House Moves To Legally Back National Decarbonisation Efforts

The House of Representatives is considering legislation to provide a comprehensive legal framework for Nigeria’s national decarbonisation programme, aimed at strengthening the country’s climate transition agenda.

Chairman of the House Committee on Mandatory National Decarbonisation, Sesi Whingan, disclosed this after a stakeholders’ roundtable on the programme in Abuja.

Whingan said the proposed National Decarbonisation Bill would complement existing climate initiatives under the Climate Change Act 2021 and enhance the country’s climate governance framework.

He noted that the bill has passed first and second readings in the House and is expected to go to a public hearing by the end of the month.

“Our plan is to further engage stakeholders to bring all government policies and programmes into a workable framework.”

“We decided to bring all of them into a room and currently we are working on a bill to complement what NCCC is currently doing.”

The roundtable brought together representatives from the organised private sector, the oil and gas industry, environmental groups, and other climate and energy stakeholders at federal and state levels.

Whingan highlighted the need for adequate funding and stronger collaboration between the executive and legislative branches to create a clear investment pathway for domestic and foreign investors.

“We must move beyond conversations at the top and take the programme down to the grassroots,” he said, stressing the importance of involving state governments and local communities.

The committee plans to convene a national carbon summit in June with representatives from all 36 states and 774 local government areas.

The committee was set up to review existing climate laws, audit Nigeria’s emission profile, and identify the institutional, fiscal, and technological requirements for implementing a nationwide decarbonisation scheme. Whingan said the panel is also assessing potential barriers, risks, and socio-economic impacts associated with the programme.

Speaking at the roundtable, Lead Consultant to the Adhoc Committee on the National Mandatory National Decarbonisation Programme, Akintoye Akindele, said the session provided a platform for stakeholders to submit input before the legislative process progresses.

“So part of the agenda today was to bring everybody together. Everyone from the private sector, oil and gas, and the Ministry of Environment participated,” Akindele said. “The committee is ensuring all relevant perspectives are included in shaping the proposed legislation.”

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji