Ogoni clean up fund intact —FG

The Federal Government has said funds for the clean up of oil impacted Ogoni land is intact.

Assuring that no part of the money can be diverted, the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jubril, disclosed that the funds have been lodged in a designated bank account.

Jubril, who is also the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYREP, also disclosed that an Ogoni Trust Fund has been incorporated.

The minister stated this at the 2nd Stakeholders meeting on the implementation of United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, in Port Harcourt.

Ripples Nigeria recently presented an investigative story that dwelt on the Ogoni-cleanup, and how it has become a nightmare for the people.

Represented by Dr. Ishaku Mohammed, Jibril, said funding had been an area of concern, but stated that significant achievements had been made.

Read also: INVESTIGATION…. INSIDE OGONILAND: How a promised clean-up is turning into a people’s nightmare

He said: “Funding is the area of concern. We have opened an escrow account. We assure that the money for the project is sacrosanct for the project and will not be diverted for other uses. The structure of the process is formidable that no single member or individual can withdraw anything without going through due process.”

Speaking in the same vein, President of KAGOTE and member of Board of Trustees, HYPREP, Dr. Peter Medee, said the board has successfully opened an account with a foreign bank, insisting that this would guarantee security of funds for the project.

He said: “The Ogoni Trust Fund has been incorporated. Two Ogoni citizens are trustees of the fund. Ogoni can use the fund without interference from the Federal Government and it is done in such a way that change in administration will not affect the project.

“No part of the fund for the clean-up is missing. We have received the fund from international oil companies, IOCs, led by Shell. The first part of the money had been received and is now in the Ogoni Trust Fund. An Ogoni son is one of the three signatories to the account.

“We have successfully opened an account with Standard Chartered Bank of London. We are now sure that the fund is secure.”

 

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