Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Abia State Rep. Sam Onuigbo has expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Climate Change Bill, which he sponsored into law.
The Bill earlier passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly, now an Act provides a legal framework on which the country’s climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts will be based on.
Recall that the President had on Thursday signed the Climate Change Bill into an Act along with AMCON (Amendment) Act, making them parts of the country’s constitution.
In a letter of commendation to key stakeholders, especially President Muhammadu Buhari for making the Bill an Act, he said it makes provisions for the constitution of a National Council on Climate Change headed by the President, with members including Ministers of relevant Ministries, Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, President of ALGON, National Security Adviser, representatives of the youths, Persons Living with Disabilities, women, climate-related NGOs, the private sector, etc.
Hon. Onuigbo further stated that the all-encompassing nature of the composition of the Council is to ensure that the voices of all is heard, adding that the high-level nature of the Council was intentional.
He insisted that Climate Change is a serious issue which demands the highest level of attention— the type that will elicit serious responses.
In a release obtained by ABN TV on Friday, Hon. Onuigbo said, “The Act further sets up the Climate Change Fund to be administered by the Council. This fund will be channeled towards adaptation efforts, support for innovations that will lead to decarbonization, investments into green economy, support for nature-based solutions such as REDD+ and the Great Green Wall Initiative, and many more. It also sets a net zero emissions target for the country while setting up five-yearly carbon budgets and annual carbon targets. There are also provisions for proper oversight on Nigeria’s Climate Change efforts by the National Assembly and a communication process that is time-bound, and public.
“The first part of a very important journey has been done. Proper implementation demands full attention and action by all of us. Together, and only together, can we realize our objectives and set our country on the path of an important transition to green and sustainable economy. Make no mistakes about it, the world is transiting and we must join or wake up in a few decades, an impoverished and uninhabitable country.
“I will like to thank His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari for exhibiting selfless and precocious leadership. Worthy of commendation are also the Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan GCON, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Idris Wase, all members of the National Assembly, the incomparable Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor, the Attorney General of the Federation and Honourable Minister of Justice, Hon. Abubakar Malami SAN, my colleagues in Climate Parliament Nigeria and GLOBE Nigeria, members of the diplomatic mission especially the British High Commission and the U.S Embassy, climate activists in the country for consistently pushing for this, the technical team of professionals who worked with me on the Bill, members of the media, and others.”
