By The Senate Committee on Climate Change and Ecology has pledged full support for the ambitious Free2Green Rivers campaign, a climate initiative expected to create more than 230,000 green jobs across Rivers State.
At the heart of the project is the deployment of eco-marshalls—community environmental workers—who will be involved in large-scale tree planting and sustainability programs. In addition, 2.3 million clean cookstoves and health wallets will be distributed, linking green development with better health outcomes.
“This is more than a fight against climate change. It’s a fight for the future—our children, our communities, and our planet,” said Senator Seriake Dickson, the committee’s chairman. He praised the campaign’s bold approach to combining environmental action with economic opportunities.
His deputy, Senator Ireti Kingibe, described the effort as a “grassroots movement that is both environmentally transformative and economically empowering.” She said Free2Green Rivers was setting a new bar for how climate action could also lift communities out of poverty.
The campaign will mobilize 2.3 million eco-volunteers to plant over 230 million trees annually across all 23 local governments in Rivers State. It also includes training climate leaders, launching recycling programs, and using media to educate and drive participation.
Victor Wilkinson Agih, Director General of ECO2RUPPERS Africa, said the campaign will restore degraded lands, reduce carbon emissions, and promote sustainable livelihoods. “We are creating jobs, building awareness, and laying the groundwork for a greener, healthier Rivers State,” he said.
