Amaechi Tasks Ogonis To Check Illegal Bunkering

The Rivers State Government has  threatened to withdraw its support to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) towards its remediation efforts in Ogoniland, following the failure of the people to fight against illegal bunkering activities that have become  source of concern in the area.
Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi issued the threat, yesterday, during a meeting between the Presidential Implementation Committee on the clean up of oil impacted sites in Ogoniland, the leadership of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Rivers State Government, in Government House, Port Harcourt.
The governor who expressed concern over report of increased illegal bunkering activities in the area at this time when UNEP officials are engaged in the clean up of old oil spill sites in the area, directed the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Magnus Abe, to convene a meeting of Ogoni stakeholders to urgently address the issue.  He noted that Ogoni elite and leaders must re-assure the federal and state governments as well as the UNEP officials of their collective resolve to fight illegal bunkering in the area.  
The State Chief Executive noted that the stakeholders meeting has become imperative to avoid waste of money, time and energy in the clean up of impacted oil spill sites when the youths are engaged in causing more damage to the environment through their illegal bunkering activities.
Governor Amaechi said he would prefer if UNEP partners with the state government to provide potable water to all communities of Ogoniland rather than engage in providing social amenities that do not meet the greater needs of the people.
The governor noted that Rivers people are not the poorest in the country and questioned the rationale behind renewed illegal bunkering activities in the area, when the state government was doing a lot to improve the lives of the citizenry through the provision of social services.
Governor Amaechi blamed the people for chasing away investors from the area, through their criminal acts and warned them of the health hazards associated with environmental pollution, while urging community leaders to take responsibility of security issues in their areas.
The Minister of Environment, Mr John Odey, who was also at the meeting, lauded the state government for providing adequate security and furnished office space for UNEP officials involved in the clean-up of impacted oil spill sites in Ogoniland.
Mr Odey also expressed appreciation to Governor Amaechi for his leadership role in the Niger Delta region, particularly his efforts in ensuring the commencement of UNEP clean up exercise in Ogoniland.
The United Nations Environmental Project Coordinator, Mr Michael Cowing, in his presentation on the update of the project, said there are new oil spill sites caused by activities of saboteurs and cautioned against the continuation of illegal activities.
Mr Cowing disclosed that the team had held consultations and sensitization with some Ogoni communities in course of the project and assured that their activities are in consonance with International best practices and sued for cooperation from the people.
Speaking on behalf of the Ogoni people, HRM King Godwin Gininwa, said the people are eager to see the actualisation of the project, and urged the government to ignore such people to ensure the competition of the clean up in record time.