The All Progressives Congress, APC Legacy Awareness and Campaign group has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his global actions in addressing climate change.
Some leaders of the APC group, its National Youth Leader, Ismael Ahmed, Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum, Salihu Lukman, a former APC National Publicity Secretary Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu and a Presidential media aide Tolu Ogunlesi made the commendation in a press statement.
According to the group, the Buhari’s led government is already making a headway in achieving its Nationally Determined Contribution commitment reached at the Paris Climate Summit.
Sovereign Green Bond
The group further explained that Nigeria is already one of the leading countries to issue a Sovereign Green Bond.
“In 2017, Nigeria became the first African country and the third country in the world to issue a Sovereign Green Bond, worth N10.69 billion, and followed up in 2019 with a second Sovereign Green Bond, worth N15 billion. Pulling this pioneering effort off required a public-private coalition that brought together the Ministries of Finance and Environment, the Budget Office, the Debt Management Office, Development Finance Institutions, Capital Market Operators, and other stakeholders.
“On May 27, 2021, Nigeria formally submitted the Interim Report on its Nationally Determined Contribution to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The report shows that Nigeria is well on course to meet its NDC targets” the group said.
The APC group also noted that the needed laws are being passed by the National Assembly to help in the government’s action on climate change.
Climate Change Bill
“The 2022 Federal Budget, currently being considered by the National Assembly, is the first “climate-responsive” budget in the history of the country. Already, since 2020, the Nigerian Government launched a ‘Solar Power Naija’ project, being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency, and which will electrify 5 million households and 25 million Nigerians, using off-grid solar power. The Solar Power Naija project will support the creation of a quarter of a million jobs in the energy sector alone.
“In July and October 2021, the Nigerian House of Representatives and Senate passed the Climate Change Bill, which will provide a much-needed legal framework for Nigeria’s efforts to decisively tackle climate change. Also this year, President Buhari approved the country’s Revised National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) (2021-2030) as well as National Climate Change Programmes” the group explained.
While pointing out some international commendations the President has gotten on the matter, the group noted that President Buhari’s efforts towards dealing with climate change was a positive Legacy of the government.
Confidence Okwuchi
