Mkpoikana Udoma
19 November 2017, Sweetcrude, Port Harcourt – The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, has said that companies would soon begin to demonstrate their technology for the cleaning up of oil impacted sites in Ogoniland.
HYPREP, which is the organisation responsible for the remediation process for Ogoniland, also disclosed that the demonstration by the companies is to aide the body in the selection process of companies that would be involved in the clean up.
Speaking while sensitising the people of oil impacted communities, Kpean and Buan communities in Khana Local Government Area of the state, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Dr. Marvin Dekil, said the body will would soon embark on emergency measures recommended by UNEP such as provision of potable water, training of women and youths as well as restoration of livelihoods of the people.
Dekil called for cooperation among the communities to allow for a hitch free test running of the clean up of the impacted areas.
He explained that the mandate of HYPREP was to clean up Ogoniland, not only Ogoni, but anywhere there is oil spill in the country, starting from Ogoniland.
He said, “We seek your understanding, cooperation and support to achieve this mandate, we cannot succeed alone without your cooperation.
“Very soon and in no distant time you will begin to see some companies coming into your communities. These companies are not contractors yet, they are here to demonstrate the technology they have for the clean up.
“That is why we are giving some of these companies sites to come and demonstrate the technology for clean up.
“They are going to demonstrate at no cost to the government and to the HYPREP, it’s going to be voluntary. So we solicit once again when these companies come, please give them access to the sites.”
Dekil, who was represented by HYPREP’s Head of Communications, Mr. Issa Wassa,, assured that Local Content Laws would be strictly followed during the entire clean up exercise, adding that the communities would be carried along in the process.
“Also, we will take local content very seriously; we will not bring people from outside to do the job entirely, but we will involve your sons and daughters in the clean up process.
“We will engage your youths we will also want a community contact person so that our office can be liaising with him.
“Very soon, HYPREP will finish the evaluation process and secretion of the best companies to resuscitate water facilities in Khana. Also health impact assessments will be conducted to the people of Khana.”
For their part, the leaders of Kpean and Buan communities, who spoke at the event, Augustine Wikinaka and Jacob Labeeni, in a separate speech emphasized the need for HYPREP to embark on visible projects to confirm the sincerity of the clean up.
But responding, the HYPREP Coordinator, said the Federal Government was committed to the clean up project.
“Just few days ago, Mr. President, while presenting the 2018 budget made mention of this project, that is to tell you that the President is committed to the project,” Dekil said.
