By Mark Lenu
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has lashed out at the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities for commending the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) over the cleanup of oil-impacted sites in Ogoni.
MOSOP said the House Committee’s position compromised the truth and had earned disappointment from the people as the lawmakers had failed in their obligation to stand for the people.
President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke while speaking on a recent visit by the House Committee to Ogoni and the committee’s. commendation for the Ogoni cleanup said the House demonstrated a high level of ignorance and had compromised the truth about the Ogoni cleanup failures.
MOSOP in a statement made available to our correspondent said: “It is on record that the Ogoni cleanup exercise has received over N1 Trillion in the past eight years and nothing to show for it.
“The 2024 budget of HYPREP is N400 Billion. That is the budget of two Nigerian states put together. What have they got to show for it? Nothing!
“The House Committee in its remarks said it visited various project sites including the barricaded remediation site in Ogale, Eleme; the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, CEER; the Ogoni Specialist Hospital; Bori Cottage Hospital; Bori Water Scheme; Shoreline Remediation and Mangrove Restoration sites in Bomu, Gokana LGA, and while at the Mangrove Restoration site in Bomu, members of the committee also historically planted mangroves seedlings.”
But the MOSOP President questioned if those were what over N1 Trillion has done in the past eight years.
“They have spent over 1 Trillion and Ogoni does not have water. Instead of addressing the critical issues, they are busy seeking avenues to cover their loot.
“They have not provided water but they are funding frivolous exercises. Their work was to remediate Ogoni and not to be making frivolous expenses on House Committee’s visit” he said.
According to Nsuke, performance assessments are not done vaguely; they are done in relation to the amount of resources expended. HYPREP cannot spend over N1 Trillion and Ogoni will still be polluted.
“When you consider the past eight years’ expenditure of HYPREP, then you will appreciate how much damage HYPREP has done to the Ogoni society.
“Over 1 Trillion has been spent on remediation work in Ogoni and the people are still talking about pollution without drinkable water, whereas, clean water provision is the first thing that was to be addressed as an emergency,” Nsuke said.
He further urged the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities to keep its oversight functions away from Ogoni if it cannot be courageous enough to speak out against the deceit and corruption that are glaring in HYPREP.
