THE United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) yesterday supported the Federal Government’s decision to proceed with the clean-up of Ogoniland in the Niger Delta, a threat by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) notwithstanding.

Exactly four days ago, the Ogoni threatened to occupy strategic economic installations in their locality except the government expeditiously implemented the UNEP recommendations without recourse to its (government’s) own Hydro-Carbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) as part of the implementation.

It is yet unclear whether the UNEP’s open declaration of support for the Federal Government’s new implementation initiative, one year after it recommended a five-year clean-up of oil spill that would cost not less than $1 billion, is a direct fallout of MOSOP’s recent threat.

UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner, yesterday said: “On the anniversary of the Ogoniland assessment, there are now clear and encouraging signals that the government is keen to move on the recommendations - this is a welcome development for the people and the environment of this region
who have suffered, and continue to suffer, the legacy of some 50 years of unsustainable oil exploration and production.”

“UNEP stands ready to assist the government and its agencies with expertise for getting the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project up and running so as to improve the lives and livelihoods of the Ogoni people,” he said.

UNEP says it has, in recent weeks, held discussions with the Director-General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Peter Idabor, and is engaged with the government to chart transformative pathways forward in order to realise the assessment’s recommendations.

“The immediate need is for the necessary funds to be mobilised and to be deployed to take the project forward at a scale and speed commensurate with the challenge. Everyone has a part to play in realising significant and positive results from the government of Nigeria, local authorities and the oil industry to NGOs and local communities,” said Director of UNEP’s Division of Environmental Policy Implementation, Ibrahim Thiaw, who, on August 4, 2011, presented the UNEP report to the government.


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