President Bola Tinubu is currently meeting with Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State and leaders from Ogoniland at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Governor Fubara arrived alongside Senator Lee Maeba, with the delegation including prominent figures such as Senators Magnus Abe, Olaka Nwogu, Bennett Birabi, Barry Mpigi, and Joe Poroma. Others present were Chief Victor Giadom, Chief Kenneth Kobani, Monsignor Pius Kii, and Ledum Mitee.
Also in attendance are the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari; Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abba; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed; Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh; and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Although the agenda of the meeting has not been disclosed, it is speculated to focus on the Ogoni cleanup project and the resumption of oil exploration in the region.
This meeting follows demands by a coalition of civil society organizations, including Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), and Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF).
The coalition has called on the Federal Government to allocate $1 trillion for the cleanup of the Niger Delta and compensation for livelihoods lost before resuming crude oil production in Ogoniland.
The groups criticized the government for what they described as a disregard for environmental justice, citing the 2011 UNEP report that documented severe environmental degradation in Ogoniland, including land, water, and air pollution.
They expressed disappointment that the government has not fully implemented the UNEP recommendations or prioritized the cleanup efforts in the region.
Details Later…