Nation
Parliamentarians Storm Cultural Gallery At CPA ConferenceVenue
Parliamentarians at the on-going commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) conference took time off their tight legislative session to patronise creative arts from Rivers State displayed at the arts gallery in the House of Assembly, building complex.
Of the three other states, namely: Edo, Imo and Anambra states that came to the conference venue with their creative arts, the popularity of creative arts from Rivers State soar among others at the arts gallery.
Popular among all the creative arts is the post cards with the artistic impression about the Niger Delta mangrove which had been deprived and neglected.
The multiple orange colour post cards, an impression of the mangrove usually founded in most Niger Delta oil and gas exploration areas, showcased the neglected region.
The cost of each of the post cards and souvenir ranging from N1,000 to N5,000 were bought by parliamentarians mostly from Lesotho, South-Africa and Kenya.
The managing director of creative family based in Port Harcourt, Hon. Tex Jamabo told Assembly correspondents that his creative impression showcasing mangrove found in the Niger Delta region, attracted the delegates more than other painting and creative souvenir from the creative family.
Fielding questions from reporters, Hon. Jamabo said he intends to created awareness through the artistic impression about the neglected Niger Delta region to the parliamentarians, “so that they would pass legislation to improve the lives of people in the region”.
Hon. Max Marley a delegate from Lesotho collaborate this view, when he said, “we in Lesotho want to create awareness and draw the sympathy of other commonwealth member countries to the plight of the people of the Niger Delta region of Southern Nigeria.
“So the post cards are expected to pass the pathetic message that is the more reason we patronise the post cards,” he said.
The Edo State Art and Culture, through their Head of Visual Arts Department, Mr Agho Igbinedwin came with some of the famous Benin Scepter (ADA Benin) with mace showing the symbol of authority of the Oba of Benin.
Others on display at the art gallery that attracted delegates from South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria were wooden made walking sticks from Edo and Imo states.
According to Iginedion, the bronze work are very expensive and the wooden walking skills admired by delegates from Anambra State House of Assembly cost between N3,000 and N10,000 respectively.
Contrary to reports, Igbinedion noted, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital is investment friendly, insisting that “foreign investors should take opportunity of the investment friendly environment to come and invest”.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commemorated the 15th anniversary of the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, reaffirming its commitment to restoring the environment and improving the livelihoods of affected communities.
In a statement signed by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, to commemorate the anniversary, HYPREP described the anniversary as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s environmental restoration efforts, noting that the project has made remarkable progress in implementing the recommendations of the landmark UNEP report released on August 4, 2011.
The UNEP report had revealed extensive oil pollution across Ogoniland, severe environmental degradation, and serious public health risks resulting from decades of petroleum operations. It also recommended an initial $1 billion fund to commence the cleanup of the affected communities.
According to HYPREP, the Federal Government formally launched the Ogoni clean-up in 2016, while the Project Coordination Office was established in 2017 to drive the implementation of UNEP’s recommendations.
Zabbey said the current administration has continued to prioritise the project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Providing an update on the cleanup, the Project Coordinator disclosed that 30 of the 65 contaminated sites identified by UNEP have been fully remediated, while work is ongoing at several medium- and high-risk locations. It also stated that more than 1.5 million mangrove seedlings have been planted as part of what it described as the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves, with over 1,000 hectares of shoreline already rehabilitated.
Zabbey further revealed that 49 Ogoni communities have been connected to potable water schemes through multiple water projects and booster stations aimed at providing safe drinking water across the region.
In the health sector, he said the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Kpite and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan are nearing completion, adding that several existing health facilities have been upgraded with modern medical equipment, while five ambulances have been donated to improve emergency healthcare services. The Project Coordinator also disclosed that a three-year human health biomonitoring study is being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
On economic empowerment, Zabbey stated that the Project has created more than 8,000 direct jobs and trained thousands of Ogoni youths and women in various vocational and technical skills, including software development, cybersecurity, aviation, commercial diving, seafaring, mechatronics, and creative arts. The project also reported awarding scholarships to more than 1,000 students, providing grants to small businesses, and supporting persons living with special needs through skills acquisition programmes.
The statement further highlighted ongoing legacy projects, including the Ogoni Power Project and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which it said is about 96 per cent complete. HYPREP also welcomed the recent designation of the Ogoni Wetland as a Ramsar Site of International Importance and pledged to continue promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the ecosystem.
Marking the anniversary, Zabbey said the progress achieved over the past 15 years demonstrates the collective commitment of government, development partners, stakeholders, and local communities to restoring Ogoniland. He called for renewed collaboration to sustain the cleanup effort, promote environmental sustainability, and support the long-term development of the region. 3