The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has reaffirmed the commitment of the House to support the federal government to transit Nigeria into a low-carbon economy.

Mr Tajudeen made this known at a roundtable discussion on the “Mandatory National Decarbonisation” programme organised by the House Ad-hoc Committee on Mandatory Decarbonisation in Abuja on Thursday.

The speaker, represented by Muktar Shagaya (Ilorin West/Asa Federal constituency), affirmed the reality of climate change, saying that the 10th Assembly would not fail to support the executive to achieve a low-carbon economy.

He said, “This roundtable discussion signifies our collective interest in the nation’s quest to achieve a low-carbon economy.

“Let me begin with a truth we can no longer afford to ignore: climate change is real, and its impact is no longer to be faced in the future; it is here.

“The droughts in the North, the high temperatures in the West, the flooding and erosion in the East, and the abnormal rainfall in the South: climate change is a lived experience for Nigerians.”

Mr Tajudeen urged Nigerians not to sit on the sideline but to join their global counterparts in acting.

He described Nigeria as one of the largest economies and most populous nations in Africa, adding that Nigeria consistently ranked among the most affected countries globally by extreme weather.

“The economic costs of inaction are grave, from agricultural losses to damage in critical infrastructure,” he said.

The speaker quoted the UN as saying that Nigeria’s climate inaction could cost up to 30 per cent of GDP by 2050, about $460 billion.

Speaking, the Special Assistant to the President on Climate Technology and Operations, Olamide Fagboji, expressed the determination of the federal government in transitioning Nigeria to a low-carbon economy.

He lauded the efforts of President Bola Tinubu in achieving a low-carbon economy and the House of Representatives for supporting the programme.

Earlier, the Chairman of the House Ad-hoc Committee on Mandatory Decarbonisation Programme, Sesi Whingan, affirmed the House commitment to achieving a low-carbon economy.

Mr Whingan noted that the current legislative drive of the House of Representatives was a commitment to complementing the laudable efforts of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He commended the president’s efforts in unlocking the potential in the carbon ecosystem aimed at catalysing massive economic development and a clean and healthy environment among several expected national benefits.

“It is of note that President Bola Tinubu is making significant strides in creating a low-carbon economy in Nigeria.

“He had in 2024 established the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions to oversee climate mitigation and adaptation efforts as well as green economy initiatives,” he said.

Mr Whingan said that the president also approved the establishment of Nigeria’s first green industrial zone, Evergreen City, which would be a leading manufacturing hub for renewable energy technologies.

He emphasised the imperative of operationalising government plans to establish a national carbon registry, mandate emissions reporting by companies, and introduce phased compliance measures. 
(NAN)