Joy Olekanma: 14 August 2011
Port Harcourt Government for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has on Thursday accused oil giant, Shell of sponsoring the report of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on the oil spills in Ogoniland.
MEND frowned at the acceptance of the report by President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that the claim by UNEP that it would take 30 years to clean up Ogoni environment was an attempt to reclaim the area for Shell.
The statement, which was signed by MEND spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo said; “The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) views the Shell Petroleum sponsored, U.N report on the degradation of the environment of the Niger Delta and its inhabitants by the deliberately irresponsible activities of western oil companies as a pathetic attempt at trivializing the wave of destruction wrought on the ecology of the Niger delta, the lifestyle and dignity of its people by criminal oil companies occupying the Niger delta forcibly for the sole purpose of plundering the resources of its people.