Gbajabiamila: Climate Change Act, One of Nigeria’s Life-changing Laws

Udora Orizu in Abuja

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday said that Climate Change Act recently assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari is one of the life-changing laws in Nigeria today.

Gbajabiamila, who spoke during a presentation of an award of excellence in legislation given to the sponsor of the bill, Hon. Sam Onuigbo by the House of Representatives Press Corps, said the Act would help protect the environment and the entire ecosystem.

While commending the Bill’s sponsor, Hon. Sam Onuigbo for his doggedness in the passage of the bill, the speaker added that the House would hold a special lecture where Onuigbo would be invited to share the significance of the act.

He said: “I have a bill signing ceremony of about 25 bills, but none as important as this bill that we celebrate this morning. I congratulate you on this landmark achievement. There are bills and there are bills.”

I have always said it is not the number of bills but the quality of bills that are passed. The Climate Change bill is one of those bills that on the face of it nobody bothers to even try to understand but on the closer examination and a proper understanding of what it entails, it is perhaps one of those life changing bills, one of those bills that can affect each and every one of us for life. So, I would recommend that many of us do some research on the impact of climate change and how topical it is in the world today. It is a very significant bill.

“Hon Sam has been so passionate and committed and consistent in the pursuit of having this bill signed into law. His doggedness, his determination to make sure he sees the bill from the beginning to the very end has earned my respect in no small measure. He has done so much on the floor of the house since I have known him over years, but if this is the one bill that is his legacy in the National Assembly, then it is one bill that will perhaps surpass generations yet to come”.

Also Speaking, Onuigbo, underscoring the importance of the Act and its impact on Nigeria’s ecosystem, appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the Bill to become a law.

He said: “The journey to Nigeria getting a climate change act was a long and tortious one. I am happy that today, we have a climate change act which will guide Nigeria in her decarbonation efforts ensure that we justly transit to net zero, bring requisite attention to the menace of climate change, provide funding for adaptation and mitigation measures including nature-based solutions, create employment for the teeming youth, help us on our journey towards green recovery, and ultimately ensure that we sustainably develop while preserving this earth for our children.”

In his remarks, the representative from the United States Embassy, Mr Jackson Smith, emphasized the global significance of the Climate Change law, commending the national assembly to achieving such a feat.

On her part, the Chairman of the Press Corps, Grace Ike, said while the press will continue to hold the lawmakers accountable, they recognize those who have promoted people-oriented legislations.