By Ndu Samuel
The leadership of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC ) Worldwide has on Monday visited the Nigeria high commission in Nairobi Kenya for areas of partnership.
Speaking at the conference hall of the High Commission, President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr lauded head of the Commission, Aluyu Mande for the audience, stressing that Council is excited over the warm reception.
However, Jonathan noted that council had been in Nairobi since November 16th 2023 to attend a UNEP Programme on Plastic Pollution at the UN Headquarters In Nairobi Kenya, stressing that council thought it wise to visit the commission since the commission is the diplomatic eye of the Nigerian Government in Kenya.
Speaking further, the President of Ijaw Youth Council had intimated the commission that Plastic Pollution is a major threat to Niger Delta people, particularly the Ijaw riverine communities that bears the brunt of Plastic waste Pollution that flows from river Benue to river Niger, stressing that the level of Plastic waste Pollution has reached a boiling point that stakeholders must begin to look into.
He particularly stressed that Niger Deltans and the Ijaw people are currently faced with the triple issues of oil and gas exploration activities that has degraded the environment, stressing that climate change and now plastic pollution is now threatening the very existence of our people.
Lokpobiri added that until indigenous groups like the IYC and the government begin to take action on the way out, the future will continue to be gloomy for us as a people, he particularly requested the embassy to relay this message to the Federal Government of Nigeria as a global concern that the Nigerian government must not ignore, maintaining council will also do its part.
The IYC President asserted that the entire world is gradually moving away from oil, adding that new technological breakthrough such as electric cars and other innovations are now gaining more ground that will make oil less important in the near future.
Others who spoke during the engagement include Comr. Freedom Atigbi, Deputy President of Council, Dr. Hephzibah Suobo, Mr. Ahmed had all expressed worry of the scary state of things in Nigeria and the need to look beyond the present
