The Minister of
Environment, Mrs Laurentia Mallam, says the ministry would meet with all stakeholders in oil exploration to end the scourge of oil spillage in the country.
This was contained in a statement issued over the weekend in Abuja by the Ministry’s Deputy Director, Mr Ben Gong, and made available to newsmen.
According to the statement, the minister gave the assurance when leaders of the shoreline communities who were affected by the Bonga oil spillage, paid her a courtesy visit.
The minister assured those states, especially shoreline communities of Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa States of the Federal Government’s deter-mination to address their plight promising that relief would soon come their way.
She sympathised with them over the devastating impact of the spillage on farm lands, marine and aquatic life.
The minister further stated that she would meet with stakeholders, including Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), to find an amicable solution to the challenge posed by the spillage and expressed the need to sustain the prevailing peace in the region.
Mallam also stressed the need for all communities of the Niger Delta region affected by the Bonga Oil Spillage to work together towards finding a lasting solution to the problem.
The leader of the delegation, Mr Francis Amoma, commended the efforts of SPDC in the over all development of the region, especially in providing social amenities and infrastructure such as roads, schools, potable water, electricity and hospitals, amongst others.