ABUJA/Nigeria: The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change and Security, Hon. Sam Onuigbo Kama, has reaffirmed the urgent need for climate action across all sectors, calling on both public and private institutions to take concrete steps toward emissions accountability in line with the Climate Change Act 2021.
In a statement reflecting on a series of key international engagements in Junehi, storically a pivotal month for climate discourse, Rep. Kama outlined how legislative leadership must drive climate ambition from policy development to implementation. He represented Nigeria at the Parliamentary Roundtable on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in Berlin on June 10, organized by GLOBE Legislators and international partners, where he stressed the critical role parliamentarians play in shaping and monitoring their nations’ climate pledges.
From Berlin, Kama proceeded to Marrakech for the Parliamentary Green Investment Dialogue, co-hosted by Climate Parliament and UNIDO. There, he made a strong case for community-based green energy development, particularly in underserved and off-grid areas, emphasizing that inclusive investments are key to equitable climate solutions.
“The overarching message from these events was clear: lawmakers must leverage their constitutional powers and oversight roles to deepen climate action and promote accountability at all levels,” Rep. Kama said.
Returning to Nigeria, Kama commended the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), a leading environmental NGO, for publishing its 2024 greenhouse gas emissions report, an unprecedented move in Nigeria’s climate advocacy space. He lauded SPP’s commitment to transparency and noted that the NGO’s initiative reflects the kind of leadership needed from all sectors to meet national climate goals.
“This action by SPP aligns with our vision in the National Assembly. The only pathway to aggregated climate action is when individuals, households, communities, and organizations begin to take structured steps to be accountable,” he said.
Kama emphasized that his committee will intensify engagement with Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and private entities to enforce the provisions of the Climate Change Act and encourage broader participation in emissions tracking and reporting.
He called on organizations with over 50 employees, government agencies at all levels, diplomatic institutions, and other stakeholders to follow the example set by SPP. “We will follow up, and we will demand reports. Accountability is no longer optional,” Kama stated.
The lawmaker underscored that multilevel collaboration, local, national, and international, is the only way to ensure Nigeria meets its NDC targets and accelerates its transition to sustainable development.
“As Parliamentarians, we must keep the momentum alive and ensure that climate accountability becomes a norm across Nigeria’s governance and economic frameworks,” he concluded.
