Stakeholders wanted me to share Ogoni Clean-up funds – Environment Minister

The Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibrin, has revealed that he resisted pressure from supposed beneficiaries of the Ogoni oil clean-up in the Niger Delta to share the $180 million (N63 billion) meant fothe take-off of the project. Jibrin described the Ogoni oil clean-up project as the biggest project being handled by the Ministry of Environment. Addressing the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, Jibrin recalled his time as minister, saying he travelled the entire length of Nigeria and has “seen the devastation caused by climate change” and effect of conflict in the North-east. He said: “I was under pressure to share the money as was done in the past, but I refused just to make sure the project does not hit a brickwall like others before.” He said in the South-south, he saw “fish being fried with crude oil” which made him make up his mind to work with the administration to stop oil pollution in the region and ensure the clean-up of Ogoni part of Rivers State. “Tomorrow (today), the 13 of December, there will be a project meeting in Port Harcourt in which project site will be handed over to contractors. Before now, he said, oil companies were reluctant to release anything, but a commitment by government forced them to change their mind and $180 million has now been paid. The minister formally resigned his appointment from President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet on Wednesday to assume his traditional office as the Emir of Nasarawa State. His resignation was sequel to his selection as the 12th emir of Nasarawa in his native Nasarawa State. The resignation notice was announced on the floor of the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha. Reeling out his experiences in the course of touring the country, he said Anambra State has over 400 active erosion sites, warning that state governors must be weary of environment related issues and use funds from the ecological fund judiciously without leaving the burden to the Federal Government. “I urge all my colleagues to continue to support Mr. President until we are assured of success,” he said. Mathew Dadiya, Abuja