The Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Abass Lawal, has reiterated the determination of the current administration towards the full implementation of the Ogoni Clean-up which was launched on June 2, 2016.
The minister who made the pledge in Abuja Thursday when he hosted members of the Ogoni People’s Movement (MOSOP), signalled the government’s readiness to address head on the issues that concern the Niger Delta region.
During this visit, the Minister and the stakeholders from Ogoni land discussed vital and far-reaching matters concerning the health and environmental impacts of the crude oil spill that has plagued Ogoniland since oil was discovered there in 1958.
“The current Tinubu-led administration’s unwavering commitment to the full implementation of the Ogoni Clean-up is never in doubt,” the Minister said.
He said the full implementation of the laudable initiative would be streamlined and integrated with the noble aim of ameliorating the suffering brought upon the people of Ogoniland by decades of environmental degradation and oil spills.
Lawal disclosed his plans to visit the Niger Delta early next year to meet with the people and discuss homegrown solutions to the environmental problems of the people.
“Our position is not to plan for the people but to plan with the people,” he said, stressing that the cleanup would ease the suffering of the people of Ogoniland.
Responding, the President of MOSOP, Chief Prince Biira, who led the delegation, while thanking the Minister for receiving them warmly, said: “It proved how much regard you have for our organization. We are profoundly grateful.”
He said the essence of the engagement was to rob minds with the Minister with a view to offering suggestions relating to repositioning the Ogoni ecosystem.
“It is thus our expectation that this consultation would awaken fresh motivation and form a novel and sustainable path for the project for the benefit of all stakeholders,” he said.
