THE Rivers State Government said on Thursday that it was ready to collaborate with the Federal Government in the implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme recommendations on the clean-up of Ogoniland, which was devastated by oil pollution.
The state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, made this remark when the Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina Muhammed, paid him a courtesy call at the Government House in Port Harcourt.
Wike observed that the oil pollution in Ogoniland was adversely affecting the people of the area, even as he expressed delight over the commitment of the Federal Government’s implementation of the UNEP report, noting that the devastation of the Niger Delta environment has impacted negatively on the people.
“As a state, we strongly reiterate our support towards the holistic implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoniland. We are excited to see the drive of the Minister for Environment in ensuring that the Ogoni clean-up exercise becomes a reality”, the governor said.
Represented by his deputy, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, the governor said Ogoni people in the state were general ready to cooperate and collaborate to see the successful conclusion of the clean-up in line with internationally acceptable standards.
Earlier, the Minister for Environment, Mrs. Amina Muhammed, who was represented by the Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jubril, said they were in the state to seek collaboration and cooperation with the state government and Ogoni stakeholders in the implementation of the UNEP report.
Source: Punch
