An advocacy group, Media Awareness and Justice Initiative (MAJI), is seeking government and other critical stakeholders’ collaboration in tackling flooding and other reoccurring environmental challenges facing the country.
The group urged governments at all levels to collaborate with these critical stakeholders using technological tools and evidence-based interventions in curbing the huge environmental and ecological challenges that is annually facing Nigerians.
Executive Director of MAJI, Emmanuel Onyekachi Okoro made the call while briefing Journalists in Port Harcourt over the weekend in commemoration of the 2024 International Day for Tropics.
Okoro who was represented by the group’s
Project Officer for Policy and Governance, Ikechukwu Ahaka, said MAJI was ready to sunergise with the government and other critical stakeholders in tackling the recurring environmental disasters.
The MAJI Boss, disclosed that Nigeria currently faces huge loss of tropical biodiversity due to environmental degradation, stemming from human induced activities such as oil spills, artisanal crude oil refining, uncontrolled carbon emissions in the Southern tropics, as well as indiscriminate mining and war in the Northern Sahel Tropics.
He said, “It may interest you to know that the Tropics host nearly 95% of the world’s mangrove forests by area and 99% of mangrove species, which are essential, as they serve as both a carbon sink and a habitat for a wide range of animal species.
“The Media Awareness and Justice Initiative identifies the lack of adequate environmental data and resulting evidence-based interventions in Nigeria as one of the reasons behind the inability of relevant agencies of government to deal with the impacts of climate change, tropical forest loss and its resulting effects on communal lives and livelihoods.
“In commemoration of the 2024 World Day of the Tropics, we call on the Nigeria Government and other relevant stakeholders to quickly initiate scientific resilient methods of addressing the menace of climate change that is generally creating environmental threats
in our tropical environment.”
Speaking further, be said, “While MAJI’s “DATACAB Environmental Portal” developed with support from the office of the United States Consular General, identifies some of these challenges through environmental Data collection and analysis, we believe more robust engagement and rigorous collaboration between stakeholders will enhance Citizens education, awareness and participation, and as well contribute immensely to the mitigation of these impacts.
“For us at the Media Awareness and Justice Initiative, the 2024 World Day of the Tropics serves as a gentle reminder for all stakeholders, Government, Social development Groups, the Media,
Private sector and communities to collectively reflect on the impacts of the damages on our environment and collaboratively develop inclusive strategies that will provide the platform for sustainable protection of the tropical regions in Nigeria.”
Mr Okoro added, “The Federal government of Nigeria has to make specific efforts to firstly document environmental data in a sustainable and effective manner. This data will be strategic in the analysis which will provide the platform for evidence-based intervention, and data-oriented
engagements at all levels of governance.
“The Media Awareness and Justice Initiative (MAJI), is a culmination of several years of disparate participatory trainings and capacity building for young people, stakeholders and marginalised
communities across Nigeria.
“Using human centered methodologies and technologies, we democratize information, increase awareness, build capacity and work towards providing sustainable development using inclusive strategies.”