By Abdullahi M. Gulloma Abuja
Th e federal government would next month fl ag-off the fi rst set of Modular Refi neries domiciled mostly in the Delta region, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity in the Offi ce of the Vice President, Mr. Laolu Akande, said yesterday. Speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja, Akande said Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, would hold a ground breaking ceremony to signal the commencement of the fi rst set of the miniature refi neries. “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 refi neries which we hope will start from August.
Th ey will do the ground breaking of the fi rst set of modular refi nery,” 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 for approval. According to him, the National Universities Commission (NUC) had approved courses that would be taught in the university