By Abdullahi Lukman
Onyekachi Okoro, Executive Director of the Media Awareness Journalists Initiative (MAJI), has called on all levels of government to prioritise data analysis in tackling environmental pollution and degradation across Nigeria.
Speaking at a sensitisation programme titled *“Invisible Threats”* in Port Harcourt on Thursday, Okoro emphasised that data-driven strategies are crucial for effective environmental governance and the quantification of environmental losses, especially in underreported areas such as the Niger Delta.
“Verifiable data gives Nigeria a strong footing in international environmental negotiations, enabling the country to engage based on facts and evidence,” Okoro said, noting Nigeria’s role in global environmental justice discussions, particularly at the Conference of Parties (COPs).
He acknowledged the efforts made by the government but urged for a more integrated approach using technology to collect reliable environmental data.
Over the past six months, MAJI has deployed low-cost tech devices in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom States, recording more than 27,000 data entries across 11 communities.
This data covers key environmental indicators such as air quality, pollution levels, climate change, and impacts on local livelihoods.
Okoro also stressed that such data is vital for supporting communities in their quest for compensation and justice.
“These recommendations, if applied, will support the pursuit of environmental and climate justice for those affected by environmental degradation,” he added.
In addition to urging the government, Okoro appealed to civil society organisations (CSOs), the media, and other stakeholders to embrace data analysis as a tool for transparency and accountability in environmental governance. He called for greater collaboration to expand MAJI’s project and its impact on a national scale.
Prof. Mbalisi Festus, an environmental educator at the University of Port Harcourt, who also spoke at the event, lauded MAJI’s initiative, highlighting the importance of data in advocating for accountability and educating the public on environmental issues.