Senate probes $1bn Ogoni cleanup

    The Senate, yesterday, instructed its Committee on Environment to commence  investigations into the implementation of the Ogoni cleanup exercise. The Federal Government launched the cleanup project in June last year. The initial cost of the cleanup exercise was put at $1 billion. Apart from the investigation, the environment committee was also asked to assess the progress of the Great Green Wall Programme initiated to control desertification in 12 northern states.

  

   The resolutions followed a motion on “World Environment Day” sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Senator Tinubu expressed worry that despite the launch of the Ogoni cleanup campaign, it does not appear that work has commenced in the area.

    Senator Tinubu in her lead debate noted that 5th of June is World Environment Day, set aside to create awareness for environmental issues and protection of the environment. She further noted that the theme for this year’s World Environment Day was “Connecting People to Nature,” in celebration of nature’s beauty and man’s dependence on nature for his wellbeing.

   The senator observed that the Sustainable Development Goals included ensuring clean water and sustainable hygiene, sustainable urban development, sustainable consumption through increased use of natural resources and reduction of toxic materials, combating climate change and its adverse effects, conservation of aquatic resources and preservation of terrestrial biodiversity.

   The Lagos central lawmaker said that in the light of the country’s environmental issues, such as gully erosion in Eastern Nigeria, desertification in the North and large scale environmental degradation in the oil rich South-South, illegal mining, uncontrolled and excavation of laterites, there was a need for the country to be proactive in addressing its environmental issues.

   She expressed concern that unmitigated environmental issues had widespread effects on the economy, health and social wellbeing of the people. The lawmaker feared that women and children were the most vulnerable groups and tend to suffer more from the effects of environmental issues.

   She noted that school curriculum failed to teach children at a young age about the impact of their actions and their civic duty to the environment. Tomorrow’s leaders, she said, ought to be equipped with the knowledge to deal with future challenges.

SUN