Sam Onuigbo, the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South federal constituency of Abia State at the House of Representatives, has lauded the signing into law the Climate Change bill earlier passed by the National Assembly.

LEGAL DESK learnt that with the assent of the bill into law, sponsored by Rep. Onuigbo, Nigeria now has a Climate Change Act which provides a legal framework of which the country’s climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts will be based on.

The Climate Change Act provides among others, the constitution of a National Council on Climate Change to be headed the President, with members which includes Minsters of relevant ministries, Chairman of the Governor’s Forum, President of ALGON, National Security Adviser, representatives of the youths, Persons Living with Disabilities, women, climate-related NGOs, the private sector etc.

The Act provides the setting up the Climate Change Fund to be administered by the Council and equally provides for proper oversight on Nigeria’s Climate Change efforts by the National Assembly and a communication process that is time-bound, and public.

Reacting to the presidential assent which contained in a statement forwarded to DAILY POST on Friday, Rep Onuigbo, applauded President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, colleagues in Climate Parliament Nigeria, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, GLOBE Nigeria, members of the diplomatic mission especially the British High Commission and the U.S Embassy, climate activists in the country, the technical team of professionals who worked on the bill and members of the media and others, for consistently pushing for the bill.

The Abia federal lawmaker also harped for proper implementation in order to realize the objectives and set the country on the path of an important transition to green and sustainable economy.

According to the statement, “the first part of a very important journey has been done. Proper implementation demands full attention and action by all of us. Together, and only together, can we realize our objectives and set our country on the path of an important transition to green and sustainable economy. Make no mistakes about it, the world is transiting and we must join or wake up in a few decades, an impoverished and uninhabitable country.

“On November 18, 2021, His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR signed into law the Climate Change Bill sponsored by me and earlier passed by the National Assembly.

“The all-encompassing nature of the composition of the Council is to ensure that the voices of all is heard. The high-level nature of the Council was intentional. Climate Change is a serious issue which demands the highest level of attention—the type that will elicit serious responses.

“The Act also sets a net zero emissions target for the country while setting up five-yearly carbon budgets and annual carbon targets”.