Ogoni clean up: Environment minister holds stakeholders forum to kick start process

Minister of environment, Amina Mohammed, at the weekend held a stakeholders meeting in Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area and traditional capital of Ogoni people, to kick start the processes towards Ogoniland clean up based on recommendations contained in a technical report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Meanwhile, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), umbrella organisation of the Ogoni people, has expressed its pleasure over the renewed commitment of the Federal Government to speedily commence the implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoniland.

MOSOP said through its spokesman, Fegalo Nsuke, that it was “particularly delighted at the new spirit of cooperation and commitment to results shown by the Honourable Minister for Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed during her visit to Ogoniland.”

At the stakeholders’ meeting, MOSOP president, Legborsi Saro Pyagbara, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to speedily inaugurate a governance mechanism necessary for the take-off of the implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoni, stating, “the continuing delay of the implementation is causing needless tension in Ogoni.”

Pyagbara told the environment minister, “the UNEP in its recommendations had requested the Nigeria government to declare the intent to make Ogoni wetlands a Ramsar Site. As we know, wetlands are referred to as the lungs of the earth.”

He said: “The inclusion of a wetland in the list of wetlands of international significance symbolizes the government’s commitment to take the steps necessary to ensure that its ecological character is maintained.

“Wetlands so recognized acquire a new national and international status: they are recognised as being of important value not only for the country or the countries in which they are located, but also for humanity as a whole.”

He said, “as a sequel to the above, we strongly recommend that the government take practical steps to include Ogoni wetlands amongst this list as recommended by UNEP,” adding that “amongst other risks which the Ogoni people faced as a result of the destruction of their environment, water insecurity constitute one of the greatest risks and most dangerous one too.”

Pyagbara said “an immediate plan for the provision of durable and sustainable water supply system need to be arranged as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, MOSOP has pledged its support and cooperation to the cleanup process; and expects that all parties, including the multinational oil companies to demonstrate similar dedication to and work towards the success of the programme.