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| Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina Mohammed |
President Muhammadu
Buhari has approved a 10-member Board of Trustees and a Governing
Council comprising of 13 individuals for the cleanup of Ogoniland in Rivers
State.
The
Punch report continues:
The
official tweeter handle of the Presidency known as Presidency Nigeria, posted
this on 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.
Mohammed
stated the structures would ensure inclusiveness, accountability, transparency
and sustainability of the cleanup exercise, adding that she was aware of the
various concerns raised by stakeholders on the perceived slow pace of the cleanup.
The
minister was quoted 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 toward the implementation.
“We
ask for patience as we lay solid foundations for the cleanup. The context is
complex and stakeholders are diverse. All must be taken along.”
She
explained that the President had remained steadfast in his conviction to see
Ogoniland and other parts of the Niger Delta cleaned up.
President
Buhari inaugurated the clean up on June 2 at Bodo in Gokana Local Government
Area of Rivers State.
Mohammed
noted that her ministry was working with the Ministries of Petroleum Resources,
Niger Delta, NDDC and key stakeholders 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 cleanup of Ogoniland could take up
to 30 years with the initial remediation taking five years and the restoration
another 25 years.
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