By HADIZA MOHAMMED

Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, says Nigeria will soon have the largest electric mass transit fleet in Africa as it aims to increase its electric bus from 100 to 1,000.

A statement from the ministry quoted Tuggar as saying said this at the ongoing 28^th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai.

The statement was Issued in Abuja on Tuesday by Mr Alkasim Abdulkadir, Special Adviser, Media and Communications Strategy, to the minister.

The minister underscored the urgent need for concerted global action to address challenges of climate change.

He said that Nigeria is leading the fight against climate change in Africa by setting ambitious and realistic goals.

“Nigeria has ratified its commitments through a Climate Change Act and a National Council on Climate Change (NCCC).

“Through these, Nigeria set ambitious, albeit realistic, goals, and I am proud to state that we have hit the ground running, transforming our commitments into tangible climate action,” he said.

Tuggar emphasised the critical role of collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility in combating the escalating climate crisis.

“The initiative will reduce emissions and indicate my administration’s commitment to catalyzing the market for green project deployments, job creation, and industrialization across critical sectors”, he said.

Acknowledging the severity of the climate emergency, Tuggar highlighted the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities and ecosystems across the globe.

He stressed the importance of upholding the principles outlined in the Paris Agreement, emphasizing the need for all nations to commit to ambitious and transparent climate targets.

The minister reaffirmed the commitment of Nigeria to its nationally determined contributions, underscoring the nation’s dedication to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.

He called upon the international community to transcend political differences and work collaboratively towards meaningful and immediate climate solutions.

He gave Nigeria’s commitment to fostering international cooperation, encouraging innovation, and securing a sustainable future for generations to come.

Tuggar expressed Nigeria’s support for initiatives that advance climate resilience, technology transfer, and capacity-building in developing nations.

The minister said there was the need for financial commitments from developed nations to assist developing countries in their transition to low-carbon economies. (NAN)

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