In line with its policy of transparency, accountability and inclusivity, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), has presented to the Ogoni people its scorecard under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal and Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, Project Coordinator.
In a well attended event which held today in Port Harcourt, with Ogoni stakeholders across various strata in attendance, Professor Zabbey said the Mid-term scorecard presentation offered an opportunity to present ‘tangible evidence of progress in the Ogoni Clean-up effort, reinforce accountability, deepen transparency, and most importantly enable HYPREP to interact directly with the communities and stakeholders who are the heartbeat of this project’
Professor Zabbey highlighted the significant progress HYPREP has made across its thematic areas. He presented the following statistics on the Project scorecard:
- Environmental Remediation:.
- Certification and official close out of fifty (50) lots across 17 UNEP-assessed sites under Phase 1simple sites
- NOSDRA certification and close-out for thirteen (13) Category N sites
-Shoreline remediation is at 53% covering 1,700 ha.
-Mangrove Restoration is at 93%
-Following up the classification of the Ogoni mangrove wetland as a Ramsar Site
2.Livelihood Programme:
-Skills Acquisition for 5000 Ogonis in 20 skill sets,
-Specialized Skills: Aviation, Seafaring, Creative Arts
-Economic Empowerment Initiatives/Business Support Initiatives
-Award of Scholarships/Research Support Grants( 200 Masters and 100 PhD), 250 Undergraduates received research grants of 200k, Internship opportunities for 40 undergraduate students,
Capacity Building Workshop: Career Enhancement and Employability Workshop, Proposal Writing Workshop, Business Development and Procurement Workshop.
-Over 7000 direct and indirect jobs created across more than 100 project sites in the 4 LGAs.
-Commissioned the Ogoni Socio-Economic Survey
- Potable Water
-30 Ogoni communities provided with potable water, several potable water facilities are ongoing and at varying stages of completion.
-Establishment of Water Consumers Association (WCA)for sustainability - Public Health Intervention
-Renovated relevant sections of the Bori, Nchia, Terabor General Hospitals and Kpite Primary Health Care Centre, equipping them with state of the art medical devices and solar power systems.
-Designed and Constructing a 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan Community at 93%
-Construction of a 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital which is at 76%
-Inaugurated a Technical Planning Committee for the Hospital for sustainability.
-Engaged the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Agency for Cancer Research (IARC) to conduct a comprehensive health study on Ogoni people.
-Designed and constructed the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), a key recommendation of UNEP is at 85% completion and expected to be inaugurated in the last quarter of this year. - Robust engagement with Ogoni Ex-artisanal refiners to stem repollution.
6 Project has gained international visibility, leveraging linkages and packages
-Cutting-edge researches for development and sustainability-ongoing research on artificial production and restocking of the West African Bloody Cockle, post remediation soil fertility enhancement study and the Groowcoon research to end the use of plastic bags in mangrove nursery - Promotion of transparency and accountability through open and inclusive communication, stakeholders engagement, establishment of extra-regulatory transparency and accountability mechanisms such as Milestone-Evaluation Committee and the Technical Coordination Committee.
Consequently, the PC attributed these achievements to the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially as it prioritizes the acceleration of the Ogoni Ogoni Cleanup, fostering environmental justice and providing a template for nation building and sustainable development. He added that HYPREP is contributing meaningfully to this national objective as a symbol of hope and healing.
While noting that the Project is faced with challenges which include targeted misinformation, chieftaincy tussles, communal land boundary disputes, avoidable litigation, the PC noted that they are being surmounted through inclusiveness, dialogue and mutual respect. He urged for the continuous support of the stakeholder for project delivery.
”The Ogoni Community holds the key to HYPREP’s success. Thus, ownership, cooperation, and vigilance by the people will ensure that these interventions are protected, maintained and maximized for generations to come” the PC stated.
The highpoint of the event was the detailed project scorecard presentation, while goodwill messages from Hon. Emma Deeyah, President of KAGOTE, Professor Barineme Fakae, former Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, the kings of Eleme and Tai HM King (Dr) Philip Osaro Obele, HM King Samuel Nee, His Excellency Hon Oji Ngofa, former Chairman of Eleme LGA and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Netherland, HH Chief Kadilo Kabari, Paramount Ruler of Ancient Barako Community, Gokana LGA, and Member of the UniPort Governing Council, and the Ogoni Mother’s Union, led by Chief Hon. Priscilla Vikue, all commended Professor Zabbey for the achievement recorded in 2 years and acknowledged the support of the Hon. Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal for his commitment to the Ogoni Cleanup, programme, calling for continuous support for HYPREP.
