TheCable

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) says “nothing concrete” has been done regarding the clean-up of Ogoni land.

At a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital, on Thursday, MOSOP warned against government’s continued delay over the exercise.

They gave the federal government a December deadline to commence the clean-up, lamenting that the oil spills in the area have affected the people’s means of livelihood.

The briefing was to mark the 21st memorial anniversary of the people killed during the struggle for the development of Ogoni land.

“Our expectations have not been met because since June 2, 2016, till date, we cannot point to anything concrete that the federal government has done,” he said.

“The flag-off was done in June 2016 and they did another groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the integrated contaminated soil management.

“As we speak, construction or clean-up of the area is in comatose.”

TheCable had reported that the clean-up was yet to commence one year after President Muhammadu Buhari flagged off the exercise.

Jibril Ibrahim, minister of state for environment, later said the current administration did not want to start the clean-up of Ogoniland on a faulty note.

He had told TheCable that the government was clearing all outstanding issues — including the alleged fraudulent employment some persons to the Hydrocarborn Pollution and Restoration Project (HYPREP) — and building the right structures, before progressing with the clean-up.