President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to integrating climate-smart agricultural practices and promoting energy transition as part of efforts to bolster food security and reduce the country’s environmental impact.
His remarks were made during the ongoing Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in the United Arab Emirates, where he addressed global leaders and policymakers.
In his 12-minute speech titled ‘Climate Imperatives into Economic Prosperity: Bridging Africa’s Global Energy Future’, President Tinubu emphasized Nigeria’s responsibility to lead in the fight against climate change, particularly as the most populous country in Africa and one of its largest economies.
He underscored that achieving sustainable development and mitigating the impacts of climate change requires strong international cooperation.
Tinubu highlighted that his administration is focusing on three main pillars: energy transition, climate resilience, and sustainable development. He pointed out that Nigeria is advancing climate-smart agricultural practices to enhance food security while reducing environmental harm.
He also mentioned the National Clean Cooking Gas Policy, which aims to promote clean energy use and stimulate socio-economic development in Nigeria and the broader region.
The President further explained that Nigeria is striving to reduce carbon emissions and transition to cleaner energy sources, including the use of compressed natural gas and electric vehicles.
He noted that these initiatives align with the country’s long-term commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.
Addressing the broader challenges of climate change, such as deforestation, desertification, and coastal erosion, President Tinubu also cited the shrinking of Lake Chad as a critical issue affecting millions of livelihoods.
He emphasized the need for global collaboration, particularly through investments in green projects and sustainable practices across various sectors.
Nigeria’s efforts to fund green initiatives were also highlighted, with Tinubu noting that the country was the first in Africa to issue Sovereign Green Bonds to support environmental projects.
He invited investors to partner with Nigeria in these endeavors and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fostering a conducive environment for business innovation, especially in the clean energy sector.
In closing, President Tinubu stressed the importance of technological innovation in advancing sustainable development and encouraged global partnerships to tackle environmental challenges.
He emphasized that Nigeria’s embrace of new technologies in sectors like clean energy, water conservation, and land restoration is critical to shaping a sustainable future.
President Tinubu also acknowledged the profound image of children waving the UAE flag at the start of the event, calling it a poignant reminder of the collective responsibility to safeguard the planet for future generations.
Other global leaders attending the summit include Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, all of whom discussed strategies for addressing global environmental challenges.