Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba
With increasing environmental and human challenges bedevilling the Niger Delta, due to Gas Flaring and Oil Spillage, a civil society Organization has raised their voice against the trend.
The National Coalition on Gas Flaring and Oil Spills In The Niger Delta (NACGOND) rose from a recent training session of their members with a firm commitment to proactively address and seek means to bring an end to gas flaring and oil spillage.
Rev Fr. Edward Obi, national coordinator of the coalition, told our reporter that the 25 NGO strong membership coalition, came on board to address and intervene into the region’s lingering environment degradation.
We employ research and evidence based advocacy approaches to attract immediate attentions to the Niger Delta twin challenges of Oil exploration.
The coalition foresees a Niger Delta free from environmental degradation, promotes environmental sustainability and livelihood security through involvement of all stakeholders.
Our coalition’s major areas of thematic focus include good governance, oil spill/gas flaring, environmental sustainability and livelihood security, Rev Fr Edward Obi remarked.
Recently at Port Harcourt, the coalition organized training for her members, community leaders and social media experts on advocacy, campaigns and lobbying techniques.
According to one of the training facilitators, Godson Dim-Dorgu, maintained that armed with social media networks and sound documentation, stakeholders engagement through advocacy and lobbying will record tremendous result driven outcome.
Maryann Okon helped participants understand how they can use opportunities social media networks avails them as they seek to an end oil spillage & gas flaring within the region.
Jesse-Martin Manufor, a media consultant, shared how best coalition members and community leaders can positively engage journalists with positive outcome.
When asked what is the probability that the issues and challenges of oil spillage and gas flaring will be a thing of the past, Rev Obi’s response was remarkable and hopeful.
The coalition is very hopeful that the region’s challenges will soon be forgotten because we are committed to pursue proactive result oriented actions.
Our ongoing advocacy for peaceful and constructive dialogue, evidence based engagements and researches are some of the means that strengthen our commitment to press forward.
The coalition members’s geographical spread, our focused solution driven engagements with stakeholders strengthens our hope and commitment with a ‘WE CAN’ spirit.
Our credibility, independence and partnership built with international partners points to the fact that we can bring an end to Niger Delta Oil Spillage and Gas Flaring, Rev Obi noted.
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