Stakeholders and regulators have lauded the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) for the significant milestones recorded in the implementation of the Ogoni Clean up Project in the thematic areas of the Provision of Potable Water, construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration(CEER), Public Health-Construction of the Ogoni Specialist Hospital and Buan Cottage Hospital and other interventions, Environmental Remediation and Restoration- Land/Shoreline and Mangrove Restoration, Sustainable Livelihood and the Ogoni Power Project.
This commendation was made at the Quarterly Review Meeting organized by HYPREP in Port Harcourt which had in attendance, representatives drawn from the Federal Ministry of Environment, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Shell Petroleum Development Company(SPDC), Nigerian Pipeline and Storage Company (NPSC), Rivers State Ministry of Environment, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, Centre for Environment,Human Rights and Development(CEHRD), Stakeholders Democracy Network(SDN) and Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA).
In their goodwill messages, the stakeholders and regulators noted that while HYPREP is making notable strides in projects implementation, there should be due compliance with regulatory standards and international best practices for the benefit of the Ogoni people.
Meanwhile, Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey in his remarks at the meeting, called for continuous support and collaboration of Stakeholders and regulators for the successful implementation of the Clean up Programme, noting that the Project is reviewing site assessment and stakeholder engagement strategies for optimum results and also intensifying community initiatives, while ensuring that the Ogoni communities are informed and actively participating in the Project.
The PC reiterated HYPREP’s commitment to transparency and accountability in its operations and urged stakeholders and regulators to work harmoniously with the Project ” leveraging collective expertise and resources to restore and protect the Ogoni environment, restore the livelihoods of the people, and build structures for peace”
The Quarterly Review Meeting is a component of the HYPREP monitoring and evaluation framework that provides a platform for key stakeholders and industry regulators to review the projects towards ensuring that they meet best standards in line with HYPREP’s mandate and stakeholders expectations.
The highpoint of the meeting was the presentation of the Project Status Update by the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of HYPREP.
