By Fatima Zahra Muhammad
ASHENEWS reports that President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday approved the work plan to guide the operations of the National Council on Climate Change(NCCC).
The President approved this during the inaugural meeting of the NCCC in Abuja.The meeting chaired by the president also had in attendance Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as Vice-Chairman and the Director-General of NCCC, Dr. Salisu Dahiru, as Secretary.
The council inaugurated on the 28th of September, 2022 is expected to develop the country’s Action Plan on Climate Change, also known as the National Climate Action Plan.
If implemented, the plan will provide a sustainable framework for all climate-related activities in Nigeria.
Buhari said that the event reflects the country’s determination to meet the commitment made at Glasgow COP-26 in 2021 and Sharm el Sheikh COP-27 in 2022.
He noted that the country was going a step forward by adopting the consolidated memorandum presented by the NCCC’s Director-General.
“I have examined the requests by the Director-General and have agreed to the general terms of the intent of the memorandum on the need to operationalize the Council,” he said.
In ensuring the sustainability of the initiative per the Climate Change Act 2021, Buhari asked that the Energy Transition Plan and Office be absolved into the NCCC.
The president also assented to the organogram of the council, while also directing the deployment of staff from key Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to enable the council to commence full operations.
He further endorsed the NCCC as the Designated National Authority for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
This approval, therefore makes the Director General of the council as the National Focal Point for the UNFCCC as directed by the Climate Change Act 2021.
