‘Ogoniland Clean-up Needs Planning, Professionalism’

Nosa Alekhuogie

The cleanup of Ogoniland and other parts of the Niger Delta needs strategic planning and professionalism in order to achieve the desired result, Duke Energy Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering and Science, Prof. Hilary Inyang has said.

According to him, the different sites have to be properly identified and categorised, especially as they have different risks before clean-up.
Besides, he said due processes, including the creation of a cleanup fund, contribution of the federal government and other stakeholders have to be made in advance.

Inyang, who was instrumental to the emergence of Nigeria Oil Spill Clean Up Manual and the establishment of the National Oil Spill National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) said many parties, particularly operators, communities and volunteers also need to be mobilised.

Inyang promised to disclose more of the strategies and options at the 2016 IECL World Environment Day forum scheduled for the Nigeria – German Business Association House, Plot 1701, Violet Yough Close, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria on June 3, 2016.

According to him, the challenges that stare the region, and by extension the nation in the face are complex and call for appropriate diagnoses and execution in order to accomplish set objectives.
“I have undertaken several expeditions and studies in the region in the past few decades. I have also been involved in other regions around the world and would like to share my thoughts with the audience.”
He added: “Indeed, there are a lot of things to place before the attendees and others at the important event. It would be good for anyone to miss this event.”

Meanwhile, a former Vice Chancellor of University of Benin, Professor Grace Alele Williams has accepted to be the Special Guest of honour at the event, given the importance of the environment to the entire world.

She said that the environment remains a very important resource, which should be utilised and preserved for future generations.
The minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and the Chairman of International Energy Services Limited, Dr. Diran Fawibe would attend as Guest of Honour and Chairman respectively.

Other speakers include the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), University of Benin, Professor Lawrence Ezemonye, who would speak on the ‘Roles of Habits, Hobbies and Occupations in the Extinction of Wildlife in Nigeria and Other African Nations’.

The organisers of the event, International Energy Communications Limited, disclosed that the event would attract stakeholders such as global and regional organisations, federal and state ministries, agencies and parrastatals, corporate institutions, local governments, corporate organisations, international oil companies, indigenous oil and gas companies, contractors and suppliers, financial institutions, environmentalists, consultants, scholars and students from Nigeria and overseas.

The organisers also said that the event would create platform to mobilise support for environmental activities, programmes and projects in Nigeria and other developing nations and to discourage all forms of negative activities, actions and habits against the environment.

Besides, is aimed at setting agenda for the managing of local, national and regional environmental issues, promoting networking, partnering and alliancing required to make positive impact in the coming years and exploring funding and other options for tackling problems in the sector.
It would also bridge the gap between the various stakeholders and journalists needed to inform and educate the public on environment and related issues.