VZCZCXRO0555
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #0329/01 0550748
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 240748Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5354
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 0863
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABUJA 000329 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR OES/EGC FOR TTALLEY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV ENRG EPET PGOV ECON NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: INAUGURATION OF COMMITTEE ON CLIMATE CHANGE BY 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED HANDLE ACCORDINGLY 
 
¶1. (U) Summary:  On February 10, in a well-attended ceremony, the 
Nigerian House of Representatives inaugurated a new Committee on 
Climate Change (CCC).  In his inaugural address, Committee Chair 
Ezuiche Ubani declared that his committee will provide oversight and 
the legal framework for the Nigerian Government's (GON) response to 
climate change.  The Committee will outline its agenda items for 
2009 after a broad consultation with all stakeholders and invited 
inputs from all.  Speaker of the House Dimeji Bankole criticized 
developed nations for creating the current difficult climatic 
problems.  He suggested that stricter legislation will be enacted to 
stop multinational oil firms from flaring gas.  Newly appointed 
Minister of Environment, Housing, and Urban Development John Odey 
indicated that the GON plans to introduce carbon tax on petroleum 
consumption in the near future.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (U) In his inaugural address, Committee Chair Ezuiche Ubani 
(Peoples Democratic Party, Abia State) declared that his committee 
will provide oversight and legal framework for the GON response to 
climate change.  He underscored that climate change is "no longer an 
abstract concept but a reality that is impacting the daily lives of 
Nigerians in all corners of the country" and outlined 
desertification and desert encroachment in the north and gas flaring 
and deforestation in the south as the main challenges.  The Chairman 
stated that without addressing these challenges it is impossible for 
Nigeria to meet the needs of its growing population and achieve its 
developmental aspirations. 
 
¶3. (U) Keynote speaker British High Commissioner Bob Dewar declared 
the creation of the Committee as timely and stressed the 
vulnerability of Nigeria to increasing desertification and rising 
sea level.  He contended that unless addressed effectively these 
could lead to potential conflicts and instability over shrinking 
land and water resources and create environmental refugees.  Nigeria 
should use its status as the "giant" of Africa to find sustainable 
solutions to climate change and lead by example.  Dewar said that 
the new legislative committee needs to be complemented by the 
creation of a department within the GON that focuses on 
implementation of energy and climate change initiatives. 
 
¶4. (U) John Odey, newly appointed Minister of Environment, Housing, 
and Urban Development noted Nigeria's vulnerability to climate 
change and pointed out that his ministry will embark on new 
initiatives to raise public awareness about the challenges of 
climate change and educate the public on adaptation methods, such as 
energy saving strategies and the benefits of using renewable energy 
sources and technologies.  He stated that the GON plans to introduce 
carbon tax on petroleum consumption in the near future.  (Comment: 
the Minster did not elaborate what the likely elements of this plan 
will be.  The U.S. Mission will follow up and report septel.  End 
Comment). 
 
¶5. (U) In his closing remarks, Speaker of the House Dimeji Bankole 
criticized the developed world for causing "damage to the climate 
during the industrial revolution."  He lamented that despite this 
historical fact, Nigeria and the rest of the developing world are 
now told to adapt a "green" economy while they are struggling to 
catch up with the developed world.  Nonetheless, the Speaker 
acknowledged that climate change is real, and that the establishment 
of the new committee is the House's response to mitigate the adverse 
effects of climate change on the daily lives of Nigerians.  As a 
first step, Bankole said that stricter legislation will be enacted 
to stop multinational oil firms from flaring gas.  In closing he 
decried this year's budgetary allocation of $1.5 million to the new 
committee as woefully inadequate, including putting doubt to the 
Committee's ability to participate in the Copenhagen Conference on 
Climate in December. 
 
COMMENT: 
-------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) The inauguration of the House Committee on Climate Change 
is a positive sign showing the House's commitment to mitigate the 
impact of climate change.  Although a range of environmental 
challenges were recognized, there was no serious mention of the 
impact rising sea levels would have on costal cities and communities 
in the Delta region.  Minster Odey's planned initiatives to educate 
the public about climate change, its impact, and adaptation 
strategies are practical steps that will have the greatest immediate 
benefits in mitigating the impact of climate change in Nigeria. 
Speaker Bankole's rhetoric about past misdeeds by the developed 
world sheds some light on the GON's thinking in formulating 
negotiating strategies for the December Copenhagen Climate 
Conference and beyond. 
 
¶6.  This cable was coordinated with Consulate Lagos. 
 
 
ABUJA 00000329  002 OF 002 
 
 
Sanders