Efforts to prevent oil spills and protect the environment have received a boost in Rivers State, with Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited launching a new oil spill prevention initiative in collaboration with key stakeholders.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening awareness, stakeholder participation and practical measures to reduce oil spill incidents and their impact on communities and the environment.
Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to move oil spill prevention from awareness to concrete action.
Speaking during the kick-off of the initiative, the company’s General Manager, Government and Community Relations, Mr Evans Krukrubo, said collaboration among government agencies, industry operators and communities was essential to preventing oil spills and protecting the environment.
He said the initiative would raise awareness, promote community participation and encourage practical measures to reduce oil spill incidents.
The Managing Director of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA, represented by the Director, ICT/GIS, Alhaji Yusuf Rigasa, commended the initiative, describing oil spill prevention as a shared responsibility requiring the commitment of all stakeholders.
Representing the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor, the Director of Administration in the Ministry, Mr Evans Dappa, urged Renaissance to strengthen its engagement with the ministry and pledged continued support for environmental awareness programmes.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Environment, Mr Ishmael tominialadieokuma Tomonialadieokuma, stressed the need for continuous community engagement to prevent conflicts and urged that students be enlightened on the causes and dangers of oil spills.
The Rivers State NYSC Coordinator, Mr Moses Oleghe, the Chairman of the Rivers State Secondary School Education Board and members of the Host Community Development Trusts, all pledged their support for the initiative which is geared towards promoting oil spill prevention and environmental protection.