Date Published: 06/10/09

FG to fast-track clean-up of Ogoniland

The Federal Government is to fast-track the process for the clean-up of Ogoniland impacted sites.

Minister of Environment, John Odey disclosed this in Abuja at a meeting with the members of the Presidential Implementation Committee  on the project

He told the member of the committee that the Federal Government would do everything necessary to play a leading role in the implementation of the project.

He advised members of the Committee on the need to adequately engage with the people of the area  so as to properly communicate with them every stage of implementation

The Clean-up project is being implemented by the United Nations Environment Project (UNEP) together with the Federal Government

The minister was informed by the official of the UNEP officials that the process for the recruitment of indigenes of the area as the project staff had reached an advanced stage.

The official noted that the Rivers State Government had also been collaborating with UNEP in the area of office accommodation while consultative meetings with the indigenes and opinion leaders were being held.

The official pointed out that members of the recruitment panel made up of the World Health Organization  (WHO), UNDP, and UNEP were impressed with the caliber applicants showing interest in getting recruited

The Minister was also informed that the project had been designed in a way that would lead to collaboration with the University of Port Harcourt and the Rivers State University.

The collaboration with the Universities would lead to building capacity of indigenes to handle spill remediation projects in future.

Ajayi Rotimi

SA (Media)

June 10, 2009