Sanwo-Olu at COP28: Nigeria crucial to meeting net zero emission target

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, says any attempt to neglect Nigeria in meeting the national net zero emission target will be a disservice to Africa.

Sanwo-Olu spoke on Monday on the sidelines of the ongoing COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The governor said Nigeria as the largest black nation should partake in every key decision around climate change.

He added that Lagos, with its geography and economy, should not be sidelined in any effort made to meet the net zero emission target.

“I have had three engagements in the last couple of days, and I want to share that I wasn’t short in telling them clearly that the inability or inactions of all the leaders that all come here, or an attempt not to support or not to take Africa along will be a disservice,” Sanwo-Olu said.

“Any attempt not to take the largest black nation Nigeria along will be a disservice, and indeed any action, not taking Lagos that has a largest population along, will be disservice.

“A success in Nigeria is an African success, a Lagos success is not just a Nigerian, not just an African, it’s a global success, and so we need to continue to push that, as a conversation that we are committed.”

The governor said the Lagos government is ready to partner key stakeholders across all sectors to achieve the net zero emission goal.

“For all of the things that we’re talking about to come to play, and to call for real support of partnership.  We’re not asking people to pity us,” he added.

“We’re not asking people to feel that we are less than who we are, we want real partnerships, and it is those partnerships that we have come here to engage with, to identify with and to give them our commitment and assurances that we’re ready to take this leap forward.”

The governor stressed the need for moving from talk to action, with a call for a concerted effort, involving not only government but also private entities, towards achieving the net-zero emission target.

“Let us commit ourselves to an action that indeed, in another one year or two years, we will have definitive intervention, we will have things that we all can point at as a deliberate, cause of action that can reverse and stop all of these trends,” Sanwo-Olu said.

“It’s only when we begin to see those things get into real transactions and real projects, that’s when people can feel the impact, they can appreciate all of this coming in and out and begin to see their lives are being changed.

“Let there be clear commitments and draw downs on those commitments from them.”