FG REASSURES THAT THE OGONI CLEANUP IS ON COURSE
The Federal Government has again assured that the Ogoni Cleanup Programme being implemented by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) is on course, as evident in the significant milestones recorded across thematic areas.
Honourable Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal made this affirmation, on Monday, when he joined the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu on a courtesy call on the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
The Hon. Minister noted that the prioritisation of the Ogoni Cleanup by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is among the reasons for its accelerated implementation, while highlighting the notable progress made in mangrove restoration, shoreline remediation, construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), provision of potable water, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, livelihood, among others.
Similarly, Hon. Lawal, commended the Governor for his support to the Project and appealed to the government to assist in the power distribution to Ogoni communities when the project is completed. He mentioned that on completion of the Buan Cottage Hospital, HYPREP will hand it to the state government, including 5 newly acquired ambulances to public health centres in Eleme, Bori, Terabor, Bodo and Kpite, all of which are part of its public health interventions in Ogoni.
Later, the Hon Minister along side Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, Project Coordinator of HYPREP, led the NSA’s entourage to the Centre of Excellence for Environnmental Restoration (CEER). The NSA entourage comprised the Hon Minister of Works Engr. Dave Umahi, Group Chief Executive of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company LTD, Engr. Bayo Ojulari, Hon. Gift Johnbull, SSA to the President on Community Engagement for South South and members of the Ogoni Dialogue Committee, among others.
