Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has announced an ambitious initiative to roll out 100 electric buses next year, while perfecting plans to escalate this to 1,000 electric buses in the medium term.
He emphasises that the country aims to create the largest electric mass transit fleet in Africa.
Ambassador Tuggar stressed that the overall plan was to walk the talk by tackling the critical challenges posed by climate change. The Nigerian tip diplomat spoke at the ongoing 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UNFCCC in Dubai.
During his address at the global summit, Tuggar emphasized the urgent necessity for unified global efforts to address the pressing issue of climate change. He highlighted Nigeria’s leadership role in Africa, citing the country’s ambitious yet achievable goals outlined in the Climate Change Act and the establishment of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC).
“Nigeria has taken concrete steps to convert commitments into actionable climate measures,” Tuggar asserted, underscoring the imperative role of collaboration, innovation, and collective responsibility in combating the intensifying climate crisis.
An This initiative aligns with the administration’s commitment to fostering green projects, generating employment, and industrializing key sectors while curbing emissions.
The Minister emphasized the impact of the severity of the climate emergency on vulnerable communities worldwide.
He also stressed adherence to the Paris Agreement principles, urging all nations to commit to transparent and ambitious climate targets. Nigeria remains dedicated to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060, reaffirming its nationally determined contributions.
Tuggar called upon the global community to transcend political differences and collectively pursue immediate and effective climate solutions. The Minister concluded with a firm commitment to fostering international cooperation, promoting innovation, and securing a sustainable future for generations to come.
Moreover, Tuggar highlighted Nigeria’s backing for initiatives aimed at enhancing climate resilience, technology transfer, and capacity-building in developing nations. He emphasized the significance of financial support from developed nations to aid the transition of developing countries toward low-carbon economies.
