UPDATE: BUHARI APPROVES REHABILITATION OF DEPLORABLE ROADS IN RIVERS
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The deteriorated Ogoni axis of the East-West Road in Rivers State has been approved for reconstruction by President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret. ), who made the decision on Friday.
At the groundbreaking for the “Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration,” “Ogoni Specialist Hospital,” and “Ogoni Power Project” in the Wiiyaakara community of the state’s Khana Local Government Area, Buhari gave his approval.
The President said the event was a continuation of the fulfillment of the promises made to the Ogoni people before the 2015 elections when he visited the area to campaign. The ceremony was virtually conducted from Abuja and transmitted live at the venue.
He claimed that the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, which was in charge of overseeing the cleanup of locations affected by crude oil in Ogoni communities, was founded by the Federal Government under his direction.
Buhari said that in addition to establishing HYPREP, his administration invested significant resources in building the multibillion-naira Bonny-Bodo road, which will eventually connect the East-West Road and advance the socioeconomic progress of Ogoni.
“It is instructive to know that Ogoni clean-up is not the only project being undertaken by this administration to give the people a sense of belonging in national affairs.
“This administration is constructing the Bodo/Bonny Road – a multi-billion-naira project to link the Bonny Island – host to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Plant.
“This all-important economic road passes through the heart of Ogoni land and the benefits it will bring to the local economy can only be imagined.
“We have also given approvals for the rehabilitation of the Ogoni axis of the East/West Road which the Bodo/Bonny Road opens into and serves as the gateway to the Oil and Gas Free Zone in Onne, Rivers state.
Buhari expressed his satisfaction with the level of development in a number of awarded projects that will affect the Ogoni people’s standard of living.
He explained that once completed, the Ogoni Power Project will support the Livelihood Program, the Center of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, and the Potable Water Schemes. Meanwhile, the specialist hospital projects will also advance the socioeconomic development of the region by generating employment opportunities for artisans and accelerating entrepreneurial endeavors.
Buhari expressed hope that Bola Tinubu, the incoming president, would build on his accomplishments while thanking Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers State, for his support of the federal government, particularly for the relative calm in Ogoni territory and Rivers State.
Therefore, the President urged the Niger Delta’s Ogoni and other residents to support Bola Tunibu’s incoming administration, which he claimed would continue the initiatives that would help him succeed.
Buhari said, “It is my desire that you will continue to support this administration and the incoming administration led by His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who I am confident will consolidate the gains achieved from this project.”
Mohammed Abdullahi, the environment minister, stated earlier that 20 of the 65 UNEP sites in Ogoni had undergone remediation as of this point.
Abdullahi added that the six potable water systems spread throughout the four local government areas that make up Ogoni land were nearing completion.
Nwielaghi Michael, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ogoni Trust Fund, and Dr. Ferdinand Giadom, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, make separate statements to the President, pleading for additional funding to see the many existing projects through to completion.
They claimed that this cash might either come from donations they can directly seek or from joint venture partners who would contribute more money to the original $1 billion release.
The duo promised that the project office will ensure they are delivered on time, on target, on cost and transparently too.
“Considering the global rise in the inflation rate, we will act as a board. This will augment for whatever shortfalls inflationary trends have caused and enable the Project to deliver more services to the people,” they said.
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