Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has called on the federal government to actively involve Ogoni communities in the execution of environmental remediation projects in their region. He emphasized that meaningful inclusion would ensure local ownership, prevent sabotage, and guarantee the success of such initiatives.
Governor Fubara made this appeal on Monday when he received the Minister of Environment, Mr. Balarabe Abbas Lawal, and his delegation at the Government House in Port Harcourt. The delegation also included the Minister of Regional Development, Hon. Abubakar Momoh, UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator Mohamed Malick Fall, and HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey.
Acknowledging the environmental devastation in Ogoniland caused by years of oil exploration, Fubara stressed the need for projects such as clean water supply, power distribution, and healthcare services to be effectively managed with community participation. He warned against awarding contracts to external firms without local engagement, stating that this often leads to a lack of accountability and potential sabotage.
The governor praised the completion of the HYPREP-supervised Water Project but insisted it must be fully functional to address the decades-long water crisis in Ogoniland. He also highlighted his administration’s commitment to improving power supply, revealing that the state government had funded the metering of communities in Eleme, Tai, Khana, Gokana, and Andoni LGAs to facilitate electricity distribution.
Governor Fubara reiterated his focus on healthcare and education as key pillars of his administration, citing significant achievements in medical services and upcoming infrastructural developments, including the unveiling of Bori Zonal Hospital.
In response, Minister Lawal acknowledged challenges in community acceptance of federal projects and emphasized ongoing efforts to secure local buy-in through town hall meetings. He also requested the governor’s support in facilitating the Ogoni power project, which aims to extend electricity from the National Grid to Ogoni and neighboring communities.
UN Representative Mohamed Malick Fall commended the Rivers State government for its collaboration, stating that continued partnership would help achieve the objectives outlined in the UNEP Report for environmental restoration in Ogoniland and the broader Niger Delta region.
