Mr Inemo Samiama, an environmentalist, on Tuesday called for proper clean-up of Ogoni environment polluted by years of oil exploration.
Samiama, Country Director, Stakeholders Democracy Network, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt.
NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari will launch the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Ogoni on June 2 at Numuu-Tekuru, Bodo City, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers.
He said that Thursday`s inauguration of the implementation of the UNEP Report by President Buhari was a welcome development.
“ We want to express our gratitude to President Buhari for implementing the recommendations of UNEP Report. Long overdue, but, it’s better late than never,” he said.
Samiama said that experts want the Federal Government to engage companies that are reputable, with good record of carrying out such activities in other places.
“ All that we can hope for now is that this Ogoni clean-up will be carried out properly, professionally and they will engage companies that are reputable and have a track record of carrying out such activities in other places.
“ We want a professional job done. We do not want a shoddy job with wheel barrow contractors that will leave the environment still polluted,” he said.
The environmentalist also called for non- politicisation of the exercise to avoid distraction of the implementation.
“ Please, politicians should stay away. This is not APC or PDP thing. This is about professional clean-up. We want it done properly,” he said. (NAN)