The federal government would next month flag-off the first set of Modular Refineries domiciled mostly in the Delta region, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity in the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, said on Tuesday.
Addressing State House correspondents in Abuja, Akande said Acting President Yemi Osinbajo would hold a ground breaking ceremony to signal the commencement of the first set of the miniature refineries.
“So, next week there is going to be a report from the government side, the inter ministerial group led by the Acting President. Some of the highlights will be discussed at the meeting are the Modular refineries which we hope will start from August. They will do the ground breaking of the first set of modular refinery,” he said.
Akande also told journalists that the federal government is expected to give an update on the Ogoni Cleanup which the present administration launched last year, stressing that the coordinating team for Ogoni Clean-up has already conducted the health impact assessment and the soil and water tests.
He said the team would be heading to Geneva, Switzerland, where a holistic roadmap on the cleanup would be concluded with the international partners, adding that 15 sons and daughters of Ogoniland have been hired and trained in environmental sciences to serve as technical assistants.
He said the clean up, which is expected to last for about 30 years, is one of the biggest oil spill cleanup ever as contained in the United Nations Environment Programme Report (UNEP).
Akande said another issue that would be discussed at the meeting is the plan to open the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, in October this year, stressing that the Vice Chancellor was asked to bring a budget that would be approved.
According to him, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved courses that would be taught in the university.
