The federal government has given all contractors in the Niger Delta region including those handling projects by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) a 30-day ultimatum to return to site or face prosecution.
The directive was issued by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at a meeting of the inter-ministerial working group following up on the renewed Niger Delta interactive engagements of the present administration.
The Vice President directed that the list of all contractors who fail to return to site within the stipulated period should be compiled and submitted to the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation and prosecution.
He said the directive is aimed at accelerating the implementation of the present administration’s new vision for the development of the Niger Delta region.
He said a concerted implementation work plan that would respond to the developmental issues and projects proposed by PANDEF is also being prepared while fresh mandates are also being issued to all the relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government as appropriate.
The meeting also discussed the plans to continue presidential visits to the remaining states with oil-producing communities so as to effectively conclude the interactive engagements with the people of the region.
Specific instructions have also been given to the Ministry of Environment to ensure and report on the progress of the Ogoni clean-up, for which a Project Office is now located in Rivers state and is functional.
A directive has also been issued to the Ministry of Environment for a plan to commence considerations for the clean-up of other polluted areas in the oil-producing communities.
