The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, has been commended for carrying out human-oriented projects geared towards enhancing the livelihood of Ogoni people.
An Ogoni activist, Mr. Christian Lekia, who made this statement in an interview with our correspondent, attributed the achievements made so far by HYPREP to the inclusive approach of the remediation agency’s management.
” Rating HYPREP would have been a difficult task at inception, but today, people have been brought closer to the project. They are expanding the circle of stakeholder engagement.
More people have been drafted, and there have been regular discussions between the project coordinating office as well as the diverse strata of interests that exist in Ogoniland, with all of these, confidence of the people had increased,” he noted.
Mr. Lekia expressed gratitude to HYPREP for providing drinking water to the people whose only source was contaminated, and its various empowerment programs to curb poverty in the area.
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“In terms of the UNEP report, one of the core mandates of HYPREP was to provide potable water for the people of Ogoni. This follows the discovery of benzene, a cancer-causing element in the underground water in Ogoni, which is life-threatening.
So many water projects have been commissioned, and we believe that articulation should be made, and this water should go around Ogoniland. Another wonderful area where I feel HYPREP has an impact on the lives of the people is through livelihood support programs. We have seen a lot of people being trained, equipped, and we have also seen a scholarship scheme for students,” he concluded.
However, Mr. Lekia called on all partners in the remediation project not to fall short of funding the scheme to achieve the set objectives of HYPREP.
