Onuigbo urges immediate implementation of Climate Change Act

Chairman, House Committee on Climate Change and GLOBE Nigeria, has declared that Nigeria does not have to await the proposed amendment of the Climate Change Act signed into law last year by President Muhammadu Buhari, before implementing the law.

Onuigbo, who sponsored the bill, told a delegation of United Kingdom (UK) PACT Team and the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), which visited him at the National Assembly that the law was part of Nigeria’s COP27 priorities.

He informed the delegation, led by Sean Melbourne that if religiously implemented to the letter, the Act will not only help address Nigeria’s climate change challenges, but also serve as a solid path towards a transition to a clean and sustainable economy.

The lawmaker, who represents Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia State, disclosed that the Act stipulated that Nigeria’s President will chair the National Council, while the Director General should head the Council’s secretariat, reports directly to Mr. President. in order to ensure that the Act has a strong bite.

Commenting on the speculations over the issue of a proposed amendment of the Act, Rep Onuigbo remarked that there is no justifiable reason to suspend implementation pending the amendment being pushed by just one Ministry amongst the several Ministries, Departments and Agencies that the Act caters for.

While urging the Federal Government to proceed with implementation, Onuigbo called on the UK-PACT and the UK Government to see what they can do by way of providing technical support and capacity building across board to aid Nigeria in its efforts at implementing the Act

The UK-PACT team from London, was in the company of their counterparts from during the visit.

In his remarks, Mr Sean Melbourne disclosed that the climate can no longer wait for anyone, stressing that there is therefore need for urgent action.

“The UK government is intent on working with stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria’s climate action efforts go on unimpeded,” he stated, pointing out that mainstreaming of climate change action into national policy is critical.

Earlier in his speech, Joe Tyrrell, UK PACT Lead, FCDO London, provided a brief on the origin of UK-PACT, even as he declared its commitment to partnering countries like Nigeria.

According to Tyrrell the organisation will offer assistance by providing funding to address challenges identified by Nigerian stakeholders as critical to addressing climate change. In addition, the UK-PACT programme also provides trainings and technical support through its Skills Share programme.

It would be recalled that Nigeria received worldwide acclaim when on November 17, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the Climate Change Bill sponsored by Rep. Sam Onuigbo.

Being one of the loudest statement of intent by Nigeria following President Buhari’s lofty proclamation on November 2, 2021 at COP26 that Nigeria will attain net zero GHG emissions by 2060, the Climate Change Act with its provision for carbon budgeting and a National Action Plan to enforce the carbon budgets, offers a clear path to attaining net zero.