Ogoni: 15.3 hectares of polluted land now suitable for farming – Minister

The Minister of Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor, has disclosed that over 15.13 hectares of hitherto polluted land in Ogoni area of Rivers State has been cleaned up and suitable for agricultural activities.  The minister also stated that the ministry, through the efforts of the agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), has reversed 4,792 hectares […]

The Minister of Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor, has disclosed that over 15.13 hectares of hitherto polluted land in Ogoni area of Rivers State has been cleaned up and suitable for agricultural activities.

 The minister also stated that the ministry, through the efforts of the agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), has reversed 4,792 hectares of land from degradation and desertification.

The minister made this known while addressing the 15th meeting of the National Council on Environment in Abuja.

Chief Ikeazor explained that the ministry had developed strategies along the nine priority areas outlined by the current administration to build a thriving and sustainable economy, enhance social inclusion and reduce poverty, enlarge agricultural output for food security and export, among others.

In fulfilling this mandate, she said, “The ministry is accelerating the implementation of the Ogoni clean-up through the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP). 15.3 hectares of polluted land has so far been remediated into arable land suitable for agricultural activities in Ogoniland.  

“Currently ongoing is the construction of six water supply schemes with a capacity of supplying 2400 cubic meters (m3) of potable water per day to communities across the four local government areas of Ogoni land.”