Issues surrounding claims by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation project that it has begun the clean up of contaminated sites in Ogoniland seem far from over as the President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Fegalo Nsuke, has described the management of the HYPREP as highly corrupt and deceitful.
Nsuke in two separate speeches on Sunday, February 24, 2019, discredited the cleanup programme describing it as a scam and desperate move to enrich individuals and not address the concerns of the Ogoni environment
Speaking at the palace of Gbene Ginikabor IV, the paramount ruler of Gbenekabor in Korokoro, Tai local government area of Rivers State, Chief Akpobari Loveday Nkorba, Nsuke described the cleanup programme as HYPREPs attempt to cover the massive mismanagement and financial corruption which has characterized the agency’s work in Ogoniland.
He said HYPREP was not implementing the cleanup programme as recommended by UNEP. He said HYPREP was a corrupt organisation only concerned about the funds meant for the cleanup programme.
Also speaking in Mogho, Gokana local government area where he addressed a congress of the Gokkana people, Nsuke told the Gokana people that HYPREP has failed every transparency test regarding financial prudence and openness.
He said the secrecy with which HYPREP conducts its business coupled with their disregard for community inputs in the implementation program were signs pointing to the failure of the program.
Nsuke maintained that the UNEP report cannot be implemented without the provision of clean water for the Ogoni people.
According to him: “HYPREPs disregard for our demands for water is unacceptable because the Nigerian government and Shell polluted the water and they have the responsibility to give us good water in place” he said.
“It is important for HYPREP to tell us how they intend to deal with the contaminated soil especially how and where they will treat the contamination”
“They have failed to put in place an integrated soil management center and the centre of excellence as recommended by UNEP and instead HYPREP is only concerned about contract awards because that is an easy way to enrich individuals
“There are few critical recommendations of UNEP we want to see implemented and HYPREP must deal with those issues to build our confidence in the process” he said naming these recommendations to include:
1. Water provision for Ogoni must be treated as an emergency which it is.
2. The waste management system as recommended by the report must be in place for us to be sure of how HYPREP intends to deal with contaminated soil.
3 The Center of Excellence should be built to provide training environment and technical support base for the implementation.
The MOSOP president also described the selection and mobilization of contractors for the Ogoni cleanup as a desperate attempt to self-enrichment rather than a commitment to clean Ogoniland. Nsuke urged the Gokana people to be vigilant as the contractors are only interested in how much money they can make and not to cleanup Ogoniland.
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