Bill to tackle climate change issues underway, says Lawmaker

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change, Rep. Sam Onuigbo (Abia-PDP) says the National Assembly is working to provide an enabling law to tackle issues of climate change in the country.

Onuigbo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that the committee has submitted a draft bill on climate change to both arms of the National Assembly.

“We have worked, finally we have a draft bill on climate change and that bill is receiving the attention of the leadership of the national assembly.

“And I am hopeful that before the end of this month the bill will go through its first reading.

“And the leadership of the national assembly both of them are united in their resolve to ensure that issues of climate change are handled with the seriousness that it deserves.

“They have received this bill and they have passed them on for proper review before they are listed for first reading,’’ Onuigbo said.

According to the lawmaker, the bill is expected to pass its first reading before the end of April.

Onuigbo said that the lack of enabling law on climate change had deprived Nigeria access to global fund on climate change and discouraged prospective investors.

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“As we interact with other nations, we discovered that these nations have access to global funds on climate change.

“They are being taken seriously because of pieces of evidence on what they have done or about to do that is in line with the enabling laws that we do not have here.

“So when we engage globally even potential investors who plan to come and invest are discouraged.
“What discourages them is that we do not have a law on climate change with which to say this is what I want to do and these are the protections I am likely to have,’’ the lawmaker said.

He gave the assurance that the committee would continue to engage with government agencies to elicit proper responses on efforts toward addressing climate change issues.

Onuigbo, however, called for concerted efforts to sensitise Nigerians to understand the need to protect the environment.

“It is all up to us to create immediate awareness to educate people on the dangers of some of their actions.

“How they handle things, how they react to the environment and the things we need to do so as to safeguard the environment for ourselves and for the future generations,’’ he added.