Mahmood: We need support from Ogoni people to speed up process
By Punarimam Fehintola
The Minister of Environment Muhammad Mahmood has urged the people of the Niger Delta region to cooperate with the federal government of Nigeria especially in the area of ensuring free access to the polluted areas of the Ogoni land to ensure speedy clean-up of the region.
Muhammad Mahmood disclosed this during a rally and road show on the clean-up of the Niger Delta organized by civil society organization in Abuja as he promised the people that government will do its best, but adequate cooperation is also needed to achieve speed.
‘Cleaning up is under way, a lot has been achieved, there is slowness to some degree, this is the first time this is happening ,we also have issues with the people of Ogoni land therefore we are calling on them to cooperate with government ,we also understand the issues they face with land ownership but the faster the better and make the land conducive for farming, fishing and other things’.
The minister further explained that some of the issues that slows the process are unforeseen circumstances which are being faced by contractors and those directly involved in the cleaning.
‘ I visited the Ogoni land one and half month ago and discover so many things that we didn’t envisage ,the United Nations has conducted an excellent environmental assessment and that is the protocol we have been following and the president has said it must be followed so that an excellent result can be achieved’.
Meanwhile the acting Executive Director, African center for leadership strategy and development Center LSD Monday Osasay who was represented by its head of communication Lawal said the delay in the accomplishment of the emergency measures is important and should be handled as emergency.
‘Leaving our brothers and sisters behind in terms of clean and portable water as well as clean environment. the cleanup categorically speaking is arguably supposed to be a catalyst in the country’s actualization of goals 3 and 6 of the SDGs good health and wellbeing and clean water and sanitation respectively.
He further said that HYPREP is established for the purpose of reversing the impact of the oil related activities in the Niger Delta and is expected to work with diverse stake holders including civil society organization which act as go between the middle belt between the people and government.
