By Jonathan Lois, Abuja
A member representating, Ikwuano/ Umuahia North/South federal constituency in Abia State, Mr Sam Onuigbo says Nigeria cannot achieve her ambitious commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) without a legal base.
He stated this during the inaugural meeting of the joint committee for the review of the Climate Change Bill in Abuja on Monday.
Onuigbo is the sponsor of “the Bill for an Act to provide a legal framework for the mainstreaming of Climate Change responses and actions into government policy formulation and implementation, and the establishment of the National Climate Change Council and for related matters.”
According to him, the country urgently needs its own law that will help it to achieve its climate change goals.
“During his presentation at a virtual ‘Africa Regional Heads of Government Commonwealth Roundtable’ on Thursday April 16, President Muhammadu Buhari representated by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to a transition to net zero emissions.
“This commitment to a greener environment has been the thread running through this administration right from the President’s inaugural address in 2015, through the signing of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change on September, 22, 2016, to the signing of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol, by Mr President in 2020.
“Yet Nigeria cannot achieve her ambitious commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) without a solid legal base to guide her. That is why the country urgently needs its own Climate Change law that will help it to achieve its climate change goals.
“It is in appreciation of the national and global importance of Climate Change that I have redoubled my efforts by re-sponsoring Nigeria’s Climate Change Bill and coordinating the review. The review aims at eliminating all the gray areas that created conflict of understanding when it was first passed during the 8th Assembly.
“This review also affords us the chance to capture current issues about Climate Change that were not captured earlier. Essentially, this exercise is to show transparency, cohesion, unity, and a resolution of any problems in the interest of the nation and the world. We must take it seriously and with a sense of urgency,” the lawmaker said.
He thanked the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the entire National Assembly, NASS, for appointing him the coordinator of the committee.
He also appreciated the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and the Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor for their commitment towards ensuring that the important piece of legislation is passed and assented to by Mr President.
“In our hands now is the chance to save our future. May we do the best we can so that history will be kind to us,” he said.
