The Federal Government has increased the number of Ogoni youths benefiting from its various livelihood Programmes from 5,000 to 10,000.
The Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, announced this on Thursday during an anti-bunkering re-pollution sensitisation workshop and award of certificates ceremony in Saakpenwa, Tai Local Government Area of Rivers.
Represented by Prof. Philips Shekwolo, Director of Technical Services, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Abdulahi said the beneficiaries would be trained on various professional skills in oil, gas and maritime sector.
“So, the livelihoods programme is for all Ogoni youths, including those who are engaged in illegal oil bunkering activities.
“The ministry has increased the number of beneficiaries for this Programme from 5,000 to 10,000, and increased the areas of training.
“The additional training are seafaring, aviation and oil and gas. We included these so that Ogoni youths can be employed in the oil and gas, maritime and aviation sectors,” he said.
Abdullahi said the Federal Government was fully committed to ending the sufferings of the Ogoni people faced by decades of oil spillage that polluted both their underground water and farmlands.
