President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged stakeholders in Ogoni to bring their perspectives, expertise, and resources to collaborate in ensuring that the purpose of the Clean-up Project being implemented by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) is fully actualized.
The President spoke through the Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement (South-South), Hon. Gift Johnbull in Bori, Khana LGA, at a round-table meeting with key stakeholders to dialogue on ways to effectively implement the Clean-up programme and improve the well-being of communities.
Tinubu stated that there is an established robust governance framework and accountability mechanism to ensure transparency, effective resource allocation, and meaningful community involvement in the Clean-up process. He added that his administration through “community involvement aims to drive real and lasting change, fostering a mindset that prioritizes environmental sustainability, economic empowerment, and community well-being”
Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, seized the occasion to give a scorecard of the Project’s mandate and key deliverables- provision of potable water, remediation- land and shoreline, mangrove restoration, public health; construction of the Ogoni Specialist Hospital and Buan Cottage Hospital, Health Impact Study to be conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in partnership with the University of Port Harcourt and University of Ibadan, Health Strengthening, the Ogoni Power Project, livelihood programmes and the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER)
Prof Zabbey stressed that HYPREP is carrying out over 130 projects, all of which are impacting positively on the livelihoods of the people. He hinted that 4 water schemes in Bomu (Gokana LGA), Kporghor(Tai LGA), Beere(Khana LGA) and Eteo(Eleme) would be ready for commissioning next month, by the Hon. Minister of Environment and Chairman of GC, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal.
On efforts at checking repollution, the PC highlighted measures the Project has initiated to include, the regular engagement of Ex-artisenal Refiners, provision of sustainable alternative livelihood programmes, in talks with National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for training of youths in IT among others.
Panelists at the round-table meeting, while commending the initiative of the engagement meeting and the commitment of the President to the actualization of the Clean-up programme, requested for the establishment of the CEER as a university.
Earlier, the Project Coordinator had taken the SSA on a brief site tour at the CEER.
