In a significant step towards sustainability, the Federal Government of Nigeria and three key United Nations agencies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The agreement aims to address challenges and opportunities linked with transitioning towards a sustainable, low-carbon economy.
The MoU, signed in Abuja, involved the National Council on Climate Change, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Dahiru Salisu, the Director General of the NCCC, praised the UN agencies for their support, emphasizing the project’s importance in safeguarding Nigeria’s economy and well-being. He stated, “This project is really dear to Nigeria because we asked if we had to do this transition, who is to fund this transition? We can be passionate about this and anything that sounds like a threat to our economy, welfare, and well-being, we will not take it lightly.”
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Emmanuel Oladipo, a consultant with the Centre for Climate Change and Development, highlighted the need for Nigeria to harness renewable energy sources like solar power to reduce reliance on fossil fuels without compromising economic stability. He emphasized, “A nation like Nigeria, which is consumed by fossil fuel utilization, has no choice but to follow the world to try to move its economy in a way and manner that will make less use of fossil fuel, but at the same time will not kill our economy.”
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Vanessa Phala, representing the ILO, affirmed the UN agencies’ commitment to supporting the project’s success through collaborative action. She stated, “The just transition is at the heart of ILO and we are doing everything possible, financially and technically, to support this process.”
The signing of this MoU underscores Nigeria’s commitment to environmental sustainability and addressing the challenges of climate change.