Executive Secretary of HEDA Resource Centre, Sulaimon Arigbabu, has attributed farmers’ losses to flooding to a lack of access to climate information services. He highlighted that Nigeria’s food crisis and insecurity stem from resource constraints triggered by climate change. Arigbabu made these remarks during a 1-Day high-level advocacy workshop on enhancing access to climate information services for national development and food security in Nigeria, organized by HEDA and NiMET. He emphasized the lingering impact of last year’s flooding on communities and noted the additional stress on food-producing communities this year. Arigbabu pointed out that farmers, despite suffering post-flooding, lack the necessary support to lift themselves out of poverty and address food insecurity. He identified a significant but often overlooked issue in agricultural production – the lack of access to climate information services. Arigbabu called attention to NiMet’s seasonal climate predictions and regular forecasts, stating that this information needs to reach farmers in three crucial ways. Firstly, it should be provided to agricultural policy authorities in all states before the planting season. Secondly, farmers should receive information when preparing for planting to avoid losses due to changing rainy patterns. Thirdly, information is needed about what crops to plant to maximize yield and reduce vulnerability to natural disasters. The Director-General of NiMet, Prof. Mansur Matazu, revealed at the workshop that Nigeria suffered approximately $4.6 billion in economic damage from floods in 2022. This loss had negative effects on the nation’s GDP, but Matazu expressed optimism about the ongoing recovery efforts. He mentioned a World Bank Survey commissioned by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, which assessed the cost implications of 2022 flood damages in terms of livelihoods, farmlands, and infrastructure. Matazu highlighted the country’s commitment to recovering from the devastation, emphasizing the government’s efforts, including the establishment of a presidential committee to find lasting solutions to floods. He acknowledged the need to better utilize floodwaters for agriculture, aligning with the government’s policy on achieving food security. Matazu stressed the agency’s dedication to addressing climate change challenges in Nigeria through partnerships and localized adaptation measures to enhance climate-smart agricultural advisories and services.

In a significant development, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has announced its forthcoming expert validation meeting, poised to shed light on their comprehensive research regarding the 2023 General Elections in Nigeria. The event will also present an insightful overview of the current electoral landscape in the country. Renowned and independent researchers, Professor Adele Jinadu and Dr. Hussaini Abdu, are at the helm of this ambitious research initiative. The primary objective is to meticulously examine various facets surrounding Nigerian elections, including their legitimacy, credibility, and overall conduct. Additionally, the study delves into crucial aspects such as associated costs, the integration of technology to ensure transparent elections, political party dynamics, and the aftermath of the 2023 election. This in-depth research is meticulously organized into nine distinct components, which include, the historical overview of competitive party and electoral politics in Nigeria since 1919, Comparison of the 2023 election with previous elections, Electoral commissions and election management, Electoral technology and cost of elections. It also includes, Party system, parties and landscape of electoral politics; security, politics, electoral corruption and violence; Electoral reforms and legal frameworks for conduct of elections; Voters’ registration and education and Election campaigns, election observation and conduct of elections. Comments and observation to the findings with a view to validating the outcome of the findings before it is presented to the larger stakeholders and public is of extreme importance to the findings.

A Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Hon. Justice Z.B. Abubakar, has mandated the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to furnish the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) with pertinent information concerning the selection process of Bitt Inc. as the technical partner for the CBN’s E-Naira digital currency project. The judgment, delivered in the case FHC/ABJ/CS/1542/2021 between the Incorporated Trustees of HEDA Resource Centre and the Central Bank of Nigeria, addressed a Motion on Notice dated 22nd February 2022. The motion sought a Mandamus order compelling the CBN to provide information outlined in the Applicant’s request dated 1st September 2021. The information sought by the leading civil society organisation in the country,  HEDA Resource Centre, included evidence of the newspaper advertisement calling for bidders, the list of bidders, and evidence of the public opening of bids. In response, the CBN argued, citing Section 15(2) of the Public Procurement Act, that the bidding process for the E-Naira, involving special goods, works, and services related to national defense and security, did not require a newspaper advertisement for bidders and public opening of bids. The Respondent further contended that divulging the requested information would be detrimental to Nigeria’s international affairs, economic interests, and national security, particularly regarding countries seeking consultation with the CBN on the implementation of the e-currency in their respective nations. In its ruling, the Court emphasized that the CBN is a public institution or agency, as defined in Section 31 of the FoI Act, 2011. Pursuant to Section 4(a) and (b) of the FoI Act, 2011, the CBN is obligated to provide the requested information within seven days. The Court stressed the mandatory nature of the provisions, employing the term “shall,” leaving the Respondent with no discretion but to comply. Consequently, the Court deemed the Applicant’s application meritorious and granted the sole relief sought.

Civil Society Organizations have strongly criticized the Federal Government for initiating legal proceedings against Muhuyi Magaji, the Executive Chairman of Kano State’s Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission, under the influence of the All-Progressive Congress (APC) party Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, through the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). In a statement issued by representatives of the groups, it asserted that the charges brought against the Kano State PCAC boss by the Code of Conduct Bureau were orchestrated by certain politicians with the intent to undermine the anti-corruption efforts in Kano State. The statement highlighted the irony of the Code of Conduct Bureau’s failure to take action against several politicians, despite overwhelming evidence, including the former governor of Kano State, who is now the current All-Progressive Congress (APC) National Chairman. It also questioned the unprecedented speed of investigations and charges against the Kano anti-corruption chairman, attributing it to a desire to shield corrupt practices by the immediate past government of Kano State and divert attention from the anti-corruption drive in Kano. The groups further called for a change in the leadership of the Code of Conduct Bureau as part of the broader reshuffling of leaderships of the anti-graft agencies by the Tinubu-led administration. “The allegations against Muhuyi Magaji were dissected, with emphasis on the questionable nature of the bribery accusation involving the former Secretary to the State Government in Kano. This also raised doubts about the validity of the charges, questioning whether the Code of Conduct Bureau was the appropriate entity to address bribery allegations”. Furthermore, the anti-corruption group challenged the inconsistency in the application of legal action, pointing out that many governors accused of corruption and facing charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have not been similarly pursued by the Code of Conduct Bureau. The groups, however, maintained that the focus on Muhuyi Magaji was not just about Ganduje, but was deliberate, implying that the Code of Conduct Bureau had become a tool in the hands of politicians for persecution due to the scrutiny faced by Ganduje and his associates under the Kano government. The CCB’s selective investigation and prosecution has made a mockery of the Bureau’s intention and commitment to the anti-corruption drive. The statement was signed by Dr. Zikrillahi Ibrahim of CHRICED, Rafsanjani Auwal Musa of CISLAC, Mohammed Bougei Attah of Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative, and Olanrewaju Suraju of HEDA Resource Centre.

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) is set to welcome Dr. Jonathan Fanton, the former President of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, for an official visit in Lagos. Scheduled for Thursday, 23rd November 2023, the visit will feature an interactive session, leveraging Dr. Fanton’s extensive experience in philanthropy and academia to delve into the strategic fight against corruption through international mechanisms. Dr. Fanton, with his distinguished background, including a recent role as the president of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and leadership positions in organizations such as Human Rights Watch and the Security Council Report, brings a wealth of knowledge and a global perspective. His commitment to addressing global issues is evident, making his insights invaluable. The interactive session, tailored for media, civil society, and key state actors, will concentrate on corruption issues among both state and non-state actors. Additionally, it will explore the media’s role, civic space, and related matters. The overarching goal is to assess the current situation and pinpoint opportunities for stakeholder engagement in the fight against corruption.”

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), the Journalist for Democratic Rights (JODER), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC), have raised alarms regarding the pervasive corruption in various sectors of Nigeria, urged journalists to up the pivotal role they play in exposing corrupt individuals fearlessly and without bias. During a media training session organized by HEDA in partnership with JODER and supported by the MacArthur Foundation, stakeholders convened under the theme “Building Public Ownership for Transparency and Accountability in Governance and Service Delivery.” focusing on their pivotal role in exposing corrupt individuals fearlessly and without bias. Sulaimon Arigbabu, Executive Secretary of HEDA, emphasized the worsening state of corruption in the country and stressed the necessity of collaborative efforts among all stakeholders to rectify the situation. Highlighting the global socioeconomic challenges, Arigbabu underscored the unique severity of Nigeria’s predicament due to the hindrance caused by corruption, hindering progress despite global efforts to ease challenges. Adewale Adeoye, Executive Director of JODER, called for a change in the narrative, urging media practitioners to conduct thorough, fact-based investigations and expose corruption. He argued that a corrupt-free society is achievable if the media remains vigilant, putting political leaders under scrutiny and demanding transparency. Hadiza Rimi, representing the ICPC Chairman, Musa Aliyu, emphasized the vital role of the media in the fight against corruption. Aliyu stressed the importance of ethical reporting and the need for journalists, online media, and bloggers to uphold the highest standards of professionalism in covering corruption stories. The ICPC chairman urged the media to be committed to truth, accuracy, and fairness, emphasizing that responsible journalism contributes to fostering accountability and change. The training also addressed the need for the Nigerian government to identify collaborators in the $11 billion arbitration award sought by P&ID, emphasizing that the court ruling in Nigeria’s favor should not conclude the case. Facilitators at the training, including Sam Olukoya of the BBC, expressed concerns about unresolved corruption cases involving multinational companies operating in Nigeria and urged accountability for those involved. Kabir Alabi Garba, the Weekend Editor of Guardian Newspaper, highlighted the lack of follow-up by the media on published corruption cases, attributing it to the impunity enjoyed by the guilty parties. He pointed to the Halliburton scandal as an example, lamenting the lack of punitive measures against culprits in Nigeria compared to their counterparts abroad. According to him, this contributes to the growing corruption in the country, as justice is not consistently served to those found guilty.