By Bon Peters
The Rotary Club of Port Harcourt ECO says it will spend over 10 million naira in tree planting trees in Rivers state as part of its effort to protect, preserve, and secure a safe environment.
President of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt ECO, Dr. Anthony Ikpor announced this at the sideline of the Tree Planting exercise weekend in Port Harcourt.
“Rivers state is an industrial hub of oil and gas in Nigeria where there is increasingly gas flaring, hydrocarbon pollution, soot and other industrial wastes that have significantly contributed to climate change.”
Ikpor, who quoted Agora, on climate change 2023 says, “Nigeria is facing significant health and environmental threats and risks losing over $100 billion annually from the impact of climate change,” he said. “Climate change is increasing hunger, poverty, disease burden, migration, conflict and insecurity in Nigeria,” he added.
He lamented the adverse effects of climate change such as damaging infrastructure, changing Nigeria’s coastlines, fueling desertification, producing water scarcity, facilitating erosion, and resulting in the loss of revenue for states and national government.
Ikpor noted that the far-reaching negative effects on the country’s human and natural system, and climate change could jeopardize the nation’s economic development and alter its geographical, social, and political trajectory.
According to him, the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt ECO is poised to commit financial and human resources to the tune of over 10 million naira to fight the adverse effects of climate change, calling for collective efforts to protect the environment, promote food security, preserve biodiversity to advance net – zero emission.
Expressing happiness for the gesture, the Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local government Area, Sir (Hon) Allwell, Ihunda applauded the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt ECO initiative for tree planting in his council.
He said the Council was happy to have been chosen as the first to receive such a gesture stating that his council was committed to the laudable objectives of the Rotary club and will always partner with them to ensure the continuation of the sensitization exercise “We are happy to be part of what you’re doing today, we will continue to support you and partner with you.”
“Apart from this tree planting exercise, I am equally aware of other numerous humanitarian activities your club is doing in my council and other parts of the state to impact on the residents. What you are doing today is service to God and humanity, I want to crave your indulgence to join me as we flag off the tree-planting campaign” Ihunda said.
Contributing, the immediate past President of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt ECO, Davis Okarevu expressed joy at the continuation of the tree planting exercise.
“I started this initiative when I was the President, but today, am happy to be part of what is happening,” he said.
We thank God for the support and encouragement we are getting from our members and partners. We are working with professionals who are giving us these species of trees at a highly subsidized rate.
The high point of the occasion was the flag-off, of the tree planting campaign by the Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Sir. (Hon) Allwell Ihunda.
Others at the events were representatives of the Rivers State Ministry of Works, Ministry of Environment, and members of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt ECO.