Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung

Kelechi's Quest (A Docu-Drama Series)

Kelechi Udegbe, a budding Nigerian actor in the city of Lagos, features in this 6 part documentary drama series where he weighs his option of finding a suitable accommodation within his budget, thereby sparking a debate about new ways of accessing affordable accommodation and about the equitability of housing policies of Lagos State.

Africa’s Challenge with Used Lead Acid Batteries (ULAB) – Can Nigeria take the Lead?

Nigeria at the moment does not yet have a high adoption of renewable energy, most of its residents still rely on diesel and petrol powered generators to compliment the unstable energy they get from the national grid. But there is a growing demand for standalone solar solutions as the prices of solar panels continue to fall globally. As welcome as this development is , more toxic lead acid batteries - a major component to stand alone solar solutions – will end up at dumpsites across the nation after their use. In this article, Kelechi Ekwegh analyses this looming threat and investigates how Nigeria is currently handling this toxic waste from lead acid batteries

           

Public spaces and democracy in African city making

In the current discourse of possibilities for ‘African Urban Futures’, Lagos city is amongst the most highly contested.  The preferred imagined future of Lagos is one which fronts a global, modern city, envisioned and realized through developments such as ‘Eko Atlantic’[1]. However, there are implacable realities which exist alongside grand ‘Africa Rising’ narratives, and instead necessitate the provision of basic services and infrastructure.

By Phumelele Mkhize

In transiting to Africa’s model Megacity... Where is Lagos for everyday people?

A modern city is a centre of opportunities for all – rich and poor – to reach their highest potentials, that is governed in an inclusive, collaborative and sustainable manner. Prof. Taibat Lawanson from the Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Dr. Ademola Omoegun from the Department of Architecture, University of Lagos aimed at understanding how affected people cope with the effects of government interventions for replacing informality with formal structures and how Lagos fares in embracing creative and innovative strategies of inclusive development initiated and implemented by the affected people.

By Dr Taibat Lawanson, Dr Ademola Omoegun

The Geoengineering Fallacy

Geoengineering technologies are not yet deployable globally, but support for them is advancing fast, thanks to backing by powerful advocates eager to start experiments. But no silver bullet for climate change exists, and we must not abandon proven methods for the sake of a promise that one will be found

By Barbara Unmüssig

Public Private Partnerships and the Informal Sector

Lagos State government increasingly ventures into Public Private Partnerships to provide infrastructure in forms of roads, waste management, water supply; even complete residential and commercial “city” projects are outsourced. A very controversial development is the rebuilding of open markets by private developers disrupting decade old economic and social patterns in the informal sector

By Gbenga Komolafe

Versage: contemporary Nigerian knock-off designer street wear

Versage is an exploration of low-end globalization and global inequality; contemporary Nigerian fashion and the people behind it; the notion of cheapness; the complexity of the concept of "Made in China"; the creolization of taste; and when mimicry becomes its own aesthetic. See how Versage trade is working on the streets of Lagos

By Allyn Gaestel

True Cost Of Electricity

How much is a megawatt of electricity? Besides the cost to the investor, there is a cost to the society of every megawatt generated in Nigeria. If external costs are included. the true cost of each energy source emerges, with coal as the most costly energy source followed by solar PV.

Marshall Plan with Nigeria?

In 2017, Africa has gained unusual prominence – within and beyond the framework of the German G20 presidency. Three German initiatives highlight relationships with the African continent: the Ministry of Cooperation and Development’s “Marshall Plan With Africa”, the Ministry of Finance’s “Compact with Africa” and the Ministry for Economic Affair’s initiative “Pro! Africa”.  Through its initiatives, Germany promises to support Africa in the development of its growth and development potential and thus curtail migration. But how many voices from Nigeria are being heard in the debate in Germany? This web dossier wants to highlight arguments for the “Development That Nigeria Wants” and transport these perspectives into the Africa debate currently taking place in Germany.

New Publications

Open City Lagos (2018 edition): Resilience

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The OCL 2018 publication is a collation of the thoughts and ideas of researchers, urbanists and creatives who were invited to think critically about urban resilience. The publication explores resilience in its diverse forms, mechanisms and outputs. It also highlights important factors that influence urban resilience considerations and uses a people-centred lens to zoom in on the complexities and implications of embracing resilient frameworks in city planning.

Urban Planning Processes In Lagos

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The revised, second edition (2018) of “Urban Planning Processes in Lagos” is the result of a yearlong research process that examines the relation between urban policies, urban interventions, the role of governance, and the different actors in Lagos. The publication shows that Lagos urban policies do not often benefit those at the centre of economic development: the Lagosians – of which a significant number lives below the poverty line.

Megacity Lagos

Public Participation and Struggles for Sustainable Spaces in the Community

Plumes of smoke, splintered wood and twisted pieces of corrugated iron, surrounded by mounds of debris were frequent roadside sightings in 2016 around Eti Osa Local Government in Lagos State. At times these periodic demolitions of roadside shops and markets caused one to stop in ones tracks because they actually resembled bomb sites in a war zone, where destruction takes place without any immediate moves to remove the ugly damage...  

By Kofo Adeleke

The Working Poor in the Informal Sector and Their Contribution to the Urban Economy

Market women and informal traders in Lagos contribute massively to the urban economy of the city; through payment of various taxes and levies but also through sustaining transport, construction, food and other sectors, even in times of deep recession. They contribute their share to the internally generated revenue and therefore should expect in return social services in form of local infrastructure, access to low interest credit etc.

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Gender

Nameless

Is it possible to conceive, write, edit and publish a book in 5 days? The Heinrich Boll Stiftung Nigeria office brought together some big names in Nigeria to write about the country they know and love so well. They ended up with a book called Nameless. What is Nameless you ask?

“Nameless is a city. A country within borders. Abound less space of ideas. A cosmos with realities, stark and painful, quiet and loud. A space crippled by fears. Nameless is populated. West African. It is in the minds of its people, black and proud. Sometimes Nameless is human. An idea. Sometimes it is in the past. Often times it is the now. Other times, it is the future”.

New Morning - Film Launch

As part of the foundation’s commitment to bringing difficult topics into public attention to start a debate, the Heinrich Böll Foundation had the first public screening of New Morning, a movie about domestic violence.

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International Politics

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Perspectives #03/2018: Through the Looking Glass: Images of African Futures

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Against a background of political and cultural disruption, Perspectives approached writers to inquire, speculatively or not so speculatively, into an African future. The result is an eclectic mix of contributions and conversations across the arts, culture, philosophy and politics. They offer glimpses of African futures – fantastic, idealistic, or sober, but always self-confident – that place the continent at the centre of a world to come.

Urban Planning Processes In Lagos

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The revised, second edition (2018) of “Urban Planning Processes in Lagos” is the result of a yearlong research process that examines the relation between urban policies, urban interventions, the role of governance, and the different actors in Lagos. The publication shows that Lagos urban policies do not often benefit those at the centre of economic development: the Lagosians – of which a significant number lives below the poverty line.

No smoke with clean stoves

"No smoke with clean stoves" is sung by Tai and Kenny, two young Nigerian women who are passionate about improving women's lives. Death from indoor smoke pollution kills over 95,000 Nigerian women and children every year. Time to stop the carnage, say the two artists who have produced this music video to raise awareness on the fuel efficient cook stoves which reduce pollution and firewood consumption by up to 80 per cent.

AGRIFOOD ATLAS

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Industrial agriculture is responsible for both colossal environmental and climate damage as well as global injustice. It is high time for a socially and politically oriented regulation of the agrifood industry. We hope that this atlas will stimulate a broad-based social debate on this vital topic.

Marshall Plan for Nigeria NESG Report

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How should the ‘Giant of Africa’ develop, and what role should the ‘Power House of Europe’ play in this development, if any? It is in the search for practical approaches to a development that has the majority citizens as its centre that the Nigeria Office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation commissioned this paper. This paper is meant to spell out the private sector view on people-oriented development, and it was developed in collaboration with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG, as the main private sector platform of Nigeria.

Bitumen in Nigeria

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Nigeria has the 6th largest reserves globally of bitumen, also known as oil sands or tar sands. It is used in road construction, but can also be processed into oil. International researcher Christina Milos draws lessons from the Canadian experience, comparing with field findings from Ogun State and adding analysis of Nigerian government policies in order to assess the true cost of extracting bitumen from the ground.

Open City Lagos

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The publication “Open City Lagos”, a cooperation with Nsibidi Institute Lagos and Fabulous Urban Zurich, intends to initiate a public reflection and discourse on the characteristics of an “open city” where the co-existence of different social groups and the richness of cultural diversity come together to foster growth that is diverse, equitable, creative, sustainable and inclusive.

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Pay As You Go Solar

Despite the acute lack of electricity and the huge potentials for solar, wind and biomass in Nigeria, the renewable energy market is very small. Is Nigeria addicted to oil and gas? Or is there a policy window of opportunity to increase the amount of renewable energy that would benefit small businesses and households? An assessment by Christine K, with a policy brief on Pay As You Go Solar for Nigeria.

Renewables On The Rise

Electricity for industrialisation, rising living standards and better healthcare in West Africa – where will it come from? Gas, coal, oil and renewable sources of energy are all in abundant supply. But what is the right mix for the energy future? And what are the carbon choices that West African countries need to make? This report by Hans Verolme looks into the social, cost and environmental dimensions of deciding on Africa’s energy for tomorrow.

Coal Atlas Nigeria: Facts and figures on a fossil fuel

How much coal should Nigeria burn to increase electricity supplies for the country? Is coal economically viable, and what health hazards does it bring to Nigerians? The Nigeria Coal Atlas has relevant facts & figures from domestic and international sources.
Nigeria Coal Atlas

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