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The lawmaker representing Oyo Central Senatorial District and Chairman Senate Committee on Environment, Dr Yunus Akintunde, on Friday, met with the Canadian High Commissioner, James Christoff, to discuss issues bordering on environment and interventions.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Senator, Mr Kunle Olatunji, said the meeting centered on critical issues affecting the environment and areas of collaborative efforts, legislative impact, and public governance strategies towards tackling environmental challenges.
The Canadian High Commissioner, Christoff, expressed willingness to work with Akintunde and the Senate Committee on Environment to achieve deliverables as set out in the various global interactive initiatives and commitments on issues bothering on the environment.
Christoff listed areas of Canadian government’s support to Nigeria, including Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives, Governance and Human Rights, Technical Assistance Programmes on climate change and clean energy for a safer environment.
He noted that it is imperative for Nigeria to be fully integrated within the global initiatives and programmes on environment.
Responding, Akintunde assured that the Nigerian government will tap into the various environmental intervention programmes available for the benefit of Nigerians.
“The economic base of Nigeria is crude oil. Of course, with diversification efforts ongoing, key sectors will be considered in the various collaborative efforts between Nigeria and Canada as well as other countries at the global level,” the senator said.
Akintunde assured of the readiness of governments at all levels to ensure that such collaborative efforts and synergy between Nigeria and Canada as well as other global stakeholders on environmental issues yield positive results.
The senator was accompanied by Micheal Murphy, Adviser, Political Affairs and Hon Mui’ Olagunju, Senior Legislative Aide.