President
Muhammadu Buhari yesterday sounded a note of warning that oil theft and illegal
refining will not be tolerated.
He
also charged regulators of the oil industry to ensure that oil companies
operate within international standards.
The
President spoke in Bodo, Rivers State when he inaugurated the clean-up of oil
spill in Ogoni, Rivers State. President Buhari was represented by Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo.
The
clean-up is part of the implementation of the United Nations
Environmental Programme (UNEP) report.
The
President said: “Let me seize this opportunity to sound a note of warning that
the current oil theft and illegal refining will not be tolerated. The
regulators of the oil industry must live up to expectations. They must ensure
that oil companies carry out their operations in line with universal best
practices.
“This
administration is laying a foundation for change. The government places high
emphasis on the diversification of our economy. This is to ensure that our
economy is strong and capable of supporting our teeming young people, thorough
job and wealth creation.”
The
President also pointed out that the clean-up of Ogoniland is embedded in the
programme, livelihood and sustainable development components.
”Today
(yesterday) marks another milestone in the life of our administration. I recall
the time as a military Head of State, when I visited Bodo Town in Ogoniland.
“During
that visit, I commissioned a large fish pond and planted a tree as a sign for
that government’s concern for the environment. Unfortunately, since then, the
degradation of land, water and air has done huge damage to the fragile
ecosystem of the Niger Delta, especially the Ogoniland.
“Oil
exploration and production have been going on in Nigeria for six decades. Oil
has given a boost to the Nigerian economy, but the ecosystem of the Niger Delta
has been severely damaged. Fishing and agriculture have been badly affected.
“There
were acts, enactment, laws, guidelines, regulations to govern the operators of
the oil industry. However, either because of lack of will or wilful
non-compliance with environmental laws, the environment was put in jeopardy.”
President
Buhari also stated that in the various communities in the Niger Delta, the
negative impact of oil production and lack of consideration for best practices
sparked off the struggle for justice and fairplay in the conduct of business by
oil industry operators.
He
noted that quite unfortunately, the agitations led to loss of lives and
property while international concern was raised, with past governments urged to
take decisive steps to address the issues.
The
President said: “The report (by UNEP) was submitted to my predecessor in office
(Jonathan) in 2011, but the implementation was not accorded the necessary
support it required. The people of Ogoni land continued to suffer from
pollution of air, land and water.
“After
listening to the address presented on behalf of the Ogoni people by Senator
Magnus Abe (during his visit to Ogoni on January 8, 2015), we made a solemn
commitment that if given the opportunity, we shall implement the UNEP report on
Ogoni land. We are determined to put right the wrongs of the past, where the
people of this land were treated unfairly and their environment unduly
degraded.
“Today
(yesterday), we are in Ogoniland, in the heart of the Niger Delta, to fulfil
our promise to you and to bring justice and succour to our people. The clean-up
of this land will require change on the part of all those who deal with the
Niger Delta environment, particularly the oil companies and our communities.
The tempo of this assignment increased when my cabinet was constituted.
“We
are, therefore, laying a solid foundation today (yesterday) for the restoration
of the fragile ecosystem of Ogoni land and the rest of the Niger Delta.”
Rivers
State Governor Nyesom Wike assured that the state government would provide the
required platform for the successful clean-up of Ogoni land and the
implementation of the UNEP report.
“We
acknowledge that this is a federal initiative. The direct impact is borne by
our people. We therefore urge all our stakeholders to embrace and support this
Federal Government’s gesture and ensure a hitch-free exercise.
“We,
therefore, welcome this initiative wholeheartedly, as shown by our enthusiastic
presence, believing that the recommendations of UNEP will be systematically
executed. This is because we believe that only environmental justice would
restore sustainable peace, stability and socio-economic progress in the Niger
Delta.
“We
commend Mr. President’s determination to close this ugly chapter in our
country’s history. Although this has taken long in coming, it is never too
late, when it comes to the environment. Mr. President sir, your presence in
Ogoniland today (yesterday) is a testimonial of the long-awaited clean-up and
remediation exercises of the Niger Delta polluted environment.”
Minister
of Transportation and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, said his
administration did everything, but former President Goodluck Jonathan did
not implement the UNEP report.
The
immediate past Chairman of the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, His
Majesty Godwin Gininwa, who is also the Chairman of the Supreme Council of
Ogoni Traditional Rulers said Dr. Jonathan made a mistake by not implementing
the UNEP report, in spite of being a Niger Deltan.
Gininwa
said: “Jonathan is my boy. Jonathan made a mistake. He could not do what he
promised (implementation of the UNEP report)”. He urged President
Buhari to re-award the contract for the completion of the abandoned Bodo-Bonny
Road in Rivers State.
The
launch was also attended by Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha; the
Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency
(NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside; the Executive Director of UNEP, Achim Steiner;
ministers; members of the National Assembly; and other top government
officials.
Recalling
his efforts at the UNEP report’s implementation, Amaechi said: “Who is your
brother? We did everything possible as sitting government (when he was Rivers Governor)
to get our brother and our leader, the former President (Jonathan) to implement
the UNEP report. We did everything, including going to church to pray and UNEP
report was not implemented.
“I
was then, by accident of God, the Director-General of Buhari Campaign
Organisation. The day I was to go with the presidential candidate of the All
Progressives Congress, APC, (Buhari) to Calabar and Delta State (on January 8,
2015), as we were taking two states per day, I saw a delegation of Ogoni people
in my house and they requested that I should plead with the then Gen. Buhari to
kindly see them in their natural habitat.
“That
they (Ogoni people) wanted to receive him (Gen. Buhari) and make a demand. In
spite of running late, Gen. Buhari agreed to come. He came to Ogoni and
promised he would implement the UNEP report.
“We
are gathered here today (yesterday) in keeping with that promise and economy of
the Ogoni people will change. There is no way we will spend $1 billion that we
shall not create employment. The micro economy will change.”
Amaechi
lauded Ogoni people for the chieftaincy title they gave President Buhari, to
express gratitude for fulfilling his promise on the full implementation of the
UNEP report.
UNEP
Executive Director Steiner confessed that he did not think that yesterday
would come. He praised former President Obasanjo for the initiative, adding
that the late renowned environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and other Ogoni
activists did not die in vain.
Bishop
Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto Diocese of the Catholic Church, who was
appointed by former
President Obasanjo in 2005 as the mediator between the Ogoni people and the
Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited said in spite of one
thousand petitions written against him by Ogoni people, he was glad that the
clean-up had begun.
Managing
Director of SPDC Osagie Okunbor assured that the Anglo/Dutch oil giant would
support the clean-up and contribute its share of the environmental restoration
fund.
The
Minister of Environment, Hajia Amina Mohammed, said the kick-off of
the clean-up was in fulfilment of the promise made by President Buhari,
stressing that the UNEP Report’s implementation would require partnership,
trust, transparency and accountability.
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