All Progressive Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu has said that his administration will commit to protecting the nation’s environment in its plan to see the country rise to become one of the major players tackling climate change in the world.
According to the United Nations, climate change is one of the biggest threats facing the world currently with many countries struggling to implement policies to tackling it effectively for a sustainable environment.
President Muhammadu Buhari l, in 2021, as part of the country’s efforts at combating climate change, signed the Nigeria Climate Change Bill, fulfilling Nigeria’s commitment to the Glasgow Climate Pact.
The APC presidential candidate, in a statement, underscored the successes he recorded when he was the governor of Lagos State in respect to the mitigation of climate change in the state, stressing that there will be a replication of the models across cities in Nigeria if he becomes president.
“I reckon that our lives is dependent on the Environment we live in, so we will do everything humanly possible to prolong and sustain our existence.
“The fact that the world is now a global village automatically dictate to us to be a major player in the committee of nations to proactively tackle climate change Issues, but it will be negotiated and we will put Nigeria first.
“Mitigation of the Climate Change starts from the minutest activities like effective and sustainable waste management strategies. You will all recall that we have done this effectively in Lagos to the extent that we received several awards and recognitions both locally and internationally. When I was the Governor of Lagos state, the opposition party at the Federal level gave my administration awards twice for transforming Lagos State to one of the Cleanest Cities from what it was when I was sworn-in. What we did in Lagos became a model that was emulated by most states in Nigeria and several countries in Africa,” he said.
Tinubu highlighted the desert encroachment in the North, stating he will consolidate on what President Buhari’s administration is doing through National Agency for the Great Green Wall.
“Another aspect of Climate Change that we are going to give adequate attention is tackling Desert Encroachment in the North – We will improve on what President Buhari’s administration is doing through National Agency for the Great Green Wall. We will reinvigorate our activities to mitigate the effects of land degradation and desertification. We will ensure ecosystem management and restoration.”
He added his administration will manage the oceans and the seas effectively in cognizance of how great a natural resources they are.
“The Oceans and the seas are great natural resources if only we tame them and use them effectively; my Government will harness the Blue Economy through effective use of these wonders of God.
He gave the example of the transformation of the lagoon in Lagos into “a city that will house the biggest United States of America’s mission in the whole world amongst several other corporate buildings in Africa. The city you all know as Eko Atlantic City. We will try to replicate this in other cities with similar ecological situation in Nigeria.”
Tinubu said, “We will develop robust policy that will encourage the development of Green Energy and Green Economy from special plants and agricultural by-products.
“We will further intensify the development of Renewable Energies by harnessing the natural resources giving to this Great country called Adequate SUNSHINE. Some countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are already doing this. My Government will tap into this Goldmine! We will also encourage more private investments in the production of Solar related products and equipment in Nigeria.
“My administration will increase, monitor and ensure judicious use of Ecological Funds to prevent and mitigate Ecological disasters and Climate Change.
“Finally, my administration will encourage eating what we grow and grow what we eat and equally encourage the processing of our agricultural raw materials for export purposes which will translate to industrialisation, massive job creation, wealth creation and distribution, steady source of foreign Exchange for the country thereby increasing the GDP of this Great Nation.”