Flagging the cleanup exercise on Thursday, in Rivers state, Vice-president Yemi Osinbanjo who represented President Muhammadu Buahri, said the initiative marks a new dawn for the Ogoni people, who have long suffered environmental degradation. The president remarks that the exercise will not only restore the environment, but will create jobs for young people in Ogoni land.

The event was attended by state governors, ministers and federal law makers, as well as members of the international community including representatives of the United Nations environment program.

The Rivers state governor Nyelsom Wike said the formal lunch of the cleanup of Ogoni land and other oil impacted communities marks a watershed in the collective struggle of the people for environmental justice, he said although it’s been long in coming, the cleanup process will go a long way in restoring sustainable peace in the region.