COP27: Activist calls on oil coys to clean up oil spills in Niger Delta

An international environmental activist, Africa Regional Campaigner, 350. Org, Charity Migwi, has called for the immediate clean up and remediation of all oil spills in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

350. Org is an international environmental organisation addressing the climate crisis, with the goal to end the use of fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy by building a global, grassroots movement.

The organisation is among several other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at COP 27 lending their voice to addressing the climate change crises.

Migwi, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt on the sidelines of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) said that the clean up is key to the just transition from fossil fuels.

She lamented over the increased oil pollution and gas flaring in Niger Delta.

She called on the Federal Government to shift it’s energy mix to renewable energy.

Furthermore, Migwi said that the issues of green house gas (GHG) emissions from the oil and other sectors was responsible for the increasing climate crises such as devastating floods in Nigeria.

The climate change crises we are witnessing, especially in Africa is caused by these greenhouse gas emissions.

That is why we are opposed to fossil fuel projects across Africa, and it’s not just the fossil fuel companies but also the financial institutions backing them.

So we want to encourage the local communities in the Niger Delta to stand up for their rights and protect their land, protect the water resources, so that they can live in a healthier and cleaner planet.

Fossil fuel is not the answer to meeting people’s energy needs, its not the answer to development, or economic growth of Nigeria, there should be a just shift to renewable energy because it’s cleaner, sustainable and even cheaper, she said.

According to the environmental activist, all hands has to be on deck to mitigate the effects of climate change and finding greener solutions to Nigeria’s energy needs.

NAN reports that the COP 27 which began on Nov. 6 with world leaders and representatives from 198 countries and more than 30, 000 delegates will end on Nov. 18.