Report finds hidden anger in Ogoni over disregard for compensation in clean up
If the Federal Government does not act fast and address the seething anger over expectation of compensation as a component of the clean up, the entire $1billion effort may go down the drain.
This is the critical finding of the Symposium mounted by the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Rivers State which ended in Port Harcourt last weekend. The group examined the environment with particular focus on the report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Ogoni Clean-up, and the compliance level of stakeholders, especially Shell and the FG (through HYPREP).
The discussants also held that since the underpinnings of Ogoni struggle have been environmental injustice, remediation without compensation still harbours injustice; and this seems to make the scheme a hard sale to the Ogoni community.
The symposium resolved that for the UNEP Report and consequent Ogoni Clean-up to have enduring result, remediation must be followed with confirmation and monitoring to prevent further degradation.
There was therefore, a demand for the Federal Government to address the underpinning desire for compensation because cleaning brings environmental remediation but does not address the aspect of human loss over the years.
It was emphasised that Nigerians and their government need to take the issues of environment seriously if we must ensure national security; including security of lives and property and food security.
The communiqué also pointed out that despite the hype by government and stakeholders, the issue of Ogoni Clean-up seems to drag so slowly that it has created the perception of motion without movement. It was clearly pointed out that funds are not the problem of the Clean Up but stifling bureaucratic processes that make nonsense of procurement needs, thus, working against the expectations of the impacted communities. There was a call to grant waivers so that action can move faster without compromising transparency.
It was also observed that the agency responsible for the Clean Up, HYPREP, has not been able to communicate the processes to the communities and the press effectively, thus creating impression that the clean up was a fraud or political. Calls were made to open up communication to sell the exercise.
Participants commended members of the press for standing with the Ogoni community over the decades especially since the late Ken Saro-wiwa broadened the awareness of the Ogoni on the environmental degradation of their land, but urged the press to do more on the issue concerning the Niger Delta region. The press was urged to deploy more resources in monitoring the clean up processes.
They observed that even as UNEP Report was not enough for the solution of the environmental degradation of Ogoni due to perceived influence of multinational oil corporations on the team, the Report at least validated the claims by the Ogoni of monumental degradation of their environment.
The participants averred that it is difficult for journalists to go into Ogoniland to do independent and investigative report due to grave security situation in the enclave.
It was painfully admitted that re-pollution has become the biggest threat to the clean up exercise with fears that more pollution sites must have emerged than the UNEP Report identified.
It was a gathering of women from various professional backgrounds, for this year’s edition of Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) conference. The venue was the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island.
The 3-day event was the 19th in its series and was spear-headed by the wife of the governor of Lagos State, Ibijoke Sanwo-olu . It was indeed a conference to reckon with as it exposed the participants to what it takes to be an all-round successful woman.
Speaking at the conference which held under the theme, ‘Unlearn, Learn
Shell Petroleum Development Company has promised to provide alternative power source to the Abia Automated Shoe factory to enhance maximum operation.
Sam Hart, the coordinator of the Shoe factory and Chinenye Nwogu, special assistant to the Governor of Abia State on Social Investment and Job creation, made this known while conducting Governor Okezie Ikpeazu round the factory.
Both Hart and Nwogu disclosed that the machines had been tested and confirmed to be in good condition for the job, saying that various kinds of shoes could be produced in the factory.
Ikpeazu, while speaking during an inspection visit to the shoe factory located at Umuokahia in Obingwa LGA and Relearn: 21st Century Women’s T.H.E.M.E.S Perspectives/approach’, Ibijoke Sanwo-olu stressed the need for women to be educated, and that such efforts would go a long way in empowering women in society.
According to her, when women are educated, they she would not only contribute meaningfully to the development of their families but also to nation building.
She further explained that empowered and educated women would raise responsible children.
“As a nation, we need to invest effectively in maximising the capacity of women. As women, we must strategically position ourselves to take full benefits of the programmes of government,” she said.
·Warns against re-pollution · Wants HYPREP to seat up and help the people own the process with information
of Abia, expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far at the factory and thanked the team from China as well as coordinators of the project for a job well done.
The governor said that the decision to establish a shoe factory in the state was a product of one of his visits to China.
He stated that efforts were on top gear to provide alternative power source in the factory, and charged the Chinese contractors installing the machines to do everything needed to meet up the deadline. The governor directed that a canteen and other facilities needed to make the place a shoe village be provided at the shoe factory.
The Commissioner for Industry, Uwaoma Olewengwa and her Information Counterpart Chief John Okiyi Kalu, among other government functionaries accompanied the governor on the inspection visit.