A group of young environmental activists has commenced protests across the country to pressure insurance companies against insuring fossil fuel projects.
The environmentalists under the aegis of Fridays For Future Nigeria (FFFN) announced plans to commence protests in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Delta from Feb. 26 to March 6 to ensure insurance companies insure the future and not fossil fuels
The National Coordinator of FFFN Kingsley Odogwu revealed that grassroots groups and activists from across the world are coming together to demand immediate actions to slow the climate crisis and support the urgent transition from dangerous fossil fuels to clean energy, says the protests will be taking place simultaneously in the UK, U.S. Japan, South Korea, Uganda, DRC, Nigeria, Switzerland, France, Peru, Colombia, Germany and Czech Republic
He said, “We will join global fight demanding insurance companies around the world and in Nigeria insuring fossil fuel projects such as AIG, Tokio Marine, Zurich Insurance, the Linkage Assurance Plc, AIICO Insurance Plc and others to stop immediately and start taking actions on climate.
According to him, the aim is to demand immediate halt to insuring new fossil fuel projects, phasing out support for existing coal, oil and gas projects, respecting human rights and supporting a just transition.
He said that 2023 was the hottest year since the records began; and extreme and violent weather events were increasing across every continent, pointing out that burning fossil fuels was the number one cause of the climate crisis, saying fossil fuel projects including oal, gas and oil cannot operate without insurance.
“This puts the insurance industry in a uniquely powerful position to have an impact on the future of our world,” Odogwu said.
“The environmental devastations caused by these fossil fuel industries at the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria where the Indigenous people can no longer farm on their farmlands are enough reasons for these insurance companies in Nigeria to stop insuring new fossil fuel projects in the country and support a just transition to renewable energy.
The activists called on the Nigerian Government to keep all its promises on the global climate Justice struggles before the International community as they continue the ongoing Fossil Free Campaigns across the country.
They also urged government to create conducive atmosphere for climate justice activities across the country and called for a peacefully climate advocacy campaigns without any form of intimidation and harassment from the law enforcement agencies.
