Stakeholders have bemoaned unequal balance on environmental issues in Niger Delta where communities suffer from pollution and climate problems.
The stakeholders from the environment, academic, oil and gas, the government and private sectors have, therefore, called for thorough implementation of environmental policies, and climate equity where everyone will begin to take ownership and protect the environment to improve the economic lives of communities, enable them to have a sustainable future.
These were the positions at a conversation organised in Port Harcourt, at the weekend, by Ashoka Africa, an international non-profit organisation that uses innovative approaches to tackle significant social changes.
The stakeholders noted that some environmental issues appear unabated because there’s no strict monitoring of the implementation of such policies.
Speaking with The Guardian, Josephine Nzerem, Regional Director for Ashoka Africa, said that it was important to create a synergy among the stakeholders and start a conversation about how everyone can be a change maker in the environment.
She said: “We want a change from accusations to getting everyone involved, as well as become responsible on how we can treat the environment better to improve the economic lives of the people and ensure a sustainable future.”
Similarly, an Asuoka Fellow, Dr. Andrew Uyo, lamented that quite a few environmental issues, ranging from oil spills, air pollution, and loss of the mangrove and farmlands have bedevilled the Niger Delta region for a very long time.
