28th November, 2011
A major step in the total overhaul of the environmental situation in the Niger Delta region would be activated Tuesday in Abuja with the convocation of the first stakeholders Roundtable on Niger Delta Environmental Protection and Regeneration.
Coming on the heels of the United Nations Report on Ogoni Land, the Roundtable which comes under the theme: `’’Ensuring Niger Delta Environmental Sustenance,’’ would be co-hosted by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke and the Minister of the Environment Hajia Hadiza Mailafa.
Also billed to grace the session as Roundtable Chairman is Governor Bill Richardson, former Governor of the US State of New Mexico as well as erstwhile US Energy Secretary. Richardson was a Presidential aspirant in the 2008 US Presidential election.
Also in the company of Richardson is Ambassador Howard Jeter, erstwhile US envoy to Nigeria. Speaking at the pre-event media parley, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, who also doubles as a co-coordinator of the event said the assemblage of who is who in the national and global environmental protection discourse is designed to seek the best solution and approach possible in good time for the execution of the Ogoni report.
“ The whole idea is to seek and congregate the best possible expert perspective on the subject matter so that the industry could present a dependable response to what is arguably a front burner issue affecting the environment and the smooth operation of the industry in the Niger Delta,’’ Dr. Ajuonuma stated.
As part of the dialogue, the session would also feature notable stakeholders like the President of the Movement of the Survival of Ogoni People, MOSOP, Ledum Mitee, Chief Kingsley Kuku, National Security Adviser , Gen. Owoye Azazi, Dr. Gamaliel Onosode as well Mutiu Sunmomu, MD SPDC .The lead paper wil be presented by Professor, Oladele Osibanjo, foremost Nigerian Environmentalist.
Listed as panellists are; Professor Oladapo Afolabi, former Head of Service, Osten Olorunsola , Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, while Egbert Imomoh, Chairman, Afren Plc would chair the session on Major Causes of Environmental pollution.
The Roundtable is organised by the London based CWC Group with the objective of promoting workable dialogue between relevant stakeholders to promote responsible hydrocarbon exploitation in the Niger Delta region as well as the entire Gulf of Guinea.
Areas of focus include increasing environmental protection, ensuring energy security, promoting sustainable production and advancing human development in the region.