Ogoniland cleanup: FG warns against fraudsters

The Federal Government has warned the people of the Niger Delta region to be wary of people, groups or organisations that may use the opportunity of the Ogoniland clean-up project to extort money from them.
It warned that any individual found extorting money from the people would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
A statement from the Federal Ministry of Environment, signed by the Director Press, Isiaka Yusuf,said it had come to its knowledge that some dubious individuals might use the opportunity of the project to defraud the communities, adding that they were likely to forge letters of federal government agencies.
The federal government, in collaboration with other stakeholders in the oil industry, is funding the project and has “not and will not” authorise or contract individuals, groups or organisations to collect money from the people of the Niger Delta on its behalf to the clean-up of Ogoniland and other oil impacted communities, the statement said.
While reiterating the government’s commitment in ensuring transparent and successful clean-up of the land, the Environment Ministry urged the public to report anybody, group or organisation that was collecting money from people for the clean-up exercise to the police or any other law enforcement agencies.
It also noted that it had been consulting with the stakeholders in the Niger Delta with a view to ensure proper commencement of the clean-up project.