President Muhammadu Buhari has made a positive move towards the cleaning up of Ogoni land in Rivers state, with the approval of a 10-member Board of Trustees and a Governing Council comprising of 13 individuals.
The official tweeter handle of the Presidency known as Presidency Nigeria, posted this on Saturday, revealing that the announcement was made by the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, in a statement by Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Bukar Hassan.
Amina Mohammed said that the structures would ensure inclusiveness, accountability, transparency and sustainability of the cleanup exercise, and that she was aware of the various concerns raised by stakeholders on the perceived slow pace of the clean up.
The minister was quoted as saying that “Nigerians have a right to voice their concerns. We have responsibility to deliver. The launch was the first step in a 30-year journey. We continue to make strides toward the implementation.
“We ask for patience as we lay solid foundations for the cleanup. The context is complex and stakeholders are diverse. All must be taken along.”
She explained that the President had remained steadfast in his conviction to see Ogoniland and other parts of the Niger Delta cleaned up.
President Buhari inaugurated the clean up on June 2 at Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Amina Mohammed said that her ministry is working with the Ministries of Petroleum Resources, Niger Delta, NDDC and key stakeholders in implementing the UNEP report.
She observed that the exercise is a collective responsibility and urged all the Niger Delta communities, especially the Ogonis, to support the remediation and restoration efforts of government.
According to the UN report, it is estimated that the cleanup of Ogoniland could take up to 30 years with the initial remediation taking five years and the restoration another 25 years. [myad]
