Minister Seeks Legislature’s Collaboration On Green Economy

The Minister of Environment, Mrs Hadiza Mailafia, has  called on the House of Representatives to make a law to enhance Nigeria’s green growth.

Mailafia made the call at the parliamentary dialogue on Climate Change, organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change to pursue a legislative agenda to enhance Nigeria’s green growth.

The minister, represented by the Director in-charge of Climate Unit, Dr Sam Adejuwon, said partnership with the lawmakers was necessary to achieve an effective policy blueprint on green economy.

“To achieve an effective policy blue print on green economy, we need the lawmakers’ collaboration, commitment, support and, most essentially, strong legislative backing, to establish a framework to guide actualisation of this pathway.

“Furthermore, effective green growth will not be achieved without the push from the private sector,’’ she said.

According to the minister, greening the economy implies reducing emissions of greenhouse gases in all of Nigeria’s development pursuits.

She said the development would ensure economic growth and poverty eradication, which were key indices in achieving long term sustainable development in the world.

Declaring the meeting open, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, said legislative dialogue was necessary to achieve green economy.

The speaker, who was represented by the Deputy Leader, Rep. Leo Ogor, said “as lawmakers, we must find a way of using our natural resources to avoid disasters.

“We must learn to use our resources better in an efficient manner.’’

Earlier, the Chairman of the House Committee on Climate Change, Rep. Eziuche Ubani , said the dialogue was ground breaking for concerted efforts to shift from high to low carbon intensive paradigms.

He said green growth was about promoting healthy living by moving from high carbon operations to activities that promoted healthy environment.