By Festus Fifen

In a strategic move to ensure the advancement of his administration’s climate and green economic initiatives, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Chief Ajuri Ngelale as the Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action.

Chief Ngelale will serve in this role as part of a larger Presidential Committee, to be chaired by the President.

A statement from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation says The Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions, established by the President, will coordinate and oversee all policies and programmes on climate action and green economic development.

According to the statement signed by
Director, Information & Public Relations Segun Imohiosen, This move is to remove the constraints to coordination, foster a whole-of-government approach to climate-action programmes, provide an efficient governance architecture, and ensure that all relevant institutions in the sector are plugged into the President’s vision and are collectively implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda on climate action.

The Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions consists of the following: President Bola Tinubu – Chairman, Balarabe Abbas Lawal (Minister of Environment) – Vice-Chairman, Ajuri-Obari Ngelale (Special Adviser) – Secretary/Special Presidential Envoy, Lazarus Angbazo (CEO, InfraCorp) – Member, Salisu Dahiru (CEO, NCCC) – Member, Michael Ohiani (CEO, ICRC) – Member, Aisha Rimi (CEO, NIPC) – Member, Aminu Umar-Sadiq (CEO, NSIA) – Member, Yusuf Maina-Bukar (CEO, NAGGW) – Member and Abdullahi Mustapha (CEO, ECN) – Member.

Others in the committee includes Abba Abubakar Aliyu (CEO, REA) – Member, Uzoma Nwagba (CEO, CrediCorp) – Member, Khalil Halilu (CEO, NASENI) – Member, Fatima Shinkafi (CEO, SMDF) – Member, Bala Bello (Deputy Governor, CBN) – Member, Lolade Abiola (UN SE4ALL) – Member, Teni Majekodunmi (NCCC Adviser) – Member

The committee also includes Representative, Federal Ministry of FCT – Member, Representative, Federal Ministry of Finance – Member, Representative, Federal Ministry of Power – Member, Representative, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment – Member, Representative, Federal Ministry of Water Resources – Member, Representative, Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security – Member, Representative, Federal Inland Revenue Service – Member and Representative, Nigeria Customs Service as Member.

The Presidential Committee shall, among other functions, Identify, develop, and implement innovative non-oil & non-gas climate action initiatives, Coordinate all activities of relevant federal institutions towards the attainment of all agreed climate action and green economic objectives and non-oil/non-gas ambitions of the federal government, Collaborate with all relevant government, subnational governments, non-government, and civil society entities towards the attainment of the climate action objectives and ambitions of the federal government and Collaborate with national governments and multilateral institutions towards the attainment of the climate action objectives and carbon market ambitions of the federal government.

Others functions of the committee shall Include Monitor, evaluate, and guide the progress of all climate action and renewable energy projects and activities of the federal government, Track and guide the implementation of initiatives and developments conducted by the Energy Transition Working Group, Supervise the work of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen and Prepare a half-yearly green ambitions update, covering all associated climate action achievements of the federal government.

Chief Ngelale will retain his role as the Official Spokesperson of the President and Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, while serving on the committee.

President Tinubu remains committed to achieving Nigeria’s green economy objectives on the path of a just energy transition while unlocking new investments in this critical sector that is central to the nation’s economic future.