The United States of America has pledged to collaborate closely with the Federal Government of Nigeria to address the issue of gas flaring and its impact on the country. This commitment was made by the US Consular General to Nigeria, Will Stevens, during a one-day Panelist Interactive Session for Newsroom and Investigative Journalism in Port Harcourt.
Stevens emphasized the significance of climate change as a global concern and a central focus of President Joe Biden’s leadership. He stated that the US government is committed to working with Nigeria to reduce gas flaring and combat climate change.
“Climate Change is one of the key pillars of President Joe Biden’s administration,” said Stevens. “We invested our commitment to the COP 28, 29 climate agreement. We are working hard with Nigeria to ensure that Nigeria continues to make the amazing commitments that they’ve made to combat climate change, reduce flaring and natural gas, and clean up the oil spills that are happening.”
Stevens highlighted collaborative efforts between the US and Nigeria, including working with the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) on oil spills in Eleme as well as involving scientists from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to share expertise.
He stressed the importance of partnership in addressing climate change, as it is a global problem that impacts every citizen worldwide. Stevens emphasized the need for collective action to combat climate change effectively.
The Executive Coordinator of the Media Awareness and Justice Initiative (MAJI), Onyekachi Okoro, explained the purpose of the workshop on citizen science. He stated that the workshop aimed to provide journalists with access to reliable information and data for their reporting while enhancing their capacity for news gathering and reporting.
“We are building capacities to be able to engage in data use; we understand that data can only be used if it’s well aggregated, well analyzed, and visualized, and that will also help to create more in-depth reporting for newsrooms,” said Okoro.
As part of the initiative, MAJI has developed a mobile application called DataCab, accessible via iOS and Android devices. This tool enables journalists to report on environmental incidents in the Niger Delta region and monitor air quality. It empowers journalists to utilize data in their reporting effectively.
The collaboration between the US and Nigeria reflects a shared commitment to addressing environmental and climate challenges, particularly in regions affected by gas flaring and oil-related issues. This partnership aims to promote sustainable practices and mitigate the impact of climate change on communities and ecosystems.
