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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Following a meeting between Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his American counterpart, Vice President Kamala Harris, Nigeria and the United States renewed their commitment to collaborate on many global issues, particularly Climate Change and the global energy transition to net-zero emissions.
According to a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo, while responding to welcoming remarks by VP Harris noted that “we very strongly believe that we (Nigeria and US) in the coming years, will need to work together again on so many global challenges that are varied, and they come up very frequently now from promoting peace and security, to tackling global health issues and climate change and of course, economic adversity.”
Speaking specifically about Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, he said “the Plan is important for us because we see especially, the climate crisis as two existential issues; one is the crisis itself, second the energy poverty which is an issue for us in our part of the world.
“So, while we look forward to the 2060 carbon neutrality goal, we are also hoping that even within a shorter period by 2030 we will deal with the issue of energy poverty.
“We look forward to the coming years and months for even greater collaboration and stronger ties between our countries to create a fairer, more prosperous and perhaps a greener, also freer nation and nations and the world,” the VP added.
He then commended the US for its innovative approach to addressing Climate Change, noting that “I must also congratulate you because of the Inflation Reduction Act and again, in particular, this is historic especially for those of us who are paying attention to all the issues of Climate Change.”
Speaking further on America’s leadership role in Climate Change, Osinbajo noted that the “United States leadership in the area of Climate Change and we are all excited to queue behind the US and see that we get many of these objectives.”
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He told his counterpart that Nigeria’s recently launched Energy Transition Plan (ETP) (launched just last week) is the country’s master plan for addressing the issues of climate crisis and energy poverty.
The VP disclosed that Nigeria will require investment support towards the implementation of the Energy Transition Plan, referring to his earlier meetings in the past few days in the US Capital at the World Bank Group, the US Treasury and the US Agency for International Development, USAID.
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Excited about the responses to the Nigerian plan so far, the VP noted “we are anxious to get all the support we can. In the last few days, I have been talking to a few of the agencies here, the World Bank, USAID, in fact, the Treasury Secretary yesterday also. And they have all been positive and shown indication that they will be very helpful.”
Vice President Osinbajo also took time to laud the long-standing cordial relations between Nigeria and US.
“The United States has been a long-standing partner and friend of Nigeria and even as long ago as independence, the United States has been a firm supporter of our aspirations, especially our economic and social development ambitions, the US has been with us.”
Continuing, the VP added “we also must appreciate the firm support that we received from the US especially in our fight against terrorism within our borders and in the Sahel and of course, the very timely donation of vaccines, 4 million vaccines, as we battled the COVID-19 pandemic. And that, of course, was extremely useful.”
Earlier the American Vice President welcomed Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, describing VP Osinbajo’s extraordinary leadership.
Referencing the global advocacy of Nigeria’s vice president on the issue of a just energy transition, Harris observed that he has “been an extraordinary leader on this issue and I noticed this is something you feel very strongly about and you have been very adamant about the role Nigeria is playing in addressing this crisis that face us all.”
She expressed her hope about Nigeria’s ability to achieve the ambitious goals laid out in the plan saying, “I congratulate you for your example on your Energy Transition Plan which I know pledges carbon neutral energy by 2060, an ambitious goal but important and by your leadership, I have no question that they will be achieved.”
Harris also praised Nigeria’s leadership role in upholding democracy in West Africa and expressed hope that the general election next February will be peaceful and reflect the will of the people.
Both the US vice president and the Nigerian vice president met at the Ceremonial Office at the White House and both made remarks to the press before the closed session where they discussed bilateral issues.
