OGONI 100 BILLION DOLLAR DEMAND DISCLAIMED
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has disassociated itself from an authorized demand for 100 billion dollar in connection with the UNEP environmental assessment report on Ogoni.
MOSOP President/Spokesman, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo said the demand was not supported by any expertise review, which is required to adopt the report.
In a statement to an ill-planned occasion for the visit of Nigeria's Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke today, Friday, August 8, 2014 in Bori, Diigbo there was no short-cut to implementing an environmental impact assessment study (EIAS).
“Those individuals demanding $100 billion did not receive any authorization from the Ogoni people. The general public is advised to discountenance the ridiculous demand, for it has no basis in reality,” he noted.
“I heard that a group of people in Port Harcourt, about 35 miles from Ogoniland, described as indigenes of Ogoni have demanded $100 billion restoration in connection with “pollution”. To determine financial costs and several other impacts related to petroleum devastation in Ogoni can only be possible when the United Nations Environmental Programme assessment process reaches the execution stage,” Diigbo explained.
The way forward is to begin an expertise review process of the UNEP Assessment on Ogoni in order to comply with:
1. Due Process for the conduct of an Environmental Impact Assessment Study (EIAS)
2. Guidelines for Implementation of authenticated EIAS
3. Conditions for EIAS Implementation Process
4. Statutory Implementation or execution through Legislation
The minister was represented by her Permanent Secretary, Mr. Danladi Kifasi on a mission to find the way forward for the UNEP Report on Ogoniland.
On August 4, 2011, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) had released an assessment report on Ogoni, considered the worst environmental petroleum devastation in history.
MOSOP President was represented by the Administrator of the Ogoni Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA), Mr. John Lar-Wisa, who submitted - The Ogoni Position on UNEP Assessment Report on Ogoni. Speaking to the media, Lar-Wisa dismissed the forum as not representative of the Ogoni people.
Full Text Below
The Ogoni Position on
UNEP Assessment Report on Ogoni
By
Dr. Goodluck Diigbo
President/Spokesman of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) today, Friday, August 8, 2014 in Bori, on the occasion of the visit of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke
In the circumstances surrounding the UNEP REPORT on Ogoni, an independent expertise review is required before the implementation process. On behalf of the Ogoni people, I repeat my call for the review, which is to provide for making alterations in the UNEP Report and setting out proper scientific study to authenticate the report. Such alterations in, and additions to updating are necessary to bring its findings, both in substance and in form, into compliance with four broader EIA requirements:
1. Due Process for the conduct of an Environmental Impact Assessment Study (EIAS)
2. Guidelines for Implementation of authenticated EIAS
3. Conditions for EIAS Implementation Process
4. Statutory Implementation or execution through Legislation
At the end of this meeting, Madam Petroleum Minister can return with the message to the President that Ogoni people want the UNEP Report to undergo proper and satisfactory expertise or know-how review, as sometimes called.
The review if successful, will lead to compliance with the prerequisite Due Process, which is the number requirement.
The stakeholders will then come together to determine guidelines for implementation.
The stakeholders will have to follow-up the guidelines with working out an agreement on conditions for implementation.
After that agreement is reached, a legislative procedure will be considered and recommended by the stakeholders.
There is no short-cut to implementing an environmental impact assessment study.
There is no Nigerian way, which can't be the way.
I heard that a group of people in Port Harcourt, about 35 miles from Ogoniland, described as indigenes of Ogoni have demanded $100 billion restoration in connection with “pollution”. To determine financial costs and several impacts related to petroleum devastation in Ogoni can only be possible when the United Nations Environmental Programme assessment process reaches the execution stage.
These individuals demanding $100 billion did not receive any authorization from the Ogoni people. The general public is advised to discountenance the ridiculous demand, for it has no basis in reality.
The way forward is to begin an expertise review process of the UNEP Assessment on Ogoni in order to comply with:
1. Due Process for the conduct of an Environmental Impact Assessment Study (EIAS)
2. Guidelines for Implementation of authenticated EIAS
3. Conditions for EIAS Implementation Process
4. Statutory Implementation or execution through Legislation
MOSOP and the Ogoni Self Government through the Ogoni Environmental Protection Agency (OGEPA) are prepared to work with the expertise body to complete the process.
Dr. Goodluck Diigbo
President/Spokesman of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP)
Contact
Tambari Deekor
MOSOP Media Associate Editor