As part of efforts to combat deforestation and stimulate green economic growth, a coalition of climate-focused organisations, ECO2RUPPERS Africa and the Free Nigeria Foundation, has announced a new environmental initiative to plant 230 million trees annually across Rivers State.

The initiative, tagged the Free2Green Rivers Campaign, also aims to mobilise 2.3 million eco-volunteers and create 230,000 green jobs across all 23 local government areas of the state.

The organisations said the project is designed to restore the state’s degraded ecosystems while improving livelihoods through job creation and sustainable energy interventions.

Director General, ECO2RUPPERS Africa, Wilkinson Agih, said the programme encompasses harnessing the collective energy of communities to restore our natural environment.

He said through the partnership with Free Nigeria Foundation, “We are engaging millions of eco-volunteers, creating over 230,000 green jobs, and implementing comprehensive sustainability programs to lay the foundation for a greener, healthier, and more resilient Rivers State.”

The campaign, which aligns with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, also includes the distribution of 2.3 million clean cookstoves to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, as well as 2.3 million health wallets to improve access to basic healthcare services.

Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, Senator Seriake Dickson, described the project as a visionary model of grassroots climate action.

“This bold programme represents not just a fight against climate change, but a fight for the future of our children, our communities, and the planet. By mobilising millions of citizens and providing green jobs, we are creating a sustainable foundation for Rivers State and beyond,” he said.

Deputy Chairperson, Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, Senator Ireti Kingibe, said the Free2Green Rivers is setting a new precedent for climate action in Nigeria.

“It’s inspiring to see the scale of this initiative, a grassroots movement that is both environmentally transformative and economically empowering. This campaign will be an example of how people, when empowered, can lead the way toward building a cleaner, greener, and more prosperous future,” she said.