I’m Pleased Over Senate Concurrence To Climate Change Bill — Hon. Onuigbo

Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency, Hon. Sam Onuigbo has expressed gratitude to the Senate over the passage of Climate Change Bill which he sponsored.

The bill had earlier been passed by the House of Representatives.

The Bill seeks to provide legal backing to Nigeria’s efforts to mainstream Climate Change actions into the country’s sustainable development plans, Hon. Onuigbo said.

The lawmaker in a statement on Wednesday expressed gratitude to the President of the Senate, His Excellency Senator Ahmed Lawan CON, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-agege, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Idris Wase, the Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Honourable Abubakar Malami SAN, and the Honourable Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor for the leadership they have exercised in the journey.

Giving a background to the Bill, he said, “In 2015, world leaders, civil society organizations, businesses, experts, etc., gathered in Paris and adopted the flagship global accord on Climate Change— the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Our President, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR was one of the world leaders as he was in attendance

“That action is now informally referred to as the “Promise of Paris”. Promise, because what was done was for countries and organizations to commit to ambitious targets that will help keep global temperature to 1.5 degrees post-industrial era. In 2021, a little over five years after the Promise of Paris, Climate Change conversations have shifted to clear-cut verifiable and ambitious actions to tackle Climate Change.

“The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR has since his Inaugural Address on May 29,2015, shown commitment to tackle Climate Change. This, Mr. President has shown in his many assertions at Climate Change conferences and other international meetings. Mr. President has also gone further to show action by approving the revised National Climate Change Policy of Nigeria, this year.

“As legislators, it is our duty to complement the efforts of the executive through oversight, or by making laws that will help realize the goals and visions of Government. This was what gave birth to the Climate Change Bill which I sponsored.”

He also expressed gratitude to his colleagues in the House for their support.

He said, “I would also like to acknowledge the contributions of my colleagues who are members of GLOBE Nigeria and Climate Parliament Nigeria and to commend them specially for the unrelenting support and commitment they have shown.

“My appreciation also goes to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Clerks of the Senate and the House of Representatives for their sense of awareness of the importance of this Bill, and consequently giving it the attention it required.

“Members of the media, the international community especially the British High Commission, the US Embassy, Climate Parliament, my team, technical experts, young Nigerian climate activists, also deserve commendation for their relentless efforts to ensure that this important piece of legislation is passed and assented to. The journey to save our planet is not yet over.”