President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that his government would no longer tolerate the current theft and illegal refining of crude oil in the Niger Delta.
President Buhari, who was represented by the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbanjo, at the launch of “Clean-Up of Ogoniland” at Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State on Thursday, advised the regulators of the oil industry to carry out their responsibilities in line with best practices.
“The current oil theft and illegal refining will not be tolerated. The regulators in the oil industries must live up to expectations. They must ensure that oil companies carry out their operations in line with universal best services.”
President Buhari said that government is laying a foundation for change to ensure the rule of law and safety of the people, adding that the aim is to diversify the nation’s economy and provide jobs and wealth for the people.
According to him, the clean-up of Ogoniland will have sustainable development components will benefit the people, saying: “the methodology for the clean-up will ensure job creation for young people.
“The agro-allied industries required for processing of agricultural produce will also be put in place.”
Buhari said that approval had been given to set up necessary institutional framework to drive the implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme Report.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State commended Buhari for inaugurating the implementation of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland, adding that the state government would provide the platform for the smooth implementation of the Report.
The governor said that environmental degradation had affected the ecosystem and wild life of communities in the Niger Delta.
The Minister of the Environment, Amina Mohammed, said government had taken stock of the work done in the past to start the implementation.
Mohammed said the clean-up would require collective responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure its success.
Amina Mohammed said the implementation “requires transparency, accountability, genuine partnership and proper representation of the people at the grassroots in what we are doing in investing in their future”.
Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of UNEP, said the organisation’s team had produced a document of what happened in Ogoniland.
Steiner said the team would stand with the Nigerian government to ensure the implementation of the report. [myad]
