The Federal Government is set to release $10m for the cleaning up of areas ravaged by oil spills in Ogoniland, in Rivers State. According to a recent assessment report by the United Nations Environment Programme, an estimated $1.04bn would be needed to carry out the entire cleaning process in the affected areas.
This was made known at a stakeholders round table to assess the implementation of the UNEP recommendations in Abuja on Tuesday.
They suggested the review of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency Act 2006 to incorporate responsibility for environmental contamination to a separate government agency.
The convener of the round-table and Executive Director, Social Action, Dr. Isaac Osuoka, said the problem of oil spillage had persisted in the Niger Delta region because appropriate legislation to back up the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project was lacking.
He said, “In the last two months, there has been a glimmer of light, indicating that at last, the much-awaited remediation of the Ogoni environment may begin. The announcement by the Federal Government that it is setting aside $10m to commence the process is a welcome gesture.”
The paramount ruler of Mogho community in Ogoniland, Chief Mene Kpea, criticized the delay by the government to implement the UNEP recommendations, four years after it was released.
He said, “Ogoni community is very worried over the delay in the implementation process. Moreover, the $10m which government promised to release is too small by our estimation; it cannot solve the whole problem our land is facing.”
Also speaking, Head of Oil and Gas Division (Environmental Assessment Department) at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Emmanuel Okokon-Ndem, however cautioned stakeholders involved in the project to give the new administrative benefit of the doubt in actualising the clean-up.
“I want to assure you that the government is doing everything to fulfil its promises. Let us drop the mutual suspicion. Let us see how all of us can come together and move forward to achieve our goals and restore the community for better,” he suggested.
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