The Federal Government has called on the people of Ogoniland
to remain peaceful and avoid taking actions capable of delaying the clean-up in
oil-impacted communities in the area.
Dr Marvin Dekil, the Project Coordinator, Hydrocarbon
Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP)in the Federal Ministry of Environment,
made the plea on Friday in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers.
Dekil, who spoke at a sensitisation and town hall meeting
with stakeholders in the area, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment
to the clean-up exercise.
He said that peace was needed in the area to enable
contractors to commence clean-up of decades-long oil spills in the area.
“Ogoni people will recall that HYPREP had in January
presented and handed over the sites to contractors who were tasked to carry out
the remediation works in the communities.
“Our meeting today would have been to inform the people of
the level of work achieved by the contractors working in the communities.
“But, regrettably, we do not have any report to give. The reason is not far-fetched as restiveness affects people and activities in which
the clean-up exercise is not an exception,” he said,.
He, however, said that remediation works had fully commenced
in Eleme Local Government Area with youths in the area engaged by the
contractors.
“In Eleme, contractors have mobilised to site; equipment is
on ground and work has fully commenced in most of the sites.
“To this end, youths
in these communities are engaged at different levels in each of the sites,” he
said.
Dekil said that youth engagement and empowerment was a critical component of the clean-up project as recommended by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP).
He said that 15 Ogoni youths were recently trained on
fabrication of cassava processing machines at the International Institute of
Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Onne, Rivers.
According to him, the agency was in an advanced stage to train
another set of 400 youths in line with the UNEP recommendations.
“So, we are urging the youths of Ogoni to give peace a
chance; support the clean-up project and take full advantage of the
opportunities that the clean-up brings,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Khana Local Government
Council, Lateh Loolo, commended HYPREP on its commitment toward the remediation
exercise and assured of the council’s support.
Loolo said that poverty and unemployment among Ogonis youths
were factors responsible for the restiveness in some parts of the area.
“We are confident that HYPREP will deliver on its mandate
and we assure it that we will give all the necessary support needed to ensure the success of the project.
“We appeal that HYPREP initiates more developmental
programmes for our people such as skills acquisition training as well as human
capital development,” he said.
Ogoniland covers four local government areas consisting of
Eleme, Gokana, Khana and Tai.
(NAN)
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