By Omotayo Edubi
Ovia Federal Constituency representative, Hon Dennis Idahosa has cautioned the Federal Government on the danger of failure to harness other sources of revenue other than oil ahead of the implementation of the resolutions of the 26th meeting of the Conference Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNCOP26) in Glasgow, Scotland.
Accoding to a statement issued in Benin City by his media aide, Friday Aghedo; Idahosa expressed concern that Nigeria revenue would suffer if she failed to look beyond the Oil and Gas sector that account for more than 65 percent of the country’s revenue.
In a motion sponsored by the lawmaker titled, “Need to Create An Economic Revenue Road Map For The Future of Nigeria” in the floor of the Green Chamber, Idahosa pointed out that Nigeria has numerous potential sources of revenue and if attention is not placed on them early, it would be of no benefit to it citizens and the nation at large.
He noted that part of the resolution of the Glasgow meeting which took place between October 31st to November 12, 2021, is to phase down fossil fuels “COAL” to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.
He said that parties to the Paris agreement adopted at COP21 in Paris on December 12, 2015 which would become effective from the 4th of November, 2060 are expected to transit from fossil fuel to clean energy.
He said “I am aware that President Muhammadu Buhari while delivering his speech at the COP26 leaders summit emphasised that for Nigeria climate change is not happening today and pledged that Nigeria would cut its emissions to net-zero by 2060.
“This period, according to an expert, the viability of fossil fuels and hydrocarbons is speculated to last for another 20 years which gives the nation time to utilise and redirect the sources gained from oil and gas towards the development of other sectors of the economy for the overall benefit of the nation.
“I am concerned that following the recent resolution by all major countries at the UNCOP26 2021 summit, countries like Nigeria which depends mainly on hydrocarbon and fossil fuels for revenue and survival, will be the worst hit except careful and intentional precautions are taken to secure the future of Nigeria,” he stated.
