Nigeria is one of the African countries at the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, held in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Chairman Senate Committee on the Environment and also a Member of the Climate Parliament based in Paris, is one of the country’s representatives at the conference.

According to his media aide, Uche Anichukwu, the Senator had told reporters at the conference that the launch of the Green Grid is the biggest takeaway from the COP26 conference.

He said it will create an opportunity for the continent to play its part in world development while also enjoying sufficient energy, a huge benefit from the energy superhighway.

Ekweremadu further expressed happiness at Nigeria’s willingness to be part of the initiative as he was quoted to have said, “We deliberated on it and everybody was excited that Nigeria and Kenya in Africa are going to partner with the rest of the world, including the United States of America, to drive this initiative, which is going to be a mega revolution.”

Ekweremadu expressed concerns that the Nigerian government has not channeled funding to matters concerning the environment neither has it provided the policy and legal frameworks to serve as guidance and enforcement drivers.

He said, “Nigeria has not shown sufficient interest and commitment in terms of budgetary provisions to the Ministry of Environment and its agencies as well as funding projects and policies in the environmental sector.”

Ekweremadu is optimistic that President Muhammadu Buhari’s attendance at the conference as well as his interactions with other world leaders would spur him to sign the Climate Change Bill which was already passed by the National Assembly.

“So, I am happy that we have been able to pass the Climate Change Bill, which is awaiting the President’s assent,” he added.

Nigeria’s Climate Change Bill was passed by the House of Representatives on July 8, 2021, and was sponsored by Sam Onuigbo, the Chairman of Climate Change Committee of the House of Representatives; and Chairman of the Climate Parliament group in Nigeria.

The “Bill for an Act to Provide for the Mainstreaming of Climate Change Actions, Establish the National Council on Climate Change, and for Other Related Matters” will provide a legal framework for Nigeria in its efforts to reduce climate change and adapt to its effect.

The bill has been passed to the Senate for agreement and it awaits Presidential assent.