Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called for the rehabilitation of the Lake Chad even as he gave assurance of Nigeria’s support for the Paris agreement on Climate Change reached at the end of COP21 meeting held in France last December.
Speaking today at the Presidential Villa during a courtesy visit by the French Minister for the Environment, Power and Marine Affairs, who presided over the COP21 meeting in Paris, Ms. Segolene Royal, the Vice President said that Nigeria will join in the signing of the global pact before the end of this year.
Osinbajo emphasized need for the rehabilitation of Lake Chad which is being threatened by climate change, adding that Lake Chad is important from the point of view of security and economic factors.
The Vice President restated Nigeria’s concern about the lake and welcomed international support on its preservation and rehabilitation, saying that working together with the legislative arm of the Nigerian government, Nigeria will play its part in signing the agreement and ensuring ratification.
“COP21 outcome is important for everyone, it is the largest landmark agreement on climate change,” says Prof. Osinbajo adding that Nigeria was pleased with the meeting and its outcome-the Paris Agreement.
He thanked the French minister for making a stop in Nigeria as she tours countries in the continent, expressing the hope that Nigeria and France would continue to expand diplomatic and economic relationships, especially as the federal government is now confronting a number of economic issues including diversification and development of infrastructure.
The Vice President who was joined at the meeting by Nigeria’s Environment Minister, Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, commended the effort of Ms. Royal in her role as COP21 president and pledged Nigeria’s continued support.
Earlier Ms. Royal told the Vice President that she is visiting Nigeria and a number of other African countries to ensure that the Paris Agreement is established through the signing and ratification process, and also beyond to encourage the signatories take concrete actions in line with the agreement after the signing.
She noted the support of the international community on the preservation and rehabilitation of Lake Chad and announced that the Paris Agreement would be signed April 22 at the United Nations. [myad]
