A member of the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) and sponsor of Nigeria’s landmark Climate Change Act 2021, Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo, has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the adoption of a National Carbon Market Framework, the operationalisation of the Climate Change Fund, and the restoration of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) to the national budget.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Onuigbo described the move as a major step toward positioning Nigeria for meaningful participation in the global carbon market, unlocking billions in climate finance, and creating thousands of green jobs across key sectors of the economy.
The former National Assembly member who gained prominence for sponsoring the Climate Change Act 2021, and one of the politicians who advocated for local government autonomy in Nigeria said what President has just done will facilitate Nigeria’s participation in carbon markets, enabling the nation to unlock between $2.5billion and $3billion annually in carbon finance over the next decade to help meet climate goals.
The chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) disclosed that with step taken by President Tinubu, Nigeria has been properly positioned to leverage opportunities in the global carbon market and be more active in the climate change ecosystem, something he has been advocating for over the years.
In his words: “Nigerians should be excited because they can now look forward to new investments, jobs and innovations across the nation’s energy, agriculture and industrial sectors”
It would be recalled that Onuigbo was inducted into the first ever National Assembly Most Valuable Parliamentarian Hall of Fame in May 2023.
He was part of five Senators/Members out of the 469 members of the 9th National Assembly to be so honoured. He was the only Honourable Member or Senator from southern part of Nigeria to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
He was chosen in recognition of his contribution to the 9th National Assembly on the basis of qualitative impact, and value especially for his sponsorship of the Climate Change Act 2021 which is inter-generational, globally impactful, and has the capability of laying the foundation for a sustainably developed Nigeria
Onuigbo was Special Adviser, Public Affairs, Office of the Speaker of the 6th House of Representatives, National Assembly. At the state level, he was Commissioner, Ministry of Lands and Survey and later, Commissioner for Finance, Abia State
Rt.Hon. Onuigbo was the first Representative from his constituency to be re-elected.
In 2019, he was elected to the Board of Global Legislators for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE) International, as the Vice-President Africa (the first Nigerian to be so recognised). He was also the President of GLOBE Nigeria, after serving as its Vice-President between 2016-2019. He was the Chairman of Climate Parliament, Nigeria