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Vice President Kashim Shettima has said for Nigeria and other African countries to benefit from the green economy, all African countries must rise to speak with one voice against the devastating effects.
The Vice President remarked in Abuja, while attending the 2024 edition of the International Africa Climate Forum, convened to give Africa a voice in preparation for COP 2024.
Shettima, who spoke through his Special Assistant on climate change, Miss Rukayat El-Rufai, reminded that it is high time African countries rose to the occasion and in defence of a common ideology.
He said that Nigeria as a country has not only identified itself with the climate change initiative but has been committed to a core awareness of the consequences of climate change that affects Nations to a level that demands quick response.
He said that these opportunities made Nigeria find itself in the direction it is going to be battle-ready. He observed that Nigeria, among many other countries in Africa in the recent past, has suffered devastating effects of climate change and needed to be addressed.
“We have been at the mercy of unpredictable flood devastation, with losses of millions of dollars owing to the deaths of livestock and farm produce and an intermittent power outage. These climate change realities call for action, and we are being reminded that none of us is immune to its adverse effects.”
The vice president enjoined all to come together for a peer review mechanism, with a special commendation to the convener who has the vision for an African economic realisation.
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, Senator Seriake Dickson, in a goodwill message, assured the country of speedy legislation that would give Nigeria and, indeed, other African countries a voice to battle the scourge.
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The convener of the programme, “Africa Climate Forum 2024,” Dr. George Nwangwu, while welcoming participants, highlighted the significance of this year’s workshop and exhibition with the submission that Africa is highly disadvantaged in harnessing the benefits of a green economy and getting ready for the challenges ahead.
Dr. Nwangwu further stated that Africa, in general, has its unique challenges because it suffers the effect of climate change more than the rest of the world, but with unharnessed resources to deal with the challenges to move from where it is presently and to where it supposed to be.
“Because of that, it is good for Africa to come together, especially now that we are preparing for yet another cop 2024. So we need to come together to bring ourselves together and agree on a common issue.”
The convener further stressed the need for a united African voice in the war against climate change and added that days are gone when African countries attend international meetings and resort to asking for help.
“It is time for Africa to arise and speak with one voice and make demands because these transitions project ideas and opportunities, and that is why we say that it is African climate future because it is all about moving from dependence to leadership.”
On the lessons of the workshop, he informed that Africa is indeed fortunate to be able to convene viable and gifted sets of individuals assembled to look at how sub-nationals can come into the game.
“You see, this agreement is always signed by national bodies when they come together, but then it needs to be localised, so we are looking at how sub-nationals can come in and make impacts. Secondly, we are looking at climate finance because when all is said and done, we need finance. And the private sector is going to champion it. So we are looking at how they are to be brought in to be part of it. Also, we are looking at the risks to be taken because climate change is a pool of risks, but in the risks lie opportunities. For example, the raw materials for manufacturing batteries, vehicles, and so on are available, but the question is, why are we not able to manufacture them? Why do we have to import? So we need to start developing these capabilities. If you look at this year’s workshop, there is a D’ room where inventors showcase what they can manufacture locally. We don’t just have to come and talk and pack our things and go. We want people to come in and show what they can do with regards to a green economy because we have talented people here.”
Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Gyh Bala, while addressing the participants, assured that his country is ready to partner with African countries in the area of the green economy while noting that the Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Modi, has already established a programme called ‘Live mission’, a project targeted at improving individual lives of Indians against the effect of climate change.
