By Onengiyeofori Princewill
The Coordinator, Quest For Growth And Development Foundation, Mr Smith Nwokocha, has urged the multi-national companies operating in Nigeria to switch from Fossil Energy to Renewable Energy that is environmentally friendly.
He said the impact of the multi-nationals still operating on Fossil Energy has made communities loss their lives and source of livelihood.
He made this remark at the just concluded town hall meeting during the Africa Week of Action, held at Umu-Agbna Town Hall in Erema Community, Egi Clan, Ogba Egbema Onelga (ONELGA) Local Government Area of Rivers State, to promote Energy justice and make communities know they can own energy system and space from their community.
He encouraged the community leaders to hold the companies accountable and also have ownership and sovereignty over their resources.
“Hold them accountable, instead of investing on fossil fuel, invest on renewable energy and then allow community members to involve in the process, that is where community sovereignty comes in, they’ll tell you the kind of energy they want.”
In his reaction, HRH, Eze Alexander Osah, Eze Amadi,11 of Okpa community in Erema, called on the multi nationals to embrace the renewable energy to create empowerment for the youths and make them gain back their source of livelihood.
“They should switch, so the youths will have empowerment and our crops to yield, we are hungry.”
Consequently, former Youth president of Egi Ogba, Uzoma Okpaka urged the government to expedite action to switch to renewable energy to help their farm produce what is edible for consumption and for them to survive the attacks from the oil companies.
“The renewable energy should be enforced to a large extent, so that our farm produce can be more edible to what we are seeing today.” ” We call on them to expedite action to make sure we survive all these attack from the oil companies.”
