The United Nations Technical Adviser on Environmental Programme, Mike Cowing said at the weekend that the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project set up for the cleanup of Ogoni land has not been completely successful due to lack of transparency and accountability in the project.
He stated this at the maiden retreat for the governing structures of a revamped HYPREP comprising the Governing Council, Board of Trustees, Project Coordination Office, as well as the Central Representative Advisory Committee.
He said if the programme will achieve success, the government should learn from the reason the first crash of the programme took place, stating that, that work actually commenced in 2009 with the signing of the agreement. The main report was tabled in 2011, while in 2012 the first HYPREP was established.
United Nation Environmental Programme (UNEP), he said, disengaged in 2011, because they were invited by the Federal Government and at the time it seems as if UNEP was not needed. The government invited UNEP back in 2019 so it is assumed that lessons have been learnt from the previous crash of the programme.
The Project Coordinator, HYPREP, Ferdinand Giadom assured Nigerians of his commitment to implementing the recommendation of the UNEP report to the latter, with the intent to improve the lifestyle of ordinary men, women, boys and girls living in Ogoni land. We are here to achieve one goal. A purpose-driven vision that is laced with the right philosophy, work ethic and culture and we shall strive to succeed.
He said: “We shall deploy key drivers to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Gazette has served us with the mandate to deliver HYPREP’s projects successfully. Our focus will be on the Ogoni land Economic Development Programme (OEDP). This will include the Ogoni sustainable water scheme; the Ogoni electricity power supply programme, and the public health survey and cohort studies, and remediation.
The Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor said at one point or the other she had interacted with stakeholders involved in the cleanup, stating that it is obvious they all are making progress in their various areas of operations.