Ikot Abasi Communities, PPDF Rally Against Environmental Injustice, Practices
By Ekemini Simon
Communities in oil Producing area of Ikot Abasi local government area together with a Non-governmental Organisation, Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF) on Wednesday, November 2, 2022 held a rally across streets at Ikot Abasi local government area asking oil and gas companies to stop environmental pollution among other activities that stand as injustice to the environment.
The rally which had communities drawn from Uta Ewa, Opukalama and Ikpetim communities in Ikot Abasi witnessed the people of the area display placards, posters and banners with environmental messages targeted on oil and gas companies and the citizens who engage in practices that do not promote sustainable environment.
Some of the inscriptions displayed were: ” No Restoration, No Divestment”, poisoning Water is Genocide”, ” we can make our planet great again”, “Stop Burning our Future”, “Climate Change is inevitable unless we act now”, ” Save our environment “, ” stand up for climate justice “, ” Don’t be greedy. Be greeny”, and ” Pollution is a silent Killer “.
Addressing the Press after the gathering, the Coordinator of Peace Point Development Foundation, Mr. Umo Isua-ikoh who led the rally said the rally was necessary in order to pass important environmental messages to the larger community.
He said ” Our rally today is to call on oil companies among other companies operating in this area to conduct their affairs in line with relevant environmental standards.
” Our aim is to encourage people to promote climate justice and engage in practices that sustain the environment. We all know that Ikot Abasi is a very vulnerable environment because of their shoreline, the companies operating here and the rich resources beneath their earth and waters. Hence, this rally is to get the larger public besides those we have trained to be alert”.
Isua-ikoh called on the people of the area to be alert to their environment especially in the wake of the striking effect of climate change evidenced in flooding across the country.
The PPDF Coordinator called on the people of the area to attach themselves to environmental clubs established by PPDF so that they can continue to receive training and also participate in programmes that will help promote climate justice.