President MUHAMMADU BUHARI has initiated steps to restore Ogoniland in Rivers State after years of environmental degradation caused by oil pollution.
President MUHAMMADU BUHARI has initiated steps to restore Ogoniland in Rivers State after years of environmental degradation caused by oil pollution. Special Adviser to the President on Meida and Publicity, FEMI ADESINA said President BUHARI has approved several actions to fast-track the long delayed implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme Report on environmental restoration of Ogoniland.
President MUHAMMADU BUHARI has initiated steps to restore Ogoniland in Rivers State after years of environmental degradation caused by oil pollution. Special Adviser to the President on Meida and Publicity, FEMI ADESINA said President BUHARI has approved several actions to fast-track the long delayed implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme Report on environmental restoration of Ogoniland. He said the actions approved by the President include the amendment of the Official Gazette establishing the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project, HYPREP, to reflect a new governance framework comprising a Governing Council, a Board of Trustees and Project Management. The move is based on recommendations by the Executive Director of UNEP, the UNEP Special Representative for Ogoniland, Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministries of Environment and Petroleum Resources, and other stakeholders. In a statement; FEMI ADESINA said the President further approved that the HYPREP Governing Council should be composed of representatives drawn from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Rivers State Government, and two representatives from Ogoniland.
Also, four representatives are to be drawn from oil companies and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; the United Nations System as well as a secretariat headed by Project Manager. The President also approved the composition of a Board of Trustees for HYPREP Trust Fund with members drawn from the Federal Government, NNPC, International Oil Companies, Ogoniland, and the United Nations System. The statement noted that following a meeting held on the directive of President BUHARI, it was also agreed that a contribution deposit of ten million US dollars would be made by stakeholders within thirty days of the appointment of members of the Board of Trustees for the Trust Fund. It said the Board will be responsible for collecting and managing funds from contributors and donors, while a new implementation template has also been evolved at the instance of President BUHARI. FEMI ADESINA said the environmental clean-up of Ogoniland will commence in earnest with the President's inauguration of the HYPREP Governing Council and the Board of Trustees for the Trust Fund. The Presidential spokesman said the move is in keeping with President BUHARI’s avowed commitment to the development and well-being of all Nigerians.
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