The Federal Government has authorized N59.7 billion for oil producing communities in Rivers State.
The Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, revealed this to State House Correspondents at the end of the week’s meeting of the Federal Executive Council, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He explained that the ministry obtained approval of N41.4 billion for the construction of a centre of excellence which would be used for environmental restoration in the Kana Local Government Area of Rivers State and another approval for the construction of a specialist hospital in the sum of N18.3 billion for the people of Ogoni to a total sum of N59.7 billion.
He said, “I presented two memos, one was for the award of a contract for the construction of a centre of excellence for environmental restoration in Kana Local Government Area of Rivers State in the sum of N41, 472, 263, 848.60 with a completion period of 24 months.”
He said the centre is to facilitate an efficient and cost-effective approach to contamination management and environmental restoration as well as provide training on environmental remediation.
“The centre will contain an admin block, auditorium, research building as well as male and female dormitories, library and clinic among others,” the minister said.