Nigeria has strongly advocated for multinationals and billionaires to pay taxes globally to support African countries exposed to the effects of climate change.
The deputy speaker of the House of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, and the leader of the Nigerian delegation to the ongoing special sitting of the Committees of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) in South Africa presented the country’s position on Tuesday.
A statement by his Chief Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu said Kalu was reacting to a paper titled “The Impact of Climate Change and Africa’s Strategic Pursuits Going into COP” delivered by the Director of Programmes and Research, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), Charles Mwangi Nyambura.
Accordingly, he proposed a global climate tax to support climate adaptation in the world’s most vulnerable regions, such as Africa, relying, however, on the submission of Nobel Prize-winning Economist Esther Duflo.
The Deputy Speaker, who bemoaned the recent flooding in Borno and Zamfara States, amongst other places, said the climate tax is to help mitigate the impacts of climate change on the continent.
He said: “Africa is disproportionately impacted by climate change despite contributing just 3.8% to the global share of greenhouse gas emissions in contrast to 23% by China, 19% by the US, and 13% by the European Union.
“Climate change undermines Africa’s progress towards sustainable development goals, hindering economic growth and human well-being.
“At present, nearly 600 million Africans lack access to electricity, according to the World Bank, which hinders economic growth, industrial development, and access to essential services.
“Furthermore, Africa faces a widening energy gap compared to South Asia and Latin America, which have made more significant progress in bridging their energy deficits.
“Simultaneously, Nobel Prize-winning economist Esther Duflo has proposed a global climate tax to support climate adaptation in the world’s most vulnerable regions, such as Africa. Duflo’s proposal includes a tax on multinational corporations and billionaires to fund climate adaptation in low-income countries, helping them prepare for and mitigate the impacts of climate disasters.
“This need for climate resilience was brought into stark focus between August and September 2024, when heavy rains affected many local government areas (LGAs) in Borno State, Nigeria, resulting in significant flooding. These floods devastated various communities, displacing many households and damaging infrastructure, crops, and shelters.
“On September 9, 2024, Maiduguri was hit by a massive flood caused by the collapse of the Alau Dam in the neighbouring Konduga LGA, marking the first time the dam had overflowed since 2012. The resulting flood damage underscores the growing challenge posed by climate variability and human-induced factors, which have increasingly displaced populations across Nigeria.
“In Borno State alone, the International Organization for Migration’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) identified 320,791 individuals in 65,731 households affected by the floods across 19 LGAs. These include 157,274 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 108 returnees, all severely impacted by the floods.”
The leader of the Nigerian delegation to the Pan African Parliament’s intervention highlighted the devastating effects of food insecurity, worsened by climate change, conflicts, and economic disruptions.
Emphasising that Africa’s agricultural potential remains largely untapped, Kalu called for comprehensive agricultural reforms and investment in agribusiness as solutions to the growing food crisis.
While identifying some pressing issues facing the African continent, the Deputy Speaker also emphasised the pivotal role of education as the foundation for Africa’s future.
He underscored education’s critical role in shaping the continent’s future, aligning it with the African Union’s goals under Agenda 2063.
The leader of the Nigerian delegation called for continental cooperation to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to quality education.
In his remarks on how PAP can enhance its role of fostering peace across the continent, Kalu said that the parliament should leverage the kind gestures of the African Union (AU) Peace Fund Committee to support some community-driven initiatives such as Peace In South East (PISE-P).
“How can the African Union’s Peace Fund integrate peace initiatives led by civil society and non-governmental organisations that significantly promote peaceful co-existence?
“Specifically, how can grassroots and community-driven initiatives, such as the Peace in the Southeast (PISE-P) Initiative in Nigeria, be co-opted into the AU’s broader peace projects to enhance their impact?
“Has the AU Peace Fund supported community-led peace initiatives, such as PISE-P or similar programs across the continent, that are crucial in addressing local conflicts? If not, what are the reasons for the lack of engagement with such initiatives? Kalu inquired.
