By Ogadinma Wokoma, Port Harcourt
National News – Some stakeholders have called on the Rivers State Government and relevant authorities to begin harnessing the enormous opportunities in the blue economy sector, especially in the coastal regions.
This call was made at an event organised by the maritime and energy reporters in Rivers State, alongside other stakeholders, to commemorate the 2026 World Ocean Day.
Several speakers maintained that Rivers State was long overdue to take advantage of the nation’s blue economy potential, and also stressed the need for the government to leverage the Ogoni cleanup programme to carry out a comprehensive environmental audit across the state.
Delivering the keynote address at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Port Harcourt, renowned environmentalist and Executive Director of the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), Dr. Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, noted that the 2026 World Ocean Day theme, “Reimagine: Beyond the World We Know, A New Relationship with Our Ocean,” challenges humanity to move from seeing the ocean as a distant resource to recognizing it as the source of life that people depend on daily.
“For Niger Delta coastal communities, this reimagining is urgent because our Atlantic coastlines, creeks, and estuaries face daily threats from oil spills, gas flaring, plastic waste, and illegal fishing, all of which destroy marine biodiversity and coastal livelihoods,” he said.
“Another major subsisting threat that YEAC-Nigeria must highlight on this important day is the impact of pollution from illegal and artisanal crude oil refineries, locally called ‘kpo-fire’. These operations, though reducing, discharge unburnt crude, toxic sludge, soot, and heavy metals directly into creeks, rivers, and coastal waters,” he stated.
He added that the impact was severe, contributing to marine dead zones, water contamination, and the climate and soot crisis, all of which accelerate global warming, environmental degradation, and public health challenges.
“We urge all citizens, civil society organisations, and the media to use today to reimagine our relationship with the ocean. Protecting the ocean is protecting our future,” Dumnamene said.
Also speaking at the EMR World Ocean Day Symposium, Dr. Suka Monta, an energy expert, said his firm had developed a method of cleaning up pollution that is faster, more effective, and more affordable than existing technologies.
He explained that his nanotechnology-based method requires only one treatment, whereas current methods often require three rounds to achieve similar results.
According to him, oil companies and government agencies have tested the innovation and confirmed its effectiveness.
He added that his firm is expecting to secure its first cleanup project, and expressed optimism that the ocean would once again sustain life across the Niger Delta.
The Rivers State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia-Nsane, commended the Energy and Maritime Reporters (EMR), describing it as a unique beat association.
He pledged the union’s full support in helping the group amplify issues affecting the energy and maritime subsectors in the Niger Delta.
The State Secretary of the NUJ, Dr. Ijeoma Tubosia, also urged EMR members to continue disseminating accurate information and to remain committed to conveying the concerns and struggles of affected communities to the government.
EMR Leader, Ignatius Chukwu, highlighted the dangers posed to the ocean by human activities, particularly microplastics and nanoplastics pollution, which he said now threaten humanity through contaminated fish stocks and marine ecosystems.
He also appealed to Indorama Nigeria to establish plastic recycling centres, beginning with its host community, Eleme, as part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives.
The National Chairman of EMR, Comrade Martins Giadom, reflected on the association’s efforts over the years to set the agenda for reporting the energy and maritime sectors.
He stressed the need for continuous training for reporters and called for collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to help guide the association’s activities.
Goodwill messages were delivered by experts, including Wonne Afronelly, Initiator of ‘My Environment My Wealth Nigeria,’ who encouraged journalists to remain steadfast in advocating for environmental protection despite numerous challenges and perceived conspiracies.
On environmental remediation, stakeholders observed that Rivers State is well positioned to leverage the Ogoni cleanup initiative by engaging the experts and resource persons who conducted the Ogoni environmental audit to carry out a similar exercise across the state.
They also urged the state to invite oil majors, the Federal Government, and the international community to support a broader cleanup programme.
According to the experts, such an initiative would provide a blueprint for other states to adopt and could drive efforts toward the cleanup of the entire Niger Delta.
