President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions, towards advancing Nigeria’s climate.
This was announced in a statement on Sunday by the Director of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen.
The Green Economic Initiative is a collaborative effort launched by the United Nations Environment Programme in October 2008 and endorsed by the UN System Chief Executives Board in April 2009 as one of the nine UN system-wide Joint Crisis Initiatives in response to the global financial and economic crisis.
The initiative is to encourage and enable member states to support investment in low-carbon development and green sectors.
The initiatives provide evidence of the contributions green investments can make to economic performance, social development and environmental improvement, including climate mitigation and adaptation.
President Tinubu, it will be recalled, at a high-level meeting with stakeholders and investors on the Nigeria Carbon Market and Electric Buses Rollout Programme in Duba, United Arab Emirates, on the margins of the COP28 Climate Summit on December 3, 2023, expressed his administration’s commitment to end gas-flaring in the country.
He also promised that Nigeria is taking significant steps towards a sustainable and eco-friendly future by pioneering an initiative to deploy a fleet of 100 electric buses, to reduce Nigeria’s carbon footprint and modernise the country’s transportation systems.
According to the statement by the OSGF, President Tinubu would chair the committee.
Also, the Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Lawal, would act as the vice chairman, while the presidential spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, would serve as the secretary of the committee as well as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action.
Other members are the CEOs of InfraCorp, Mr Lazarus Angbazo; National Council on Climate Change, Mr Salisu Dahiru; Infrastructure Council Regulatory Commission, Mr Michael Ohiani, Nigeria Investment Promotion Council, Mrs Aisha Rimi and National Social Investment Fund, Mr Aminu Umar-Sadiq.
The committee also has the CEOs of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, Mr Yusuf Maina-Bukar, Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mr Abdullahi Mustapha; Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu; CreditCorp, Uzoma Nwagba, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Khalil Halilu; Member, Solid Minerals Development Fund, Fatima Shinkafi; Deputy Governor, Corporate Services Directorate, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Bala Bello; UN SE4ALL, Lolade Abiola; Member and an Adviser to the NCCC Adviser, Teni Majekodunmi.
Others on the committee are representatives of the Federal Ministries of the Federal Capital Territory, Finance, Industry, Trade and Investment, Water Resources and Agriculture and Food Security.
The committee also has representatives from the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigeria Customs Service.
According to the statement, the committee would oversee and coordinate all national policies and programmes related to climate action and green economic development.
It also has the mandate to develop non-oil and non-gas climate initiatives, ensuring cohesive action across federal institutions, and collaborating with both national and international partners to meet Nigeria’s climate goals.