President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday warned that the Federal Government would no longer tolerate the current theft and illegal refining of crude oil in the Niger Delta.
Buhari, represented by the Vice-President, Yemi Osinbanjo, gave the warning at the launch of “Clean-Up of Ogoniland” at Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Buhari urged the regulators of the oil industry to carry out their responsibilities in line with best practices.
He said: “The current oil theft and illegal refining will not be tolerated.
“The regulators in the oil industries must live up to expectations.
“They must ensure that oil companies carry out their operations in line with universal best services.”
Buhari said government was laying a foundation for change to ensure the rule of law and safety of the people.
He said the aim was to diversify the nation’s economy and provide jobs and wealth for the people.
According to him, the clean-up of Ogoniland will have sustainable development components will benefit the people.
He said: “The methodology for the clean-up will ensure job creation for young people.
“The agro-allied industries required for processing of agricultural produce will also be put in place.”
Buhari also said approval had been given to set up necessary institutional framework to drive the implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme Report.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State commended Buhari for inaugurating the implementation of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
Wike said the state government would provide the platform for the smooth implementation of the Report.
The governor said environmental degradation had affected the ecosystem and wild life of communities in the Niger Delta.
The Minister of the Environment, Amina Mohammed, said government had taken stock of the work done in the past to start the implementation.
Mohammed said the clean-up would require collective responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure its success.
Mohammed said the implementation “requires transparency, accountability, genuine partnership and proper representation of the people at the grassroots in what we are doing in investing in their future”.
Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of UNEP, said the organisation’s team had produced a document of what happened in Ogoniland.
Steiner said the team would stand with the Nigerian government to ensure the implementation of the report.
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