President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Fegalo Nsuke, has challenged the Federal Government to match words with action in the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommendations on the Ogoni clean-up project.
Nsuke threw the challenge while reacting to a recent statement by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas, that the Federal Government is committed to completing the clean-up transparently.
Describing the minister’s remarks as a welcome development, Nsuke, however, lamented that nearly ten years after the UNEP report was released, just a little tangible progress has been recorded.
He noted that repeated government promises without concrete results have weakened public confidence in the process.
“What is most important is for us to have this clean-up done, not just talked about. Nsuke said. One of our major problems is that we talk but don’t really act.”
He faulted the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) for failing to execute the approved integrated water system for Ogoniland, opting instead for fragmented community-level water projects. According to him, if the approved plan had been implemented properly, many Ogoni communities would already have access to clean water.
The MOSOP President pointed out that true transparency goes beyond public statements, as it also includes financial accountability and visible progress.
He therefore urged the government to act with integrity and ensure sustainable, long-term solutions rather than short-term projects aimed at public impression.
