Ogoni Clean-Up: FG Names Governing Council, BoTs

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report implementation in Ogoniland, Rivers State, got a significant boost at the weekend as President Muhammadu Buhari approved a 10-member Board of Trustees and a 13-member Governing Council to manage the governance structures for the clean-up of the heavily polluted area.
The official tweeter handle @PresidencyNigeria, confirmed this, Saturday, revealing that the announcement was made by the Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed, in a statement by Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Bukar Hassan.
According to the statement, the governance structures would ensure inclusiveness, accountability, transparency and sustainability of the clean-up exercise, adding that the government was aware of the various concerns raised by stakeholders on the perceived slow pace of the clean-up.
The statement quoted the minister as saying that: “Nigerians have a right to voice their concerns. We have responsibility to deliver. The launch was the first step in a 30-year journey. We continue to make strides towards the implementation.
“We ask for patience as we lay solid foundations for the clean-up. The context is complex and stakeholders are diverse. All must be taken along,” the statement added.
The minister explained that the President had remained steadfast in his conviction to see Ogoniland and other parts of the Niger Delta cleaned up.
Mohammed noted that her ministry was working with the ministries of Petroleum Resources, Niger Delta leaders, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and key stakeholders, including experts, in implementing the UNEP report.
She observed that the exercise was a collective responsibility, and urged all the Niger Delta communities, especially the Ogonis, to support the remediation and restoration efforts of government.
According to the UN report, it is estimated that the clean-up of Ogoniland could take up to 30 years with the initial remediation taking five years, and the restoration another 25 years.
The Tide recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had inaugurated the clean-up on June 2, 2016, at Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.