From: Kemi Yesufu, Abuja
The House of Representatives has passed for second reading, a Bill for an Act to Provide a Legal Framework for the Mainstreaming of Climate Change Responses and Actions into Government Policy Formulation and Implementation”.
The Bill, sponsored by Sam Onuigbo, also seeks the establishment of the National Climate Change Council.
In his lead debate, Onuigbo said the Bill consisting of seven parts and 26 clauses sought to provide practical solutions to the challenges of climate change in the country.
The lawmaker traced the recent spike in communal clashes, especially between farmers and herdsmen to the devastating effects of climate, saying the shrinking of Lake Chad has led to a dramatic reduction in agricultural activities in the North- East causing migration of herdsmen to areas occupied by farmers and others.
Onuigbo further explained that the bill is applicable in all sectors of the economy in a deliberate effort to greatly reduce the negative impact of climate on businesses mostly those in the informal sector.
“This fits into and clearly reinforces the medium term policy objectives contained in the Nigeria Economic Recovery and Growth Plan 2017-2020.
“Some of the policy objectives include promoting sustainable management of natural resources, addressing severe land degradation and desertification and reducing gas flaring by 2 per cent points a year.
“Others are eliminating gas flaring in 2030 and install 13,000 megawatts of solar systems over the next four years.
“This Bill will achieve these and more through strategies and key activities targeted at raising a green bond to finance environmental projects and continue the Ogoni clean up,’’ Onuigbo said.
In a related development, same Thursday, the House apassed for second reading, a “Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of Erosion Control and Prevention Commission”, sponsored by Obinna Chidoka
Chidoka in his lead debate on the bill explained that the proposed commission will be vested with the responsibility of preventing and managing erosion. This is as the agency will spearhead the reclamation of areas affected by erosion.