The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd. ), has encouraged Ogoni leaders to educate their people about the importance of safeguarding national assets including as pipelines and other oil installations.
Buhari told the Ogoni leaders at the State House in Abuja on Friday that deliberate destruction of such assets usually causes greater devastation on the environment and impedes progress in the area.
He stated that the Federal Government was dedicated to cleaning up Ogoni land so that indigenes can reclaim their lives, return to their farms, and resume economic activity.
“You will need to educate the people of Ogoni land and the region more, that when pipelines are broken, the damage is more to the immediate environment and the people. The majority of farmers and fishermen struggle because the fishes now move to the deep sea,’’ the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity quoted Buhari as saying.
“Your Royal Highnesses, distinguished representatives of the people of Ogoni land, I note the need to ensure completion of segment of the East-West Road traversing Ogoni land, and steps will be taken to ensure delivery under the Infrastructure Development Fund as earlier conceived. We intend to complete this vital artery of Nigeria.
“Furthermore, we are committed to ensuring clemency and national integration as part of this Administration’s bid to lay the foundation for genuine reconciliation and bring closure to the issues of Ogoni land.
“The unfortunate incidents of the early 1990s leading to the loss of lives of distinguished sons of Ogoni land and the collateral judicial processes are indelible in our memories.
“Despite the grievous circumstances, the Federal Government will consider the request for the grant of pardon to finally close the Ogoni saga,’’ Buhari noted.
According to him, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Ltd, a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, has been granted a license to operate OML11, which will boost economic activity and integration in the zone.
“To ensure the stimulation of economic activities in Ogoni land as underpinned by the vast petroleum resources underlying Ogoni land and neighboring communities, NPDC, a subsidiary of the NNPC has been granted license to operate OML11.
“Accordingly, NNPC is hereby directed to engage all host communities, particularly Ogoni people to ensure inclusive processes of oil and gas exploration and production is anchored on optimum involvement of host communities. NPDC will lay a broad-based programme for the emergence of new Ogoni land for the benefit of the Ogoni people and Nigeria as a whole,’’ he added.
“This Administration has placed the rehabilitation of the Niger Delta as a top priority and has committed a lot of resources to tackle existing problems, including launching a US One Billion dollar oil clean-up exercise to reverse the terrible damage and restore the ecosystem.
“I am pleased that the restoration and amelioration activities under the auspices of the United Nations and the vehicle of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project have commenced work since we assumed office as we promised.
“We will take further steps to ensure faithful and speedy execution of the project so as to restore the environment and enable farming and fishing activities to resume in the affected areas,’’ he added.
The President also expressed gratitude to the leaders for recognizing the federal government’s efforts to clean up the area and boost economic activity.
“Your Royal Highnesses and very distinguished people of Ogoni land, I thank you very much for your kind words and recognition of efforts made by our administration to bring progress to your part and all parts of the country.’’
His Majesty King Godwin N.K. Giniwa, President of the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, praised Buhari for his initiatives in the area, particularly on environmental clean-up.
The people believe in Nigeria’s unity, and the future of every group can only be ensured in one country, according to the supreme monarch.
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