The Federal Government, will, next month, commence the clean-up of the oil spill affected areas of Ogoniland and the Niger Delta, in accordance with the recommendations of the United Nations Environmental Programme(UNEP).

Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs and coordinator of Amnesty Programme, Brigadier General Paul Boroh(rtd), who gave the indication on Monday, in an interaction with newsmen, also said the government would embark on a fresh mop-up of illegal arms in the Niger Delta area.

The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) had, in October 2015, approved the clean-up of Ogoniland at the cost of $1.04 billion. The programme is expected to last between 30 and 35 years.

Funds for the programme is to be contributed by the Federal Goverrnment and the oil companies.

The Special Adviser stated that the clean-up exercise would involve the Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders on a clean environment.

According to the Special Adviser, the clean-up would start from Ogoniland in Rivers State and move to other parts of the state and then to Bayelsa, Delta, Ondo and other parts of the oil producing areas affected by oil spills over the years.

While speaking on the planned mop-up of illegal arms, the coordinator of Amnesty Programme lamented that there were still a lot of arms in the hands of those not expected to have them.

He insisted that in order to have a lasting peace, the government would commence the mop-up of arms.

“It is good to encourage those who want to disarm, but we have to plan because they have seen the programme as beneficial.

“A lot of arms are in the hands of those who are not supposed to have them. A good example is the Bayelsa election. A lot of people died and many are still missing,” he said, adding that the Federal Government had decided to mop up illegal arms to ensure peace.

Speaking about the success of the Amnesty Programme, General Boroh said the Federal Government had designed an exit programme that would last for the next two years to ensure the programme did not run into troubled waters.

He said in the past five years, the Amnesty Programme had secured admission and given scholarships to 5,234 beneficiaries in tertiary institutions. Out of that number, 3,082 gained admission locally, 2,150 gained admission abroad, while 272 beneficiaries had graduated.

According to him, out of the 30,000 ex-agitators captured by the programme, 17,322 had been trained, leaving a balance of 12, 678. He stated that the balance would be taken care of within the two-year exit window.

He also stated that the programme was embarking on a domestication exercise to ensure that 95 per cent of beneficiaries were admitted into local institutions to save cost.

He added that the programme would exit 3,232 beneficiaries by the end of February, adding that exiting that number would save the government N2.5 billion in stipend payments.

“The Presidential Amnesty Programme is exiting 3,232 beneficiaries from the programme who have been trained as enterpreneurs and have received business and set-up starter packs. Also affected are all beneficiaries of the Oil and Gas International Foundation(OGIF) programme and the 400 for whom the office has secured employment,” he said.

He discovered that exiting the 3,232 beneficiaries would save the sum of N2.5 billion for government in 2016, in stipend payment, while another batch of 1,042 who were currently being given starter packs to establish their individual businesses were soon to be exited from the programme, which would result in a further gain of N813 million for the government this year.

The Special Adviser added that the Amnesty office plan to exit additional 2,958 beneficiaries by the end of the year would amount to a saving of N2.3 billion for the government.

He regretted that the exercise, which was originally planned for five years, had no exit programme which led to the failure of the previous holders of the office to exit any of the beneficiaries.

Towards this end, the Amnesty office has set up a Task Force to work out the exit strategy of the Amnesty Programme, with timelines that will not compromise national security.


SOURCE: http://tribuneonlineng.com/fg-begins-1bn-clean-up-of-ogoni-next-month-%E2%80%A2to-embark-on-fresh-arms-mop-up-in-niger-delta

fine

Seeing is believing....

After months of lies I think is necessary one has to see before believing.

As of now the news is just irrelevant until when the cleanup starts..

Welcome development for the long-suffering Nigerians.

Expect IPOB touts to attempt to debunk and water down this good news for the people of the Niger Delta, as it reminds them of the selfishness and incompetence of the ineffectual buffoon that failed to clean up the lands of his own people for over six years as President, despite having the UNEP report which he must have dumped under his ogogoro drawer.

Within the next 4years, Nigerians will look at their country and see that it is getting good.

What their son, brother and father, the educated PhD holder ineffectual buffon could not do in 6 years, the illiterate people's general is doing less than a year in office. If I were you wailer and useless militant, I will never step on anywhere that the Fulani general clean. I will prefer to live in the oil spilled swamp than allow an illiterate Hausa/Fulani to clean my environment.

Hope it doesn't end up in papers

Story story. ....... story. ....................... the will government lying again

Propaganda is another name for the Buhari's govt...

[quote author=fulanimafia post=42963477]Welcome development for the long-suffering Nigerians.
[s]
Expect IPOB touts to attempt to debunk and water down this good news for the people of the Niger Delta, as it reminds them of the selfishness and incompetence of the ineffectual buffoon that failed to clean up the lands of his own people for over six years as President, despite having the UNEP report which he must have dumped under his ogogoro drawer. [/[/s]quote]

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Shut up you paid hack. Do we Niger Deltans look foolish like you?

Na today news of clean up dey come. We don't believe what we don't see dear propagandist. Kindly mobilise to site then we confirm with our eyes before we may decide to even believe they'll finish it.

Same government that blamed God for their predicament and with a world renowned liar, and a government that denies and lies with their teeth... we are not fools.

Tell those that pay u 700 Naira a day that Niger Deltans believe only what they see. Thanks

Besides don't for one moment think we are suffering in Niger Delta. Some months ago my charity organisation donated Rice and Tin tomatoes to workers in osun state.... from what we're seeing we might have to send some more next month! Don't deride urself to think we're suffering.