President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) would be involved in the cleaning of oil polluted sites in Ogoni land in Rivers State.
Speaking during a courtesy call on him yesterday at the State House by the people of Ogoni, the President said the nations oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited had agreed to foot the bill of the cleaning exercise.

The Ogonis were at the State House with Governor Peter Odili to thank President Obasanjo for restoring peace in Ogoniland. President Obasanjo said it was important to support the peace which now exists in Ogoniland with sustainable development programmes which would be declared by the Rivers State government to give the people a sense of belonging.

Reacting to the assurance of Governor Odili that the programme for sustainable development in Ogoni land would be unfolded in the next three weeks, the president asked for peoples co-operation and support. President Obasanjo, who commended Dr Odili and Rev. Fr Matthew Kukah, the facilitator of the Ogoni Peace Process, for their contribution towards reconciliation in the community, also thanked Ogoni people for embracing peace.

He said: The Ogoni people I know are accommodating, tolerant, peace-loving, hardworking and believe in justice and fair play, and advised the people not to allow anything to destroy these virtues. On the demand by Ogoni people for the creation of Ogoni State and more local government areas, Chief Obasanjo said states and local government creation were legislative issues which I would not oppose.

He promised that the completion of Bodo-Bonny Road, which was one of the points demanded by the Ogonis, would be given serious attention. As he put it, part of the road if not all, will be in use before the end of the next dry season.