a historic moment to accelerate adaptation in Africa. Nowhere is the challenge of achieving sustainable development in the face of a changing climate more acute.
“Our new regional office will support regional and national adaptation efforts by emphasising and spreading existing best practices on the continent and ensuring their fully fledged integration into broader international adaptation efforts.”
He said that Africa had a large population of youths and urged partners to work together and “invest in young the people and maximise their potential”.
“We must learn to work together to find solutions,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged partners to ensure that knowledge that could boost climate adaptation was shared.
“More than any other region, sub-Saharan Africa is vulnerable to the impact of climate change, which threatens lives and livelihoods and undermines economic growth.
“After the current crisis (COVID-19), boosting resilience is an urgent priority so it’s vital we share the knowledge and best practice that can help accelerate climate adaptation.”
Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN applauded the launch of the GCA Africa, which she noted would ensure a more resilient Africa.
“There is an urgent need to step up the support for people in Africa, and around the world affected by climate change.
“I welcome the GCA Africa as a crucial partner in delivering the elevated ambition and enhanced action that is needed to make this shift toward a resilient future.”
Mohammed reiterated the commitment and support of the UN toward the development of the continent.
President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon and Chair of the African Adaptation Initiative (AAI) assured of the initiative’s partnership with the GCA toward the promotion of a resilient climate.
“The devastating effects of climate change, which include severe droughts, floods, reduced agricultural yields, sea-level rise, and other climate-related disasters are on the rise.
“The launch of GCA Africa is a bold and innovative initiative to galvanise the support needed to significantly scale up adaptation on the continent, identify gaps and connect regional partners to find solutions,” Ondimba said.
The GCA launch was hosted by the AfDB at its headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire and had several African leaders and international organisations’ leaders giving their support.
GCA Africa will work with partners across the continent to scale and accelerate adaptation action that protects African communities from the impacts of climate change.
The centre will focus on programmes and action, knowledge acceleration, capacity building and agenda-setting that respond to the acute challenges from the changing climate facing African countries.
The programmes include improving the food security of one billion people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
This will be done through a programme on rural well-being and food security, as well as projects to support communities through water for urban growth and resilience; using nature for more resilient infrastructure; adaptation finance and building youth leadership.
The GCA has its headquarters in the Netherlands and regional offices in China and Bangladesh. (NAN)
From Lateef Taiwo
The Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), Major General Adamu Laka, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) to ending kidnap economy in the country.
General Laka stated this while briefing newsmen on the activities of the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell in collaboration with the United Kingdom – National Crime Agency on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said the centre had officially launched the State Expansion Programme of the Multi-Agency Anti-Kidnap Fusion Cell, bridging a critical gap between national security coordination and state-level tactical response.
The National Coordinator noted that kidnapping in Nigeria was no longer a random crime, but an industry being ran by sophisticated and well-armed criminal networks that thrive on fear and fund violence through ransoms.
According to him, the programme was aimed at dismantling that economy by connecting national strategy with boots-on-ground action.
He said the fusion cell was created in partnership with the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to facilitate high-profile rescues and breaking up kidnapping rings across the country.
The national coordinator noted that kidnapping in Nigeria was no longer a random crime, but an industry being ran by sophisticated and well-armed criminal networks that thrive on fear and fund violence through ransoms.
According to him, the programme was aimed at dismantling that economy by connecting national strategy with boots-on-ground action.
He said the fusion cell was created in partnership with the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) to facilitate high-profile rescues and breaking up kidnapping rings across the country.
General Laka noted the cell had played key roles in supporting rescue operations, disrupting kidnapping networks, and improving interagency coordination.
According to him, experience has shown that while national coordination is crucial, state-level engagement is also indispensable.
“Too often, real-time intelligence, local knowledge, and operational readiness reside with field commands, while national coordination can only succeed when it is informed by ground realities.
“This is the primary purpose of this programme – to close the gap between national-level coordination and state-level response. Essentially, to build direct operational linkages between the Cell and state commands across the country,” Laka said.
The Good Governance Campaign Forum (GGCF) has praised the Lagos State Government for launching the “Produce for Lagos” programme, describing this initiative and its ₦500 billion Offtake Guarantee Fund as a brilliant solution to the food insecurity challenges the nation faces.
The Forum issued this commendation in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Rahman Suleiman, on Wednesday, following the official unveiling ceremony of the program earlier in the week.
The program aims to transform Lagos’ food system and reduce the state’s dependency on external food sources, receiving positive recognition both within and outside the state for the Sanwo-Olu-led government’s efforts.
According to Suleiman, the initiative is timely and represents a pioneering collaboration between the Lagos State Government, the private sector, the Lagos Food Systems Infrastructure Company (LAFSINCO), Ekolog, and the Lagos Bulk Trading Company. He noted that this model is designed not only to enhance food production and logistics across the state but could also serve as a scalable framework for improving livelihoods and national resilience.
Suleiman shared insights from the Forum’s sampling of public opinion in Lagos and other states, indicating that people are pleased with the Lagos State Government’s strategic programs aimed at tackling hunger and starvation. He emphasized that a key component of the “Produce for Lagos” program is its data-driven approach, which will help address agricultural inefficiencies and strengthen value chains.
“Food security is a collective responsibility that we cannot afford to neglect as a nation,” Suleiman stated. “We are grateful to God for providing us with a leader like Sanwo-Olu, who is visionary, forward-thinking, and compassionate toward ordinary people.”
He commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for consistently setting benchmarks and leading by example in subnational governance. These achievements underscore the economic growth, infrastructural development, and urban planning efforts of the Lagos government.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu is a trailblazer; he has done exceptionally well, and we fully support his programs and policies. His work over the past six years speaks for itself,” he added.
Suleiman noted that this initiative, a partnership between the state government and the private sector, is expected to significantly boost agricultural production.
During the launch, Governor Sanwo-Olu also announced the deployment of a fleet of 150 cold and dry trucks—the largest of its kind—in partnership with the private sector.
Business mogul Tony Elumelu, who supported the project with ₦25 billion, stated that food security is crucial and expressed satisfaction with the collaboration between Lagos and other participating states.
Other prominent individuals at the event included Amir Kamel, Vice President of Afreximbank, and Michel Deleen, the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, among other dignitaries.
… rejects the creation of new states
A prominent youth organization, the Youth Bureau, has urged the National Assembly to prioritize genuine restructuring of Nigeria, emphasizing regional autonomy and the establishment of State Police without further delay. This call comes as the legislature reviews the nation’s constitution.
The demand was articulated in the group’s Position Paper presented to the National Assembly Committee on Constitutional Amendment for the South-West Zone, which convened recently in Lagos.
In a statement signed by its Southern Coordinator, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Thursday in Lagos, the Youth Bureau also rejected calls for the creation of new states. The group warned that the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government contradicts their position, asserting that its implementation should be set aside. They believe only the State Government should have the authority to create local governments.
AbdulRazaq urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritize comprehensive restructuring, as it is fundamental to effective governance and development. He encouraged the National Assembly Committee on Constitutional Amendment to make bold decisions that will have a positive impact on the populace.
He pointed out that the regional governments established in the late 1960s in Nigeria facilitated healthy governance and development, particularly under the Action Group government led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the Western Region. During that period, significant advancements were made in free education initiatives, healthcare infrastructure, industrialization, and overall infrastructure growth.
AbdulRazaq noted that the abolition of regional autonomy by the late General Aguyi Ironsi led to a unitary system of government, which resulted in excessive concentration of power in the central government, a lack of adherence to the rule of law, and restricted resource control and financial autonomy for the regions.
The Youth Bureau’s position paper includes the following demands and recommendations for the National Assembly Committee on Constitutional Amendment:
Our Demands
We urge the National Assembly Committee to consider the following:
- Genuine restructuring of the country based on regional autonomy.
- No need for the creation of additional states.
- The formation of State Police without further delay.
- Recognition that local government is a component of state government; the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government contradicts this principle, and its implementation should be set aside. Only the State Government should have the authority to create local governments.
Conclusion
We believe that a decentralized governance system founded on devolution and decentralization will ensure political and fiscal autonomy for its component units and promote equity among them. We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritize comprehensive restructuring and encourage the National Assembly Committee to make bold decisions that positively affect the citizenry.
Recommendations
- Decentralize governance in theory, practice, content, and character.
- Ensure equity among the component units.
- Guarantee political and fiscal autonomy for the regions.
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