Group urges FG to implement UN’s special report on Ogoni

A group, the Ogoni Justice Foundation for Human Rights Development has charged the Federal Government to implement the 1997 United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights and other White Paper reports on Ogoniland and the country.

Specifically, it cited the 2001 Ogomudia Report, 2003 White Paper Report of the Presidential Panel on Security, 2003 Report on First International Conference on Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta and United Nations Development Programme’s (UNEP) report.

Others are, the 2004 Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan, 2005 National Political Reform Conference, 2006 Niger Delta Human Development and 2006 Report of the Presidential Council on Social and Economic Development of the Coastal States of Niger Delta.

A statement by its President, Tonbel P. Joy, also mentioned the 1994 Etiebet Report Recommendations, 1963 Constitution’s Principle of Derivation on Mineral Extraction in the Niger Delta Region, as well as the 1958 Willink Commission’s reports for implementation.

The group urged the Federal Government to strengthen its efforts aimed at promoting the full observance and execution, as well as implementing the Human Rights to social, economic and self-determination in accordance with the charters of UN Articles.

It condemned government’s attitude towards the 1990 Ogoni Bill of Rights, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) operating in Niger Delta, Ledum Mitee-led technical committee report of 2008, which it said, had not been implemented till date.

“If the Federal Government fails to take up its full obligations in promoting and protecting the region within 30 days, we will forward our complaint on human rights abuses to the UN Human Rights Council,” the statement added.