Tag: energy

  • How Nigeria can leverage COP28 to tackle energy crisis – Expert

    How Nigeria can leverage COP28 to tackle energy crisis – Expert

    By Sodiq Ojuroungbe

    A Professor of Environmental Law, Olanrewaju Fagbohun, says Nigeria needs to develop capacity for renewable energy investment.

    While lamenting that the country is still grappling with a critical energy crisis, the environmental expert noted that Nigeria’s participation in the forthcoming 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference would assist in finding lasting solutions to the energy crisis.

    The 2023 UN Climate Change Conference will convene from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    Fagbohun, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and consultant for RouQ and Company Legal Advisory Services and Environmental Law Research Institute, said the country needs to prepare itself to amortize the benefits of opportunities that COP28 presents.

    In a statement made available to Reportr Door Healthwise titled; “Expectations to Set for Nigeria Ahead of COP28: What Should Be Nigeria’s Priorities”, the Professor of Environmental Law said the country needs to build up strategies on how to tackle the energy crises with renewable energy.

    According to him, the upcoming COP28 will not on a platter of gold place solutions to our energy crisis at our feet. The responsibility is on us to analyze where we are, and what we need to do to develop our capacity for renewable energy because that’s the energy investment the world is extensively adopting. So,

    He added, “Nigeria should have strategies that will facilitate taking advantage of opportunities arising from the decisions and resolutions taken at COP28.

    “We know our priorities in terms of the impact of climate change facing us as a country. We must be very alert to the windows of opportunities that COP28 will present.

    “Undoubtedly, COP28 comes at a decisive moment for international climate action. Temperature records are repeatedly being broken by significantly wide margins and climate impacts manifested in unprecedented wildfires, floods, storms and droughts worldwide. Scientists have noted that the earth has been warmer in 2023 than in any other year on record. Clearly, much more has to be done to fast-track the energy transition and reduction of emissions before 2030 to limit global warming to 1.5° C (2.7° F) above pre-industrial levels.

    “This priority aligns with one of COP28’s goals of fast-tracking the energy transition and slashing emissions before 2030 and climate finance. For example, Nigeria’s Renewable Energy Master Plan seeks to increase the supply of renewable electricity from 13 per cent of total electricity generation in 2015 to 23 per cent in 2025 and 36 per cent by 2030.

    “Renewable electricity would then account for 10 per cent of Nigerian total energy consumption by 2025. What structures are on the ground to actualize this lofty aspiration? What is the government doing with the private sector to ensure that this aspiration becomes a reality? For me, we still have a long way to go.

    “Although the appeal for renewable energy sources has grown exponentially in the pursuit of climate change mitigation, the appeal will not by itself translate to reality. We must make REMP a functional mechanism if we hope to amortize the benefit of relevant climate financing opportunities that may result from COP28.”

    Fagbohun also stressed that Nigeria’s participation in COP28 must unlock the operationalization of $100 billion Loss and damage funding while advocating for increased climate action and equitable climate finance distribution.

    He further said, “Generally, developing countries need financial resources, as well as technology transfer and capacity-building, to help them reduce emissions, adapt to climate change, and address loss and damage.

    “Nigeria as a developing country has faced disasters that fall within the purview of loss and damage. How well Nigeria will fare in being able to benefit from the fund when it is up and running, will depend on the quality of its data in respect of loss and damage suffered.

    “In the absence of data that can meet the rigour of transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness, we may be met with serious obstacles.

    “We must ensure that we do not put ourselves in such hopeless and helpless situations.”

    He, however, said the ministries and other relevant agencies of government must coordinate and properly harmonize their activities in ways that will enable them to tackle climate change head-on.

    He noted, “The government needs to understand that the Loss and Damage Fund will never be enough and it will be accessible to only countries that are well-equipped and positioned.

    “By and large, when we look at COP28, it should not be looked at in isolation, but as a country with an African climate position.

    “We should adequately prepare to utilize those windows of opportunity with the resolutions of COP28 and align our priorities with such expectations. The homework we need to put in place lies in setting our priorities well.

    “Priorities such as having relevant data, capacity building, unified framework for easy access for Loss and Damage Fund, national cohesive partnerships with industries, the private sector, and consistent climate change policies.

    “COP28 are critical for meeting the impacts of climate change and advancing a sustainable future for decades to come. Globally, expectations are high and of course, the sense of urgency. Nigeria must emerge from this conference with an invigorated sense of purpose, stronger and strategic partnerships, and a lucid roadmap to a sustainable future.”

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  • NNPCL unveils roadmap for energy future at NAPE’s 41st annual conference

    NNPC Limited, under the leadership of its Group CEO, set the stage for transformative discussions at Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationist (NAPE)’s 41st annual conference.  The conference’s theme”Repositioning the oil…

    The post NNPCL unveils roadmap for energy future at NAPE’s 41st annual conference appeared first on The Nation Newspaper.

  • Children taking energy drinks at risk of cardiovascular, mental health challenges- Experts

    Children taking energy drinks at risk of cardiovascular, mental health challenges- Experts

    Energy Drinks
    Can Drinks. Image source: Cleveland Clinic

    Sodiq Ojuroungbe

    Medical experts have warned parents not to allow their children to consume energy drinks, as it may cause digestive problems, dehydration, anxiety, jitteriness, heart palpitations, and high blood pressure.

    The physicians expressed worries that children are more susceptible to negative health consequences due to the high doses of caffeine present in energy drinks.

    They warned that caffeine intoxication in children can affect the development of the nervous system and heart functions.
    A Paediatric Cardiologist, Dr. Samuel Owoyemi, while speaking exclusively with Reportr Door Healthwise, said children with underlying and undiagnosed heart conditions are more at risk of suffering worse effects from energy drink consumption.

    While noting that caffeine is an important ingredient in energy drinks, he warned that excessive intake of the substance by adults might cause palpitations, hypertension, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, psychosis, and, in rare instances, death.

    He maintained that it could be worse for children as they can adversely suffer from irregular heart rhythms, known as arrhythmias, that can occur due to hyperstimulation of the heart.

    “Arrhythmias can affect how much blood is pumped throughout the body, making you feel dizzy. Arrhythmias that are left untreated over time may develop into more serious or deadly disorders.

    “You don’t need energy drinks because they are filled with non-nutritional stimulants like caffeine. Children may be more susceptible to the ingredients in energy drinks than adults. Regular energy drink consumption stresses the body, and a developing body shouldn’t be stressed,” Dr. Owoyemi said.

    Similarly, a Consultant Paediatrician, Bello Surajudeen, affirmed that the consumption of energy drinks by children can cause mental health issues, and addiction, as well as pose nutritional challenges.

    He explained that children who take energy drinks may suffer from overnutrition or undernutrition, pointing out that the drink mostly causes micronutrient deficiency.

    He said, “The dangers of drinking energy drinks are many. It can cause nutritional problems in children and has negative effects on their hearts. It can also have negative mental effects on children.

    “In terms of heart problems, it is usually centred on having an abnormal heartbeat. There is also the risk of having palpitations, in which case, the heart will be beating very fast.”

    Continuing, he said, “Nutritionals wise, when some children become addicted to it, they will not want to eat nutritious food again and will become dependent on fast foods and energy drinks, which they believe makes them feel better.

    “It will also tilt them towards overnutrition, overweight or obesity. They can also suffer from undernutrition. With undernutrition, they will have what we call micronutrient deficiency because there are some nutrients that they can only get from food, which are absent in those energy drinks.

    “They may not be small for their age, but will have what is called hidden hunger, which means some micronutrients like vitamins, and minerals, among others, are deficient in their bodies.”

    On how it can impact children’s mental health, Dr. Surajudeen said the caffeine content can turn children into energy drink addicts.

    According to him, “It can affect their mental health because energy drink contains caffeine, which has the tendency to keep them awake, and also turn them into dependents.

    “When they take energy drinks frequently, they become addicted, so much so that if they don’t take it, they may not be able to function properly. Some may not be able to sleep and this will impact negatively on their academic performances in school. At the end of the day, as they grow older, the tendency that they may end up taking drugs to get the caffeine effect is high.

    “Taking them off it will be quite difficult because of what we call withdrawal symptoms. It will be very difficult even if they attempt to stop or someone wants to stop them. So, it may end up becoming a psychiatric issue.”

    Dr. Surajudeen further said energy drinks can also turn adults into addicts, and that they can as well suffer from heart disorders.

    He said, “Taking energy drinks can also affect an adult due to the presence of caffeine. There are those that will get so addicted that they will not be able to do anything without taking a gulp.

    “The difference between its effect on a child and an adult is in the area of nutrition because adults don’t have nutritional problems like children. But basically, they can have all other problems a child consuming energy drink is exposed to.”

    Meanwhile, a recent research has found a link between energy drinks and the likelihood of experiencing severe heart-related health risks, nervous system disorders, liver and kidney problems.

    The study, published in the journal, Nutrients, found that minors who reported consuming excessive amounts of energy drinks, especially those containing caffeine, saw severe impacts on their health, especially if they had pre-existing medical conditions or took stimulants or party drugs.

    The researchers looked at 18 children and adolescents under the age of 18, who had reported suffering from adverse health effects related to their energy drink consumption.

    Around 45 per cent experienced side effects to their cardiovascular system, including cardiac arrhythmia and arterial hypertension – high blood pressure that affects the arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart, reports The Sun.

    Some also experienced acute coronary artery vasospasm, which is when the heart’s arteries suddenly constrict, causing spasms, and spontaneous coronary artery dissection – when a tear appears in the wall of a coronary artery, which supplies blood to your heart.

    In some cases, the teens had pre-existing health conditions that made them more susceptible to potential triggers.

    33 per cent of the participants saw their nervous systems affected by drinking the beverages.

    The researchers noted that the neuropsychiatric impacts of the drinks remain unstudied, but that chronic consumption can be linked to panic attacks, psychotic episodes, hyper-excitability, and headaches.

    The study indicated that it also negatively impacts brain development and can lead to insomnia, attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity.

    Two of the minors involved were noted to have experienced side effects in their liver, with researchers attributing this to the niacin and sugar in energy drinks.

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  • FG, Oando sign MoU to boost renewable energy access

    FG, Oando sign MoU to boost renewable energy access

    The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Oando Clean Energy Limited to boost the deployment of sustainable renewable energy access across the country.

    Represented by the Rural Electrification Agency, the government announced on Monday that the MoU with OCEL was also part of measures adopted to further mitigate the harsh impact of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol.

    The REA, in a statement issued in Abuja, said the agency would continue to play a key role in the nation’s off-grid renewable energy space by drawing in private sector investment, facilitating inter-sectoral collaboration and aiding the implementation and delivery of off-grid solutions nationwide.

    It stated the Oando brand activated its clean energy subsidiary, Oando Clean Energy Limited in 2021, adding that the REA-Oando collaboration was targeted at exploring new approaches to clean energy development for socio-economic impact in post-subsidy Nigeria.

    The Managing Director, REA, Ahmad Salihijo, explained that one of the best ways to mitigate the effects of subsidy removal in Nigeria was through the exploitation of opportunities to optimise the critical role of renewable energy.

    On his part, the President/Chief Executive Officer, OCEL, Alex Irune, said, “Oando is keen on renewable energy and is excited for this opportunity to create value that the country needs.”

    He expressed his confidence in the collaboration with REA, while explaining that “what the REA has effectively done is to take the bull by the horn and derisked investment opportunities.

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  • Group demands end to energy drinks importation

    Group demands end to energy drinks importation

    Sola Babarinsa

    A group, Concerned Consumers, has called attention to the severe harm that energy drink importation has inflicted on the Nigerian economy, calling it “an act of sabotage and destruction to local industry.”

    This was contained in a statement addressed to Heads of the relevant government agencies, titled, ‘The Importation of Energy Drinks into Nigeria Despite the Proven Health Hazards and the Various Ban on Imported Juices’, and signed respectively by Messrs. Olufemi Odebunmi and Rufai Rimi, convener and co-convener of the group.
    They noted that energy drinks fall into the category of ready-to-drink fruit juice, which importation in whatever mode and means remains banned in Nigeria since 2003.

    The group condemned the massive influx of imported energy drinks into the nation and urged government agencies, such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Customs Service, the National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control, the Consumers Protection Council of Nigeria, and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, to be vigilant and discourage the unscrupulous importation of energy drinks into Nigeria.

    According to the Concerned Consumers group, the act, if not stopped will jeopardise the interests of the local industrial sector.

    They noted that for about 20 years now, product HS Codes 2009.11.0012 – 2009.11.0013 – 2009.9000.99 have been on the NCS list of prohibited products.

    “By the circular of the Federal Ministry of Finance of March 20, 2015 the Import Prohibition List (Trade) Annex III states all the products and goods whose importation into Nigeria was prohibited.

    “Curiously, fruit juice in retail packs were banned along with water, mineral water, aerated water containing added sugar or sweetening matter flavoured, other non-alcoholic beverages and beer and stout and the only exception was energy or health drinks.

    “More than 85 per cent of the market is dominated by imported energy drink brands. The locally manufactured brands are all struggling as they don’t have international brand names and recognition to match the imported ones. They are therefore disadvantaged and even considered inferior.

    “Failure to enforce  ban on restricted products is a clear demonstration of the government’s lack of support for local industries. By not checkmating smuggled energy drinks, the government and its agencies have done a  great disservice to local manufacturers of energy drinks.

    “Concerned Consumers are perplexed by various developments in our polity which do not augur well for the health of the citizens and which is also discouraging local production at the time when the country should be looking inward and saving its scarce foreign exchange,” the statement read in part.

    Cited statistics to support their demand for a ban on imported energy drink brands, the group claimed that over 300,000 Nigerians would have been completely and gainfully employed if the market had been allowed to develop domestically.

    They estimated that the average annual importation of energy drinks into the nation is between 1,800 and 2,000 containers.

    “At the market rate of between N18,000 and N20,000 per case, each container has 2,600 cases, therefore the estimated annual loss to the nation is greater than N104 billion,” they added.

    Bemoaning the unpleasant side effects of the imported energy drink, the Concerned Consumer group warned that if the trade was left unchecked, it could lead to the closure of local industries, which would result in significant job losses, increase in unemployment rate, shortage of desperately needed foreign currency, and a further depreciation of the naira.

    The group stated, “We are amazed that our health, regulatory and standard organisations are still allowing imported energy drinks into the country, despite knowing the debilitating nature of the damage to our health from these imported energy drinks. Importantly, why would it be exempted along with health drinks; almost a case of healthy and unhealthy drinks branded together.”

     

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  • Women in Energy demands gender equity policies

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