Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

a file picture taken on June 24, 2010 a man walks on slippery spilled crude oil on the shores and in the waters of the Niger Delta swamps of Bodo, a village in the famous Nigerian oil-producing Ogoniland,

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rivers State Chapter has joined the All Progressives Congress in welcoming President Muhammadu Buhari’s order for the fast-tracking of the clean-up of Ogoniland.

The cleaning is part of the recommendations contained in the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report on the devastation pollution of Ogoniland by Oil exploration activities of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and allied multinational corporations.

The PDP commended President Buhari for not discontinuing a process started by previous administrations, which led to the commissioning of UNEP activities in Ogoni as well as setting up of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP), particularly by the for President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

The PDP said fast-tracking of the cleanup of Ogoniland as recommended in the famous UNEP report was quite important considering the deteriorating situation in the affected communities in the region, noting that the life of the people of Ogoni, who have contributed much to the sustenance of the country should be paramount and of much concern to any government at all times.

The Party also viewed the amendment of the structures on the implementation of the exercise in Ogoniland as also relevant to the present time, believing that if the full details of the recommendation are carried out accordingly the government will further be commended for a job well done.

While appealing to the President to actually match his words with action, by committing himself to full implementation of the details of the UNEP report recommendation on Ogoniland, the Party urged all stakeholders and handlers of the project not to sabotage the good intention of Mr. President in that regard but to ensure that proper work is done according to international specification.

Describing the actions on the UNEP report as appropriate, the PDP said such action is in line with what is being done in the State by the Wike’s administration, which has spared nothing in realizing its restoration agenda, particularly on road infrastructure, environmental sanitation and waste management.