Business

‘Overwhelming’ backing for strong climate action, UK study shows

The UK public backs a carbon tax on polluting industries, higher levies on flying and grants for heat pumps in order to tackle the climate crisis, according to the biggest analysis of policy preferences ever published.

Almost 22,000 people chose their favoured mix of policies to hit the government’s 2030 target for emissions cuts. A speed limit of 60mph on motorways and a campaign to reduce meat eating by 10% were also among the most popular measures, all of which had between 77% and 94% public support.

The public went further than the government, choosing to surpass the current carbon target by 3%. Age, location and political leaning made little difference to the policy choices, the researchers found, with an “overwhelming consensus” for strong and fair climate action.

The most popular suite of policies meant people earning less than £22,000 would be £44 a year better off, thanks to redistribution of the carbon tax to the less well-off and savings on heating and car bills. Those with incomes between £35,000 and £53,000 would pay £195 more a year to fund the policies. The policy suite was also estimated to support a million jobs by 2030.

The researchers said the public wanted the government to lead the transition to a net-zero economy, rather than leave it to tax measures and the market alone.

“The British public have chosen the future they want – one with green jobs, clean air and thriving nature – and which doesn’t hit the worst-off in the pocket,” said Tanya Steele, the CEO of WWF, which produced the report with thinktank Demos. “This is within our grasp, but only if the UK government listens and sets out a clear plan and strategy for getting there.”

The government has said it will publish its net-zero strategy before it hosts the crucial Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow from 1 November. The strategy will set out how the UK will meet its ambitious carbon targets and is seen as a key test of the nation’s credibility on climate.

The most popular policy mix selected by the public was:

A carbon tax of £75 per tonne on polluting manufacturing and construction businesses, with some funding to invest in new technologies, supported by 94% of people.
Better-integrated public transport coordinated by local government (93%).
Food campaigns and support from government, supermarkets and food companies promoting plant-based diets and cutting meat and dairy consumption by 10% (93%).
A comprehensive UK-wide electric vehicle charging network by 2028 (91%).
Raising flying costs, particularly on frequent fliers (89%).
Some restrictions on cars entering city centres and a 60mph speed limit on motorways (82%).
Support for less intensive farming and paying farmers to improve nature, including woodlands (79%).
Grants for heat pumps and home insulation for low-income households and low-interest loans for others, reaching 1.4m heat pump installations a year by 2030 (77%).

“There is an overwhelming consensus of support behind [these] solutions,” said Polly Mackenzie, the CEO of Demos. “The UK government must listen to the public and urgently set out a strategy that will provide a greener, stronger and better future for us all.”

The new analysis, titled The Climate Consensus, used a market research company to provide a nationally representative sample of 22,000 people, including participants from every parliamentary constituency. The participants used a climate calculator to choose the policies they preferred in order to meet the government’s 2030 target of a 39% reduction in emissions compared to 2019.

“The package that emerged is therefore more than just a list of popular policies: it is a measured set of choices, compromises and investments the public are prepared to make to tackle climate change,” the report said.

The range of policies offered by the calculator were taken from work by the government’s official climate change advisers, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), while the emission reductions were calculated using a government tool. The analysis was funded by the National Grid and ScottishPower.

The UK has cut its emissions by almost half since 1990, largely by phasing out coal and installing renewables to generate electricity. However, future cuts will affect people much more directly, including their cars and home heating systems.

Alok Sharma, the president of Cop26, and Kwasi Kwarteng, the business and energy secretary, wrote in 2020: “It is important that we involve the public and bring them with us, so that the decisions we make align with society’s concerns and values.”

Last week, Chris Stark, the chief executive of the CCC, said a UK-wide public information campaign on climate change and net zero could usefully be deployed, as is already underway in Scotland.

“There’s this feeling often of how difficult this will be. [But] many of the changes are profoundly positive, not just for the climate but also for things like health, air quality and our experience generally.”

Business

President Tinubu assures of a robust economy

President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) ‘s new report on the country’s trade balance.

According to the report, Nigeria recorded another trade surplus in the second quarter of 2024, hitting N6.95 trillion. The current surplus is 6.60% higher than the N6.52 trillion surplus recorded in the first quarter.

Just days after the country recorded almost 100 percent oversubscription of its first $500 million domestic bond and half-year revenue of N9.1 trillion, the latest report underscores the increasing positive shifts in the economy over the last year.

President Tinubu expresses confidence in the reforms his administration is pursuing and believes they will create a more robust economy that will usher in a new era of prosperity for Nigerians.

The NBS report reflects the country’s strong export performance in the second quarter.

Although total merchandise trade in Q2 2024 stood at N31.89 trillion, a 3.76% decline compared to the preceding quarter (Q1 2024), it marked a 150.39% rise from the corresponding period in 2023.

The NBS reported that the Q2 surplus was essentially driven by exports to Europe, the United States and Asia.

Total exports stood at N19.42 trillion, accounting for 60.89% of the country’s total trade. This represents a 1.31% increase from N19.17 trillion in the first quarter and a 201.76% surge from N6.44 trillion recorded in Q2 2023.

The dominance of crude oil exports remains a key factor in this performance, contributing N14.56 trillion, or 74.98% of total exports.

Non-crude oil exports, valued at N4.86 trillion, comprised 25.02% of the total export value, with non-oil products contributing N1.94 trillion.

The strong export performance, particularly in crude oil, ensured Nigeria maintained a favourable trade balance.

In Q2 2024, European and American countries dominated Nigeria’s top export destinations. Spain emerged as the largest export partner, receiving goods valued at N2.01 trillion, accounting for 10.34% of Nigeria’s total exports.

The United States followed closely with N1.86 trillion (9.56%), while France imported N1.82 trillion of Nigerian goods, representing 9.37% of total exports.

Nigeria’s other major export partners include India (N1.65 trillion or 8.50%) and the Netherlands (N1.38 trillion).

Generally, the economic indicators, which were very low when President Tinubu assumed office last year, are turning positive.

The government will continue to consolidate on the gains of the reforms as more fiscal and tax policy reforms already embarked upon by the administration come to fruition.

President Tinubu is determined to confront the inhibitions that have stunted the growth and development necessary to unlock the country’s full potential.

Business

OPEC: Nigeria’s oil production rose to 1.35 million bpd in August

Nigeria’s crude oil production rose to 1.352 million barrels per day in August from 1.307mbpd in July 2024.

The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries disclosed this in its September Monthly Oil Market Report.

Further analysis showed that the average daily crude production rose marginally by 45,000 barrels per day, based on information obtained through direct communication with the Nigerian government

This is as the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa reiterated commitment to achieving the 2.2mbpd crude production target by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government by December 2024.

The CDS made this known during a visit to Governor Siminalayi Fubara at the Government House in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday.

Consequently, he announced the creation of two key committees, the Defence Joint Monitoring Team and the Defence Joint Intelligence Infusion Centre.

According to him, these bodies, set up by Defence Headquarters, are to work in coordination with other military units and state governments to address the ongoing problem of oil theft.

“For us to achieve the mandate given by the Commander-in-Chief, we need to approach things differently,” Musa said.

He noted that while Operation Delta Safe ensures coordination between security forces under the Joint Task Force, the Monitoring Team is tasked with identifying weaknesses and proposing ways to close operational gaps.

He said the Infusion Centre will streamline intelligence on oil theft and other criminal activities, ensuring swift action to maintain peace and security in the region.

General Musa commended Governor Fubara for fostering a peaceful environment in Rivers State, noting that this has allowed the Armed Forces to carry out their duties without hindrance.

“We are grateful for your leadership and support, which has allowed us to maintain peace and advance development,” Musa said.

Business

FCCPC to partner with traders to curb consumers’ exploitation

The Federal Competition and Consumers Protection Commission (FCCPC) has appealed to stakeholders in the production and distribution value chain of the economy to join the crusade to curb price fixing and other unethical practices.

The call was made by FCCPC boss, Mr. Tunji Bello, in Lagos on Wednesday while addressing a hall pack full of captains of large/small-scale industries, leaders of market associations, transport operators and service providers at a town-hall meeting hosted by the commission.

The one-day stakeholders’ engagement on Exploitative Pricing was held in Oregun area of Lagos.

According to him, the meeting was necessitated by startling discoveries made by the commission during a survey conducted nationwide.

“We discovered that some traders form cartels in the markets and put barriers in form of ridiculous membership fees intended to ensure price fixing in the market. Without joining them, they won’t allow anyone to sell goods in the market or provide services. Such practices are against the law and constitute some of the offences the Commission is against,” said the FCCPC boss.

He added: “The purpose of the town-hall meeting initiative is to engage you the stakeholders in the production and retail segment of the market as well as service providers, to hear your own stories, with a view to achieving a consensus for the benefit of all of us.”

The Lagos stakeholders’ meeting is sequel to the one held in Abuja two weeks ago.

The FCCPC initiative is coming at a time Nigerians are experiencing sharp increases in the prices of food items and transportation costs across the country.

While acknowledging that the exchange rate and the increase in petrol price make the old prices unsustainable, Bello however, frowned at disproportionate increases in the prices of food items which he said are often perpetrated by “cartels” to exploit consumers.

Even though sections of the law empower the commission to deal decisively with offenders, Bello said FCCPC chose to first explore the option of dialogue with a view to arriving at a consensus to deal with the growing trend.

Section 17 of the FCCPC Act empowers the Commission to eliminate anti-competitive practices, misleading, unfair, deceptive or unconscionable marketing, trading, and business practices. It prescribes sanctions including a fine of up to N10m and a jail term of three years for anyone found guilty by the court.

To facilitate a better engagement, Bello disclosed that the FCCPC has upgraded its portal through which aggrieved consumers could lodge a complaint and their grievances would be addressed promptly.

On the economic outlook, Bello stated that the removal of taxes on imported food items, pharmaceutical products and transportation was part of measures being taken by the Tinubu’s administration to cushion the effects of the reforms introduced to reposition the Nigerian economy.

He sought the cooperation of the traders to ensure that the consumers get the benefits through reduced prices.

“Such laudable measures by President Tinubu would however be in vain if the benefits are not passed down to the consumers,” said Bello.

The Executive Commissioner, Operations, FCCPC, Dr. Abdullahi Adamu, emphasised during his welcome address that the purpose of the stakeholders’ engagement is to tackle sharp practices and address the role of market associations in contributing to price hikes of goods and services.

Adamu highlighted that President Tinubu’s administration is committed to reducing the cost of goods and services, urging stakeholders to collaborate with the government to find amicable solutions.

“The government of President Tinubu is interested in bringing the prices of goods and services down,” he stated, calling on stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue to achieve this goal.

Speaking at the event, the Iya Oloja General of Nigeria, Folasade Tinubu-Ojo, echoed these sentiments, urging traders to refrain from exploitative pricing practices.

She called on the traders to support the government’s efforts by being considerate in their pricing.

“We need to assist the government in forcing down the prices of goods and services by being considerate and shunning the tendencies to make abnormal profits,” she said.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Consumers Protection Agency (LASCOPA), Mr. Afolabi Sholebo, also weighed in, questioning the logic behind punitive pricing practices.

“Why are we punishing ourselves? If we love ourselves so much, why are we punishing ourselves?” he asked.

Sholebo expressed concern over the influence of market associations that often pressured traders into maintaining high prices, even when some are willing to sell at cheaper rates.

“There is always a gang-up against some traders who decide to sell their goods and services at cheaper rates through market associations,” he lamented.

He further emphasized the need for a shift in mindset regarding pricing.

“We have to consider this issue of pricing. This is not the time to start arresting people. We know what is happening—some of us are our own enemies. Some people buy at cheaper prices and sell at exorbitant rates. We cannot blame the government for everything,” Sholebo concluded.