President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and oil companies to quickly release fund for the clean-up of Ogoni community. The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachukwu disclosed this on Wednesday in the first part of an 8-Part Series Podcast that focuses on the Niger Delta and security.
He reiterated the president’s committment to the success of the Ogoni clean up, noting that his ministry was working with the Ministry of Environment to continue the exercise.
He said: “The president is completely committed to the success of this. And we are working with the Ministry of Environment to continue the Ogoni clean up. The President has just directed that funds necessary for this must be released within a very short period of time so that this Ogoni clean up can actually move from the drawing board to actual practical reality. In fact, both the oil companies and NNPC to fund this sufficiently for us to move forward.”
According to the minister, the ministry has commenced a Programme to engage Ogoni in order to secure the community buy-in and participation when there is any problem.
The plan to make communities have faith in the government, he said, is not restricted to Ogoni.
