NewsOil Spill: House Seeks Implementation of UNEP Report on Ogoniland

Oil Spill: House Seeks Implementation of UNEP Report on Ogoniland

THEWILL APP ADS 2

SAN FRANCISCO, November 06, (THEWILL) – The House of Representatives Wednesday called for the immediate implementation of the United Nation’s Environment Programme (UNEP) on Ogoniland in order to alleviate the suffering of the people.

This was the outcome of the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), in which he intimated the House of the despoliation of the Ogoni environment and other Niger Delta communities due to decades of oil exploration.

The House consequently mandated its Committees on Environment and Emergency Preparedness to liaise with the Hydro-carbon Restoration Project (HYPREP) and relevant stakeholders and report back in one week.

In his lead debate, Chinda noted that the UNEP had conducted an independent assessment of the Ogoni environment and public health impacts of oil communities in Ogoni land on the request of the Federal Government and proffered some solutions for remediation.

He said UNEP, in its report, showed, amongst other things, the nature and extent of oil contamination and covered contaminated land, ground water, surface water, sediment, vegetation, air pollution, public health, industry practices as well as the implications for affected populations and provided clear operational guidelines on how it could be addressed.

According to him, since August 2011 when the report was presented to President Goodluck Jonathan, the Federal Government is yet to implement it, whilst the people of Ogoni continue to “wallow in pain and anguish” leading to protests by various groups such as the Ogoni Solidarity Forum (OSF) Social Action and Environmental Rights Actions.

He maintained that the Federal Government’s efforts at addressing the issues raised in the report by hurriedly setting up the Hydro-carbons Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP)on the eve of the presentation of the report is a “mere window dressing” as it has been largely ineffective, ineffectual and short of the expectations of the Ogoni people.

According to him, the issue is already generating ill feelings and despondency amongst the Ogoni people and “unless the report is fully implemented, they would continue to suffer and feel alienated, a situation that could further lead to tension in the area.”

Saint Mugaga, Abuja

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