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The South-East representative on the Governing Board of the North East Development Commission (NEDC), Mr. Sam Onuigbo, has described the late President Muhammadu Buhari as a transformative leader who elevated Nigeria’s status on the global stage.
In a statement issued on Monday, July 14, 2025, in Abuja, Onuigbo expressed deep sorrow over Buhari’s passing in a London hospital on Sunday, July 13, saying the late president’s death “leaves a huge vacuum in the country.”
Onuigbo, a former two-term member of the House of Representatives, lauded Buhari’s leadership, particularly his role in enacting the landmark Climate Change Act.
He noted that the Bill had previously failed in the 6th, 7th, and 8th National Assemblies but was finally signed into law by Buhari on Nov. 17, 2021, during the 9th Assembly.
“By that singular act and focus on proactive legislation, the former President made Nigeria stand tall in the international community.
“His death has robbed the country of a rich source of international pride,” Onuigbo stated.
The former lawmaker, who currently chairs the Security, Climate Change and Special Interventions Committee of the NEDC, said Buhari’s decision to sign the Climate Change Bill, in spite of internal resistance, showed his dedication to forward-thinking policy and international cooperation.
“The Climate Change Act created the National Council on Climate Change and established a legal framework for Nigeria’s sustainable development and net-zero emissions target by 2050–2070,” he added.
Onuigbo emphasised that, without Buhari’s decisive intervention, Nigeria would have remained on the sidelines of critical global discussions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
“Thanks to Buhari, Nigeria did not attend the COP27 Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, empty-handed. We actively participated, with our heads held high.
“His leadership helped shape discussions that led to the establishment of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), designed to assist vulnerable nations affected by climate change,” he said.
He also recalled that Buhari was particularly inspired by the outcomes of the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, Scotland, which motivated his prompt action to sign the Climate Change Bill.
Onuigbo expressed his gratitude to members of the 9th National Assembly, especially then Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, now Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, and Senate President Ahmad Lawan, for their roles in supporting the legislation.
“President Buhari will be sorely missed. His contributions to Nigeria’s climate policy and international image will endure as part of his legacy,” Onuigbo said.
By Aderogba George
