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FG Set To Launch Ogoniland Clean-Up
Rivers State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Ukel Oyaghiri (right), welcoming wife of Rivers State Governor, Justice Suzzette Nyesom Wike, during the Mothers’ Day/International Women’s Day celebration, in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
President Muhammadu Buhari is set to launch the clean-up of Ogoniland in the coming weeks, says the Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed.
The minister announced this when she paid a courtesy visit to the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, at Government House, Port Harcourt, at the weekend.
“It is hoped that we will have this launch in the coming weeks, and the president himself will launch the clean-up.
“It is really to us a turning point in the history of the struggle. Ogoniland is the first place where actions (clean-up) need to be.
“There is a wide challenge of pollution in the Niger Delta. We are here to begin activities toward the launch of the clean-up with stakeholders’ dialogue.
“We are beginning in Rivers because this is the home of the struggle but we know it is wider,’’ she said.
The minister said that the clean-up of the Ogoniland would span between 25 and 30 years.
Responding, Wike advised the Federal Government that to achieve success, the clean-up must not be politicised as there were diverse interests.
The governor urged the Federal Government to avoid bringing politics into the exercise so as to achieve success.
“It doesn’t matter the political party that anybody belongs to, environmental issue does not affect a political party; it affects the entire state and the entire Niger Delta as a whole.
“Communities do not know about political parties, what communities know is about how to survive.
“And so, I will advise that we approach it in such a way that it does not look political, particularly in Ogoniland; it is a very complex place and you have to be extremely careful.
“Because if you are not careful, you may not achieve what you want you intend to achieve,’’ the governor said.
According to him, there are political undertones to most of the things that are happening in the area; hence, it was very difficult for the former governments to do what they were supposed to do.
He advised that all stakeholders must be brought on board for the exercise to succeed.
Wike assured the minister that the state government would give all the necessary support to ensure the success of the clean-up, adding no government would be happy to see Ogoniland in its present state.
He said he was interested in whatever affects Rivers and the entire Niger Delta that had to do environmental pollution and other issues.
Wike said the environmental degradation in the entire Niger Delta and more in particular in Ogoni area has been a major concern to all.
According to him, it partly has to do with oil exploration that has left so many communities not to have potable water.
“So many communities who are farmers can no longer go to farm; communities who dwell on fishing can no longer fish because of oil pollution.
“We have problem with the multinationals that would not immediately try to clean up when pollution occurs.
“Unfortunately, there is this divide and rule tactics that most multinational would always want to adopt and unfortunately too, our communities fall into such trap,’’ he said.
Our correspondent recalls that President Buhari in August 2015 approved several actions to fast-track the long delayed implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme report on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland.
Buhari also approved the composition of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) Board to reflect a new governance framework, comprising a Governing Council, a Board of Trustees and Project Management.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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