Nigerian Vice President
Yemi Osinbajo recently
launched a $1 billion clean-up and restoration program aimed at the Ogoniland
region in the Niger Delta.
Osinbajo got the ball rolling on the program on
behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari. The financial and legislative framework
for the program was drafted by the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP).
Osinbajo announced the launch of the program at an event in Port Harcourt that had an attendance of more than 1,000 people,
including Joseph Yobo, a soccer star, and Miss Nigeria Pamela Lessi. Osinbajo said the program was started in an effort to remain
faithful to a key election promise made by President Buhari. Achim Steiner, UNEP’s
executive director, joined the Nigerian Vice President at the event.
The implementation of the program will be based on a 2011
UNEP report recommendation, which was commissioned by the Nigerian government.
The
report was drafted due to the impact of oil extraction in Ogoniland after
severe and widespread contamination was found in the soil and ground water in
the region. There was serious threat to public health because of the contaminated
drinking water and delta ecosystems had been devastated.
