President Muhammadu Buhari will leave Abuja on Sunday, October 31 for Glasgow, Scotland, to attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) (UNFCCC).
On Tuesday, November 2, the President is due to deliver his national statement during the conference’s High-Level session for Heads of State and Government.
Buhari’s speech at the summit is scheduled to highlight Nigeria’s primary priorities and actions to combat climate change, as well as progress on the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.
The meeting, hosted by the UK in collaboration with Italy, will bring parties together to assist accelerate action toward the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Given Nigeria’s leadership in climate action and as a signatory to the Paris Agreement, COP 26 will provide a unique opportunity for the Nigerian delegation to collaborate with other parties to advance the conference’s main goals, which include securing global net zero by mid-century and keeping 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach; adapting to protect communities and natural habitats; and mobilizing the much-needed funds to meet the set targets.
According to Garba Shehu, President Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, President Buhari would attend certain side events held by US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron in Glasgow.
He will be accompanied by Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sharon Ikeazor, Minister of State for Environment, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (Rtd), and Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, Director-General, National Intelligence Agency.
Buhari will then go to Paris, France, on an official visit to reciprocate the French President, Emmanuel Macron’s, earlier visit to Nigeria, as well as attend the Paris Peace Forum 2021, the fourth edition to be hosted by the French President.
It will bring together Heads of State and Government, CEOs of key multinational corporations, and many civil society players to develop tangible solutions to the immense difficulties faced by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to improve global governance in COVID-19 times.
The Summit will focus on fostering a more stable and inclusive recovery by addressing the various gaps in global governance, launching efforts to better care for the global commons, and proposing new action principles for the post-COVID world.
The Nigerian government will host the Nigeria-Paris Forum while the President is in Paris.
The event is intended to draw a gathering of Nigerian and French businessmen, government and business executives, diplomats, and journalists in the hopes of exhibiting potential on both sides and bringing awareness to bear on Nigeria’s current security, economic, and investment conditions.
He is scheduled to return to the country following the engagements.
