Ogoniland: FG Creates 2000 Jobs As Remediation Advances In 4 LGA's

Ogoniland: FG Creates 2000 Jobs As Remediation Advances In 4 LGA's

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

In line with its determination to improve the livelihood of locals in Ogoniland, the federal government has created 2000 temporary jobs even as remediation exercise advanced in four Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme, all in Rivers State. 

To this end, the International Oil Companies (IOcs) have contributed the sum of $1billion for the successful clean-up of sites impacted by oil in the Niger Delta region, given that the 'Polluter-pay Principles', which is recognised globally mandated IOCs to pay for polluted environment. 

Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar stated this in Abuja yesterday at a special press briefing on the implementation of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland clean-up project. 

Giving the breakdown of jobs, Abubakar said that 882 community youths were engaged by batch one remediation contractors, while additional 1,118 community youths are currently engaged by batch two remediation contractors, aside the numerous indirect jobs that would be created in the form of trading and support activities.

The project, which is coordinated by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), an arm of the federal ministry of environment was mandated to remediate and restore hydrocarbon contaminated areas, stop further pollution and provide potable water to impacted communities.

Also, to provide sustainable alternative livelihood to the impacted communities as well as undertake health inventory of people living in the impacted areas.

The minister had on 22nd March, 2021, flagged-off the construction of six water schemes in the four LGAs namely: Bori/Kpea Water Scheme in Khana, Barako/B-Dere/K-Dere Water Scheme in Gokana, Terabo Water Scheme in Gokana, Korokoro/Nonwa Water Scheme in Tai, Alesa Water Scheme in Eleme and Ebubu/Nsisioken/Ogale Water Scheme also in Eleme. 

Appraising the quality of works at the remediated sites, Abubakar adjudged it to meet Internationally accepted standards, adding that two faulty lots were returned to the contractors for necessary upgrade. 

He debunked insinuations that UNEP has taken over a greater percentage of the project, adding that they are only technical advisers to the project. 

The minister stated that UNEP carried out a study on oil impacted sites, including the assessment and recommendations of the lots, saying that they were never part of the contractors engaged in the project. 

He said the Project Coordination Office (PCO) of HYPREP proposed to train 1,200 Ogoni women in various entrepreneurial skills from the four LGAs, noting that the agribusiness skill training and empowerment programme for 400 Ogoni women was also initiated to create alternative sources of livelihood for women.

Abubakar listed land tussle and traditional titles as part of the major setbacks towards the project, saying that some lands that were mapped out for remediation were enmeshed in controversy while the community shielded the government from cleaning the controversial land.

On artisinal refinery, he said, "It has been a major reason for some drop-out.The ministry is doing something about it. Its not easy to tackle but we will get to the root of the problem. It's been going on before we started the Ogoni clean-up". 

The minister stated that the total number of lots delineated are 69, adding that out of the 69, 21 has been remediated and others are at various stages of completion, assuring that the federal government would delineate more sites impacted by oil since Ogoniland is just the take-off point.