Tina Amanda
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, has handed over a total of 16 polluted sites in Ogoniland to contractors for remediation.
Out of 21 polluted sites marked for remediation, 16 has been awarded for clean-up while the remaining five sites, according to HYPREP, will be handed over shortly after approval by the Federal Executive Council.
Speaking at the handover ceremony in K-Dere Community, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, HYPREP Coordinator, Dr Marvin Dekil, called for collaboration between the contractors and the communities.
Dekil also explained why HYPREP had to award contracts for remediation without setting up the integrated soil management centre as recommended by UNEP.
“I am aware that some people are saying that we are handing over sites for remediation without the Integrated Soil Management Center, as recommended by UNEP.
“These sites handed over to contractors are less complex sites and do not require an Integrated Soil Management Center before they can be remediated.”
Dekil also urged the impacted communities to collaborate with the contractors for smooth remediation of impacted sites, while appealing to those against the exercise to have a change of mind.
He assured that the provision of potable water, livelihood training and the setting up of the integrated soil management centre will take off simultaneously with the clean-up exercise.
“If you prevent HYPREP from cleaning up your communities, HYPREP will take the resources and go to another community.
“If there are few people who feel the clean-up exercise should not happen for their own selfish reasons, we will not be joining issues with them because there are isolated issues that do not reflect the broad view of the Ogoni people who overwhelmingly want this clean-up to take place.”
Earlier, the Paramount Ruler of K-Dere community, Chief Fabian Gberesu, who described the community as the most polluted site in Ogoniland and the highest oil producing community with 42 oil wells, wondered why indigenes of the community were not awarded clean-up contracts.
Gberesu also pledged the community’s resolve to collaborate with contractors awarded contracts for the remediation of polluted sites in the area.
“We have a retinue of qualified people in K-Dere, therefore, our children should be included in HYPREP’s technical team, management team and also given clean-up contracts.”
