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Tag: BUHARI

  • Political class welcomes Buhari’s directive on withdrawal of police orderlies

    Political class welcomes Buhari’s directive on withdrawal of police orderlies

    Politicians across the country have welcome President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to the police to reduce the number of their personnel attached to politicians and other ‘big men’.

    Buhari said during the week that policemen so withdrawn should be deployed to provide security for the generality of Nigerians.

    Senator Kabiru Ibrahin Gaya, representing Kano South said by phone yesterday that the directive is timely.

    He said Nigeria has had enough of siren blowing by police escorts attached to politicians.

    Some politicians,according to him, have been misusing the privilege by disturbing public peace.

    Gaya advocated that ministers should not be allowed to use police escorts and only the President, the Vice President and the Service Chiefs should be accorded that privilege in view of the sensitive positions they occupy.

    Dame Judith Amaechi, wife of the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, in her reaction in Port Harcourt yesterday through her Media Assistant, Dike Bekwele, described the decision as a welcome development,while the immediate past Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, Chief Tony Okocha, called it a step in the right decision.

    The Kwara state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chair Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo is also in agreement with Buhari on the move,saying: “We have no problem with that. If that is what the president said we will obey and we have no cause for alarm.

    “We on our side will not rest on our oars to make arrangement for alternative security,” he said.

    The Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu said the police authorities are “ already working on the President’s directive and the police will come out with the details very soon.

    “In the meantime, police will continue to assess requests from members of the public, with the view to determining the appropriateness or otherwise of such requests. Frivolous requests will not be given consideration.

    “We have always been working to address security fears that necessitate police protection by members of the public. It does not matter whether such fears are expressed by the rich or the poor.

    “We are duty bound to respond to security threats, whether the request is coming from the rich or the poor. We are there to protect every law abiding citizen, regardless of their social status”

  • Ayade hails Buhari on response to ecological problems

    Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade yesterday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for swinging into action immediately after receiving a letter of plea for help following the menace of erosion that is devastating most parts of the state.

    Ayade, who personally handed over the letter to the President in Abuja, said he was impressed that barely two weeks after, the President had sent a team to the state to evaluate the challenge.

    The governor spoke during the presentation of the preliminary report by a team of experts led by the Deputy Director, Ecological Fund Office at the Presidency, Engr Funsho Adebiyi after five days of assessment tour of ecological sites, especially erosion ravaged areas in the state.

    “This response shows that he is not only a true democrat but an action President,” the governor stated, adding: “This clearly shows that irrespective of party lines, the President has demonstrated that he is today the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by sending this team few days after my discussion with him.”

    The governor charged the team to go beyond writing the report by actually implementing the recommendations, or the whole state will become a disaster area.

    He thanked the team for painstakingly undertaking a comprehensive tour of all ecological related issues ranging from coastal areas, landslides, under water current, dams, gullies and erosion sites across the state.

    According to Ayade who enumerated some of the ecological effects on the citizenry explained that: “This is having an organic incursion into the anthology, sociology and orientation of our people and if this is not handled properly, we are going to have a very big environmental cataclysm in our hands.

    “The ecological problem is beyond the financial capacity of the state as pupils have been disrupted from schools and they are really devastating and if they are not handled urgently, the village system will be wiped out, life span shortened, and there will be no hope for tomorrow. This calls for prompt action from the Federal government.

     

    “Erosion is a direct consequence of climate change which is now a global phenomenon and whoever that sits on ecological fund will know that the situation is critical and requires urgent intervention to address them permanently. It is my hope that as you return to Abuja you will present real situation as you saw them.

    These are things that have gone beyond the economy and capacity of the state government. Our internally generated revenue is so insignificant that we cannot even pay our salaries. With this kind of problem, if we don’t cry to the President then we are in a big trouble.”

    Earlier, Engr Adebiyi disclosed that the team had visited over 15 critical areas across the state, adding that all the places inspected needed urgent attention.

  • Obasanjo named as Special Envoy to Guinea Bissau

    Obasanjo named as Special Envoy to Guinea Bissau

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed concerned over the unfolding political situation in Guinea Bissau following the dismissal of the Prime Minister, Mr Domingos Pereira, and his cabinet by President Jose Mario Vaz.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the president’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

    It stated that Buhari had already sent former President Olusegun Obasanjo as his Special Envoy to mediate and help find a solution to the crisis brewing in that country.

    According to the statement, Buhari’s peace mission is in demonstration of true African solidarity and brotherhood.

    The statement maintained that Obasanjo had embarked on the first leg of his mission by consulting with the current Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, President Macky Sall of Senegal in Dakar on Thursday.

    “It is regrettable that while Chief Obasanjo was still consulting with President Sall, President Jose Mario Vaz of Guinea Bissau proceeded to appoint and swear-in a new Prime Minister in the person of Mr Baciro Dja, a development that has worsened the political situation in his country.’’

    Buhari appealed for calm and called on the leadership in Guinea Bissau to exercise utmost restraint and ensure the maintenance of law and order as efforts continue to resolve the current crisis.

    The president, particularly, urged the leadership in Guinea Bissau, including the military, to ensure respect for constitutional order, sanctity of life and safety of citizens.

    He also enjoined them to avoid taking any further action that could threaten the fragile democratic institutions recently established in the country.

  • Buhari to IG: prune police attached to the rich

    Buhari to IG: prune police attached to the rich

    •PSC: police have 19,500 personnel shortfall

    President  Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, to reduce the policemen attached to rich individuals.

    The order was given when the President met with Arase, Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Mike Okiro  and the Permanent Secretary of the Police Affairs Ministry, James Obiegbu.

    “You must ensure that the recruitment process is transparent. Those who will conduct the recruitment must be above board. It should not be heard that they receive gratification or extort money from those who want to enlist in the police,” Femi Adesina, special adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, quoted President Buhari as saying.

    On the stagnation of policemen on same rank for many years, the President counselled the Police Service Commission to review the structure of the police and make recommendations on how the problem could be solved to boost the morale of policemen.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Okiro said there had been a deficiency of about 19,500 policemen since 2010.

    Besides the 10,000 recently approved for recruitment by  President Buhari, Okiro said only 1,500 officers had been replaced of the 21,000 deficiency since 2010.

    He said: “We thought about recruitment of police officers. Over the years, more than 21,000 police officers had retired; some dismissed, some died between 2010 and today. Of this, only about 1,500 were replaced.

    “So we discussed this with Mr. President. Of course, you are aware that a few days ago, Mr. President said the police are going to recruit 10,000.

    “We discussed with him on modalities and how to ensure that the 10,000 people are recruited to maintain security.”

    On how soon the recruitment would start, he said certain procedures and guidelines must first be put in place.

    Speaking on the meeting with the President, he said: “We, permanent secretary of Police Affairs, chairman of Police Service Commission and the Inspector General of Police with their members and management staff, briefed the President on the needs and challenges, success recorded and things to be done to ensure that security is maintained.

    Asked about any specific di rective from the President, he said: “Of course, he has given us assurance that the police will be encouraged, will be funded, will be equipped within the provisions of the budget to make sure Nigerians are provided with adequate security.”

    According to him, the issue of pension for retired officers were not discussed with the President.

    The Permanent Secretary, James Obiegbu, said the President was interested in the welfare of officers.

    He said: “He was interested in the issues concerning their emotions, issues concerning their placing, he was concerned with everything that concerns them.”

    He said Buhari had promised to continue to support the police family with the challenges of funding facing the force.

    “Issues about funding of the police is something that has been on the front burner because it requires a lot of funding and not something the government can do alone.

    “There can never be a specific amount for the police to function effectively. If you know what it takes to keep patrol all over the country, keep vehicles and men on the road, you will have an idea of how funding requirements of police can be.”

  • We’ll soon defeat Boko Haram, says  Buhari

    We’ll soon defeat Boko Haram, says  Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari  has  reaffirmed  his conviction that the end of the Boko Haram insurgency is in sight with the added vigour the war against the terrorist sect is now being prosecuted by Nigeria and her allies.

    Speaking during a visit by Mr Mousa Faki Mahamat, Chadian  Minister of Foreign Affairs and  Special Envoy of President Idris Deby, Buhari said that with higher morale among troops on the frontline against Boko Haram and their improved logistics, equipment and training, a rapid end to the insurgency could be expected.

    A statement by Presidential spokesman Femi Adesina said Nigeria and Chad must be prepared to make more sacrifices to end the scourge of Boko Haram since they were at the “very heart of the insurgency”.

    “We will sustain our efforts, and the insurgents will be defeated soon,” President Buhari vowed.

    The Special Envoy said President Deby appreciated the leadership being shown by President Buhari in the war against terrorism.

    ”We also appreciate the diligence shown in appointing a commander for the Multinational Joint Task Force, and President Deby believes that the fight will end in a few months.

    “Our people rely on us to end the insurgency, because economic development is being hampered.  This fight has to come to an end. My coming here is to reaffirm our full commitment. Beyond the number of troops earlier announced, Chad is still ready to commit more soldiers.

    “The enemy is weakened already. Let’s stand firm, and neutralize them,” he said.

  • I want to rebuild Nigeria, says Buhari

    I want to rebuild Nigeria, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has told civil servants, who are in the habit of abandoning their duties, to shape in or shape out.

    He said his administration would not tolerate indiscipline.

    The President, who spoke at the 2015 National Productivity Day and conferment of National Productivity Order of Merit award, said he had resolved to lead the productivity crusade  and directed the National Productivity Centre to put in place machinery for him to launch the Productivity Movement in Nigeria.

    Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Clement Illoh, the President also directed the establishment of  productivity and efficiency units in Ministries, Departments and Agencies to drive the change agenda in the public sector.

    He assured that the centre would be encouraged and empowered to ensure the implementation of this directive as well carry out its mandate of ensuring a productive nation.

    Buhari said: “We shall dedicate ourselves to the ideals of resilience, integrity, excellence, standards, goodwill, accountability, good governance, patriotism and productivity. The time has come for all hands to be on deck to work towards a new improved, recharged and productive Nigeria”.

    According to him, “…we are capable of accepting the challenges of nation-building by demonstrating that given the opportunities, we can be as efficient and effective as any group in the world.

    “This administration assumed office at a time morale was at its lowest in all strata of the society and the nation was functioning as a rudderless ship. There was a clear evidence that the system was not working the way it should and the people had lost confidence and hope in the government hence the inevitable clamour for change.

    “I wish to commend the  resilience of our people and the speed at which they respond to the realities of our time. Given the right political leadership and judicious management of human and material resources, the Nigeria dream can still be attained.

    “This is the onerous task that this administration has taken upon itself and we shall not rest in the quest to achieve this objective. All we need is your support patience, loyalty, patriotism and perseverance.

    “The mission of this administration is to make Nigeria a strong, strategic and proactive state through a deliberate, pragmatic and productivity-conscious programme of action. We want to rebuild Nigeria into a competitive, virile productive economy; a state whose citizens are creative, innovative, responsive, accountable, incorruptible, patriotic and diligent.

    “The society recognises that while inadequacy of resources is one of our problems, mismanagement of the little we have through corruption and impunity is the most impactful. To get to the promised land we must leave take the battle to the doorstep of corruption. “Corruption is dangerous and cancerous to the nation, and this administration is prepared to stay in bed with it. We are resolute in our commitment to fight corruption .

    “In consonance with our resolve to chart a new course for good governance, a great deal of premium is placed on making change a reality, especially through productivity improvement initiatives.

    “Our concern is to build a productivity culture. A culture that will not only think of a measure of production or amount produced, but how good the resources had been combined and used to achieve specific-designed results, in this regard. I shall personally lead the productivity crusade.

    “The National Productivity Centre is directed to put in place a machinery for my formal launching of the productivity movement. I will expect the governors to do the same in their states.

    “We have just started a race of four years. It is not a race that you run in one day and it ends there. It requires planning patience, tact and constant review so that we do not lose steam and begin to retrogress. We need to take one step at a time.

    “The public service, as the organ of government responsible for the formulation and implementation of government policies has a critical role to play in this new dispensation. It is my intention to hold the public servants collectively and individually responsible for the planning and implementation of the change contemplated by this administration. From now, it will no longer be business as usual. Excellence will be rewarded and mediocrity will not be tolerated.

    “Consequently, I wish to direct the establishment of productivity and efficiency units in all ministries, departments and agencies to drive the change agenda. The National Productivity Centre shall be encouraged and empowered to ensure the implementation of this directive as well as carry out its mandate of ensuring a productive nation”.

    In his address, Dr. Illoh said  increased productivity remained the key towards the realisation of the country of our dream, adding that there was need to demonstrate productivity improvement in our national life.

    Dr. Illoh, who was represented by the Director of Productivity Measurement, Mrs. Theresa Briamoh, said the history of Nigeria was replete with several missed opportunities from low productivity preventing the country from taking its rightful place as an economic giant in the comity of nations.

    He added that in the spirit of change for positive development, it was apt that Nigerians exploit the vast natural resources and other economic opportunities the country was endowed with.

    Those honoured on the occasion include Corps Marshall, Federal Road Safety Commission, Boboye Olayemi Oyeyemi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communication Technology, Dr. Tunji  Olaopa, Mrs. Uwemedimo Edet Asomugha, Saleh Dunoma, Ajibola Olasehinde Olabode, Marcus Danladi, Ijeomah Azubuike, Danliti Yahaya Isah, Comrade Lateef Idowu Oyelekun, Boboye Olayemi Oyeyemi, Anthony Chinwuba Ani, and Dr. John Alfa.

    Organisations honoured were Lubcon Limited and Artee Group.

  • Buhari advised to probe Centenary City project

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised to probe the multi-billion dollar Centenary City project.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Vice- Chairman, (Southsouth), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, had accused the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, of unilaterally acquiring the Centenary City project with the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Road, Abuja, project.

    The National Coordinator of the Coalition of Northern Activist Groups, led by the Northern Patriotic Front (NPF), Comrade Ali Abacha, at a news conference in Abuja, faulted the comments credited to Dr. Ojougboh.

    He said: “The allegation is not only misleading, but is aimed at negating the good intentions of the project. More so, Dr. Ojuigboh’s attempt at disparaging the character and personality of the ex-SGF is unacceptable. We declare such utterances emanating from  Ojuigboh as baseless, directionless and a desperate man’s reckless depicting of acrimony.

    “The Federal Government should look into the project, but should not kill it.”

    The statement, which was read by NPF’s Secretary, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isa, said: “Dr. Ojuignoh has unwittingly allowed his personal crises into the public domain to expose himself as a confused man, who does not know the next point from his current position.

    “As against his claims of vindictive removal from his position as the former chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Export Processing Authority (NEPZA), by the former SGF, Dr. Ojougboh was relieved of his position on account of gross inefficiency. What has he done as the national vice chairman of the party to forestall this dangerous trend and hold out on his duties and responsibilities as the party’s reference point in that zone? Rather, he has created the picture of a man busy chasing rats while his house is on fire.”

  • Buhari, one more thing

    Has anyone else, besides me, noticed the avalanche of persons, experts and groups telling, advising, imploring, mandating, demanding, and even begging of President Muhammadu Buhari what he must and should do to move Nigeria forward, carry everyone along or pacify given interests? If one were to be on the streets of the United States of America, one would say “It’s All Good” to see these calls and demands because it means that democracy is alive and at work in Nigeria. Some are even impatient, and upset, with President Buhari for “being slow” in sharing the dividends of democracy which recently got him to be christened “Baba Go Slow”. Again, “It’s All Good”, because democracy in Nigeria means that there is freedom of speech.

    Following on the heels of these persons and groups, I want to add my own “request, demand, and urging” of President Buhari. Mr. President, please, you must find innovative ways to deal with ‘our teeming unemployed youths’ because conventional ways would not be enough to solve this problem. To paraphrase my hometown’s man, Professor Chinua Achebe, of blessed memory, “when a game animal starts to run in unusual ways, then the hunter must devise unusual ways to shoot at it.”

    The issue of unemployment among the youths of Nigeria, given Nigeria’s economic realities, on the backs of corruption, incompetence, inefficiency and prolonged bad leaderships, would not be solved by applying only known economic models. Mr. President, you must find out-of-the-box ways to tackle this monster because it is primed gunpowder waiting to explode in our faces. If we do not move urgently to solve this problem, and the unemployed youths unleash their energy, in their numbers, in bad ways, then the safety of lives and property in Nigeria would never be guaranteed despite the provisions of the Constitution to that effect, and in spite of whatever law enforcement or military efforts we make. The lessons of the Niger Delta militants and the Northeast Boko Haram insurgents ought to be educative enough for us.

    As a candidate in the just concluded 2015 elections, I was one of those, as was then candidate General Muhammadu Buhari, who went around and talked about “the teeming population of our unemployed youths”. Although the phrase means different things to different persons, the concept of “teeming population of our unemployed youths” needs to be universally described and better understood by Nigerians and our policy makers, for the issue can be properly addressed. Otherwise, it would be another electioneering slogan that fails and adds to the general failure of our leaders and the cynicism of the youths themselves.

    Some of these “teeming population of our unemployed youths” are educated, employable, but unemployed. To have such assets wasting away is not only foolish on our collective part, it is dangerous because they are educated, young and energetic and have plenty of time in their hands.  It is only better imagined what they could do if their educated minds, young and energetic bodies veer towards ill rather than good. Some of the youths are educated, but unemployable; which is a verdict on our education standards. Others are uneducated, employable, but unemployed. Finally, there are some that are uneducated, unskilled and unemployable. It is equally dangerous to ignore the last two groups because they are ready tools capable of doing anything with their plentiful idle time along with their young and energetic bodies.

    One of the reasons why “normal” economic models alone would not suffice in the approach to solving the unemployment among the youths in Nigeria is that each group of unemployed youths, as described above, needs different approach. The solution cannot be a one-size-fits-all; otherwise, our efforts at solving the problem would yield incomplete results. President Buhari should, therefore, seek unusual and innovative approaches to this issue.

    Rather than have these human capital assets of Nigeria continue to waste away and pose potential dangers to our collective being, we could take advantage of their youth in nation building by designing specific programmes targeted at specific segments of the unemployed youths. Opportunities abound for them in education, agriculture, manufacturing and environmental work. For example, the educated and employable group could be used to revive our falling educational standards. The educated and employable, and the educated and unemployable youths could become “Graduate Farmers” that would employ not just themselves, but would create employment opportunities for others. Our moribund manufacturing sector could be revived with targeted programmes that can employ these young bodies.

    Several numbers are bandied around about the unemployment of the youths of Nigeria. What cannot be debated is that in the proper context, youth unemployment confers economic and psychological states most worrisome, and which speak directly to “The Promise of Nigeria” to them as the future of our nation. But is there a “Nigerian Promise” as there is “The American Dream”?

    Although this question is better left for a bigger space of discussion, if there were to be a Nigerian Dream, what would it entail for any Nigerian young person? To enable them to compete in the global village, that dream must include “Stay in school. Get an Education. Play by the rules. Get ahead”. However, under the prevailing circumstances, what is the motivation for any young Nigerian to stay in school to get an education if he or she would end up being “educated and unemployed”? Rather than have these Human Capital assets go to waste, we ought to use them to make Nigeria better for our overall good. Such is the Change we need.

     

    • Obiakor was All Progressives Congress (APC) 2015 Candidate for Federal House of Representatives, Idemili North/South Federal Constituency, Anambra State

  • Group defends ministerial list sent to Buhari

    A socio-cultural orga-nisation, Igbo Ekwezuo, has justified a list it sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for ministerial consideration.

    The list was detailed in a letter to the President on July 13.

    It read in part, “Your Excellency in our 2015 second quarterly meeting held in Owerri, the Imo State capital, we reviewed the activities of the government in the recent years and posited corruption as the bane of governance in the country. Consequently, we resolved that we shall nominate and recommend some of our credible and dependable sons and daughters for consideration in your present and future appointments as a way to mitigate corruption in public office”.

    In a statement made available to journalists in Owerri, the Imo State capital, after its monthly National Executive Council (NEC) meeting and signed by the President General, Chief Chibuike Obieshi, the group explained that the action was necessitated by the need to ensure that political appointees of Igbo extraction meet the standard of the new government.

    It noted that most of the political appointees from the Igbo extraction, who had served the country in the past, soiled the image of the sub-region, adding that its intervention in the current process is to redress the trend.

    The statement said, “It is high time the integrity status of an individual determined how far he can go on the leadership ladder of the country and this group will henceforth help the government to connect with those who have the right pedigree to serve the country”.

    The statement also faulted those criticizing it for forwarding some names of politicians to the President, insisting that the action was designed for public good.

    The group further challenged other ethnic nationalities in the country to emulate the example and ensure that “political appointees from their domain are people who are morally above board and this will guarantee the opportunity for the right caliber of people to mount the reins of governance in the country”.

    Giving insight on the list sent to the President, the group disclosed that “the list contained 13 names from the 5 Igbo speaking states in Nigeria including one each from the Igbo speaking parts of Delta and Rivers states. Three women made the list and the choice of the names was neither based on partisan or religious sentiments”.

  • Ogoniland, Buhari, Jonathan and history

    On May 21, 1994, Ken Saro-Wiwa; Ledum Mitee, Dr. Barinem Kiobel and twelve others were arrested by soldiers and charged with the murder of the four prominent Ogoni sons.

    Saro-Wiwa, like other suspects, was severely beaten and injured, even before interrogation, and his legs were chained together for ten days, in spite of his heart condition.

    The Justice Ibrahim Auta-led Ogoni Civil Disturbances Tribunal, set up by the then Head of State, General Sani Abacha, was inaugurated by the then Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mohammed Bello, in November 1994, to try the fifteen Ogoni men, who were charged with the killing of the Ogoni-Four. The trial commenced in February 1995, while the members of the tribunal were sitting in Port Harcourt.

    Saro-Wiwa and others, except Mitee, were hanged after a kangaroo trial. At the heart of Ogoni’s crisis is oil giant Shell, which the people eventually banished. Its land and water are polluted and not useful for productive use. And when former President Goodluck Jonathan, who spent the bulk of growing up years in Rivers State, where Ogoniland is, became President, the people were hopeful that the clean-up of the area would be done. Jonathan spent six years as president and failed the Ogoni people.

    Buhari seems ready to perform where he failed. On Wednesday, the president approved the full implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP’s) environmental assessment of Ogoniland. It is a fulfillment of his electioneering campaign.

    During the 2015 presidential campaigns, he visited Ogoniland and he promised the stakeholders that upon his election as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he would ensure the full implementation of the recommendations contained in the UNEP report. The Ogoni are excited.

    On August 4, 2011, the 262-page UNEP’s main report was received by Jonathan. He set up a Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC), headed by the ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    The primary objective of the PIC was to review the UNEP report and make recommendations to the Federal Government on the remedial and long-term solutions. The report of the committee was subsequently submitted to former President Jonathan, without the content made public.

    Rather than implementing the UNEP report, the Jonathan’s administration, on the eve of the first anniversary of the release of the all-encompassing and strategic UNEP report, set up the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) on July 20, 2012.

    The inauguration of HYPREP was based on the provisions of the Petroleum Act CAP 350 LFN 2004, as a special unit under the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, to cover all pollution sites in the Niger Delta and other parts of Nigeria.

    HYPREP is to investigate and evaluate all hydrocarbon polluted communities and sites in Nigeria and make recommendations to the Federal Government. HYPREP will also restore all the communities and sites established as impacted by hydrocarbon pollution in Nigeria.

    An Ogoni daughter, Mrs. Joy Nunieh-Okunnu, was appointed as the National Coordinator HYPREP, but MOSOP kicked against the Federal Government’s HYPREP initiative, while insisting on the full implementation of the UNEP report.

    The UNEP report stated that the water in Nsisioken-Ogale-Eleme, Eleme (Ogoni) Local Government Area of Rivers State, contained cancer-causing Benzene (carcinogen), which was 900 times the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) standards for water contamination, thereby requiring urgent attention.

    The report also revealed that the sustainable environmental restoration of Ogoniland would take up to 20 years to achieve and would require coordinated efforts from government agencies at all levels, thereby recommending that the Federal Government should establish an Ogoniland Environmental Restoration Authority.

    The UNEP report indicated that the full environmental restoration of Ogoniland would be a project, which would take 30 years to complete, after the pollution had been brought to an end, while recommending the establishment of an Environmental Restoration Fund for Ogoniland, with initial fund of $1 billion for capacity building, skill transfer and conflict resolution and that the management of the fund should be the responsibility of the Ogoniland Environmental Restoration Authority.

    Following a meeting on the directive of President Buhari, it was also agreed that a deposit of $10 million would be made by stakeholders, within 30 days of the appointment of members of the BoT for the trust fund, who will be responsible for collecting and managing funds from contributors and donors.

    A new implementation template has also been evolved at the instance of President Buhari and the environmental clean-up of Ogoniland will commence in earnest with the President’s inauguration of the HYPREP Governing Council and the Board of Trustees for the trust fund.

    Between Buhari and Jonathan, who will history judge right? The answer depends on whether or not the president sees through his implementation template. Ogoni, Nigerians and the world are watching.