Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, has assured that all the projects being carried out in Ogoniland as part of the implementation of UNEP Report, will be completed within stated timeframes, and deployed for benefit of the Ogoni public.
These projects are, land and shoreline remediation, mangrove restoration, provision of potable water, livelihood training, support to small and medium scale businesses, construction of Ogoni Specialist Hospital, Buan Cottage Hospital, Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Ogoni Power project, as well as improvement of existing medical facilities.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, disclosed these in his mesesaage on the commemoration of the 2024 Ogoni Day, commended the people of Ogoni for their contributions and support towards the success of the Ogoni cleanup project.
Zabbey reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to implement the recommendations of UNEP Report on Ogoniland, particularly in the provision of potable water that meets World Health Organization’s standard to the people of Ogoniland.
According to him, what makes the 2024 Ogoni Day celebrations exciting was the shared vision for a sustainable environment, peace, progress, and prosperity in Ogoniland, with a commitment to collaborative efforts.
He said, “HYPREP is at a critical phase in its implementation process, with a myriad of projects running simultaneously, including the land and shoreline remediation, mangrove restoration, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, the Buan Cottage Hospital, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Ogoni Power project, improvement of some critical existing medical facilities, Livelihood training, support to small and medium scale businesses.
“In all, we have maintained effective supervision. monitoring and evaluation to ensure value for money. We are determined to ensure that these projects and programmes are inclusive, completed within stated timeframes, and deployed for the use and benefit of the Ogoni public.
“At HYPREP, our goal is to ensure a sustainable ecosystem, peace, and development in Ogoniland. Since 2017, the Project has actively worked to ensure a clean and economically viable environment for the people of Ogoniland. We believe that a clean environment is fundamental to achieving other goals.
“The 2024 Ogoni Day celebrations serve as a platform for innovative and effective stakeholder engagement, offering a new model for cooperation to attain these shared objectives. The role of Ogonis in this collaborative effort, which is focused on the common good, cannot be overstated, as it holds a central position for sustainable development.
“Also, it is vital to note that the Project has its attendant economic and social benefits, especially in job creation for our teeming youths and hands-on training in the remediation industry, its value chain, and more. We urge all Ogoni to take advantage of these opportunities, especially in this new year. The Project understands the imperativeness of a robust, mutually beneficial, accountable, and transparent stakeholder interface.
“This is why we will continue to be open to valuable interventions and explore areas of collaboration from all stakeholders toward actualizing our collective yearnings for a cleaner and more prosperous Ogoniland. We, therefore, take seriously the issues of inclusivity, community ownership and participation, and gender parity to ensure that there is peace, cooperation, and ownership of the project at the community level.”
