NNPC And FIRST E&P Team Up To Plant 500,000 Trees For Climate Change

NNPC And FIRST E&P Team Up To Plant 500,000 Trees For Climate Change

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and FIRST Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited Joint Venture have, in partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, announced plans to plant 500,000 trees in host communities.

This is as the organisations launched what they termed the ALEC Initiative -Afforestation, Livelihood Enhancement, and Carbon Sequestration.

In a statement co-authored by NNPC and FIRST E&P and made available to our correspondent on Friday, it was stated that the initiative will work to combat critical issues of deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change in 11 littoral communities of Bayelsa State while simultaneously enhancing the socio-economic well-being of the local population.

Commenting on the partnership, the Chief Upstream Investment Officer, NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services, Bala Wunti, said the initiative reflected NNPC’s dedication to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

The Executive Director of Corporate Services at FIRST E&P, Mr Emmanuel Etomi, noted that the ALEC Project marks a pivotal step in the journey towards a sustainable future.

“By restoring the vital ecosystems of our host communities, we are not only addressing a critical environmental need but also empowering local communities with new economic opportunities. This project exemplifies the powerful synergy between environmental stewardship and community development, underscoring our deep commitment to leaving a lasting legacy of positive impact,” Etomi noted.

Similarly, the Director General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Dr Joseph Onoja, remarked, “We are very excited about this project because it aligns with our strategic pillars, such as habitat restoration, tackling the climate crisis, and species conservation. This project will help us achieve some of the key goals we have set and ensure that people in the beneficiary communities, as well as Nigerians as a whole, enjoy a better quality of life while safeguarding the environment.”