House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Climate Change, Sam Onuigbo, representing Ikwuano Umuahia North/South, Abia State, dialogues with Assistant Politics Editor DANIEL KANU on the challenges of climate change and how to check the trend. He also speaks on his agenda for his constituents.
Sam Onuigbo has over the years established a sound reputation on leadership, delivering when duty calls.
Said to be of humble disposition, the lawmaker who represents Ikwuano Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency in Abia State is also ascribed with integrity in his relations with his immediate community.
The House Committee Chairman on Climate Change exhibited this forthrightness when in a recent encounter with TheNiche, he remarked that the country is undergoing trying times, stressing however that the challenges would be surmounted.
Climate change awareness, he stated, must be matched with adequate action to ensure that Nigeria benefits from it. He urged the government not to relent in its promise to join other parts of the world in the crusade, promising that his committee would be up and doing in its responsibility.
The lawmaker harped on the danger of ignoring trends in climate change, urging all critical stakeholders, ministries directly or indirectly involved in the battle not to relent in their efforts, given that the exercise requires multi-dimensional approach.
According to him, “All the changes we are witnessing about the weather and climate are indications of climate change through the ozone layer. These things call for awareness on what to do to reduce negative trends, especially the ones within our powers, like control of emissions by vehicles and the rest of them.
“The encroaching Sahara Desert that is racing down at almost one mile per annum has caused the grazing areas where herdsmen used to graze their cattle, goats, sheep so much problem because these areas have dried up and these herdsmen in their attempt to get grazing areas fall into problems with the owners of the areas. And we know what has been its outcome.”
He added that deforestation and bush burning contribute to overheating the system and create destruction, stressing that in addition to awareness is taking solid action. The government, he said, needs to rise to the occasion to prepare people and take action to prevent what is likely going to be a disaster.
“Day by day, we experience new developments; day by day, new challenges confront us. Similarly, when we juxtapose current challenges against past challenges, we will be in a very good position to evaluate the seriousness and consequently take appropriate action to clear up or mitigate the effect,” Onuigbo said.
Reminded that the country has lost so much revenue from oil spillage and bunkering as a result of non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which has been pending at the National Assembly, Onuigbo disclosed that the 8th National Assembly would consider the passage of the PIB as a matter of national importance to ensure assent by the President. The idea, he said, is to enable Nigerians benefit from the industry which is critical to the development of the nation.
Onuigbo asked groups agitating for break-up from the country to have a rethink and give peace a chance, just as he equally advised government to be just and fair in its dealings with all groups in the land.
“All we need do as a people is to ensure that there is peace in the land. There is justice in the land, there is equity in the land and there is fairness. Once that is done, these agitations will just die. Nigeria will overcome its challenges but all of us need to do the right things,” he said.
The former Abia Commissioner for Finance expressed deep concern over the security challenge in the land, but was hopeful that it would be contained given the efforts so far made.
“I think there is every chance of the activities of the insurgency being successfully brought to an end because the Nigerian military has done exceptionally well. Beginning from when former President Goodluck Jonathan was in office to this period, the military has been battling Boko Haram and the marching order given by President Buhari is being carried out with all seriousness.
“I commend him for the seriousness on this matter because you cannot be thinking of planning about developing a nation when sections of the nation are deep in wars and other crises. So we are hopeful. All we need do is to support the military with intelligence among others,” the lawmaker noted.
Asked what legacy he would like to leave at the end of his tenure, he said he would always make himself available and be responsive as he promised his people.
“When I was sworn in as member representing Ikwuano Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency of Abia State, I said I would make myself always available and responsive as their representative.
“These are the things that will guide my stay here for the next three years. I would have to add that I take extra interest in education and youth development in addition to issues of infrastructure.
“This is because in my community we don’t have a road taking me to my village. The road from Umuahia to Ikwuano down to Ikot-Ekpene is in a terrible shape, perhaps impassable. So issues of education, youth development and infrastructure are areas that I would like to continue to make my own contributions.
Perhaps, it is on account of his grassroots-oriented politics that he is well-loved and respected in his community where he has been conferred with chieftaincy titles.
He has also received meritorious award from the United States Department of State for his dedication and competence while he was in the employ of the embassy.
Onuigbo’s love by his people was reflected in the massive support he received during the 2015 general election when he finally made up his mind to respond to the call by his community by joining the political race to represent them at the Green Chambers.
His legislative interest borders on education, creation of employment for the youths, prudent management of human and material resources.
He told TheNiche that one of his targets is to enact laws that have potential to create employment for the youths of Nigeria who he said constitute over 70 per cent of the nation’s population.
It was learnt that one of the things he did for his people that has continued to give him joy was his involvement in ensuring a school was located in his community to ease the pains of people trekking about 12 kilometres to attend the closest secondary school.
That feat was achieved when he worked with the U.S. government.
