President Muhammadu Buahri has given approval for the cleaning up of Ogoni land polluted with oil spillage.
The presidential directive followed the report of the United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP, on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland.
President Buhari also approved the composition of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees of Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project, HYPREP, which were majorly facilitated by the recommendations of 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, including the amendment of the Official Gazette establishing the HYPREP to reflect a new governance framework on the project.
Members of the governing council and their representatives will include Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Federal Ministry of Environment, impacted states-Rivers, oil companies and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Ogoniland, United Nations System, while the Secretariat is to be headed by a Project Manager.
Similarly, the new board of Trustees for the HYPREP Trust Fund will have representatives from the Federal Government, NNPC, International Oil Companies, Ogoniland and the United Nations System.

UNEP Report implementation: Rivers APC lauds President Buhari’s momentous decision

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari on what it describes as the “several immediate actions” to fast-track the long delayed implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland.

The APC made the commendation in a press statement signed by the party’s State Pubilicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Finebone.

The statement reads:

“Wednesday, August 5, 2015 President Muhammadu Buhari approved and directed several immediate actions to fast-track the long delayed implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland.

“The reaction of Rivers State Chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, is that this is a confirmation of our earlier position that President Muhammadu Buhari means well for the Niger Delta as a whole and Ogoniland in particular. It further gives credence to the saying that a good friend is by far better than a bad brother.

“For 6 years that President Goodluck Jonathan was in the saddle as President of Nigeria with full executive powers, he blatantly ignored the UNEP Report for the cleaning of Ogoniland. He carried on as if Ogoniland was not part of the Niger Delta. But today, just 68 days into his administration, President Muhammadu Buhari has demonstrated that with strong will, love and honesty of purpose, nothing is impossible to achieve.

“It further goes to show that the modest contribution to the development of the Niger Delta so far had been championed by those outside of the region. Such efforts include the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission [NDDC] by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Ministry of Niger Delta midwifed by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua of blessed memory.

“Most significantly, the development underscores and justifies the purposeful and visionary leadership of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Senator Magnus Abe, Dr. Dakuku Peterside and all those who staked everything to ensure that our people belong to the main stream of Nigerian politics of the present era.

“The APC is convinced that history will generously accord pride of place to President Muhammadu Buhari and our courageous and visionary leaders whose audacious decision to lead us into the APC has now brought succour to Ogoniland, just as it will bring to the entire Niger Delta.

“We most profoundly thank Mr. President for this invaluable and inestimable gesture”.

Peterside hails clean-up of Ogoniland by Buhari, describes action as courageous

Dr. Dakuku Peterside, All Progressives Congress, APC governorship candidate in the April 2015 election in Rivers State has commended President Mohammadu Buhari for his courage in fast-tracking the long expected implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland in Rivers State.
Peterside who spoke in Abuja, the nation’s capital, expressed happiness over the president’s many actions that would eventually address all environmental issues in Ogoniland.

According to Peterside, this move obviously is historic and promises to ameliorate other challenges facing Ogoniland.
“Once again, Mr. President has demonstrated that he is a man of honour. During his campaign stops in Rivers State shortly before the election, he promised our people that his government would look into the UNEP Report and the challenges facing the people of Niger Delta. Less than three months into his administration, the President has already taken a giant step in this regard. He is indeed a man of his words.
“Our people in the region know that this is a president we can trust because of his antecedent and track record. By this action, Mr. President has rekindled hope and brought a major relief to our long-suffering people.
“We know that it can only be better. I therefore urge the entire people of Niger Delta region to rally round this president as he works tirelessly to return Nigeria on the path of honour and greatness. Our region is on his mind, therefore we must do everything possible to support this administration.