At the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu, made a bold call for immediate access to climate funds pledged by world leaders at COP meetings.
This demand reflects the growing urgency in Nigeria and other developing nations as they face the escalating impacts of climate change.
Shettima’s address comes in the wake of recent catastrophic flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State, where over 400,000 people were affected and at least 30 lives were lost following the collapse of a section of the Alau Dam. Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, the Vice President highlighted the devastating consequences of climate-induced disasters across Nigeria, emphasizing the urgent need for collective global action.
“Climate change is a driver of insecurity, posing a serious challenge to sustainable development,” Shettima stated. “We must uphold the commitments made at previous COP meetings. Failure to act only delays the inevitable—no nation is immune to the effects of climate change.”
Shettima stressed that addressing climate change requires cooperation and collaboration. He reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to fulfill its obligations in climate mitigation and adaptation, calling for the active participation of international partners to achieve these goals.
Nigeria’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 13 on Climate Action was further reinforced by Shettima, who highlighted the country’s efforts to transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. President Tinubu has already established the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economy Solutions and appointed a Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action.
While pledging Nigeria’s continued efforts, Shettima underscored the principle of “Common but Differentiated Responsibilities,” as outlined in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. He reminded developed nations of their commitments to lead the transition to net zero and provide financial support to developing countries to achieve global climate goals.
A central focus of Shettima’s speech was the “Loss and Damage Fund” for vulnerable nations, introduced at COP27 in Egypt and expanded at COP28 in the UAE. The fund is designed to help low-income countries mitigate the damage caused by climate-related disasters. On the first day of COP28, 198 countries ratified a framework for financing and operationalizing this fund.
Shettima expressed Nigeria’s expectation that the 79th UNGA and the upcoming COP29 in Azerbaijan would ensure that developing countries, particularly in Africa, gain access to the “Loss and Damage Fund” and the $100 billion pledged by developed nations to combat the negative impacts of climate change.
The fund, which will provide support through grants and concessional financing, is set to be coordinated by the World Bank, with ongoing discussions about its management structure involving experts from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
