Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), has urged for more international cooperation in tackling climate change and prevention illegitimate change of government in Africa. ayokinews.com reports
This was made known by Osinbajo during a bilateral meeting with Tanzanian Vice President Philip Mpango, in Arusha on Sunday.
The two leaders addressed a wide variety of subjects of concern to both Nigeria and Tanzania, including infrastructure development, trade and investment, technology, climate change, and democracy, according to a statement released by Osinbajo’s spokeswoman, Laolu Akande.
In light of previous military coups in West Africa, Osinbajo stressed the need for other regional blocs in Africa, as well as others in the global community, to support the efforts already taken by ECOWAS leaders.
“We in ECOWAS have experienced in just under a year, 4 coups d’etat including attempts and it is disturbing because we felt we had put those things behind us, and now they seem to be coming back,” Osinbajo was quoted as saying.
“It is something that we think has to do with more cooperation. AU has been very forthcoming (in condemnation) in saying that we cannot tolerate unconstitutional seizures of power. But sanctioning these coupists without any proper ‘teeth’ has not been particularly effective.”
“There might be a need for us to reach out to some of the regional bodies, development financial institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, and the EU.”
“The EU has been quite responsive but we think that we can do a lot more just in terms of cooperation, so there is an effective deterrent if everyone agrees that undemocratic change of government is unacceptable.”
Speaking on Climate change the associated aim of net-zero emissions, Vice President Osinbajo said, “the major challenge is that the wealthier countries are abandoning fossil fuels and gas and some of them are already de-funding gas projects”.
African countries, he claims, would face difficulties due to the importance of gas projects in the transition.
Engaging With People Should Be Leaders’ Major Concern – VP Osinbajo
“It is important for us to come together to oppose any situation where the wealthier countries insist that on account of going towards net-zero emissions in 2050, we should then abandon gas which is one of the major sources of energy for industry and clean cooking,” Osinbajo said.
“We think that the wealthier countries are asking us to do what they didn’t do – use renewable energy for industry.”
Africa has two problems, according to Osinbajo: ‘climate change and development’.
“While we are interested in ensuring that we meet net-zero emissions target, we are also interested in ensuring that we develop,” he added
Also commenting was Tanzania’s Vice President Philip Mpango, who praised West African leaders for their efforts in combating the threat of coups d’etat in the sub-region, and agreed that by working together, Africa can achieve more.
He agreed with Osinbajo that African leaders must work together to solve the rising issue of climate change.
“The apparent wish by developed countries to abandon fossil fuel is worrisome because we are still struggling to provide the basics,” he was quoted as saying.
“Our forests are disappearing because our people are still forced to use firewood for cooking. If we abandon gas energy, where do we go to?”
Check Also: https://www.climatechangenews.com/2022/02/24/the-energy-charter-treaty-delayed-nord-stream-2-halt/
