Ogoni cleanup: 35 persons trained by Hyprep, NDDC

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, in collaboration with the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, have trained 35 technical assistants who would monitor the clean-up of oil-impacted sites in Ogoniland.

The training which started since last week is to equip the trainees, according to HYPREP, with the necessary skills and experience to work along companies that will be selected for the clean-up project.

Speaking at the field training of the 35 technicians in Goi community, Gokana LGA of Rivers State, HYPREP’s Head of Communications, Mr. Isa Wasa, said HYPREP will continue to train more personnel to equip them for the job ahead, in line with international best practices.

Wassa said more trainings would be carried out, adding that the training of the 35 personnel who are all graduates of environmental sciences, was the second series after 15 have already been trained before now.

He commended the management of NDDC for its support on the training, stressing that the Federal Government has shown full commitment to the implementation of the Ogoni clean-up project.

According to him, “This training is the second in series. The essence is that these personnel will work with the companies that will be selected after the procurement process. We do not take the training of our personnel for granted because training is key.

“Right now we have 35 on this phase and it is going to be a continuous process. It is not going to end here, capacity building is key, so it is going to be a continuous process.

“Their role is work along companies that will be selected through the procurement process, to work with them and ensure that the best practices are employed in the project.

“We also thank NDDC who has supported us to conduct this training. Our doors are open to other supporters, we invite other organizations to join us in ensuring HYPREP mandate of remediation and restoration of livelihoods, is achieved.”

Also speaking, one of the trainees, Mr. John Ukpatu, said the training is necessary as it has equipped them with the requisite skills for the clean up.

“We have taken soil and water sample to find out the present state of contamination and this sample will in turn be taken to the laboratory for analysis.

“As technical assistants, based on our training and knowledge in environmental sciences, we are going to monitor and also be of assistance to HYPREP for the implementation of the clean up,” he said.