The Minister of Environment, Suleiman Hassan Zarma said in Port
Harcourt on Friday that Federal Government has commenced the handover
of sites for the commencement of of Ogoni clean up exercise.
Suleiman Hassan Zarma who disclosed this during a courtesy visit to
Governor Wike at Government House , Port Harcourt, assured the
Governor that the Ministry of Environment is working with the
Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project , HYPREP, to ensure that the
cleanup of Ogoniland is carried out.
He said “We are here to set the tone to enable the foundation laying
of a roburst intergovernmental collaboration which you have been doing
especially in the environmental sector.”
Earlier Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike decried what he
described as the deliberate neglect of the Niger Delta, despite the
fact the region is suffering untold environmental hardship for keeping
the country afloat.
Governor Wike said that environmental degradation caused by oil
exploration is worse than insurgency.
He said: “While we support the fighting against insurgency, nothing is
worse than environmental pollution. We suffer because we are allowing
Nigeria to survive. We are suffering for Nigeria to survive. It is
through our oil that Nigeria is surviving.
“We are dying because we are keeping the country alive. Nobody wants
to give us the attention required. These people who are suffering
because of the nation’s survival, why not give them priority to
survive? “
He urged the Federal Government to withdraw funds from the Excess
Crude Account to address the environmental challenges in Ogoni-land.
The governor said it should be done in same manner that funds were
withdrawn to tackle insurgency.
“They took $1billion from the Excess Crude Accounts to fight
insurgency. I say they should take $500million from the Excess Crude
Accounts for the Ogoni Clean up Exercise,”
“If you had told me earlier that you were coming, I would have
provided a helicopter for you to fly over Ogoni land. You will weep
at the level of environmental damage “, the governor said.
The governor regretted that the Ogoni Clean up Exercise has been
politicised, pointing out that the Ministry of Environment is
handing over sites to contractors three years after Vice President
Yemi Osinbajo flagged off the exercise. He said the two activities
took place as elections approached.
“Three years ago, the President represented by the Vice President
flagged off the clean up during the rerun elections. One month to the
general elections, the Minister of Environment has come to hand over
the sites.
“If I tell you I believe sincerely that you people want to clean up
Ogoni land, I am telling you lies. Surprise me and prove me wrong “,
he said.
He called on the Minister of Environment to investigate cases of
deduction of funds from contracts awarded for the clean up Exercise.
The governor urged the Federal Ministry of Environment to ensure the
benefiting communities are patronized during the clean up and all
approved steps taken by HYPREP.