CSOs berate FG over Ogoni clean-up

By Adeola Tukuru

Abuja

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (CLSD), yesterday, expressed dismay on the seeming inactive response by the federal government to the Niger Delta clean- up, noting that the position has created fear and apathy among communities in the region.
The group further added that the commencement of the clean – up provided a new window of opportunity to navigate the renewed tension and militancy in the region.
Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa, at the national summit on Niger Delta clean-up with the theme: “Management of Contaminated Environments in Nigeria for Sustainable Development,” appealed to the federal government to wave the olive branch and constructively engage the new militants, no matter the present provocations.
“As all have come to know, the oil industry will continue to play a crucial role in our attempt to revive and diversify our tottering economy,” he said.
Also, the Executive Director of CLSD, Dr Otive Igbuzor, stated that international bodies such as the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) and government agencies have been established and charged with the responsibility of the clean-up exercise to restore to a large extent the environmental impact of the oil spills in the region.
“The long years of neglect has led to conflict and violence in which the youths in the region have taken their destiny in their own hands by confronting the government, which they believe is the reason behind the lack of meaningful development in the area,” he said.

Leave a Reply