Stakeholders insist on Ogoni cleanup, means of livelihood

Stakeholders and concerned indigenes of oil-producing communities have said they would not accept the Ogoniland cleanup without provision of an alternative and sustainable means of livelihood.

They lamented that some groups, civil society organisations and entrepreneurs have come up with empowerment programmes which had reportedly caused conflicts among the youths and community leaders in the area.

At the meeting in Abuja, Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Ogoni Trust Fund, Chief Olawale Edun, said the cleanup was on course, but that people’s livelihoods, land reclamation and water supply be prioritised.

He added that these should be put in place “because we can’t have communities without sources of potable water, and we are not happy with the pace of work in the sites.”

Also, Adam Kpah of Grassroots Support and Advocacy for Ogoniland Restoration told The Guardian that indigents should be involved directly or indirectly in the project to secure their future.

He added that they were mobilising support from government, multinationals and stakeholders for the affected communities to be productively engaged in economic activities.

Besides, President of Ogale Youths, Darlington Nyimeone, decried the alleged shenanigans in the communities.

He said they were desirous of a painstaking exercise to restore sanity in the settlement.

He accused government agencies of hoarding information that could have mitigated conflicts in the region.