FG Seeks New Support for Ogoni Clean-Up Project

On Tuesday, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through Minister of Environment Balarab Abba Lawal, called for fresh support from donor agencies and development partners to sustain the Ogoni clean-up project. The existing funding arrangements have been declining, prompting the need for additional financial and technical support to complete ongoing remediation efforts in Ogoniland.

Lawal spoke at a conference organized by HYPREP in Abuja, highlighting that the resources needed for progress are nearly depleted. Emmanuel Nwiika, chairman of the Ogoni Trust Fund, noted that the oil firm Deeyah has not fully provided the recommended $1 billion for the clean-up, despite a decade of implementation.

The UNEP report recommended that oil companies contribute $1 billion every five years for a 30-year remediation program. HYPREP has identified 30 polluted sites and is working on medium to high-risk locations, creating 7,000 direct jobs and training 5,000 youths and women in various vocational skills.

Currently, only 50 Ogoni communities have access to potable water, and ongoing projects aim to expand healthcare facilities and restore mangroves.