Civil Society Organizations in the state has given the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhamudu Buhari to put into action all the necessary steps to start-up the Clean-up of Ogoni land.
The CSO, made the remark at a one day environmental parliament on Non-implementation of UNEP Report Recommendation and clean up of Ogoni land: CSOs and communities response in Port Harcourt.
In this welcome address, the Executive Director of Environmental rights Action/Friend of the Earth Nigeria Dr. Godwin Ojo Stated that the Ogoni clean-up need to be fast tracted by the federal government as people are dying on daily basis and people are sick and tired of waiting since President Buhari announced the take-off of the process.
Dr. Ojo said the clean- up, remediation and compensation is in a package and almost one year there has been series of meeting and that the federal government should set a time line and a work plan in the public domain.
He told journalists that NOSDRA should drive the process since the Government under President Muhamadu Buhari has agreed to release the fund but noted that the money is not in year’s budget and should make an alternative arrangement just like it is done in the Northern part of Nigeria.
The environmentalist maintained that the civil society will continue to exploit peaceful means and will make the Ogoni clean up a national struggle saying that the Ogoni project is a pilot case as they will seek audience with the relevant government agencies like the Ministry of Environment, the National Assembly and the President saying very soon saying the Ogoni case will visit the united Nations under their new policy where those who killed the environment and the people will be punished.
On the issue of funding, Dr. Ojo said the civil society organizations are funded by their government as set up by law but the case of Nigeria is different.
Also speaking Prof. Fidelis Allen Of University of Port Harcourt, Bar. Mike Karikpo of ERA and Chief Saint Emma Pii of Bodo City continued to stresse the need for the federal government to commence the process without delay.
Earlier, the Zonal Director, NOSDRA Mr. Cyrus said the communities should continue to report the incident of oil spills in their communities but should also monitor the incident of oil bunkering so that Clean-up sites will not be polluted again when work commences.
In the communique issued by communities and CSOS some of the recommendations were made which include: that Government must immediately draw up and publish firm time-line which should start in May for the implementation process. Shell and its joint Venture partners, AGIP and Totalfinaelf as major polluters have their own interest by lobbing to be part of proposed Governing Board. Shell and other companies should not drive the process only to provide funds needed for the clean-up as the pollution pay principle and Chief culprits and violators. They should include civil society in the governing council, while government should confirm and announce the Board members immediately, Technical partners unit by UNEP to monitor the day to day projects to provide technical support.
The establishment of the Ogoni Clean up and Restoration fund with an initial sum of US $ 1 billion , Clean up and restoration fund US$ 100 billion for the entire Niger Delta and that federal government should also disclose their source of counterpart funding of the clean-up.
Pius Dukor
previous post
