Mr Sam Onuigbo, a former member, House of Representatives, has called for stronger collaborative action to address climate change and deepen environmental governance in the country.
He made the call at a media literacy training on Climate Change Governance, Gender Mainstreaming, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Minamata Convention in Abuja on Wednesday.
Onuigbo sponsored of Nigeria’s Climate Change Bill 2021 which was later signed into an Act by then President Mohammadu Buhari.
Making a presentation on “From Personal Effort to National Reimagining Climate Change Governance in Nigeria’’, he said climate change had moved beyond scientific debates to realities affecting livelihoods, national security and economic stability.
“It is now a lived reality affecting communities across Nigeria and beyond. From devastating floods and desertification to food insecurity, displacement, shrinking water bodies, and rising temperatures.
“The consequences of climate disruption are already altering livelihoods and threatening national stability.
“Across the world, governments, global institutions are increasingly, intentionally recognizing climate change not merely as environmental issue, but as developmental, economic, humanitarian, and security challenge capable of undermining sustainable growth and national stability,’’ he said.
The former lawmaker said that environmental degradation and competition over dwindling natural resources, such as Lake Chad, had also contributed to recurring farmer-herder conflicts and insecurity in parts of the country.
He said Nigeria’s response to climate change gained momentum with the eventual passage and presidential assent to the Climate Change Act 2021 after earlier failed legislative attempts in previous assemblies.
Onuigbo explained that the Act established a framework for low greenhouse gas emissions, sustainable economic development and climate governance through the creation of the National Council on Climate Change chaired by the President.
He also said that the law also mandated climate action plans, emissions reduction targets and integration of climate considerations into key sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, housing, transportation and water resources management.
The former lawmaker stressed that effective climate governance required strong legislative oversight, climate-sensitive budgeting and complementary laws on renewable energy, afforestation and environmental sustainability.
“The antidote to this global challenge is collective action, coordinated action across governments, institutions, communities, industries, and citizens.
“Climate change is too large for any institution to solve alone, it demands multistakeholder response involving legislatures, executives, the media, civil society, academia, the private sector, traditional institutions, women, and youths,’’ Onuigbo said.
He commended the administration of President Bola Tinubu for reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s climate transition agenda.
According to him, the removal of petrol subsidy, implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, expansion of renewable energy programmes and promotion of green finance initiatives demonstrate increasing commitment to sustainable development.
He also highlighted the establishment of the National Carbon Registry, operationalization of the Climate Change Fund and Nigeria’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions targeting 32 per cent emissions reduction by 2035.
Onuigbo urged journalists to play more active roles in climate reporting by holding governments accountable, investigating environmental corruption and amplifying the experiences of vulnerable communities.
He also urged the private sector, civil society groups, academia, women and youths to actively support climate resilience efforts through sustainable practices, research, innovation and advocacy.
The former lawmaker further stressed the need for stronger implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury to address pollution from artisanal mining and other hazardous environmental practices.
He said Nigeria possessed the institutional frameworks, human capital and policy foundations required to tackle climate change successfully, adding that climate action was very instrumental for sustainable national development.
The 2013 Minamata Convention on Mercury, adopted on Oct. 10, 2013 at Kumamoto, Japan, is an international treaty to protect human health and the environment from mercury and mercury compounds.(NAN)
