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Mitee, FG Disagree On Ogoni Clean-Up
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
News
NPF Warn Applicants Ahead Of Constable Recruitment Exam
The Katsina State Police Command has cautioned applicants for the upcoming police constable recruitment examination to adhere strictly to laid-down procedures and avoid falling victim to fraudsters.
The Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar-Fage, issued the warning in a statement released on Sunday by the command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu.
He disclosed that the nationwide examination is scheduled to take place from April 28 to April 30 in Katsina State and that the exercise will be conducted at Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic along Dutsin-Ma Road.
According to the commissioner, only candidates who successfully passed the recently concluded physical and credential screening will be eligible to sit for the examination.
Applicants have been directed to log on to the official recruitment portal from April 24 to print their coloured examination invitation slips, which contain details of their specific date, time, and venue.
Mr Umar-Fage stated that candidates must present a valid National Identification Number (NIN) slip issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), bearing a clear photograph, alongside their printed coloured invitation slip and a writing pen at the examination centre.
He added that the approved dress code for the exercise is a white T-shirt, white shorts, and white canvas shoes.
Reiterating that the recruitment process is entirely free of charge, the police chief warned applicants to be wary of individuals or groups seeking to extort money under the guise of facilitating recruitment.
News
Monarch Pledges Strong Action Against Gender-Based Violence
The Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council has pledged to take decisive action to curb the rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) across the state, in partnership with ActionAid and other relevant organisations.
The commitment was made during an event organised by ActionAid in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation in Port Harcourt. The programme, titled “Convening of Traditional Rulers for GBV Prevention,” carried the theme, “From Custodians to Champions: Redefining Culture for GBV Prevention and Community Protection.”
Speaking on behalf of the council, the Okilomuibe of Engenni Kingdom, HRM King Moore MacLean Ubuo, said traditional rulers are determined to move beyond mere responses to incidents of violence by adopting proactive strategies.
“We will establish and empower community-led structures, including traditional cabinets and women leaders, to identify early warning signs of violence and intervene before harm occurs,” he said.
King Ubuo added that traditional institutions are committed to enforcing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law within their domains, stressing that the longstanding culture of silence surrounding abuse would no longer be tolerated.
“We will ensure that our subjects understand their rights and that the law is respected as the ultimate standard for justice,” he added.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Government emphasised that tackling GBV requires more than policies and enforcement, noting that a transformation in societal attitudes is essential.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Lauretta Dimkpa, who was represented by the Director of Child Welfare, Mrs. Fumilayo Adebayo, highlighted the critical role of traditional rulers in shaping societal values.
“As traditional rulers, your voices command respect, your decisions influence behaviour, and your institutions are trusted platforms for conflict resolution and social guidance,” she said.
She urged them to promote cultural norms that uphold dignity, respect, and equality, while also encouraging victims to report abuse without fear of stigma.
In his remarks, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, described the gathering as timely, noting that GBV remains a widespread violation of human rights and a major obstacle to sustainable development.
Represented by Dr. Adedeji Ademefun, he cited data showing that 31 per cent of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence, with many cases going unreported due to fear, stigma, and cultural silence.
“National surveys indicate that nearly three in ten women have experienced physical or sexual violence, underscoring the scale and urgency of this crisis,” he said.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Rivers State Multi-Stakeholders Action Committee, Barrister Evelyn Asimie Membere, described GBV as one of the most persistent human rights violations, cutting across age, class, and geography.
According to her, traditional rulers are uniquely positioned to influence behaviour and drive meaningful change at the grassroots level.
“In many of our communities, your voice carries more weight than any policy or legislation,” she said.
The event brought together key stakeholders committed to strengthening community-based approaches to preventing GBV and protecting vulnerable groups across Rivers State.
News
Tinubu Support Group Canvasses Second Term For President Ahead Of 2027
A socio-political group, the Tinubu Youths Vanguard Organisation (TYVO), Rivers State chapter, has called on Nigerians to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, citing the need to consolidate ongoing economic and infrastructural reforms.
The State Coordinator of the group, Hon. Emmanuel Fubara, made the appeal over the weekend in Port Harcourt on the sidelines of a meeting of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council.
He said granting the Tinubu administration a second term would enable it to fully implement its transformation agenda, particularly under the Renewed Hope initiative.
“It is important that the Tinubu administration is given another opportunity to complete its economic and developmental programmes for the benefit of the country,” he stated.
Fubara disclosed that the group is preparing for its formal inauguration in the State, along with the unveiling of its local government, ward and unit structures, including student and market women wings.
According to him, the organization will be fully mobilised to promote the policies and achievements of the current administration, with a focus on issue-based campaigns aimed at restoring public confidence in the nation’s economy.
He noted that the administration has made strides in revamping the economy and executing key infrastructure projects, including the ongoing coastal road development in parts of the country.
Fubara expressed confidence that the group’s campaign strategies would resonate with Nigerians, adding that opposition voices would be effectively countered through sustained grassroots engagement.
He also urged members of the group to intensify sensitisation efforts across communities, highlighting what he described as visible results of the administration’s reforms.
On security challenges facing the country, Fubara said the situation was inherited from previous administrations but maintained that the current government is taking decisive steps to address it.
He expressed optimism that ongoing efforts, including international collaborations, would significantly curb insecurity in the near future.
When asked whether the group would also campaign for Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the TYVO coordinator said the organisation would take a position at the appropriate time, noting that directives from the All Progressives Congress (APC) would guide its activities.
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