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FG, states urged to harness flooding for ranching, others with technology – Agbaje
The Federal and States Governments have been urged to utilise satellite technology and other available technologies to harness disasters such as flooding to positive and economic uses.
The Executive Director, Centre for Space Science and Technology Education (CSSTE) Dr Ganiyu Agbaje, made this known in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday.
Agbaje made the call on the sidelines of the ongoing three-day Online Regional Training on Flood Monitoring and Forecasting Modelling organised specifically for Disaster Management Organisations.
”The use of new technologies will make it easy to predict flood and harness the water for many economic activities including ranching which he noted had become topical in Nigeria,” he said.
He explained that with technology such as satellite technology which the CSSTE will partner with disaster management agencies on, patterns, timing and volume of flood can be predicted early and preparation made to utilise the water.
“We need to support our rural communities on how best to use flood when it occurs because at times if it coming far away from this country, you can harness the water overflowing for many other things in agriculture.
“When you know that the flood will last for three months or five months for instance, you can use the water to plant rice, or you can gather it into a reservoir that can be used during the dry season.
“There are so many things that can be done with this, and if you know that certain places are lacking water, you can channel it to those farms that need those water.
“Like all these ranches that we have been talking about, that river is coming from the north, if you have a ranch there, when the water is coming, you will channel it and store it .
“You can purify the water and it becomes drinking water, so why are we not using the flood water to make life easier?” he queried.
Speaking on the training which held simultaneously in four other West African Countries, Agbaje, said the training is aimed at equipping participants with skills and requisite tools to enable them identify flood-hotpot areas.
He said the tool would further equip them to make quick flood damage assessment, identify flood monitoring and forecast model as well as hydrological and hydraulic modelling.
He, therefore, advised governments again to embrace technology for creative solutions and consider stronger laws to control the indiscriminate dumping of refuse which he said was a major cause of flooding in Africa.
“Human beings are somehow meant to be unruly. So, the society needs to be guided by law, else I can go to your house and just mess it up. If there are no laws to say ‘you cannot dump refuse here’ then everywhere will be messy. We need to abide by the regulations and rules.
“Also, it has been said that the whole of Netherlands is on a flood plain but they use engineering and other means to ensure that they stay afloat most of the time.
“We lose millions of dollars every year to flooding in Africa, forcing ECOWAS to make a policy on disaster risk reduction but more has to be done to ensure that the impact is lower in Nigeria and other countries,” he said.
According to him, the training is not to teach the over 300 participants who have benefitted on how to predict but to show them how to use additional satellite data make better predictions and support other methods.
He said the technology had been on for a while around the world, adding that African leaders in collaboration with the EU initiated the training to help Africa better monitor the environment and mitigate disasters.
Agbaje said that with the data, rainfall, rivers and the environment would be better monitored, adding that in the case of Nigeria, more information on the activities of River Niger would be known using the technology.
The three-day training was backed by the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU) under its Global Monitoring for Environment and Security and Africa (GMES & Africa) initiative.
It was conducted by the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education (CSSTE).
On his part, the GMES & Africa Programme Coordinator at the African Union Commission, Dr Tidiane Ouattara, who joined via video conferencing, expressed joy that the activities of the CSSTE consortium was able to continue despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emphasising on the need for constant training of young people and experts on the African continent, he described the training as a major achievement that would help Africa to build infrastructure and reduce the economic damage of flooding.
Participants at the workshop were drawn from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Nigerian Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and the Federal Ministry of Environment.
The opening session also featured goodwill messages from NIHSA, NIMET and NEMA.
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NYA announces Odetokun, Dauda, Idika, 7 others as new Fellows
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Ten teachers and researchers from across different universities in Nigeria have been announced as new Fellows of the Nigerian Young Academy (NYA).
They are: Dr Ismail Odetokun (University of Ilorin), Dr Chinwe Chukwudi (University of Lagos), Prof. Idika Idika (University of Nigeria Nsuka), Dr Kaisan Usman (Ahmadu Bello University), Dr Abubakar Khaleed (Ahmadu Bello University) and Dr Saheed Adio (Obafemi Awolowo University).
Others are Dr Temitope Sogbanmu (University of Lagos), Dr Akeem Dauda (Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina), Prof. Cosmas Ogbuka (University of Nigeria, Nsuka) and Dr Peter Okoli (Alex Ekwueme (Federal University, Ebonyi State)
“We proudly announce 10 members of the Nigerian Young Academy (NYA) who have recently transitioned to the prestigious status of Fellow of the NYA.
“Their dedication and contributions to their fields of research reflect the vibrant spirit of our academy,” NYA said in a statement.
The body noted that their dedication and commitment would forever remain engraved in the history of the Academy.
Reacting to the development, Doctor Ismail Odetokun said the new rank is in recognition of their modest contributions to the body so far.
Odetokun who is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, said the fellowship rank would spur him and other scholars to make meaningful impact on the Academy and academic discipline as a whole.
The Nigerian Young Academy is a unified platform for interaction among brilliant young researchers in Nigeria (not above the age of 40 years at the point of entry) who are from various research disciplines and regions of the country.
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Presidential Prerogative of Mercy Exercise Concluded with Issuance of Instruments of Release
From Hassan Taiye
The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has announce the formal conclusion of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy exercise with the President’s issuance of instruments granting pardon, clemency, and reduced sentences.
It is to be recalled that following consultations with the Council of State, the President received concerns on the recommended list and consequently initiated a due process review. This exercise has been completed and approved by the President. This exercise was to ensure that only persons who met stipulated legal and procedural requirements would benefit from the prerogative of mercy.
During this final review, few persons earlier recommended were found not to have met the necessary requirements and were accordingly delisted, while in some other cases, sentences were reviewed and reduced to reflect fairness, justice, and the spirit of the exercise.
In a statement made available to newsmen prince Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney general and minister of justice stated that
“The exercise underscores the President’s desire to balance justice with compassion and the belief that justice must not only punish, but also reform and redeem. The review was undertaken with meticulous commitment to due process to reinforce the administration’s broader commitment to justice reform and humane correctional practices in line with international standards.”
“To ensure that future exercises meet public expectations and best practices, the President has directed the immediate relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice “
“The President has further directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to issue appropriate Guidelines for the Exercise of the Power of Prerogative of Mercy, which includes compulsory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies.”
“This will ensure that only persons who fully meet the stipulated legal and procedural requirements will henceforth benefit from the issuance of instruments of release.”
He commended the public for their patience and constructive engagement throughout the process, and assure Nigerians that the government remains steadfast in promoting a justice system that upholds human dignity while safeguarding national security and social order.
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KWSG Presents 80 Laptops To LG Staff To Strengthen Financial Management Systems
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State Government has presented 80 laptop computers to the 16 Local Government Councils of the State for use by their Budget/Finance and Audit Desk Officers.
The gesture is part of the state government’s efforts to promote the adoption of harmonized financial guidelines and the National Chart of Accounts (NCoA) under the State Human Capital Opportunity for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Programme, a World Bank supported Programme for Results (PforR) initiative.
The HOPE Project covers key sectors such as Governance (HOPE-GOV), Primary Healthcare (HOPE-PHC), and Basic Education (HOPE-EDU).
While closing the five-day residential training workshop for the officers, the Commissioner for Finance and Chairman, HOPE Steering Committee, Dr. Hauwa Nuru, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to ensuring that all Local Governments in the State adopt the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) and other modern financial management frameworks.
She emphasised that adherence to these standards would enhance service delivery, transparency, and accountability in line with the strategic vision of the State Government.
Dr. Nuru urged participants to continue to be dedicated to their duties, stressing that effective budgeting and proper financial management at the third tier of government are essential for aligning local development priorities with the State’s broader development agenda.
She commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his continuous efforts to promote excellence and reposition local government administration through institutional reforms and capacity building.
The Commissioner explained that the presentation of laptops demonstrates the Governor’s commitment to strengthening government systems, promoting transparency, and improving service delivery across all levels of government.
According to her, the HOPE Project is designed to address long-standing institutional and systemic gaps that hinder efficient service delivery at the local government level.
“If these frameworks are properly adopted,” Dr. Nuru noted, “they will ensure that budgets are well-prepared, expenditures properly tracked, and reports generated in line with national and international best practices.”
Participants, including local government chairmen, cabinet members, and finance officers, expressed appreciation to the State Government for its efforts to harmonise financial reporting systems and equip staff with the tools required to strengthen fiscal discipline at the grassroots level.
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