The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) says it is fast-tracking the Ogoni Cleanup Programme with massive infrastructure development, including the construction of new hospitals, potable water schemes, and a community power project designed to improve living standards across Ogoniland.
Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, made this known during HYPREP’s appearance before the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on the Mismanagement of Oil Spill Clean-up Funds in the Niger Delta, chaired by Hon. Okpolump Etteh on Friday.
Zabbey assured the lawmakers that the Cleanup Programme is being executed in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Ogoni Environment, emphasising that all funds released for the Project are utilised transparently and judiciously.
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“This, the PC explained, is evident in over 120 Projects HYPREP is currently executing including others that have been completed like the Simple-risk land remediation sites and some Phase 1 water Projects,” the statement shared via Facebook noted.
He revealed that over 120 projects, including the provision of potable water to 40 Ogoni communities, construction of a 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital, a 40-bed Buan Cottage Hospital, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), and the Ogoni Power Project are currently ongoing.
Other initiatives include mangrove restoration, land and shoreline remediation, alternative livelihood programmes, capacity development, and peacebuilding.
The Project Coordinator stressed that HYPREP operates under strict transparency measures in line with the Procurement Act of 2007, supported by internal and external financial audits and oversight from the Auditor-General of the Federation.
He also invited the Committee to visit Ogoniland for an on-the-spot assessment under HYPREP’s “Come and See” initiative.
Earlier, Rt. Hon. Emma Deeyah, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ogoni Trust Fund (OTF), highlighted the financial contributions of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited (RAEC) and its Joint Venture Partners, noting that such commitments have driven the progress of the Cleanup.
He called on the National Assembly to institutionalise HYPREP as a statutory government agency to ensure the continuity of the initiative.
Hon. Okpolump Etteh, Chairman of the Adhoc Committee, said the investigation seeks to ensure that all funds released for environmental cleanup in the Niger Delta are used transparently and in the best interest of affected communities.
Under Professor Zabbey’s leadership, HYPREP has introduced multiple oversight structures, including the Milestone Evaluation Committee, Technical Coordination Committee (TCC), and Remediation Document Review Committee (RDRC), to guarantee quality control and value for money in all projects.
