From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja

Federal Government has said the Ogoniland  cleanup project has gulped $1 billion while  882  youths have been engaged.

Also,  the Project Coordination Office (PCO) proposed to train 1,200 Ogoni women in various entrepreneurial skills from the four local governments of Ogoniland while the agribusiness skill training and empowerment programme for 400 Ogoni women was initiated as an integral part of the front–end activities of the clean-up of Ogoniland.

The primary objective,  is aimed at presenting sustainable agriculture and agribusiness as alternative sources of livelihood for women.

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Minister of Environment, Manhood Mohammed Abubakar who gave an update on the  work  in Abuja, also explained that  the bulk of the $1 billion  was contributed by International Oil Companies (IOCs).

According to him,  2,000 temporal jobs were created in the course of remediation across the four local government areas of Ogoniland besides the numerous indirect jobs that are to be created in the form of trading and support activities.

“As at today, 17 lots have been completed by Hydrocarbon Pollution  Remediation Project (HYPREP) out of which 10  have been closed out by National Oil Spill Detection Agency (NOSDRA).”