President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a 13-
member Governing Council and 10-member
Board of Trustees for the cleanup of Ogoniland in
Rivers.
The Minister of Environment, Mrs Amina
Mohammed, announced this in a statement by
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Bukar
Hassan, in Abuja on Saturday.
The minister said the structures would ensure
inclusiveness, accountability, transparency and
sustainability of the exercise.
Mohammed acknowledged the concerns raised by
stakeholders on the perceived slow pace of the
clean up, saying “Nigerians have a right to voice
their concerns”, but called for patience.
“We have responsibility to deliver. The launch was
the first step in a 30-year journey. We continue to
make strides toward the implementation.
“We ask for patience as we lay solid foundations
for the cleanup. The context is complex and
stakeholders are diverse. All must be taken
along”, Mohammed said.
According to her, Buhari remains steadfast in his
conviction to see Ogoniland and other parts of the
Niger Delta cleaned up.
She said the ministry was working with the
Ministries of Petroleum Resources, Niger Delta,
NDDC and key stakeholders in implementing the
UNEP report.
The minister said the exercise was a collective
responsibility and urged all the Niger Delta
communities, especially the Ogonis, to support
the remediation and restoration efforts of
government.
The UN report estimated that the cleanup of
Ogoniland could take up to 30 years with the
initial remediation taking five years and the
restoration another 25 years.
President Buhari inaugurated the clean up on
June 2 at Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area
of Rivers.