YOUTHS in Ogoni, Rivers state, have hinted on shutting down the East West Road and the Ogoni cleanup if Federal Government (FG) continues to delay works on the road and also renege on shelving transfer of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Programme (HYPREP) to Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
The youths under umbrella of Ogoni Youth Federation, led by Legborsi Yamaabana, on Monday in Port Harcourt decried, “The neglect and continuos delay of reconstruction of Ogoni axis of the East West Road exactly one year after Ogoni people occupied this important road in protest of failed state.
“We are currently consulting with Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association, NUPENG and other critical stakeholders. Very soon we shall occupy the Ogoni axis of the East-West Road and this occupation shall be more fierce than the previous one”.
He further said “Ogoni youths will vehemently resist any attempt to move HYPREP from Ministry of Environment that has experienced environmental professionals to the ministry of Niger Delta affairs that is naive on issues pertaining to environment”
“We state without equivocation that the Ministry of Niger Delta which has neither been able to construct a mere 15Km East-West Road Section III, Eleme Junction to Onne which connects Ogoniland and major oil and gas assets nor sorted out plethora of issues surrounding management of NDDC cannot handle technical intensive Ogoni Cleanup Project
“We have alerted friends of Ogoni globally and the international communities. If Government refuses to listen to our voice, we will be left with no option than to mobilize and ensure that the cleanup is shut in so as to save the project until the right thing is done”
He explained that so far nothing has been seen of the cleanup project, saying nothing is on ground to account for the one billion dollars earmarked for the project.
