Buhari launch Ogoni clean-up on June 2 in line with United Nations recommendations

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is to commence the launch of the Ogoni clean-up programme on June 2 as part of a renewed plan to redevelop the Niger Delta region as proposed by the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep).

 

In 2011, Unep published a report calling for the Nigerian government to clean up the Ogoni region as a means of resuscitating the economy of the Niger Delta region. Environment minister Hadjiya Amina Mohammed, recently visited Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State to inspect an oil spill clean-up demonstration.

 

While in Rivers State, Hadjiya Mohammed confirmed that the government would adopt the report and implement clean-up programme. Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) spokesman Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, confirmed that the president had given assurances that the area would be cleaned-up in fulfilment of his campaign promise to the Niger Delta people.

 

Mr Amu-Nnadi added: “I can confirm that President Buhari will visit Ogoni land on June 2 to flag-off clean-up of oil spills in the area as recommended in the United Nations Environment Programme report. President Buhari would return to Ogoni land where he inaugurated a fish pond in 1984 where the once flourishing pond regrettably had been destroyed by oil pollution.

 

“The federal government is coming back to restore the ecosystem to what it used to be and as such restore the peoples’ source of livelihood. We are not just committed to implementing the Unep report but we are also going beyond that by taking steps to improve security, good governance and economy of the Niger Delta region."

 

During her visit, Hadjiya Mohammed solicited support of all stakeholders to make the exercise a success. Ibim Semenitari, the acting managing director of the NDDC added that the clean-up was of utmost importance to the commission.

 

Ms Semenitari lauded the president for taking steps to fulfil his electioneering promise of improving welfare and living conditions of people of Ogoni and others in the region. She added that NDDC through Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan Forum would mobilise and coordinate support of various stakeholders to make the clean-up a success.