Environment
MOSOP, Group Reject Conditions For Ogoni Clean-Up
The Movement for the Sur-vival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and the Niger Delta Coalition Against Violence have said that the Ogonis and the entire people of the Niger Delta region will not accept the move by the Federal Government to tie the clean-up of Ogoni land to resumption of oil exploration in the area.
The organisations which said this in separate interviews with newsmen in Port Harcourt said the move by the Federal Government is not in line with the recommendations of the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) on the pollution of the Ogoni environment.
They regretted that since the flag-off of the clean-up exercise by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo two years ago, nothing substantial has happened as far as the exercise was concerned.
President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Mr. Legborsi Pyagbara said that the Ogonis will not accept any precondition for the clean-up exercise.
Pyagbara said the objective of the clean-up exercise will be defeated if it is tied to resumption of oil activities.
He also decried the non- provision of potable water to Ogoni communities as recommended in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, stressing that the Ogonis are dying of cancer and other waterborne diseases.
On his part, the President of the Niger Delta Coalition Against Violence, Mr. Christian Lekia decried the pollution of underground water sources in Ogoniland by hydrocarbon.
Lekia said that this situation has led to the spread of cancer among communities and queried the non-establishment of cancer detection centres by the Federal Government in Ogoniland.
The activist also criticised the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) for the non-inclusion of cancer screening in its medical outreach in some Ogoni communities.
Lekia also described the recent flag-off of the clean-up exercise by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo as a sham, stressing that the flag-off was a deliberate ploy by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to get the support of the Ogonis for the rerun election held in 2015 in the State.
He however regretted that politicians who benefitted from that rerun election have remained silent and docile despite the fact that no clean-up exercise is going on in Ogoniland.
He also demanded explanation on how the 10 million dollars allegedly released by the Federal Government for the clean-up exercise was spent, stressing that the Ogonis need to know the impact the money has made in their lives.
He also called on other ethnic groups in the Niger Delta to support the clean-up exercise as it would have a positive effect across the entire region.
The Lagos State Government has commenced installation of new pumps at the Iju Headworks and Akute water intake stations.
The Tide source reports that the project is aimed at increasing water production, improving operational efficiency and expanding access to potable water across the state.
A statement issued by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) over the weekend said the project was approved and funded by the state government.
It said the installation was part of the rehabilitation of the Iju Headworks and Akute Intake Station under Lots 1, 2 and 3.
According to LWC, the rehabilitation is designed to modernise water production facilities, strengthen operations and improve public water supply.
The Network of Female Professionals in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Nigeria (FEMinWASH) and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) are set to partner on gender-responsive systems strengthening, capacity development and WASH initiatives.
The partnership was proposed during a courtesy visit by a FEMinWASH delegation, led by its President and Convener, Dr Boluwaji Onabolu, to the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, in Abuja.
Onabolu, who conveyed greetings from FEMinWASH Patron, retired Engineer Ebele Okeke, commended Walson-Jack for upholding the Federal Civil Service’s EPIC values of Efficient, Productive, Incorruptible and Citizen-centred leadership.
She praised the HoCSF’s efforts in advancing gender inclusion in WASH and the civil service, including the development of the National Gender in Water Resources Mainstreaming Policy and mentoring programmes for women leaders.
Onabolu also highlighted the INSPIRE (Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women) programme, aimed at strengthening women’s leadership and inclusion.
She said FEMinWASH was seeking a formal partnership and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the OHCSF to support INSPIRE, WASH advocacy, capacity building and the institutionalisation of Gender-Responsive Budgeting across the Federal Civil Service.
Responding, Walson-Jack commended the diverse expertise of the FEMinWASH delegation, noting that professionals in WASH, water resources, environment, public health, town planning and education were critical to addressing development challenges.
She welcomed the proposed partnership, assuring that the OHCSF was ready to collaborate with FEMinWASH on civil service strengthening and WASH-related initiatives.
The meeting agreed to further engagements with Dr Garba, Permanent Secretary (Special Duties), and Ms Funke Baruwa, Lead for Partnerships at the OHCSF, to advance the collaboration.
The visit ended with a photo session and exchange of gifts between both parties.
The Special Adviser on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, commended the community on the massive turn-out for sanitation.
He also appreciated the chairman and his team for their support to the ministry.
Rotimi-Akodu urged the community to continue to support the council and by extension, the government, by participating in the exercise and engaging in proper disposal of wastes.
“We have heard your appeal, and I assure you that Lagos government will do something about it.
“Although we have PSP operators in this axis, maybe they were assigned to other areas.
“However, I will ensure something is done and residents will observe the improvement.” the advisor said.
Also, the Managing Director, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LASMA), Mr Muyiwa Gbadegesin, said that waste management was a collective exercise.
Gbadegbesin, therefore, appealed to the residents to always dispose of their wastes properly.
“You must bag your waste at home. Make sure you have a bin to keep the waste for few days, even if there is a delay by the PSP operator.
“Make sure you pay your PSP operator on time because there is no way they can provide that service if you are not paying them regularly.
The Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Go Green Nigeria Foundation, , has called for more stringent government efforts toward prohibition of illegal sand mining in Rivers, following erosion threats.
The founder of NGO Dr John Babington made the call on last Monday in Umuechem, Etche Local Government Area of Rivers, to commemorate the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems.
Babington, who sensitised the community on dangers associated with crude sand mining, donated some trees as part of efforts to promote tree planting and revitalisation of the altered mangrove ecosystem.
During an interactive session with the community, the environmental expert identified various concerns and commended residents for their willingness to work together to end the excavation.
He, however, dismissed the notion that illegal sand mining was due to poverty and unemployment, saying, ”the business is a capital intensive venture that could only be operated by a rich cartel.”
He said that though the business might have provided menial jobs for few youths, it had not in any manner addressed poverty.
Presently, the landscape is altered with an artificial river encroaching a major access road and threatening public safety,” he said.
Also speaking, a senior Chief in the community, Chief Gilbert Otamiri commended the NGO for the initiative and promised to collaborate with them.
Gilbert, however, urged the government to tackle unemployment which, he said, was a major promoter of the illegal excavation
Also speaking, The Community Development Chairman (CDC) Mr Agbam Mgbechi thanked the group for the sensitisation and donation of trees.
He called on the government and concerned induviduals to emulate the group by making efforts towards salvaging the area from further environmental damage.
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