Fact Sheet On Niger Delta New Vision – December 2018 Update

• Share:

The Buhari administration’s Niger Delta New Vision is designed to “develop a new and prosperous Niger Delta through the Federal Government’s forthright partnerships with State Governments, the Private Sector and Local Communities.”

Ongoing projects under the Niger Delta New Vision include:
The take-off of Maritime University in Delta State
Commencement of Ogoni Clean-up
Approval for the establishment of Modular Refineries
Continuation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme
Investments in infrastructure and development projects

Maritime University, Delta State:
The Maritime University in Okerenkoko, Delta State, commenced operations in 2017 and, in November 2017, invited job applications for academic staff.

President Muhammadu Buhari administration had approved an increase in the take-off grant from the N2bn earlier announced to N5bn.

Lectures commenced fully in April 2018 with a total of 196 students accepted into the University.
The NUC approved commencement of academic activities in three faculties namely; Transport, Engineering and Environmental Management, with 13 departments across the three faculties.
In November 2018, Maritime University and the University of Lagos signed a MoU with the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) for mutual exchange in human capital development
Also, the CMU has offered scholarships to two students of the Maritime University.

Ogoni clean-up:
In June 2016, the Buhari administration started the implementation of the 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland devastated by decades of oil spills.

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) (under the Federal Ministry of Environment) was established. Headed by Dr. Marvin Dekil, the Project Coordinator, HYPREP has carried out key activities so far:

Training of some Ogoni graduates educated in Environmental Sciences to develop the capacity for the Cleanup project.

Demonstration of technologies in some of the oil-impacted areas in Ogoniland, namely Bodo, K-Dere, B-Dere, Korokoro, Kwawa, Nsisioken etc where interested companies showcased their remediation technologies at no cost to the government.

A total of 201 samples were collected and analysed from eleven (11) sites in this exercise across the four (4) LGA.

Delineation and scoping of selected hydrocarbon impacted sites is on-going.

Twenty-Six (26) sites out of the Sixty-Four (64) investigated sites by UNEP across the four (4) Ogoni Local Government Areas have been earmarked. This is in line with the recommendations contained in the UNEP fact sheets.

Over 20,000 patients were treated, and 365 surgeries carried out in Ogoniland during HYPREP’s Medical Outreach Programmes aimed at collecting preliminary data towards the implementation of UNEP recommendation on Health Study.
Towards the implementation of UNEP recommendation on the provision of emergency measures (water supply and health study), HYPREP commenced the survey and sampling of drinking water sources in Ogoniland, and provision of potable water for communities.

A total of 600 water samples was collected and analysed from 47 impacted communities across the four (4) LGAs of Ogoniland – Eleme, Gokana, Tai and Khana
Next Phase of Clean-up: Remediation of selected twenty-six (26) sites identified in the 1st phase of the Clean-up exercise.
The Next Phase will also include the conclusion of Procurement Processes for contracting experts for the remediation and clean-up of impacted sites, Construction of new comprehensive water schemes and rehabilitation of existing ones, Livelihood Assessment/Implementation Plan, Detailed Health Impact Assessment Study.

Modular Refineries:
Establishing modular refineries in the Niger Delta region would promote socio-economic development and provide jobs for unemployed youths, thereby sustaining peaceful coexistence in the Region. It will also increase local content, mitigate negative environmental degradation associated with illegal refinery activities, crude oil theft and pipelines vandalism.
The location of a modular refinery is strategic and influenced by proximity to the source of crude oil, producing marginal fields and tie-in to supply infrastructure or clusters.

Three modular refinery projects have commenced construction:
Niger Delta Petroleum Resources – Establishment of additional 10,000bpd Modular Refinery in Ogbele, Rivers State.
2. OPAC Refineries – To establish 7,000bpd refinery in Umuseti-Kwale, Delta State (phase one)
WalterSmith (Petroman) – To Establish 5,000bpd refinery in Ibigwe, Ohaji, Imo State.
Two modular refineries are expected to be inaugurated by the end of this year.

Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP):
The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) is an intervention programme initiated by the Federal Government to address agitations and militancy in the Niger Delta region.

PAP engages ex-militants and youths from impacted communities into formal education, vocational skills acquisition and empowerment schemes.

The Amnesty Programme has helped in maintaining peace and security in the Niger Delta, and improving the nation’s economy.

There are currently over 5,000 persons enlisted in the programme.

So far, the programme headed by the Special Adviser and Coordinator, PAP, Prof. Charles Dokubo, has facilitated the setting-up of small and medium scale businesses for over 4,000 ex-militants, while some foreign firms have offered direct employment to several trainees.

For enhanced post-training engagement, the Programme plans to fast-track the establishment of small businesses for already trained youths in areas such as agriculture, particularly Poultry and Fish farming; Welding/Fabrication, and shoemaking.

BONNY-BODO ROAD PROJECT:
The N120 billion Bonny-Bodo road project was flagged-off in October 2017 by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. The 34-kilometre road project, linking Bonny Island to the mainland was first mooted about 40 years ago.

The ongoing Bonny-Bodo bridge and road project is a Public Private Partnership arrangement jointly funded by Nigeria LNG and the Federal Government.

When completed, the 34-kilometres road would connect several major communities in the Niger Delta region and boost socio-economic development in the region.

Export Processing Zone (EPZ):
The Federal Government approved the establishment of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) comprising the Gas City Project at Ogidigben, and the Deep Seaport in Gbaramatu, Warri South-West LGA, Delta State.

When fully operational, these projects are expected to boost socio-economic activities and improve the security landscape of the Niger Delta region.

For more information, visit the www.ndnewvision.gov.ng

Released by:

Arukaino Umukoro,
Special Assistant to the President
(Communication Projects/Niger Delta),
Office of the Vice President
3rd December 2018