Nairobi, 22 November
2010 - Newspaper reports over the past few
days have given the impression that the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- which is conducting an assessment
of the impacts of oil pollution in Ogoniland
at the request of the Government of Nigeria
- has taken a position or formed an opinion
as to the causes of such spills.
UNEP has, and never
will, take such a position. Its scientific
survey in Ogoniland is not about forming
an opinion or passing judgment on the causes
of the oil spills - current or historical.
UNEP would like to reiterate
that its ongoing assessment, being carried
out in cooperation and consultation with
regional and local authorities and communities,
is examining the location, nature, extent
and implications of oil contamination in
Ogoniland.
UNEP appreciates the support its project
team has received from communities across
all parts of Ogoniland, which has underpinned
the significant progress made so far.
The fieldwork by UNEP's
scientific teams is firmly focused on collecting
samples of water, soil, sediment, air and
plant and animal tissue, with the on-the-ground
activities due to be completed in December
2010 after which there will be further laboratory
analysis.
An assessment report
will provide a compilation of all results
and present options to the government and
all interested parties on the most appropriate
measures to clean up the area's environment.
It is due to be presented to the Government
of Nigeria in early 2011.
The assessment is part
of a longer term goal to remediate contaminated
sites for the benefit of local communities
and people living in parts of the Niger
Delta and for the region's sustainable development.
UNEP has over several
years secured the confidence of the international
community in many challenging regions of
the world from the Balkans and Afghanistan
to Gaza and Sudan.
The same professionalism
and independence shown in these situations
is being exercised in respect to UNEP's
work in Nigeria and UNEP is extremely concerned
that some current and previous newspaper
reports are continuing to misrepresent its
activities in Ogoniland.
