The Federal Government and other stakeholders in the clean up exercise of the Ogoni land has met to re-strategize on implementing the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) report to provide remedy to the oil polluted area.
Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor while speaking at a retreat for the Governing Council, Board of Trustees and CRAC members in Abuja noted that a lot is needed to bring back the project on track in line with international best practices.
Ikeazor explained that though functions assigned to members are different but should be executed in synergy with each other in order to attain the desired goals and deliver on their mandate.
“No arm should work in isolation or usurp the power of the other or attempt to be a sole organ unto himself”
“We must at all time, network, collaborate and interrelate as provided in the gazette”.
Project Coordinator, HYPREP, Dr. Ferdinand Giadom maintained that HYPREP is ready to implement the UNEP report to the latter with an intention to improve the lives of the people of ogoni land.
“We are here to achieve a purpose driven vision that is laced with the right philosophy to work, work ethics and culture and desire to succeed”.
“We will bring together our collective pool of knowledge to deliver a clean resilient and liveable environment for the Ogoni people, an environment capable of delivering ecosystem services in full which will enhance the livelihood and wellbeing of the Ogoni people”.
He opined that to make this happen, they must be focused on the goal, supporting each other with synergies that will fast track the well thought programmes.
“The vision cannot be clearer, we have to put in place tangible structures that will bring about peace, stability and welfare of the people of ogoni land”.
He promised to develop key drivers and deliver on mandates by focusing on programmes such as economic development programme, ogoni sustainable water scheme, ogoni electricity power support program, centre for excellence and meter restoration, public health survey and host of others.
United Nations Environment Programme Technical Advisor, Mike Cowing identified shady deals as factor that hindered the success of the Hyprep programme.
“The most important thing is to learn the lesson on the first crashed Hyprep programme and burnt, there was a lack of transparency and accountability, and sadly it failed”.
Cowing however pledged readiness to support and actualize the mandate of Hyprep.
“We have to continue to improve on Hyprep, we see today as something of a watershed, we aim to have a common vision for the goal of Hyprep and achieve its mandate. We must all share same vision and be on the same page”.
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Hyprep, Dr. Michael Nwielaghi noted that much needed to be provided deliverables such as water, livelihood and remediation for the Ogoni people.
Nwielaghi appeal for more funding from the IOCs to achieve their mandate.
SPDC Managing Director, Osagie Okunbor explained that the venture is important and call for acceleration on the project.
“This is an important venture for us in the Joint Venture (JV), I think it is important that we as a company provide a key enable environment via the provisions of the funding as lay out in the gazette, we are committed to do that, we have advocate accelerated work on the project and funds judiciously used”.
