Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Federal Government has announced that it will connect the entire Ogoniland to the national grid, as part of moves to expand the project objectives of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project.
The Minister of Environment, Hon Mohammed Abdullahi, said the move was imperative in order to supply power to all the water infrastructures in the Ogoniland, and also for economic growth and sustainability in the area.
Abdullahi, spoke during his visit to Ogoniland, where he met with the monarchs, local government chairmen, youths and stakeholders in Ogoniland.
“Apart from the remediation that is being done by HYPREP, there is also the water project that we are working on. We realized that for the water project to be sustainable, there must be an enduring power supply.
“So the federal government is expanding the objectives of the project mandate of HYPREP to ensure that the entire Ogoniland is linked to the national grid.
“So this electricity project would power the water projects around Ogoniland, and also power small scale industries so that cottage industries can flourish for employment of young people.”
The Minister also assured that President Muhammadu Buhari remains committed to the Ogoni clean-up project and all the concerns raised by the people would be addressed immediately.
“The President has expressed some reservation in view of the slow pace of the clean-up, but he has equally expressed confidence in the new Project Coordinator.
“The government is focused and ready to ensure that in the next couple of months we must see visible and appreciable projects on ground.”
Responding on behalf of the people, the Chairman of Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, HRM King Godwin Giniwa, expressed optimism that the new Minister would implement the UNEP Report according to international specifications.
“The Ogoni people are happy to welcome you. I personally wasn’t happy with the way things were going. HYPREP has not done badly, but the pace is very slow. So I led a delegation to the President to plead with the President to do all he can to hasten the pace.
“Electricity is life and I thank God you (the Minister) are here, and you will do things differently. Although there has has been a complete change since the new PC came on board.”
