FG assures on speedy clean-up of Ogoniland

Minister of Environment, Mohammad Abubakar, has said that the federal government would fast-track the clean –up of Ogoniland.

He assured that the government would ensure that the remediation exercise is speeded up through the collaboration of the ministries of environment, petroleum resources and Niger Delta.

Abubakar stated this while assuming the chairmanship of the governing council of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), the joint meeting of the government council and the board of trustee.

The minister reaffirmed his commitment to work in synergy with his counterparts in the two ministries and other stakeholders to fast-track the remediation process in Ogoniland.

In a statement signed by the Director of Press, Saghir el-Mohammed, the minister, said ‘’President Muhammad Buhari is very passionate about the Ogoniland clean-up and from the brief I got, I want to assure you all that we will get maximum support from Mr. President to fast track the remediation exercise.

“As an environmentalist, I have always been passionate about the Ogoni clean-up and have kept pace with the remediation process even before I was appointed a minister to oversee the sector.

“The clean-up is about livelihood and thus, a comprehensive work needs to be done to ensure healthy living of the people of Ogoniland.

‘’This administration will do everything possible to restore the livelihood in the affected areas so as to give the people a new lease of life.”

Also in his remarks, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio stated that it is under the Buhari administration that the Ogoni people are having a new lease of life nearly a decade after the UNEP report.

He noted that his ministry is committed to work with the ministry of environment to deliver high quality remediation exercise and bring the hydrocarbon pollution to the barest minimum.