Tai (Rivers) – The Federal Government said on Thursday that plans were underway to connect Ogoniland to the national grid, to ease suffering of residents in the area.
The Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, made this known during a town hall meeting with Ogonj leaders and residents at Korokoro community in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers.
He said that the linking of Ogoni communities ravaged by decades-long oil spillage to the national grid was part of moves to expand the project objectives of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
He said that he Federal Government took the decision in order to power all water facilities constructed in the area as part of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommendations in Ogoniland.
”So, apart from the remediation exercise that is being executed by HYPREP, there is also the water project that we are working on.
”We realised that for the water project to become sustainable that there must be an enduring power supply to the area.
”Therefore, the Federal Government is expanding the objectives of the project mandate of HYPREP, to ensure that the entire Ogoniland is linked to the national grid,” he said.
The minister said that the rural electrification project when completed would power water facilities as well as power small scale industries in the area.
Abdullahi further said that the linking of cottage industries in Ogoniland to the national grid would create employment for the army of unemployed Ogonj youths.
”President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed some reservation in view of the slow pace of the clean-up exercise, but confident in the new Project Coordinator of HYPREP to deliver on the job.
”So, the Federal Government is focussed towards ensuring in the next couple of months that we must see visible and appreciable projects on ground,” he said.
Speaking, the Chairman of Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, King Godwin Giniwa, expressed optimism that the federal government would adhere to UNEP specifications in implementing the clean–up project.
He bemoaned the slow pace of the clean-up exercise and called on President Buhari to personally intervene on the matter to fast track the project.
”However, HYPREP has not done bad despite the very slow pace of the remediation project.
”We are happy with the plans to connect our communities to the national grid because electricity is life, and I have no doubt that you (minister) will do things differently,” he said.
According to the traditional ruler, HYPREP under the new management team has brought noticeable change and progress to the clean-up exercise. (NAN)
