The National Assembly has again commended the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) for its diligent implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme Report on Ogoniland following its achievements through the various projects and programmes.
The commendation, this time is coming from the Senate Committee, Oil and Gas Host Communities who spoke through its Chairman, Distinguished Senator Benson Sunday Agadaga, MON, during their two-day oversight visit to HYPREP project sites in Ogoni.
Addressing journalists at the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, Wiiyaakara , Khana LGA after a tour round HYPREP Projects including the Medium Risk Sites in Ogale, Eleme, Shoreline remediation site in Goi, Gokana LGA, Kporghor Water Station, Tai, Ogoni Specialist Hospital and Buan Cottage Hospital in Tai and Khana respectively, Senator Agadaga, stated thus:
”What we have seen today is impressive. There is marvelous development in line with the United Nations Environment Programme that established the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project in Nigeria, which is being handled by Professor Zabbey here as the Coordinator
”We know that this Project was actually launched in 2016…it appears what we are seeing for the past two years and this year is accelerated development. We are impressed about what we are seeing. As an intervention body, we are happy that this thing is going to transform Ogoniland and in fact the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large
”We are impressed about the development that is going on here. The Centre of Excellence here is going to produce skilled labour in Nigeria, people who are specialized in Environmental Studies, Pollution and Pollution Control. So it is very good that we are having a structure like that in the Niger Delta
”I think the sweat of our forefathers who fought for recognition of the Niger Delta is actually being fulfilled. I want to thank God for the new leadership of the Project and i want to urge the contractors to live up to expectation so that the deadline for the completion of projects will be met”
On day two, the Committee was in the Bomu Creek, Gokana LGA, where they did a symbolic planting of mangrove seedling as part of their support for the HYPREP Mangrove Restoration Project in Ogoniland. The visit rounded off with a stakeholder meeting at the Rivers South-East Senatorial Office(1961), Gbam, Tai, LGA. In September, the House Committee on Host Communities, led by it Chairman, RT. Hon. Dumnamene Dekor had visited and poured encomiums on the Project. This latest visit speaks to HYPREP’s commitment to continue to operate a transparent clean-up programme and opening its doors to regulatory and public assessment
