Real Madrid outplayed at Atalanta, but Los Blancos' big stars bail them out in crucial Champions League winDaily Post Nigeria Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Ndagoso decries poverty, insecurity in Nigeria Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport News Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Ndagoso decries poverty, insecurity in Nigeria Published on December 24, 2024 By John Gabriel The Catholic Archbishop of Kaduna, Bishop Man-oso Ndagoso on Tuesday, appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to change his policies, saying they have failed to uplift the citizens. The Bishop said insecurity, hunger, multi-dimensional poverty, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and terrorism, among others, have continued to pose a problem for Nigerians. In a Christmas message in Kaduna, Archbishop Ndagoso said “Some have lost hope in themselves, their country and even in God, leaving them with no option but to end their lives. He said few people who can afford it, are leaving the country in droves, with hopelessness now everywhere in the land. “Given the hardship in the land, we plead with governments at all levels, especially, at the federal level to do whatever it takes by way of policy change or redirection to cushion the effects of the policies that brought us to where are. ”The hunger and poverty in the land is better imagined. Even at harvest time, the prices of essential food items have not changed for the better. Little wonder then that wherever people hear of palliative distribution huge numbers gather to get whatever they can leading to the tragic experiences we have had in recent times.” The Bishop applauded farmers who put their lives at risk by going to the farms to harvest for the poor masses, adding that “despite serious security challenges during the last farming season, many people braved it and put their lives on the line to cultivate their farms. We thank all those who did that. As usual, the harvest is a mixed bag.” ” Reports coming from different parts of our Archdiocese indicate that while some areas have bumper harvests of some food and cash crops some were not that lucky. It is therefore pertinent to remind our farmers of the need to be careful and prudent in the use of farm produce. ”As already noted, the season is a festive one that calls for celebration. The usual temptation this time of the year is to sell farm produce at giveaway prices to celebrate. As always, we caution our farmers especially in the rural areas to be careful in the management of their farm produce, mindful of the fact that, though all we possess is for the common good, we know also that charity begins at home.” He said Related Topics: kaduna Ndagoso Don't Miss 1000 Naval officers to be deployed to Maradun, Zamfara – Minister, Matawalle You may like Christmas: Lamentations as prices of foodstuff skyrocket in Kaduna Gwamna Uba Sani ya halarci kade-kaden Kirsimeti Gwamnatin tarayya za ta gurfanar da ‘yan ta’addan Turji a gaban kotu Passengers stranded as trailers block Abuja-Kaduna road [PHOTO] Yan sanda a Kaduna sun kama gungun masu laifi Police arrest suspected bandit, three car snatchers in Kaduna Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media LtdNone
The fifth season Smog isn’t merely 'environmental' issue anymore, it is public health emergency, socioeconomic burden Every winter, a thick layer of smog engulfs the Land of Five Rivers transforming our vibrant metropolises into a grey, choking haze. This annual catastrophe reminds us of the true cost of inaction – millions of lives, trillions of rupees, and around 7.0 per cent of Pakistan’s GDP lost to particulate matter. While it is most visible in the winter, its roots run deep, intertwined with longstanding deficiencies in urban planning, industrial regulation, and agricultural practices. Temperature inversions, trap pollutants close to the ground, creating a deadly cocktail of toxins that silently lingers in the air. Smog isn’t merely an ‘environmental’ issue anymore; it is a public health emergency, a socioeconomic burden, and a human security issue. In Punjab, over 11 million children endure life in one of the most polluted regions on earth, exposed to air quality index (AQI) levels as high as 1,900 – nearly 100 times the safe limits. Nasa’s satellites tell a similar story, with the OMPS Aerosol Index hitting as high as 4.5, with the maximum being 5, signaling an existential crisis. Despite being a public good, clean air remains a classic case of the tragedy of the commons – a shared resource exploited without accountability. Smog is Pakistan’s ‘fifth season’ the ultimate equalizer that spares no one and graciously infiltrates lungs rich and poor alike. It levels the playing field, indiscriminating, uniting us all under this thick choking layer of soot and dust. Yet, we have failed to truly measure, assess, and manage the true cost of smog, a public health crisis. The true cost of smog is vast and multifaceted, impacting health, the economy, society, and the environment. Health-wise, smog leads to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, premature deaths, and cognitive impairments, overwhelming the healthcare system and reducing life expectancy. Economically, it damages crops, reduces worker productivity, disrupts tourism, and strains energy systems, costing billions annually. Socially, smog exacerbates inequalities, disrupts education, and stifles human development by limiting mobility and well-being. Environmentally, it accelerates biodiversity loss, pollutes soil and water, and intensifies climate change. These interrelated costs are just a glimpse of what is at stake, with estimates, or rather underestimates, incurring between $22 billion and $48 billion of air pollution-related costs to the Pakistan economy annually. Yet, authorities continue to downplay the crisis, reflecting this cognitive decay, a systemic failure of governance of the highest order. What do we need to survive the smog crisis? A good lung capacity, sheer willpower, and, if one is lucky, a cup of chai to chase down that particulate matter. Rationally, a bankrupt nation under a green lockdown surely cannot afford such stopgap measures like cloud seeding, water sprinkling, smog-free towers, and air purifiers - all of which stand devoid of any long-lasting impact. Achieving clean air demands a transformative, sustained set of actions rather than superficial fixes. These include holding industries accountable through penalties for emissions and incentivising cleaner practices to internalise environmental costs. A cleaner transportation future can be realised through improved public transit, cleaner fuels, and infrastructure for carpooling and biking. Educating 240 million people on the fundamentals of smog, air quality, and climate is imperative. A combination of green tech accelerators that enable youth to develop innovative solutions, air quality research centres that generate critical data and insights, and early warning systems could also play a pivotal role. Scaling up affordable and sustainable alternatives to stubble burning, such as Happy Seeders, along with the widespread adoption of zigzag technology in brick kilns across Pakistan, can enhance productivity while reducing emissions. Urban and industrial reforms – such as promoting urban forestry, transitioning to low-carbon energy, and improving waste management – can also significantly decrease the volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere. Regionally, Pakistan should lead efforts for a South Asian Air Quality pact, a charter of clean air quality, while forming synergies to decarbonise our economies at an unprecedented scale. Nationally, strong governance, backed by technocratic leadership and an adequate share for nature in the national budget, is essential to turn these transmission channels into a cleaner, healthier reality for all. It took Pakistan seven decades to register the devastating impacts of toxic air, and we surely cannot afford another seven to manage it. A staggering 98.3 per cent of the population now lives in areas where air quality exceeds the national standard of 15 g/m3. Alas, we now exist in a society where clean air has become a luxury, rather a basic right. It is evident that we have reached a tipping point, and must deliver, as the cost of inaction is too high, time too less, and impacts too grave. The writer is an environmental economist and can be reached at: hashimzaman1@gmail.comWho would the Houston Texans play if the NFL playoffs began today? | Sporting News
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