Action on UNEP report will bring sanity in Ogoniland, says govt

The Federal Government has expressed optimism that the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland would reduce crime and violence in the area.

As mark of government’s commitment to restore the environment, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is to participate in the cleanup.
The Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed gave the hint yesterday during a visit to Numuu-Tekuru Waterfront in Bodo, Gokana Local Council of Rivers State where President Muhammadu Buhari is to kick-off the implementation of the report on Thursday.

“It is a tragedy but we are coming back again with that hope that we can return the ecosystem to what it was, livelihood to original state and provide alternatives to the crimes that are going on now. I think it is a kind of blessing that comes along. He (the President) made a promise and is trying to deliver,” she said.

The minister assured the people of the commitment of the Buhari administration to implement the report and industrialise the area.

Also speaking, the acting Managing Director of NDDC, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, said the commission has a commitment and a mandatory assignment to ensure it was part of the cleanup process as long as it takes, adding that development is a big issue for the commission just as its primary assignment was to ensure development of every community.

She noted that one of the biggest issues for the agency was the environment, stressing that it was the reason why the commission was established in the first place.