On Thursday 8th June, the Rivers State Government received a courtesy visit from the UN Resident/Coordinator at the state's Government house, Port Harcourt.
The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, in the course of the visit by the UN top officials seized the opportunity to appeal that the UN prevail on Federal Government to implement the clean up of Ogoni land.
According to Governor Wike, one year after the clean up of Ogoni was launched and flagged of by the Vice President Osinbajo in 2016, the situation in the area remains the same.
Governor Wike regrets that nothing has been done for the clean-up. According to him, the large scale environmental pollution in different parts of the state leads to environmental degradation which negatively affects the sources of livelyhood of the people.
Wike went further to say the clean-up of Ogoni land should not be politicized as it dwells directly in the development of the area.
He said:
" Yesterday in the Senate, somebody said the Federal Government has not done anything as far as the clean-up of Ogoni land is concerned.
" When we were saying it they said we were playing politics. But now it has dawned on them that nothing is being done. So we urge you to intervene.
" Part of the problem we are having today is because of the lack of attention by the Federal Government when it has to do with Rivers State. We will provide you with helicopter to see what we are talking about. Don't only read it on papers. You will pity us.
He went further to say:
" The Government has taken our oil and our environment has been degraded. Nothing seems to be done. We urge you on your own part as the United Nations to impress on the Federal Government that this clean up is very serious.
" Let it not be a political issue. We should not play politics. We should not play politics with the lives of the people', He said.
Governor Wike called on the United Nations to partner with the state Government in the area of commercial agriculture stating that because of the volatile nature of oil prices, investments in the agric sector would help to create jobs for the unemployed youths.
He went further to urge the UN to provide a link for investors in commercial agriculture adding that his administration will provide incentives such as access to land and certificate of occupancy.
Governor Wike while soliciting for partnership in the area of environmental sanitation, declared that his administration places premium on Sustainable Development Goals.
Wike also informed the UN that his administration has improved security through the diligent implementation of the state's amnesty program. He said the state government is working with relevant agencies to improve human rights and to decongest prisons.
The UN Resident/Coordinator, Mr Edward Kallon while lauding the governor for his infrastructural development said this has improved the living conditions of the people. He promised the United Nations will continue to mobilize support for the development of Rivers State.
Edward Kallon also assured that the United Nations will partner with Rivers State Government in the area of agriculture as a tool of employment generation and empowerment.
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| Rivers State Governor, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (Middle), his Deputy, Dr. (Mrs) Ipalibo Harry Banigo (4th Right), Mr. Edward Kallon, UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator (4th Left) and others. |
The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, in the course of the visit by the UN top officials seized the opportunity to appeal that the UN prevail on Federal Government to implement the clean up of Ogoni land.
According to Governor Wike, one year after the clean up of Ogoni was launched and flagged of by the Vice President Osinbajo in 2016, the situation in the area remains the same.
Governor Wike regrets that nothing has been done for the clean-up. According to him, the large scale environmental pollution in different parts of the state leads to environmental degradation which negatively affects the sources of livelyhood of the people.
Wike went further to say the clean-up of Ogoni land should not be politicized as it dwells directly in the development of the area.
He said:
" Yesterday in the Senate, somebody said the Federal Government has not done anything as far as the clean-up of Ogoni land is concerned.
" When we were saying it they said we were playing politics. But now it has dawned on them that nothing is being done. So we urge you to intervene.
" Part of the problem we are having today is because of the lack of attention by the Federal Government when it has to do with Rivers State. We will provide you with helicopter to see what we are talking about. Don't only read it on papers. You will pity us.
He went further to say:
" The Government has taken our oil and our environment has been degraded. Nothing seems to be done. We urge you on your own part as the United Nations to impress on the Federal Government that this clean up is very serious.
" Let it not be a political issue. We should not play politics. We should not play politics with the lives of the people', He said.
Governor Wike called on the United Nations to partner with the state Government in the area of commercial agriculture stating that because of the volatile nature of oil prices, investments in the agric sector would help to create jobs for the unemployed youths.
He went further to urge the UN to provide a link for investors in commercial agriculture adding that his administration will provide incentives such as access to land and certificate of occupancy.
Governor Wike while soliciting for partnership in the area of environmental sanitation, declared that his administration places premium on Sustainable Development Goals.
Wike also informed the UN that his administration has improved security through the diligent implementation of the state's amnesty program. He said the state government is working with relevant agencies to improve human rights and to decongest prisons.
The UN Resident/Coordinator, Mr Edward Kallon while lauding the governor for his infrastructural development said this has improved the living conditions of the people. He promised the United Nations will continue to mobilize support for the development of Rivers State.
Edward Kallon also assured that the United Nations will partner with Rivers State Government in the area of agriculture as a tool of employment generation and empowerment.
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