A non-governmental organization known as Media Awareness and Justice Initiative, MAJI, which focuses on environmental justice, open technology for capacity building in rural and urban communities, and developing innovative strategies for digital inclusion of marginalized groups, has called on the Nigerian government and other stakeholders to take urgent and decisive actions aimed at protecting the ozone layer.
The group wants key Government agencies and stakeholders to intensify efforts and approaches that substantially reduce the use of ozone depleting substances and the indiscriminate emissions of greenhouse gases.
The call was contained in a press statement signed by the Executive Director of the group, Onyekachi Emmanuel Okoro as part of the group’s activities to commemorate the 2025 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer with the theme “OZONE FOR LIFE – FROM SCIENCE TO GLOBAL ACTION”.
Specifically, MAJI Calls on “the Federal government to stop all forms of gas flaring as it has already been declared a crime in Nigeria,”, saying that gas flaring contributes to environmental pollution, negatively impacting lives, livelihoods, and climate change.
The statement noted that although remarkable progress may have been made globally in reducing the production and use of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS), there is still the need for concerted actions to sustain the trend, as the ozone layer has continued to face depletion by human activities, leading to climate change situations which the world is facing.
“We call on government environmental agencies and stakeholders to incorporate technological tools and inclusive approaches that help in the protection of the environment”, said the press statement, adding that the Federal government should strengthen environmental regulatory agencies with inclusive policies, manpower, and the technology needed to enforce environmental regulations and policies.
MAJI further called for multi-stakeholder participation, inclusive sensitization of rural and urban communities impacted by climate change, and urged operating oil companies to stop the indiscriminate flaring of gas