Ogoni Clean-up: Community cries out, gives FG one month ultimatum
Posted by Factnews | 6 years ago | 1,804 times
Ogoni community has called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, commence clean-up of oil-polluted areas of Ogoniland in Rivers State or face the wrath of the people.
Speaking in Port Harcourt yesterday, on activities marking the 21st anniversary of Ogoni sons killed by the military, who struggled for the survival and development of the area, Secretary of the Martyrs Day Planning Committee, Mr. Bari-ara Kpalap, said since the flag-off of the clean-up and the ground-breaking, for the construction of the integrated contaminated soil management, nothing has been done in the area.
Kpalap said if nothing is done to commence the clean-up, the life of the people in the area would become more endangered than reported.
He said spilled oil has affected the soil and water in Ogoniland.
“Our expectations have not been met because since June 2, 2016 to date, we cannot point to anything concrete that the federal government has done, in the history of the clean-up of Ogoniland.
“The flag-off was done in June 2016 and they did another ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the integrated contaminated soil management. As we speak, construction or clean-up of the area is comatose,” he said.
Kpalap said the rate of pollution in Ogoni is high, and has expanded and deepened.
“The fertility of our soil continues to destroy, affecting food production and our livelihood. No clean water in the area, the drinkable water in Ogoniland is contaminated and has led to increase in health challenge.”
According to him, Ogoni people were not satisfied with the activities and urged the government to step up action and facilitate the cleanup exercise.
“If by the end of December this year, we do not see any meaningful activities as regards to clean-up in Ogoniland and nothing to convince us that the government is ready to commence the clean up, we will go back to the trenches and embark on a peaceful campaign against the federal government, until government matches its words with action,” he said.
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