… As Stakeholders urge FG to strengthen regulatory framework for cybercrime control***
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Ogoni Leaders to sensitize indigenes on the value of protecting national assets like pipelines and other oil installations, saying willful damage usually creates more havoc on their environment and hamper development in the area.
The president, who stated this when he received some leaders and people of Ogoni Land at the State House, Abuja, on Friday, noted that willful damage usually creates more havoc on their environment and hamper development in the area.
He said that the Federal Government was committed to the cleaning up of Ogoni land so that, indigenes could regain their lives, return to farms and reactivate economic activities.
“You will need to educate the people of Ogoni land and the region more than when pipelines are broken, the damage is more to the immediate environment and the people.
“The majority farmers and fishermen struggle because the fishes now move to the deep sea,’’ he said.
The President said that bad industry practices coupled with security challenges had resulted in massive spills with attendant environmental degradation of Ogoni, leading to agitations and strife.
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He said that the government would bring to a close all pending issues on sons of Ogoni Land.
“Your Royal Highnesses, distinguished representatives of the people of Ogoni Land, I note the need to ensure completion of segment of the East-West road traversing Ogoni Land, and steps will be taken to ensure delivery under the Infrastructure Development Fund as earlier conceived.
”We intend to complete this vital artery of Nigeria.
“Furthermore, we are committed to ensuring clemency and national integration as part of this Administration’s bid to lay the foundation for genuine reconciliation and bring closure to the issues of Ogoni Land.
“The unfortunate incidents of the early 1990s leading to the loss of lives of distinguished sons of Ogoni Land and the collateral judicial processes are indelible in our memories.
“In spite of the grievous circumstances, the Federal Government will consider the request for the grant of pardon to finally close the Ogoni saga,’’ President Buhari noted.
According to the President, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Ltd (NPDC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has been granted license to operate OML11, which will stimulate economic activities and integration in the zone.
“To ensure the stimulation of economic activities in Ogoni Land as underpinned by the vast petroleum resources underlying Ogoni Land and neighbouring communities, NPDC, a subsidiary of the NNPC has been granted licence to operate OML11.
“Accordingly, NNPC is hereby directed to engage all host communities, particularly Ogoni people to ensure inclusive processes of oil and gas exploration and production is anchored on optimum involvement of host communities.
“NPDC will lay a broad-based programme for the emergence of a new Ogoni Land for the benefit of the Ogoni people and Nigeria as a whole,’’ he added.
President Buhari said he was aware of the passage of the Bill on the Federal University of Environmental Technology by the National Assembly and awaits transmission for further necessary action.
“This Administration has placed the rehabilitation of the Niger Delta as a top priority and has committed a lot of resources to tackle existing problems, including launching a one billion dollar oil clean-up exercise to reverse the terrible damage and restore the ecosystem.
“I am pleased that the restoration and amelioration activities under the auspices of the United Nations and the vehicle of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project have commenced work since we assumed office as we promised.
“We will take further steps to ensure faithful and speedy execution of the project so as to restore the environment and enable farming and fishing activities to resume in the affected areas,’’ he added.
The President also appreciated the leaders for recognition of the Federal Government’s efforts to clean up the area and stimulate more economic activities.
“Your Royal Highnesses and very distinguished people of Ogoni Land, I thank you very much for your kind words and recognition of efforts made by our administration to bring progress to your part and all parts of the country.’’
In his remarks, the president of the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, King Godwin N.K. Giniwa, thanked President Buhari for various interventions in the area, particularly on clean-up of the environment.
The paramount ruler noted that the people believe in the unity of Nigeria and the future of every group could only be guaranteed in one nation.
He congratulated the President for achievements in critical infrastructure in the country, especially in railways and road constructions, urging more efforts in the provision of potable water.
In the meantime, stakeholders at the second Nigeria Army Education Corps summit have called on the Federal Government to strengthen the regulatory framework for the control of Cybercrimes, as part of national security.
The newsmen report that the call was contained in a communique presented by Col. Usman Ndana, at the end of the Summit in Sokoto, on Friday.
The conference had as its theme: “Education development and national security: issues and way forward.”
In the communique, the stakeholders also called on the Ministry of Defence to develop its capacity to dominate cyberspace, through investments in modern technologies.
“The ministry should devise means of identifying both ethical and unethical hackers, with a means of harnessing their potentials and capacity.
“This is for the purpose of national growth and development, especially in the area of information and communication technology,” it said.
The stakeholders further called for an increase in budgetary allocation to education, in order to address infrastructure deficit and ”provision of adequate security gadgets to improve the security situation in schools across the country.”
Earlier, the Emir of Argungu, Alhaji Samaila Mera, who was the Chairman at the closing ceremony of the Summit, called for an effective synergy among security agencies and stakeholders to fight insecurity in the country.
“There cannot be any meaningful development in an atmosphere of rancour and violence, hence the need for concerted efforts against the security challenges in the country.
“We are all fully aware of the security challenges which are injurious to the nation’s national economy.
“As such, there is the need for joint efforts and synergy among all national security stakeholders to ensure an end of the menace,” he said.
Mera further said that the outcome of the summit would help in maintaining the corporate existence of Nigeria as a country and assist in facing the contemporary challenges of education.
He urged the participants to take advantage of the summit in finding lasting solutions to the challenges facing the country.
On his part, Corps Commander, Education, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Augie, expressed confidence that the summit will aid in bolstering national security.
“The lectures and papers delivered at the summit captured the contemporary challenges facing education in the country, and by extension, it’s national security,” he said.
