FIC Report (Rivers State) – As part of efforts to curtail methane emissions to the barest minimum, and realize the objectives of the methane action plan, stakeholders in agriculture, health, environment, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the oil and gas sectors have reiterated that partnership for the goal and mind-reengineering, are the way forward to mitigating Methane emissions in Nigeria.
Speaking at a one day sensitization workshop on Methane abatement which held in Port Harcourt on Friday, 8 November 2024, Nimi Elele from the Department of Climate Change, Ministry of Environment, stated that going by the Sustainable Development Goal 17, partnership is very key in abating Methane emissions in Nigeria.
According to her, “There has to be mind-reengineering”, which is the process of redesigning and reevaluating one’s interpretations of the world and their place in it.
“If we do not do anything, the effects of Methane gas emissions that we feel today, will worsen”, she said, while urging participants at the workshop to make serious effort to act differently in their various spaces. “Educate at least one person, plant economic trees”, she added.
Highlighting some of the actions participants are expected to take to abate Methane emissions, Dr Soberekon Afiesimama during his presentation on ‘Methane Abatement in Nigeria: A Call to Action’, said financial support for Methane reduction projects, environmental education, research, regulatory measures, technological innovations, among others are some of the collective actions that can be taken to abate Methane emissions in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of African Centre for Transparency Accountability and Initiative (AfriTAL), Dr Louis Ogbeifun while summarizing insights from the workshop underscored that, “We have no control over what government will throw at us, but we do, on what we can do”.
“History will remember us for good that we started fighting for a plan within the Niger Delta, to be rid of Methane emissions, and we are saying that we need to start doing things differently in that domain”, he added.
The workshop themed ‘Methane Abatement in Nigeria: Special Focus on Anthropogenic Sources’, was funded by TrustAfrica.
Worried over the greater threat anthropogenic methane portends to the Nigerian environment than fossil fuels, Engr. Christopher Nku, the Project Officer Environment of Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) while delivering a goodwill message, noted that, “We all know Methane is released to the atmosphere from various sources. While the sources from fossil fuels can be detected and quantified, the Anthropogenic sources are yet to be quantified.
“As a result, the solution to this is to create awareness on the release and management of this greenhouse gas to the environment; and to consciously be responsible for our actions.”
Further emphasizing the need for advocacy, Dr. God’swill Ukoikpoko, Director of Veterinary Services, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture stressed that efforts should be made to reach out to the new Ministry of Livestock development created by the Federal government.
“There are many things we can do to abate Methane emissions in Nigeria. Let us reach out to the new Ministry so that we can incorporate some of the Methane abatement activities in what the new Ministry will do”, he said.
On her part, the Headmistress of the Rivers State University Staff School, Charles Ibifuro said when she goes back to her place of work, she will educate her students on Methane emissions, so they will be conscious of how they interact with the environment.
Signed
Helen Nsirim
For: Head of Centre
Port Harcourt
