Rivers State: Shell begins Bodo cleanup, deploys 400 indigenous workers

Over 400 indigenous workers have been deployed on site, as Shell begins the cleanup of Bodo community in Ogoni Land, the Guardian reports.

An Ambassador from the kingdom of Netherlands, Robert Pedri, disclosed this at the weekend at Bodo, in Gokana Local Council Area of Rivers State. He expressed appreciation that the cleanup had started, despite the delay that it recorded as a result of disagreements between the parties involved. Pedri explained that the polluted areas would take time to be cleaned, due to the degree of damage in the environment and urged the people to be patient to ensure a smooth exercise.

He called for a mutual understanding between the community, Shell and other relevant agencies to ensure a speedy execution of the project. The Bodo cleanup is different from the general Ogoni cleanup, which is being handled by the Federal Government. The community had experienced two major oil spills in 2008 from the facilities belonging to Shell Development Petroleum Development (SPDC).