FG Committed To
FG Committed To Full Ogoniland Cleanup – Minister of
Environment
The federal government has expressed its full commitment to a
comprehensive remediation of the polluted areas of Ogoniland and
the restoration of livelihood to the affected communities, in line
with the United Nations Environmental Assessment Report on
Ogoniland.
Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Manhood Abubakar
reiterated this at the weekend while on a tour of Hydrocarbon
Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) facilities and some
remediation sites across Ogoniland, Rivers State.
Dr Mahmood Abubakar, who said he was in the State to assess the
progress being made on various remediation sites across the land,
assured the people of Ogoniland that President Muhammadu Buhari is
very passionate and committed to the full implementation of the
United Nations report on Ogoniland
During a visit to the Chairman of Ogoniland Council of Chiefs,
His Royal Majesty King G. N. K. Gininwa in his palace where he
informed the King that the Ogoni clean-up is a vital project of
President Buhari’s administration which is why the President
constantly makes reference to the Ogoni clean-up project.
He said, “The Ogoni clean-up is a signature project, the first
of its kind in Africa and the world with no existing template but
rather HYPREP was developing one that would be used hereafter for
the remediation of the rest of the Niger Delta”.
The Minister assured the people of Ogoni that the Federal
Government was not just concerned about remediating the environment
but is also concerned about the well-being and economic life of the
people. He said “The Federal Government is aware that there
are several other challenges you are facing as a result of the
pollution. That is why even though the core mandate of HYPREP
is to remediate the land; other programs have been built into the
Project to address some of these challenges.”
Speaking while receiving the Minister in his Palace at Korokoro
kingdom in Tai Local Government Area, the Chairman of Ogoniland
traditional rulers, King G. N. K. Gininwa appealed to the Minister
for the inclusion of the Ogonis and to ensure that the people
benefit fully from the clean-up project.
The royal father said the people of Ogoni are prepared to
support the federal government towards a full and successful
implementation of the UNEP report in Ogoniland.
Responding, the Minister stated that, “ I am glad to know that
there is a strong synergy between the Ogoni leadership, the people
and HYPREP. I thank you especially for the high-level of
support and cooperation given to the Project. Today, I am
here not just to see the sites but to also meet with you the great
people of Ogoniland”.
The Minster also attended the sensitization of women on the
Livelihood program in Tai, where he expressed satisfaction with the
huge turnout of women for the program adding that it goes to show
the seriousness of the women to key into the training programs to
create economic activities for their financial empowerment.
Addressing the crowd at the event, Dr. Abubakar urged the women,
men and youths to key into the various opportunities provided
through the clean-up project to empower themselves to contribute to
the economic growth of the kingdom.
Dr. Abubakar urged the people of Ogoni to be patient and ensure
sustained peace during and after the project. While
expressing appreciation to the Royal Father, the Council of Chiefs
the Youths of Ogoni, the Women, Opinion Leaders and others for
their contributions to the success of the project, he appealed to
the youths to desist from carrying out illegal bunkering and other
activities that may negatively affect the environment.
Speaking with journalists during the inspection of some
remediation sites, the Minister said with what he has seen, he has
confirmed that remediation is going on across the various
sites. He said “I can say this is a big success for this
administration, the people of Ogoni that I have talked to , the
youths, women and elders, they are happy with this and happy with
Mr. President for keeping his promise to clean up Ogoni.
“Let me say that this is something that is serious right from
the start where we even have UNEP to do the assessment and follow
through to ensure compliance with the recommendations. This
shows the commitment of the government, the commitment of the
President and I believe every Nigerian not just the people of
Ogoniland should give this project a chance. From what I have
seen, the HYPREP team is doing a good job.”
On the issue of water, the Minister said HYPREP has gone beyond
the provision of water in tankers, but was working to ensure the
provision of a sustainable source of water not just in the impacted
communities but to other communities in collaboration with the
Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources.
He assured the people saying “we are following all the
recommendations of UNEP and we all know when you are dealing with
UN, you must follow everything to the standard. The government has
promised to use the UNEP Report to make sure the work is done
according to the recommendations. We are here to support the
President’s commitment to the clean-up project, and I urge all of
you to throw your weight behind HYPREP so that the dream of the
President for a clean and healthy Ogoniland will be realized.”
Briefing the Minister, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP,
Dr.Marvin Barinem Dekil went through the various activities that
HYPREP has carried out since inception. He disclosed that a
total of 21 sites have been handed over to 21 contractors who were
currently at different levels of remediation works while a joint
team of HYPREP and UN are in the field to carry out reconnaissance
in preparation for the commencement of the remediation of the
complex sites.
Dekil added that the project has provided opportunities for
training of Ogoni youths through the Livelihood Program, technical
training for Scientific Officers who are all Ogonis in Nigeria and
in Switzerland while arrangements for the training of 400 Ogoni
women by United Nations Institute for Training and Research
(UNITAR) has been concluded.
The Project Coordinator further informed the Minister that
HYPREP had carried out two medical outreaches where 20,000 patients
were treated, and 400 surgeries carried out. He added that
HYPREP was collaborating with Rivers State Ministries of Water
Resources and Health for the provision of water and assessment of
health facilities in the impacted communities in Ogoniland.
(END)
Saghir el Mohammed
Director Press
Federal Ministry of Environment