By Desmond Ejibas
Bori (Rivers), The Federal Government on Tuesday expressed concern over activities of oil thieves, who are behind illegal refining of crude oil in the Ogoniland area of Rivers.
The government said that activities of artisanal refiners were capable of re-polluting the ongoing clean-up of decades-old oil spills in the area.
The Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammad Abubakar spoke at the flag-off of the Livelihood Needs Assessment Programme in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers.
According to him, the clean-up of ‘complex sites’ in the swamps and creeks in Ogoniland, would be an exercise in futility if illegal refining were not stopped.
“So, today, we are flagging-off the awareness campaign for the livelihood needs assessment programme.
“The needs assessment forms will be administered next week, to ensure that training of youths is based on their desired choice of occupation; not an imposition by government.
“To this end, youths engaged in artisanal refining have the choice to stop the dangerous health-threatening activity and embrace a safer occupation for their good.
Abubakar said that President Muhammadu Buhari was fully committed to the clean-up exercise hence his concerns of activities of illegal oil bunkers in Ogoniland.
“The UNEP Report had recommended the stoppage of re-pollution from oil spills and discharges as a pre-condition for the clean-up of areas that are liable to re-pollution.
“So, we appeal to our community leaders and youths to be vanguards against artisanal and crude oil theft that constitute a threat to the clean-up goals.
“Re-pollution must be stopped if this is to be achieved and not be an exercise in futility,” he appealed.
The minister said that a joint team of professionals from Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), International Oil Companies, MOSOP/KAGOTE and Civil Society Organisations have been constituted.
He said the team was expected to restore and manage the already damaged mangrove vegetation in the area by using a pre-shoreline clean-up technique.
Abubakar announced that the complex and semi-complex sites, which groundwater remediation is required, had been advertised for pre-qualification.
“So, Nigerian companies are strongly encouraged to partner with technically competent companies, to ensure success, promotion of local content development and transfer of technology.
“Aside this, we are also in the process of engaging about 500 Ogoni youths across the four local government areas as special community security agents for the project
“Also, following the restructuring of HYPREP governing structures, we are steadily gaining speed by bringing on stream other key recommendations and mandates as recommended in the UNEP report
“The mandates include provision of potable water to Ogoni communities, training of youths for sustainable alternative livelihood, public heath inventory, environmental surveillance, among others,” he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abubakar also inaugurated HYPREP’s area office in Bori; declared open the training of community workers in Eleme as well as inspected a water project site in Alesa Eleme communities.
