BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
Cross section of participants at the Ministerial Press Briefing on the Ministry of Environment’s achievements and priority areas for 2022 in Abuja yesterday.
Worried by the continued environmental degradation in oil-producing States, the federal government has mapped out plans to remediate about 5,354,766 cubic meters of contaminated soil, covering about 314 acres of land in Ogoni, Rivers State.
This is even as bidding for additional 37 hydrocarbon impacted sites commenced last month, expected to provide employment and livelihood opportunities among Ogoni youths.
Minister of State for Environment, Barr Sharon Ikeazor stated this in Abuja yesterday while briefing the media on the ministry's achievements and priority areas for 2022.
She stated that in 2019, contracts for 21 lots were awarded for remediation, which covered 12 of the 65 listed sites in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, amounting to 276 acres of land.
Ikeazor hinted that 18 out of the 21 lots have been completed and certified by National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) while three of the lots are currently undergoing certification process and one lot is still undergoing remediation.
The minister added, "An additional 29 lots were awarded for remediation of eight sites in February 2020. The area covered is 289 acres. Six of these sites have been completed and certified by NOSDRA while two outstanding sites at Bdere and Ogale are above 60 percent completion".
She said that a total of 1,337 persons have been trained, employed, and earned income to support their livelihood through the remediation project, thereby enhancing the local economy.
Ikeazor stated that the Needs Assessment Forms (NAFs), which were distributed to 5000 youths in December 2021 were targeted at the artisanal refiners, expected to provide them with alternative livelihoods through acquisition of new skillsets.
To this end, she said that 500 youths would be employed as local security at various Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) sites in Ogoni land, adding that alternative livelihoods for Ogoni locals were recommended in the UNEP report.
According to her, "In 2020, a set of 400 women commenced training with United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in agribusiness at Songhai Farms in the areas of aquaculture, poultry, cropping and food processing. The plan is to train a total of 1,200 women in agribusiness".
On his part, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Engr Hassan Musa stated that the ministry has consistently focused on programmes and policies that would eradicate poverty and improve food security towards achieving economic growth.
He said the REDD+ project would enable Nigeria to contribute to climate change mitigation through improved forest conservation, thereby enhancing sustainable livelihoods.
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