Our president might be an eco-warrior
President Tinubu is channelling his inner Greta Thunberg with new eco-focused initiatives
Good morning, Big Brains. Random thought, but can we come together as a country to protest the price hike of air conditioners in the country because what is this heat?
Anyway, last week, we spoke against the cybersecurity levy, and it was withdrawn yesterday. Now, who's going to lead the protest for cheaper air conditioning? inserts side eye
- Margaret
Word count: ~1300
Reading time ~5 mins
Let’s get into today’s edition:
Tinubu Sets Up a Climate Action Committee in Nigeria
Nigerian Army Saves 386 Civilians From Sambisa Forest, One Decade After Their Abduction
Diddy Apologises For Assaulting Ex-girlfriend In Recent Video
President Tinubu Sends Condolences To Iran As They Elect New Leaders Following President’s Demise
The Big Deal
Tinubu Sets Up a Climate Action Committee in Nigeria
President Tinubu has been channelling his inner Greta Thunberg lately with his eco-focused initiatives—including eco-friendly buses and a new gas project designed to help Nigeria embrace cleaner energy. Adding to the “our president might be an eco-warrior” list is Tinubu’s recent decision to establish the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions of which he is the chairman.
This committee was set up to organise and oversee all policies and programmes on climate action and green economic development. The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal will serve as the Vice Chairman of the committee while the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, will serve as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action.
According to Segun Imohiosen, who works in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the committee will work with a unified plan. He also suggested that different government departments will be involved in the committee's work. But the committee’s primary assignment is to be in charge of making clear plans to address climate change, while also aligning with President Tinubu's goals for climate action outlined in the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Why is this a big deal?
Climate change is a big deal considering the fact that earth is still the only home we know. If you think the heat everybody on X is complaining about in 2024 is normal, spoiler alert — it’s not!
In late March and early April, scorching heat hit countries in the Sahel and West Africa. On April 3, Mali reached 48.5°C. In Bamako, Gabriel-Toure Hospital saw a disturbing increase in deaths and the hospital suspects that 102 deaths recorded in the first four days of April are related to the heatwave. Other countries like Niger, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea also recorded temperatures widely above 40°C caused by the intense heat.
Climate change in Nigeria has had a serious impact on both the environment and the economy. The country’s weather pattern is becoming more unpredictable, disrupting agriculture and leading to food insecurity. Last week, we reported that 5.9 million children in Nigeria are affected by food shortage. The United Nations' Representative and Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria, Mohammed Fall, also predicted that 4.8 million Nigerians will likely be affected by food crisis between June to September.
Flooding and coastal erosion is also expected to keep damaging infrastructure and threatening industries like fishing and tourism if the government doesn’t take action. If the President’s committee is what the government says it is, the impact of climate change on the environment and economy will be effectively managed.
Nigerian Army Saves 386 Civilians From Sambisa Forest, One Decade After Their Abduction
Brig. Gen. AGL Haruna, who is temporarily leading the 7 Division, shared that a recent 10-day operation in Sambisa led to the rescue of about 386 Nigerians. According to him, some of these people had been held captive by terrorists for up to 10 years before being freed by the army through the "Operation Desert Sanity III” which is supposed to clear the Sambisa forest of any remaining terrorists and give those willing a chance to surrender.
But the mass rescue leaves questions about the missing Chibok girls…
In April, 2014, 276 girls were abducted by Boko Haram fighters from their school in the town of Chibok and taken into Sambisa forest. According to Al Jazeera, fifty-seven girls managed to escape while they were being taken to the group's base in the Sambisa Forest. The Nigerian military rescued 108 girls or secured their release through prisoner swaps, and an additional 20 girls escaped over the past two years. Sadly, about 90 girls are likely still being held captive. Haruna hinted that more civilians might be rescued in the coming days and that raises some hope for the safety of the remaining Chibok girls.
Diddy Apologises For Assaulting Ex-girlfriend In Recent Video
Joining the list of the world’s most hated men is American rapper and producer, Diddy Combs. CNN recently released a viral video capturing Diddy with his ex-girlfriend Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura, where he was seen assaulting her as she tried to escape. This footage has sparked discussions surrounding Diddy's alleged history of abuse and his character.
In a video posted recently on his Instagram, Diddy issued an apology for his actions, expressing deep remorse for his "inexcusable" behaviour. "I was disgusted when I did it. I'm disgusted now," he stated. He also mentioned that he’s seeking professional help, undergoing therapy, and rehab, while also seeking forgiveness from God. He said he is now committed to personal growth and becoming a better person every day.
But the legal representatives for Cassie Ventura pulled the “You ain’t fooling nobody” card when talking about Diddy's apology. They said that his statement seemed more focused on himself rather than acknowledging the harm caused to others. They also mentioned Diddy's denial of Cassie's previous allegations of sexual assault and physical abuse in November 2023, suggesting that his apology was insincere and driven by desperation to redeem his image.
Is he going to “do jail” though?
The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office said the assault shown in the video happened too long ago to bring new charges against Diddy. Since the pair settled the matter the day after Cassie filed a lawsuit, it's likely the case is now closed for good.
President Tinubu Sends Condolences To Iran As They Elect New Leaders Following President’s Demise
Yesterday morning, the Iranian state media confirmed that President Ebrahim Raisi died after his helicopter crashed in a highland region of the country.
Iran's first vice president, Mohammad Mokhber, is expected to step into the role of president per the Iranian constitution which states that the first vice president can take over "in the event of the president’s death, dismissal, resignation, absence, or illness for more than two months." The constitution also states that presidential elections to select a permanent successor must be held within 50 days.
Ali Bagheri, top nuclear negotiator, has also been appointed as the acting foreign minister after the minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, passed away in the same helicopter crash.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, along with other world leaders, has offered condolences to the people of Iran. In a statement released yesterday, presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said, "President Bola Tinubu extends his condolences to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran over the passing of President Ebrahim Raisi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other officials in a helicopter crash," the statement read. "President Tinubu expresses deep sorrow over this tragic event and describes President Raisi as a leader dedicated to Iran's development."
This Week’s Big Question
“Can you still afford the things you could comfortably afford last year?” you could have one superpower as a Nigerian, what would it be?”
Kamil’s response - “It’s funny how I am earning more than I earned last year and I still have to overthink anytime I want to drive my car somewhere”.
You can also share your response here and if it’s as interesting as Kamil’s response, we’ll feature it in the next edition.
The Big Picks
Iran President Had ‘Lot Of Blood On His Hands’ — White House : "This was a man who had a lot of blood on his hands," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters, saying Raisi was responsible for "atrocious" rights abuses in Iran.
UK Regulator Reports Air Peace To NCAA Over Alleged Safety Violations: The Civil Aviation Authority in the United Kingdom has reported local airline operator Air Peace to the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) over the airline’s alleged non-compliance with some safety regulations in the UK.
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