•HYPREP to get $10 million

The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said the steps taken by President Muhammadu Buhari to fast-track the environmental clean-up of Ogoniland shwed he was a President for all.

APC’s Publicity Secretary Lai Mohammed spoke at a news conference in Lagos.

He said the step was undoubtedly one of the most significant decisions taken by Buhari since his inauguration on May 29.

Mohammed said: ‘’This action of the President transcends all the needless arguments about the appointments so far made by him, because it touches directly on the well-being of a long-suffering people. People whose farmlands, drinking water, homes and sources of living have been deeply affected by hydrocarbon pollution.

‘’The action also puts a lie to the antics of those who insinuated that the President would ignore those who did not vote for him in the March 28 presidential election.

‘’Undoubtedly, the most far-reaching action by the President has been to the benefit of the Niger Delta, where he is not known to have garnered many votes! What a pleasant irony. ‘’

He said the President’s action had given life into a four-year report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which had been on the shelf since it was published on August 4, 2011.

The APC spokesman said: ‘’The UNEP report showed the nature and extent of oil contamination in Ogoniland, which includes the extensive pollution of soil by petroleum hydrocarbons in Ogoni.

‘’Pollution has reached the groundwater. In one site, in Eleme Local Government, 8cm layer of refined oil is floating on the groundwater serving community wells.

‘’Crops were damaged, fish fawning places in Mangrove contaminated, oil fires kill vegetation and there was loss of Mangrove cover due to increased artisanal refining

‘’Surface water contains hydrocarbons. Floating layers of oil vary from thick black oil to thin sheens. Fish deserted polluted areas, which made the Fish sector suffer due to destruction of fish habitats.

‘’On the issue of public health, Ogoni community is exposed to petroleum hydrocarbons, which are in the outdoor air, drinking water and contaminated soil.

‘’Community members in some areas drink water with Benzene, a known carcinogen, at levels 900 times above the WHO guideline. ‘’

Mohammed said the Goodluck Jonathan administration did nothing beyond establishing the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) in 2012, a year after the report was submitted.

He added that the President approved the amendment of the Official Gazette establishing HYPREP to reflect a different governance framework, which would create a Governing Council, a Board of Trustees and Project Management.

He said the President also approved the composition of a Board of Trustees for the HYPREP.

Mohammed said: ‘’Some $10 million will 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.

‘’A new implementation template has also been evolved at the instance of President Buhari, and the environmental clean-up of Ogoniland will commence in earnest with the President’s inauguration of the HYPREP Governing Council and the Board of Trustees for the Trust Fund.

‘’It is important to say that with these steps by President Buhari, he has proved beyond doubt that he is a President for not just those who voted for him, but for those who did not vote for him and those who did not vote at all.“

http://thenationonlineng.net/buharis-directive-on-ogoniland-clean-up-shows-hes-president-of-all/

"In a democracy, the well-being, individuality and happiness of every citizen is important for the overall prosperity, peace and happiness of the nation."

Still dont know why Jonathan and the past presidents decide to ignore the ogoni land or where they putting on bra which covers their faces from seeing very well.

Buhari did know what the people wants. He did knows his onions as a president.

This move will not only halt the long-suffering the people of ogoni land have been enduring since, it will also put a smile back on their faces.

ok

Ok

At this rate 9ja will be great again

APC should not turn this much vaunted clean up into some sort of political football. What the ND needs is a masterplan/roadmap for a wholistic cleanup and not this well orchestrated media frenzy. It is grossly unfair for The Nation newspapers owned by one Tinubu to politisize this issue. Ogoni is just one community amongst the hundreds of communities that are heavily polluted in the Niger-Delta. An independent analysis made several years back showed that the clean up of Ogoni alone, is going to be a multi billion dollar affair, how much more the whole of the oil polluted areas? This president forked off 22 million dollars just few hours after he was sworn in just to kickstart a regional battlle against boko haram. He then went on without any prodding or legislative difficulties to borrow, wait for it, 2 billion dollars to jumpstart the rebiulding efforts in the north east! And the north east is still at war, a war that is more or else self inflicted. Contrast that with this over publicised/politicised proclamation on Ogoni clean up. . , not even for the whole of the Niger Delta . . They are now trying to rope in one jonathan into it. One moment he did nothing for the NigerDelta, next minute, he is being harangeued for only favouring his area! A sensitive job like this should be saved from this brand of petty politics.

Buhari said he is for no one and he is for everyone. He meant those words.
When we see a good leader, we give him accolades. President Buhari deserves accolades of highest magnitude....unlike our one time thieving shoeless and clueless president

Demmocrats:
At this rate 9ja will be great again

...and that's what the wailers don't want, but God pass them.

Ride on Pmb

So when Jonathan built Almajiri schools for those bastards he wasn't a President of all?

The Nation?? Let's move on to something better please! A newspaper that doesn't even offer constructive criticism? The NATION will one day host buhari for a get together to celebrate their Master Tinubu!

The wailers will soon stun this thrend.

passionate88:
So when Jonathan built Almajiri schools for those bastards he wasn't a President of all?

he was, when i c d truth i prefer saying it, he lacks the political will to lead Nigeria,his besyt was not just enough.

very funny. so gej that has been fighting boko haram in the northeast and see up a building plan for them is not a president if all. remember the ogoni oil spill was caused by oil companies working legitmately in nigeria who under a particular govt acted the way they like. govt had the power to sanction them but turned a blind eye probably because they were receiving kick backs. boko haram on the other hand is a product of the north using dangerous arms to destroy their environment for useless and despicable reasons. am not trying to praise gej but the way u people praise buhari for any simplest action he takes is unbelievable. if he doesn't clean ogoni who will. yes gej didn't do it that's because the boko boys made sure he was distracted or because he didn't see that priority.

wapSmart:
"In a democracy, the well-being, individuality and happiness of every citizen is important for the overall prosperity, peace and happiness of the nation."

Still dont know why Jonathan and the past presidents decide to ignore the ogoni land or where they putting on bra which covers their faces from seeing very well.

Buhari did know what the people wants. He did knows his onions as a president.

This move will not only halt the long-suffering the people of ogoni land have been enduring since, it will also put a smile back on their faces.

wen they clean up ogoni, we will know. A sane human does not celebrate promises.

chuna1985:



wen they clean up ogoni, we will know. A sane human does not celebrate promises.

ok sir, are you okay now.

Suru Lere. Patience is virtue.