By Abdulrahman Abdullahi
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Environment, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has commenced a three-day high-level stakeholders discussion on the need to fine-tune the draft copy of a report on the country’s Green House Gas (GHG) profile and the planned revision of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) on climate change.
With representation from across the entire sectors of the economic, the parley, holding in Lagos, dissected the draft report and made several modifications for integration.
Some participants also questioned why the proponents did not consult with leading data management agencies in the country like the National Bureau of Statistics and Population Census, among others, before arriving at some of the recommendations, which they claimed was not representative and broad enough to capture the reality on ground.
Tagged “Stakeholders’ Validation Meeting Draft Report of the Green House Gas (GHG) Mitigation Assessment for the Nationally Determined Contributed Revision Process,” the organisers, led by the two International Consultants who prepared the draft, Chris Malley and Jessica Slater, defended the report vehemently, citing the integrity of the sources relied upon.
The outcome of the parley is to push for the adoption of the recommendations in the draft for onward presentation to the Federal Executive Council Meeting and passage of same as part of working documents for the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution on Climate Change.
In his remarks, Mr. Huzi Mshelia, the National Coordinator for NDC Support Programme, said the parley was key to helping the country achieve policy clarity in its ambitious goal to prevent climate calamity in the country.
Acting Director, Department of Climate Change (DCC) in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs Halima Bawa, said the dispassionate look of the stakeholders on the document would further cement its credibility when it is eventually passed.