PPDF Sensitizes Ikot Abasi Communities on Forest Protection, Sustainable Environment 

Peace Point Development Foundation(PPDF), a non governmental organisation (NGO), working on peace building, good governance, environmental justice, and human right has sensitized some community members in Ikot Abasi local government area of Akwa Ibom State on how to protect their oil and gas communities from worsening degradation among other environment sustainable activities.

The sensitization session was carried out  during a town hall meeting/ Community Mobilization process on ” Promoting Climate Justice and Sustainable Environmental Practices” held on Monday, February 28, 2022 at Uta Ewa Council Hall, Ikot Abasi local government area.

The town hall which was designed for Uta Ewa, and Opukalama communities in Ikot Abasi also had representatives from the Ikpetim community in Ikot Abasi who heard about the project and decided to be involved.

The coordinator, Mr. Umoh Isua-Ikoh noted that the Ikot Abasi communities are blessed uniquely with a rich environment and mineral resources hence the need to protect.

The Coordinator of PPDF said that it has been observed that their environment is gradually degraded thus the need for it to be properly managed and protected against further degradation to a state that cannot be reclaimed.

Isua-Ikoh offered insight to the fact that to help the communities promote climate justice towards a sustainable environment, PPDF would be offering to train the community on wood efficient stoves in order to help reduce the usage of wood from the forest for fuel.

He explained that the project would help the communities understand the value their environment offers especially environmental covers which serve as umbrella of the planet, safeguarding against rampaging climate change.

The Coordinator assured that no financial support would be needed from the community throughout the completion of the project rather dedication to the ideals of the project would be appreciated.

Isua-Ikoh said PPDF would also establish environmental clubs both in the community and its schools.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Uta Ewa Community,  Elder Emmanuel Udofia thanked PPDF for returning to the Community as promised during PPDF’s advocacy visit.

 He assured that the people of the area are fully ready for the project and willing to work with the PPDF in order to make their environment sustainable.

On his part, a stakeholder in the area, Emmanuel Akpan stated that people of the area are delighted over the project since it will be more important to them since their livelihoods would be sustained if they protect their environment and engage in sustainable environmental practice.

” We are basically fishermen. The forest in our swamps helps the fishes to breed well. We are very appreciative about the initiative PPDF has brought to us. Sometimes, we are forced to cut the trees and dry our fishes. But with the new initiative of wood efficient stoves, we believe this project will help save our depleting forest”, he said.

In her goodwill message on behalf of the ministry, the Director, Climate Change, Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources, Ini Umoh called on the people of the area to take the project seriously so as to help their environment survive in the face of climate change.

She thanked PPDF for the initiative and assured that the state government would be ready to support the project through government policies that would enhance sustainability of the environment-friendly practices.