By Emmanuel Aziken & Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HARCOURT— PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will today formally launch the clean-up of the oil-devastated region of Ogoni in Rivers State, during his second visit to the Niger Delta region since he came to office a year ago.

UNEP report

Ogoni land and President Buhari

The president’s launch of the implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP report on Ogoni could also signal the president’s commitment to the oil region despite continuing flashes of violence by militants opposed to his policies. The actions of the militants styled as the Niger Delta Avengers; NDA have brought down the country’s oil production levels to a 20 year low.

Irrespective of their political differences, Governor Nyesom Wike, was yesterday awesome in his praises of the president’s determination to implement the long-delayed report. The governor in a broadcast last night warned trouble makers and politicians not to take advantage of the president’s visit to foment trouble. He warned that the visit must not be politicised.

The governor also placed a ban on Okada operation in Khana and Gokhana local government areas from 6 am to 6 pm today.

The UNEP report on Ogoni land was articulated by the UN body upon the request of the immediate past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan which had approached it to conduct an independent and objective assessment of the environmental situation in Ogoni. The findings and the report were submitted to the government in July 2011. Jonathan later approved the establishment of Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project, HYREP as a unit in the Ministry of Petroleum to drive some sections of the report. However, subsequently, nothing came out of the moves until the exit of the administration.

President Buhari had during the campaigns promised to implement the UNEP report, and last August formally gave his determination to that effect with the setting up of governing council and board of trustees of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project, HYPREP.

The report when it was released by the UNEP on August 4, 2011, called for an initial $1 billion to kick start the rehabilitation of the oil-rich Ogoni land under a phased programme it said could extend up to 30 years. The report said that pollution caused by oil exploration for over 50 years penetrated deeper than many had supposed.

The assessment carried out over a 14-month period, by a UNEP team examined more than 200 locations, surveyed 122 kilometres of pipeline rights of way, reviewed more than 5,000 medical records and engaged over 23,000 people at local community meetings.

Detailed soil and groundwater contamination investigations were conducted at 69 sites, which ranged in size from 1,300 square metres in Ogoni land including more than 4,000 samples. Water taken from 142 groundwater monitoring wells drilled specifically for the study and soil extracted from 780 boreholes were also investigated.

Wike lauds President

Lauding the president’s approach yesterday in his broadcast, Governor Wike said: “Mr. President’s visit to the State is both historic and significant. It is historic because it marks his first official visit to the state since assuming office as the President of this great nation. It is most significant because Mr. President is not on a political mission but to kick-start the largest environmental cleanup in our nation’s history, for which Rivers people, and indeed the Niger Delta will remain grateful.

“Therefore, I call on Rivers people to be peaceful, law-abiding and demonstrate the traditional Rivers hospitality towards Mr. President and his distinguished entourage throughout the visit.

“Let me, therefore, advise desperate politicians in our midst to be mindful of the charged social and economic situation in the country and refrain from making unguarded statements over Mr. President’s visit that could inflame political rivalry and precipitate unnecessary upheavals in the State.

“Furthermore, as part of measures to enhance security during Mr. President’s visit I hereby place a ban on the operations of motorcycles and tricycles in Gokana and Khana Local Government Areas between 6 a.m. and 6 pm on Thursday, 2nd June 2016. The security agencies have been directed to enforce this ban and ensure full compliance.