By Matthew Abi
The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (CLSD) has call on the Federal Government to release funds for the clean up of Ogoni land.
The acting Director of the Centre, Mr. Monday Osasah at a press briefing gave details of the achievements of healthy and sustainable environment developments in the Niger Delta, with the support of Cordaid.
According to him, stakeholders including government, oil companies as well as those involved in illegal or artisanal refining should beware of the negative impacts of their activities on both the environment and the inhabitants of the area and region.
“Succour came at the beginning of this year with the contracting and subsequent hand over of polluted sites to different companies signifying the commencement of the exercise in Ogoni land.
“The Federal Government also re -engaged the United Nations Environment Programme to provide technical support for the Ogoni clean up an ensure that the project is executed in line with the UNEP recommendation.
“The engagement is fo the next one year and they are to work with HYPREP in all aspects of the project while providing technical support in communication and project management,” Osasah said.
Recall that the Federal government announced the clean up of Ogoniland in June 2016, where it proclaimed, “the implementation of the report would be done holistically and in a manner that ensures transparency, accountability, genuine partnership and proper representation of the people at the grassroots as well as guarantee job creation for young people and that Agro – allied industries required for processing agricultural produce be put in place.
However, Osasah said, “There is the feeling of alleged politicisation of contact at the community front, leading to exclusion of indigenous contractors and others from the Niger Delta region, as well as the drafting of the military to guard clean up site in Ogoni land.”
