ANEEJ Advances Climate Advocacy, Strengthens Collaboration to Address Environmental Challenges in Niger Delta

By Emeka Nwokocha

WARRI/Nigeria: As the need to combat climate change constantly attracts global attention, the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), has activated critical measures to advance climate advocacy and strengthen collaboration to tackle environmental challenges in the Niger Delta and phase out fossil fuels production in Nigeria.

This was practically demonstrated during a One-day Stakeholders Dialogue on Climate Change Advocacy, with theme, “Nigeria’s Framework And Policy Responses To Climate Change,” organized by the organization on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at TM Palace Hotel, Effurun, near Warri, Delta State.

Speaking via zoom, the acting Executive Director at ANEEJ, Mr. Leo Atakpu said that the Stakeholders Dialogue was part of the implementation of Advocacy for fossil fuel phase out in Nigeria project, supported by African Climate Foundation (ACF).

He stated, “ANEEJ is currently working with some donors to further our work on climate change and the environment.”

Atakpu added, “Our organization is committed to advancing the implementation of Paris Climate Agreement by encouraging oil companies and their investors to adopt the call for carbon emission reduction targeting 1.50C and below, and fossil fuel phase-out with a just energy transition projection to protect the natural environment from pollution and over-exploitation.

He further stated, “The Stakeholders Dialogue is organized to present the ‘Sustainable Energy Transitions for African Petroleum Producers’ report published by African Climate Foundation (ACF) and discuss Nigeria’s framework and policy response to climate change.”

Atakpu noted that during COP26, Nigeria committed to achieving net-zero by 2060, which was followed by the signing into law the Climate Change bill by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021, even as he tasked the Nigerian government on diligent implementation of the Paris Agreement and transit to renewable energy to achieve climate justice.

Continuing, he said, “The dialogue will also be used to increase participants’ knowledge on the existing Climate Change Act and Nigeria’s energy transition policy and discuss emerging issues in the Niger Delta impacting on the environment and the peoples’ livelihood.”

Atakpu added, “The dialogue will feature a presentation on the role of the National Climate Change Council whose mission is to strengthen national initiatives to adapt to and mitigate climate change in a participatory manner involving all sectors of Nigerian society, the poor and other vulnerable groups including women, and youth.”

He called on oil companies and other investors in the oil industry to adopt the call for carbon emission reduction targeting 1.50C and below.

Speaking further, Atakpu expressed concern that, “Despite the urgent need for the world to quickly move away from fossil fuel and save the planet from destruction, oil and gas companies have failed to provide realistic plans that will ensure global comfort,” saying that, “Major oil companies have abandoned initial climate commitments for short term profit because of increased global demand for crude oil.”

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Environment, Dr, Mininim Oseji, who was represented by the Director of Climate Change in the Ministry, Mrs. Vivian Briggs, described the Stakeholders Dialogue as a welcome development, saying that, “climate change is a monster that demands collective and definitive action to combat timeously,” stating that the environment is badly impacted by human activities peaked by oil and gas exploration across the globe, including sustained growth in industrial activities that cause huge carbon emission into the environment.

Continuing, she reeled out the policies, projects and activities of the Delta State government geared towards combating climate change, even as she reiterated the state government’s commitment to collaborate with Civil Society Organisations, including private entities on programmes and activities that would cause a drastic reduction of carbon emission in the state in line with the Paris Agreement.

In his presentation centring on the theme of the event, “Nigeria’s Framework and Policy Response to Climate Change,” the Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action, Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo, critically x-rayed the Nigeria Climate Change Act 2021 and the actions taken by the Nigerian government to implement the Act, including the energy transition plan.

He noted obvious challenges trailing the implementation of the Act and charged the CSOs to strengthen advocacy and intervention to push for the phase out of fossil fuels production in Nigeria.

The discussion on emerging issues impacting on the environment and the people’s livelihood in Niger Delta evidently brought to fore the huge harm oil and gas exploration has caused to the environment and livelihoods of the host communities over the years, a development that calls on the Nigerian government and the oil companies to take positive and urgent measures to phase out fossil fuel production.

Participants at the event include Pastor Edewor Egedegbe, Executive Director, Value Rebirth and Empowerment Initiative (VREI); Mrs. Martha Onose, Executive Director, Community Empowerment and Development Initiative (CEDI); Ayo Nefertiti Okotie, Executive Director, Neferok Development Initiative (NEDI); Mrs. Vivian Briggs, representative of the Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Environment, Dr. Mininim Oseji; Mrs. Joy Tobele, Executive Director, Initiative for Peace and Stability (IPAS); Mr. Fred Nohwo, Executive Director, Africa Centre for Environmental and Rural Development ACERD; Jennifer Okotie, Coordinator, Delta State Chapter of Partners for Peace in the Niger Delta (P4P); Dr. Andrew Agboro, Executive Director, One Love Community Development; Mr. Chuks Odagwe; Mrs. Mercy Awhana, Executive Director, H2H International Foundation; Mr. Richard Benin, CODAF; Mr. Alagoa Morris, Programme Manager, ERA/FOEN – Bayelsa Office; Mr. Authority Benson; Comrade Nowinta Igbotako, ANEEJ; Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo, Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action, and others.