Pollution in the Niger Delta

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

More than a year after the launch of the clean up of polluted sites in Ogoniland by Acting Oresident Yemi Osibanjo, on behalf of the Federal Government some concerned Ogoni leaders from oil polluted communities in Ogoni have complained about the delay in the commencement of the clean up.

They called for adequate funding of the Ogoni clean-up project by the federal government and other relevant stakeholders involved.

They regretted that the inability of some stakeholders to contribute their own quota of the $1 billion cleanup aggrement is vontributing to the delay of the exercise.

They pointed out that appointing an Ogoni son, Dr Marvin Dekil as the project co-ordinator of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), is not enough, but speedy implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The leaders bared their during a consultative meeting with the Project Coordinator,Dr Marvin Dekil in Port Harcourt.

The eminent lawyer, Barinua Wifa who chaired the occasion said the HYPREP Coordinator will succeed in delivering the mandate given to him if all the stakeholders release their contribution to the one billion dollars required to fast-track the clean-up process.

He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to be sincere and provide adequate fund for the project implementation in Ogoniland, stressing that Ogoni leaders are backing their kinsman, the project co-ordinator, Dekil.

Also, a member representing Tai Constituency in Rivers State House of Assembly, Dike Matthew, said their decision to task HYPREP to take urgent step in providing water to the affected communities was based on the recommendations by UNEP report, which says that water sources in the area are contaminated.

Dekil said a lot had been done to ensure a successful remediation and restoration of the people’s livelihood.

The Ogoni leaders of thought including a Senior Advocate of Nigeria Barinua Wifa, former Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University Professor Barineme Fakae, traditional rulers, politicians, businessmen and community leaders made their position known at a consultative meeting with the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP in Port Harcourt.

For his part, the former Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University Professor Barineme Fakae called for variation of the clean-up project to ascertain the present impact of the oil pollution in Ogoniland.

In his response the coordinator of HYPREP Dr. Marvin Dekil said a lot has been done to ensure a successful remediation and restoration of the livelihood of the people of oil impacted communities of Ogoni.