The Management of Belema Oil Producing Nigeria Limited has restated its commitment to work towards the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on the oil pollution of Ogoniland.
The Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Tein Jackrich who said at a meeting with Ogoni youth leaders in Yeghe Gokana Local Government Area, said that the UNEP report would be accorded a special place in the company’s scheme of things.
Mr Jackrich said that as part of the implementation, process the company would mobilize resources to ensure total clean up of polluted sites before resumption of oil exploration stressing that in all of these, the youths and elders of Ogoni will be made to participate in the clean up of their areas.
He said that apart from the implementation of the UNEP report, the management would also introduce scholarship programmes for youths in the area, while farmers will be empowered with 24 million naira grant.
Mr Jackrich said that Belema Oil which is an indigenous oil firm will work towards the restoration of the Ogoni environment and called for their support.
Responding, an ex-militant in the area who is also an Ogoni youth leader, Mr Solomon Ndiigbara said that the youths of Ogoni are ready to work with Belema Oil but on conditions that all its promises would be kept. Mr Ndiigbara also commended the company for its promised to assist in the clean up of polluted sites in Ogoni.
It would be recalled that, the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and other stakeholders had insisted that oil activities would only resume in the area after environmental clean up has been concluded in polluted communities.
Source: The Tide
