20 July 2012, Sweetcrude, Lagos – The Nigerian Government has announced the formation of a Hydro-Carbon Pollution Restoration Project, HYPREP, in clear furtherance of its commitment to implement the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Assessment Report on Ogoniland.
Speaking at a press conference in her office, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, told journalists that the setting up of HYPREP by Mr. President is in keeping with the Federal Government’s determination to protect the environmental human rights of the people.
The Minister announced that the Project shall implement the recommendations of the UNEP report on Ogoniland as well as investigate, evaluate and establish other hydrocarbon impacted sites and make appropriate recommendations.
“With the establishment of this project, it is expected that all stakeholders, especially the impacted communities, will cooperate fully with Government and grant unfettered access to all impacted sites to ensure complete success,” the Minister stated.
She solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders especially community leaders to ensure the effective implementation of the programme.
Also present at the briefing were the Honorable Minister of Environment Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Andy Yakubu, the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Finance, the DG National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, NOSDRA as well as some top Management of the NNPC and Petroleum Ministry.
