The Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo has declared that the federal government was making serious efforts to accelerate the implementation of the Buhari administration’s new vision for the development of the Niger Delta.
In a statement signed and issued by Laolu Akande, his Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity, Osinbajo said that “the Federal Government has given all contractors including those handling Niger Delta Development Commission projects in the region a 30-day ultimatum from today to return to site or face prosecution.
“The Federal Government has also specifically directed that the list of all contractors who have not returned to site within the stipulated period be compiled and submitted to the Ministry of Justice and the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission for investigation and prosecution.”
According to him, a concerted implementation work plan that would respond to the developmental issues and projects proposed by PANDEF was also being prepared, while fresh mandates are also being issued to all the relevant MDAs as appropriate.
Osinbajo disclosed that President Buhari had directed the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ministries of Niger Delta Affairs; Environment; Power, Works and Housing to proceed with the design and implementation of work plans in line with the administration’s new vision for the region.
He said: “Ministries and agencies of government involved in furthering the establishment of the Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta state, have also been directed to come up with a clear path to the eventual actualisation of the objective including consideration for a possible and timely take-off grant for the university.
“Specific instructions have also been given to the Ministry of Environment to ensure and report on the progress of the Ogoni Clean-up, for which a Project Office is now located in Rivers State and is functional.
“A directive has also been issued to the Ministry of Environment for a plan to commence considerations for the clean-up of other polluted areas in the oil-producing communities.”
The Vice President also said that there were plans to continue presidential visits to the remaining States with oil-producing communities so as to effectively conclude the interactive engagements with the people of the region.
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