The Federal Government has stated that about 400 local and international companies have been engaged in the clean-up exercise of oil pollution in Ogoni land.

The Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibrin, who disclosed this at the Nnimmo Bassey National Colloquium in Abuja, also disclosed that contractors will be mobilised to site by August or September this year.

The Minister who described Nnimmo Bassey an environmentalist, activist and a member of the Board of Ogoni Clean-up who marked his 60th birthday as a patriotic Nigerian, said that the government has developed a framework and timeline for the Ogoni cleanup which would last till December 2019.

He lamented that oil pollution in Ogoni land has led to the destruction of mangrove and aquatic lives in the area, but promised that the present administration was determined to right the wrongs in the clean-up exercise.

He said, “We have developed a framework and time frame that will take us to December 2019. A lot of broken promises have been made which made people to be suspicious even when we have assured them of our determination to clean the area.

“We are following up the framework religiously and we have engaged 400 companies, delineated 14 sites out of 26 and now doing the costing and procurement is just going on.

“We intend to move to the site by August or September by the grace of God.”

During his remarks, the celebrant, Nnimmo Bassey, said: “I am overwhelmed by the show of love. My life as an activist has been greatly impacted by Ken Saro-Wiwa and Oronto Douglas. They were heroes of the struggle. Our education should never be distorted by our schooling. Today is part of my education. I have learnt a lot today about life and what follows the good deeds of men.”