Environment

Patel pledges six months in prison or big fines for motorway protesters

Protesters disrupting motorways will face up to six months in prison or unlimited fines under plans to stop climate campaigners bringing traffic to a halt, Priti Patel will say this week.

The home secretary said she would amend new legislation to bring in tougher sentences and give police powers to seize equipment that protesters could use to lock themselves on to fixed objects.

In recent weeks the home secretary has applied for court injunctions to stop Insulate Britain campaigners from bringing motorways to a standstill. The current fines for blocking a highway are up to £1,000.

The injunctions and arrests have not stopped the activists, who are calling on the prime minister to “get on with the job” of insulating Britain’s “leaky” homes.

Before the announcement, Boris Johnson said: “This government will always stand on the side of the law-abiding majority and ensure the toughest penalties possible for criminals who deliberately bring major roads to a standstill.”

Johnson insisted the right to protest was “sacrosanct” but there was “no right to inflict chaos and misery on people trying to go about their lives”. He added: “We will give the police the powers they need to stop their reckless and selfish behaviour.”

The Tories are proposing to make the change through the police, crime, courts and sentencing bill, which will grant the police additional powers.

As well as the tougher sentencing, officers will get more stop-and-search powers to check whether protesters are carrying equipment such as handcuffs or glue that could be used in their protest to make them difficult to move. Police will also be able to remand protesters in custody rather than releasing them after charge.

Another change will be made to stop protesters being able to cause disruption on a road when it has been closed by police in order to prevent a demonstration.

Other crimes that typically carry a six-month sentence include a second offence of possessing a weapon or threatening with a weapon.

Patel, who has been a persistent critic of the Insulate Britain protesters, said the government “will not tolerate guerrilla tactics that obstruct people going about their day-to-day business”.

A spokesperson for Insulate Britain said the group “appreciates the
difficult position” that Patel is in and argued it too “shares her passion” for upholding law and order.

But the campaign group, which has seen dozens of its members arrested for blocking motorways in recent weeks, said the threat to society posed by the climate emergency was much greater than the threat of punishment from the government.

“We must face the reality Sir David King means when he says: ‘We have to move rapidly, what we do in the next three to four years will determine the future of humanity. Unless we make the transitions necessary, we are going to lose what we understand by our civilisation over the coming decades’,” the spokesperson said.

“We have a responsibility to the next generation to keep going until we get a meaningful statement from the government that we can trust. We hope that our sensible plan to start the process of decarbonisation in the UK will be considered as it gives best value for money on reducing emissions, will create hundreds of thousands of meaningful jobs and start to bring millions out of fuel poverty as we go into a fuel crisis. It’s win win. Why doesn’t Boris get on with the job?”

Environment

FG issues licence to construct floating LNG plant

The Federal Government has issued a licence to construct (LCT) Nigeria’s pioneering floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility to UTM FLNG Limited.

This marks a giant leap in the country’s energy sector.

The issuance of the LTC by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) last Friday was part of a major fulfillment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assurance in July, last year, to give necessary support to the Nigerian firm to actualise the landmark gas project.

The President, while hosting the management of the company and its foreign partners at the State House in Abuja, pledged to remove all impediments to the timely completion of the project.

The UTM FLNG plant, which is located offshore Akwa Ibom State, is expected to be completed and inaugurated in 2028 with gas production projected to begin the following year.

The plant, with a capacity of 2.8 million tonnes per annum (MTPA), will produce LNG, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and condensate from re-injected gas at the OML 104 Yoho Field.

The project represents a significant step forward in Nigeria’s energy sector, enhancing the country’s ability to harness its untapped 209 trillion cubic feet of natural gas for both export and domestic consumption.

It is expected to leapfrog the national economy by ensuring availability of gas at lower cost, generate massive employment and multi-million naira business opportunities for Nigerians and other nationals.

The presentation of the licence to the company at the NMDPRA headquarters at the weekend in Abuja was witnessed by key industry players, including the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo.

Environment

NiMet forecasts 3-day thunderstorms, rains from Monday

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted rainy and thundery weather conditions from Monday to Wednesday across the country.

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja forecast isolated thunderstorms over parts of Katsina, Sokoto, Kano, Zamfara, Kebbi, Kaduna, Adamawa and Taraba states in the northern region during the Monday ‘s morning hours.

“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Kaduna, Borno, Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Yobe, Taraba, Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi States.

“Intermittent rains are expected over parts of Benue, Niger, the Federal Capital Territory, Kogi and Kwara States during the morning hours.

“In the afternoon and evening hours, localised rains are envisaged over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Niger and Nasarawa states.

“Isolated rains are expected over parts of Ebonyi, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and cross river States during the morning hours,” it said.

According to NiMet, localised rains are anticipated over parts of Ebonyi, Abia, Imo, Enugu, Ondo, Anambara, Osun, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa and Edo States later in the day.

The agency anticipated isolated thunderstorms over parts of Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa and Taraba States during the morning period on Tuesday.

It later envisaged isolated thunderstorms over parts of Bauchi, Kaduna, Gombe, Yobe, Zamfara, Borno, Sokoto, Taraba, Kebbi, Kano and Jigawa States.

“Intermittent rains are expected over parts of the Benue, Kogi, the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa states during the morning hours.

“Later in the day, isolated rains are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Plateau, Benue, Kwara and Nasarawa states.

“Intermittent rains are expected over parts of Edo, Ondo, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa States during the morning hours.

“Later in the day, intermittent rains are expected over the entire Southern region,” it said.

For Wednesday, it said thunderstorms are expected over parts of Kebbi, Bauchi, Sokoto, Borno and Katsina states during the morning hours.

“In the afternoon and evening hours, isolated thunderstorms are expected over parts of Kebbi, Katsina, Sokoto, Zamfara, Kebbi, Adamawa, Kano and Taraba states.

“Morning rains are expected over parts of the Federal Capital Territory and Niger States,” it said.

According to NiMet, isolated thunderstorms with rains are expected over parts of the Plateau, Nasarawa and Niger states later in the day.

It predicted cloudy skies over the southern region during morning hours with prospects of moderate rains over parts of Abia, Ebonyi, Ondo, Imo, Edo, Rivers, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Cross River States later in the day.

NiMet advised the residents to avoid flood-prone areas as there is a high likelihood of urban flooding in major cities due to heavy downpours.

“Strong winds may precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur, public should take adequate precaution.

“Adhere to safety advisories issued by relevant authorities. Public and Airline operators are advised to get updated weather reports and forecast from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.

“Residents are advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet. Visit our website www.nimet.gov.ng,” it said.

Environment

NEMA issues flood alert to Benue, Kogi, Anambra, four other states

The National National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned of impending flood in Benue, Kogi, Anambra, Delta, Imo, Rivers and Bayelsa.

The agency advised other States in the central and southern parts to prepare ahead of potential floods that may soon affect communities downstream.

Some of the actions to be taken to mitigate the impact of the flood, according to NEMA, include immediate clearing of blocked drainages, constructing temporary flood barriers and evacuation from flood plains to safe higher grounds.

The agency in a statement on Thursday night by the Head of Press Unit of NEMA, Manzo Ezekiel said: “Following the recent flood that impacted many communities across some states and rising water levels in River Benue and River Niger, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) advises states in the central and southern parts to prepare ahead of potential floods that may soon affect communities downstream.

“The advice has become imperative to activate the State, Local Government Authorities and communities to take necessary actions to mitigate against the risk of flooding and avoid the scale of losses recorded so far in areas that have been impacted, including loss of lives, displacement of communities, and significant damage to property and infrastructures.

“Specifically, the states that are highly probable to the hazard in next few weeks to come are Benue, Kogi, Anambra, Delta, Imo, Rivers and Bayelsa.”

On the expected actions to mitigate the impact, the agency stated: “Some of the actions to be taken include immediate clearing of blocked drainages, constructing temporary flood barriers and evacuating from flood plains to safe higher grounds”.

It also adviced communities to stay informed through weather updates and flood warnings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

“Residents are advised to avoid crossing flooded areas, relocate from flood-prone zones, and cooperate with local emergency services.

“NEMA is working closely with state emergency management agencies and other relevant stakeholders through the National Emergency Operations Centre situated in the Agency’s headquarters to ensure that necessary support, including rescue and relief operations are available to affected communities.

“We urge all residents, especially in vulnerable areas, to heed our warnings and take immediate preventive measures to safeguard lives and property. Preparedness is key in reducing the impact of flooding.”