By USMAN ALIYU

President Bola Tinubu says Nigeria is committed to methane emissions reduction by at least 30 per cent by 2030.

Tinubu stated this on Saturday in Dubai while addressing stakeholders at the ongoing global climate summit popularly known as COP28.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Methane (CH4) is a hydrocarbon that is a primary component of natural gas.

Methane is also a greenhouse gas (GHG) and as such, its presence in the atmosphere affects the earth’s temperature and climate system.

Speaking at a forum on methane and other non-CO2 emissions reduction, Tinubu said Nigeria as signatory to the COP28 global decarbonisation accelerator and having signed off as a member of the UN global compact, was working to achieve the aim summit.

“Our country has taken critical steps to reduce methane emissions by ensuring flare elimination and focusing on gas as replacement cooking fuel for biomass.

“We welcome the effectiveness of the COP28 President that gives hope to sustain livelihood.

“The earth has been injured not by us, but by the big economies, and I am happy they are here.

“The pledges by the big economies are good and we are with you even though we are the least beneficiary of the financial commitment of the big economies.

“Listening to you here makes us happy. We are committed by ensuring flaring gasses are eliminated. There is huge penalty for that and there is also a huge incentive for doing so.

The President assured the gathering that Nigeria would continue to be partner in progress to achieve renewables.

“We are part of the US methane abatement pledge that commits us to voluntary actions to contribute for a collective action for methane emission by at least 30 per cent by 2030,” he said.

All these, Tinubu said was within the context of a differentiated energy transition that would enable access to power by the Nigerian people within a specific and short timeframe with elevated contribution of the renewables.

“We are providing cooking gas for our large population and we will leverage more on technologies. We hope the big economies and the United Arab Emirates will help.

“Africa understands that technical know-how is necessary and that the earth needs healing and it is crying very seriously,” Tinubu said. (NAN)