Nigerian activists have kicked against the celebration of oil discovery in Nasarawa and Bauchi states amid the launch of Energy Transition Plan.
Mr Olamide Martins Ogunlade of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), during his presentation in a webinar last Thursday on the theme “Nigeria’s climate change Act and the Energy Transition Plan decried the poor efforts Nigeria was making in achieving the ETP 2060 target which has now be projected to full achievement in 2070.
NatureNews recalls that the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) had announce the commencement of the drilling of the first oil well in Obi/Keana Nasarawa State on 21 March.
Ogunlade, speaking on the limitation of the Climate change Act, said that the this year makes it two years of approving the Climate Change Act, yet there is no national action plan on it, adding that Nigeria is still flying on the wings of oil and gas with the discovery of oil in Nasarawa and Bauchi.
He also decried the poor inclusion of civil society organisations in the implementation of the Climate Change Act.
He highlighted the limitations of the Act, saying that it has vested interests in the inclusion of CSOs in the NCC council.
Others limitations he pointed out are; duplicity of regulators (DCV and NCCC), bold embrace of market mechanisms, No national action plan yet after two years of approving the ACT and flying still on the wings of gas and oil (Bauchi and Nasarawa) and the inconsistencies in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Also, Barr. Chima Williams, Executive Director of ERA/FoEN Nigeria decried the Just Transition Plan launched by Vice president Yemi Osinbajo in 2022.
According to the 2022 Goldman Winner, he said that the transition plan is not “Just” as described by the Nigerian government following cases of environmental degradation, oil spill and pollution in the Niger Delta.
He said that Niger Delta people are suffering from the hazards caused by multinational companies, which are yet to fully compensate the people and cleanup their environment.
He said, “For ERA, the document is false with a lot of misgivings.” He also added that majority of ERA’s recommendations to Nigerian government were not considered
The activists recommended that the operational bureaucracy of NCCC should be addressed as well as institute impact assessment and feedback mechanism.
They also urged the Nigerian government to close up foreign influence and buikd up internal competences.
NatureNews reports that President Muhammadu Buhari signed the climate change bill into law on 18th November 2021.
The Climate Change Act 2021 (the “CCA”) applies to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (“MDAs”) of the Federal Government of Nigeria as well as to public and private entities in Nigeria. The CCA primary aim is to develop and implement mechanisms that will foster low carbon emission and develop a sustainable environment in the country.
The provisions of the law including establishment of National Council on Climate Change, climate change fund, carbon budget, National climate change action plan and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) Registry.
The National Council of climate change which was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022 is chaired by the President Buhari with the Vice President as Vice Chairman. The Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, is also a member.
Other members of the Council are the Ministers responsible for Environment; Petroleum Resources; Budget and National Planning; Justice; Mines and Steel Development; Finance; Agriculture and Rural Development; Power; Women Affairs; Transportation; and Water Resources.
The Governor of Central Bank; the National Security Adviser; President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria; a representative of the private sector on climate change or environment-related matters (representative of National Conservation Foundation); a representative of the National Council on Women Societies; a representative of National Youth Congress, and a representative of the Civil Society Organisation are also members of the Council.
The Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Salisu Dahiru, will serve as Secretary.