Moves to clean up Ogoniland would not achieve desired result unless there are concerted efforts to stop crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the area, External Relations Manager of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Igo Weli, has said.
The Federal Government had nine years ago requested the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the environmental and public health impacts of oil contamination in Ogoniland, Rivers State, together with options for remediation.
Last month, President Muhammadu Buhari approved actions to fast-track the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on clean-up of Ogoniland.
The approval was based on recommendations by the Executive Director of UNEP, the programme’s Special Representative for Ogoniland, Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministries of Environment and Petroleum Resources, and other stakeholders.
He said $10 million would be made available by stakeholders within 30 days of the appointment of members of the Board of Trustees for the Trust Fund who will be responsible for collecting and managing funds from contributors and donors.
But speaking at a press conference at the weekend in Lagos, Weli said security should be given utmost reflection, adding that while efforts have been on to remedy the situation some unwholesome activities are still ongoing.
He told newsmen the company has tried as much as possible to comply with the recommendation of the UNEP though overall action ought to be driven by government.
He said SPDC Joint Venture (JV) has funded a regional water supply project at Eleme which currently provides access to potable water for about 30,000 indigenes across five clans from one hundred and three outlets and the project is being expanded by the Rivers State government to include more outlets.
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