As part of the International Week of Action Against Oil Expansion, students, security personnel, and climate activists in Port Harcourt have called on leaders and multinational corporations to move beyond oil and invest in renewable energy.
The campaign was organised by the West for Growth and Development Foundation, a non-governmental organisation focused on sustainable development.
The event aimed to draw attention to the environmental destruction caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta and across Africa.
Speaking to journalists, the foundation’s coordinator, Smith Nwokocha, emphasised the need for a complete transition from fossil fuels to clean, community-based energy solutions.
“We are doing this in Nigeria adding voices to what is happening im DRC and this is happening across over 27 countries in the content right and we are all adding our voice together that there should be no further fossil fuel extraction in our soil in talking to the multinationals that they can switch to renewable energy thing like solar,” Nwokocha said.
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Students present at the campaign expressed deep concerns about the harmful impact of oil activities in their communities, including pollution, loss of livelihood, and threats to future generations.
Michael Obiora, a participant, said: “Most communities, you see the flaring of oil, you see linkage of oil and a lot of other things that are going on with the issue of oil, so we are saying there are better ways we can also get energy.”
Victory Rodger, a student, spoke about the harm caused by fossil fuel-related deforestation and its effect on ecosystems.
Another student, Joseph Atukomi, added, “Fossil fuel can destroy oncesones poured in the sea. It can destroy aquatic life, but with solar energy or renewable energy, nothing like that will happen. “
The campaign called for urgent policy changes and a united stand against further oil development in Africa.
