| Share facebook | RSS

5
Comments

ambassador Report View

Nigeria to Commence Ogoni Land Clean-Up

by | 02-06-2016 08:28 recommendations 0


It is here. The die is cast and the long-awaited moment is finally here. The biggest news in Nigeria now is the Clean-up of the heavily polluted Ogoni land in the Niger Delta region of the country. 
The Niger-Delta region of Nigeria is the oil producing region of the country and this has left their land polluted and with little or no support for life. Oil spillage had long taken over the land and the ones booming fish population now almost extinct. The people of Ogoni have not just lost their livelihood but also have no single drinkable water in the community. Almost everything in Ogoni is polluted and the people have lived this way for years, facing the expected health hazards too. 

The UNEP had in 2011 released a report on Ogoni land which the Nigerian government at that time initiated and UNEP's recommendation was a quick clean-up of Ogoni land. The government wasn't able to implement recommendations of the report.
However, during his election campaign last year, President Muhammadu Buhari, promised the people of Niger Delta that he will ensure the clean-up of Ogoni land if elected and all is set for that action to be flag off later today by the president.

The minister for environment, Her Excellency, Amina Mohammed, has since been in Ogoni ahead of the president's arrival stating that the government will not just clean-up Ogoni land and return its ecosystem to what it used to be, but will also seek to achieve security of the region and build up her economy through this action.
The minister regretted that the once flourishing  fish pond set up by the Nigerian president in 1984 has been destroyed by oil pollution.
The clean-up is to cost about $1 billion and will take an estimated 25 to 30 years for full completion. 
It is all joy for the Niger-Deltans but the worry is, what will be the fate of the project when the current government leaves power? This is the crux of the matter. For the meantime, Niger-Deltans are celebrating.

Photo by: Premium Times
 
Minister for Environment and her team

no image

  • Dormant user
 
 
  • recommend

5 Comments

  • says :
    Thanks for posting Udeh! and thank you for sharing this insightful news from Nigeria. Good to hear the government's resolution to bring back clean nature. Though you worry what will happen after the shift of power, i think it's a marvelous decision to take action. That's the start of everything and who knows what high expectations the locals will have and demand to the new governments in service? Thanks for writing! :D
    Posted 05-06-2016 20:16

  • says :
    Dear Udeh, I am so glad to know that President himself is determined for the Clean up of deteriorated Ogoni land. I am hopeful that the plan comes to action with full efficiency and public participation.
    Thank you for sharing this good news :)
    Posted 03-06-2016 13:44

  • says :
    Udeh, my nation also suffered from oil pollution several years ago. Fortunately, citizens were willing to help clean the oil and restore the habitat to the way it was. Oil spillage is not only a problem limited to animal and plant species, since human lives are also threatened. Water is not drinkable, and food is contaminated so that it is not edible. Thanks for reporting and have a great day.
    Posted 02-06-2016 21:55

  • Adam Zhou says :
    I have been to a beach cleanup in Las Pi&#241as, Philippines and even though I was reluctant to go in the beggining, it was one of the most rewarding service trips I have ever been on but also, the most impactful. Government initiatives is crucial and it's great to hear that Nigeria is moving forward in this aspect. Thank you for the report!
    Posted 02-06-2016 19:36

  • Arushi Madan says :
    Plan to Clean-up the heavily polluted Ogoni land, is a great news. Hope even the new government sticks to this plan and acts to clean it up. Thanks for sharing.
    Posted 02-06-2016 18:06

Post a comment

Please sign in

Opportunities

Resources