The Federal Government has announced plans to conduct an assessment of the ongoing clean-up of oil-polluted sites in Ogoni land in Rivers State to evaluate its impact on the lives and livelihood of the people. The government has promised to address the challenges and bottlenecks hindering development in the area, which is rich in oil and gas.
The assessment is part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at bringing the government closer to the people. A stakeholders’ meeting was held in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area, where community leaders, monarchs, and other stakeholders discussed ways to improve the lives and livelihood of the Ogoni people.
The Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement to President Tinubu, Gift Johnbull, led the meeting, which focused on environmental remediation, livelihood improvement, and empowerment initiatives. The government is committed to ensuring that all Ogoni people are carried along in the renewed hope agenda and that lasting peace and development are achieved.
The project’s environmental remediation team leader, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, reported that the implementation of the remediation project is progressing smoothly, with 48 sample sites certified by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency as free of hydrocarbon pollution. The project has also trained 300 youths in proposal writing and provided them with livelihood support.
However, a monarch, HRM Suanu Baridam, advised the presidency to give more powers to the HYPREP Project Coordinator to enable him make decisions independently, reducing dependence on Abuja for approvals. The king noted that this would facilitate faster decision-making and implementation of projects.
The assessment is expected to identify areas of improvement and ensure that the clean-up process benefits the Ogoni people positively. The government is committed to addressing challenges and bottlenecks hindering development in the area, promising a more inclusive and collaborative approach to achieve lasting peace and development.
