Mkpoikana Udoma 25 May 2016, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, has spoken of the need for people to participate actively in the clean-up exercise in Ogoniland as advised against actions capable of delaying the process.
The minister spoke in Port Harcourt at a one-day sensitisation forum for stakeholders on the pre and post-launch activities for the clean-up of Ogoni and other oil impacted communities in the Niger Delta region.
Mohammed, who confirmed that more than 1,000 registered companies have indicated interest to undertake the clean-up of crude oil polluted sites in Ogoniland, also explained that the Federal Ministry of Environment has set up three committees to train and sensitise the people on the need to participate actively in the exercise.
Also speaking, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, at the sensitisation forum, called for the co-operation of youths in the Niger Delta towards a successful clean-up of the environment.
On its part, the Rivers State Government pledged its readiness to give all necessary support to the Federal Government before, during and after the clean-up of oil impacted sites in Ogoniland.
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, represented at the event by the State Commissioner for Environment, Professor Roselyn Konya, gave the assurance during a presentation at the event.
However, some Ogoni stakeholders including the leadership of the Ogoni apex socio-cultural group, MOSOP, Ogoni Council of Chiefs, women and youth groups who were at the forum, urged the federal government to hasten the process, and ensure commencement of the clean-up before the end of this year.
SweetcrudeReports gathered that representatives of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria and its parent company, Royal Dutch Shell from the Netherlands attended the forum.
