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Mitee, FG Disagree On Ogoni Clean-Up

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9 years ago

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A former president of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Barrister Ledum Mitee, and some members of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Programme (HYPREP) have sharply disagreed on whether or not the clean-up process of oil polluted sites has actually commenced in Ogoniland.
While Mitee criticised what he described as “political hype” surrounding the clean-up of hydrocarbon polluted sites in Ogoniland in compliance with the recommendations of the 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report, HYPREP officials said the clean-up process was effectively ongoing.
Mitee, in an exclusive interview with The Tide, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, said the reality on ground does not show that there is any clean-up work going on in Ogoniland, adding that there was so much hype such that it has created a gap between what is reported and what the people of Ogoni know about the clean-up process.
His words: “If you were to go to the streets of maybe, Bodo, K-Dere, or any of those communities very much affected by oil pollution, and ask the people what they know about the implementation of the report, and their expectations, they will simply tell you that they don’t know if anything is happening, yet.
“It seems to me that there is too much political hype on this issue of implementation. This has created a gap between what they read in the newspapers and what the people even think is going on. I, therefore, feel that when the Federal Government is ready, and seriously activates the process, the people will feel the impact, and the media does not need anyone to tell them that work has actually started,” Mitee said.
The former president MOSOP also said the issue of insecurity in Ogoniland was not an excuse for the non-commencement of the clean-up process in Ogoniland.
According to him, “Where is there no violence? Is there any where that there is no violence? If you hear that there was an orchestrated shooting in the Presidential Villa, so, does that stop the Presidency from functioning? I don’t think perceived violence in Ogoniland is an excuse for the slow implementation of the UNEP report recommendations.
“It is the duty of security agencies and law enforcement officers to maintain law and order in accordance with the provisions of Section 14 of the Constitution, to wit: ‘The primary purpose of government is the welfare and security of the people’; so, if they cannot achieve this, then there is no need for us to have a government.”
However, the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Programme (HYPREP), Dr Marvin Deekii, has dismissed claims that the Federal Government has not started clean-up work on the oil polluted sites in Ogoniland.
Deekii, while speaking with The Tide in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the setting up of the Governing Council and the Board of Trustees and inauguration of same for the clean-up of Ogoniland by the Federal Government means that work has commenced.
Also speaking, a member of the BoTs of HYPREP, Dr Peter Mayday, disagreed with Mitee’s insinuation that the Federal Government has not commenced clean-up of Ogoni oil spill impacted sites.
Mayday admitted that though, the process of the UNEP clean-up is slow, but the Federal Government was certain to deliver on the mandate based on the UNEP recommendation.
His words: “Yes, the process is slow, we agree, and the reason is that we are trying to do everything we can to make sure that we put the right structures in place to ensure sustainability and continuity of the process. We want a situation where the process will not be truncated by the exit of the present administration. So, the first thing we had to do to avoid this is the incorporation of the Ogoni Trust Fund as a legal entity.”
He explained that logistics and modalities for the Ogoni clean-up are on-going as companies are already carrying out soil test in Ogoniland.
According to him, “I can tell you that cleanup process is on to test the soul in order for them to know technology that they would use to do the cleanup in Ogoni, so this cleanup is already on-going, it is just that they are taking time to test those technologies to be used for the work, so if anybody tells you that the cleanup is not on the person does not love Ogoni.”

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

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HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

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6 days ago

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February 2, 2026

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The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.
This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.
According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”
She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.
As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.
A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.
Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.
The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.
By John Bibor
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Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

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6 days ago

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February 2, 2026

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The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.
On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.
Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.
It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.
The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.
Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.
Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.
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Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

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6 days ago

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February 2, 2026

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The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.
The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.
According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.
The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.
It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.
The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.
Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.
Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.
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