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Tag: HYPREP

  • HYPREP probes water tank’s collapse in Rivers

    HYPREP probes water tank’s collapse in Rivers

    The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has launched an investigation into the collapse of an overhead water tank in Gwara community in Khana local government area of Rivers State.

    The incident occurred after the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, last Saturday inaugurated two water projects in Bane and Gwara communities of Khana LGA.

    But the Gwara water station meant to provide safe drinking water for about 14 communities caved in on Tuesday.

    The Vice-Chairman of the committee and HYPREP Legal Adviser, Gowon Ichibor, said a high level investigative committee had been set up to deteemine the immediate and remote causes of the incident

    Ichibor said the committee visited the site on Wednesday morning to assess the situation and conveyed its preliminary findings to the HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibari Zabbey.

    Ichibor said   “As part of the team that visited the site this morning, what we discovered was broken walls with wreckage all over the ground, water pulling down the front walls. We had to inform the PC (Project Coordinator) of our discovery.”

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    He said that a team from the Rivers State Ministry of Environment and the Committee jointly visited the incident.

    He said: “When the engineering team visit later in the day with investigation from our team, I am sure we must at then have discovered remote cause of the damages.

    “Whoever needs to be punished will be punished. We pray that at the end of it all it won’t be human error. What we are more interested in is to see that we get water back to the Gwara people.”

    On his part, the Chief Resident Engineer of HYPREP, Tabe James said:  “There is a collapse of the water tank and investigation is still ongoing.

    “There is debris all over the place but if you go there you will see that the foundation is still intact. So it is only when we carry out proper investigation, testing of materials and certification that we will know the real measure. For now the investigation is still ongoing.”

  • HYPREP reconstituted BoT: Ogoni indigenes raise alarm over alleged manipulation

    HYPREP reconstituted BoT: Ogoni indigenes raise alarm over alleged manipulation

    • …allege that list was tampered with
    • …insist that the original list be released
    • …maintain that HYPREP must not be politicized
    • …call for President Tinubu’s quick intervene

    Indigenes of Ogoni in Rivers State have kicked against the alleged alteration in the original list of members of reconstituted Board of Trustees (BoT), of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), particularly the attempt by some persons to replace the name of the reappointed Board chairman, Dr. Mike Nwielaghi with Emmanuel Deeyah.

    The people described the moves as preposterous, awkward, an act with obvious sinister motives, that holds no good for the people of Ogoni, HYPREP and the Federal Government (FG).

    The people who spoke under the aegis of Ogoni Patriotic Progressives Assembly(OPPA), accused some persons close to the Presidency, particularly the office of the
    Special Adviser to the President
    (Information & Strategy), Bayo Onanuga of complicity in the botched document.

    In a statement in Port Harcourt yesterday by OPPA President, Samuel Nwiku, the people believed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu originally approved the appointment of Dr. Nwielaghi based on his cordial and smooth working relationship with HYPREP Project Coordination (HYPREP), Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, which has fast tracked the project, appealing that in no account should Ogoni cleanup be politicized.

    The thanked President Tinubu for his obvious political will to ensure the cleanup of Ogoni to maintain peace and quality of lives of the residents.

    The people however condemned the moves by some persons they did not name to thwart the honest intentions of the FG by manipulating the list originally approved by the President to their own advantage, without considering the feelings and wellbeing of larger Ogonis who are at the receiving end.

    They pointed out some obvious, simple and avoidable mistakes on the alleged botched document released by Onanuga to prove their claims that Deeyah’s name was smuggled into the document as BoT chairmanship to satisfy the selfish interests of those behind the act against the wish of President Tinubu who approved the reappointment of Nwielaghi.

    According to the statement by Onanuga’s announcing the reconstitution of HYPREP Governing Board and BoT, which was name available to the Nation in Port Harcourt titled, ” President Tinubu annouces members of of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees of HYREP.”(the way they captured HYPREP), the paragraph that announced name of the BoT Chairman read, “President Tinubu also reconstituted the HYREP Board of Trustees, with Emmanuel Nwiika Deeyah reappointed chairman.”

    The group argued that Deeyah has never served in the office of HYPREP BoT Chairman before to qualify him for a reappointment, whereas Nwielaghi is the immediate past BoT Chairman, that was waiting to be reappointed.

    They concluded that with the elementary mistaked made on the Statement, the document was doctored within the dying minute, that they did not notice errors before taking it to the public.

    Describing Tinubu as a sound and meticulous President who cannot be associated with such avoidable errors, they called on him to quickly intervene, by directing for immediate investigation the source of the fake document with the view to correcting the error and reinstating Dr. Mike Nwielaghi as the rightful HYPREP BoT, to sustain the gains already recorded by the FG interventionist Agency in Ogoniland.

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    The people said, ” we observed with mixed feelings, the development in the recent reconstitution of the members of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BOT) for HYPREP by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “First, we want to thank the president for his Interest in Ogoniland and support of peace in the area which is pivotal to the quality of leadership in place to drive the process to the desired goal and the admiration, fairness and good of all stakeholders in the scheme of this.

    “While we have gone through the list of the new governing Council members and acknowledge the different flanks and eligibility curves they were selected from, we’ve noticed two salient points that necessited our reaction to the exercise.

    “It is not only preposterous, but also blatantly awkward that the actions of someone or group of persons MUST have exposed a poorly ochestrated attempt to repeal and replace the order of the position of the Chairman of the board.

    “This is because the president clearly reappointed the board chairman whose first tenure elapsed. Exactly why the publication says ‘RE” appointed. The meaning of ‘re’ cannot be subjected to any ambiguity even to a primary school pupil. So, it’s not subject to any debate.

    “It is clear and absolute that the president has by that statement, reappointed Dr. Mike Nwielaghi former, BOT Chairman Ogoni Trust Fund (HYPREP) for another term. This reason for the reappointment will not be far from his impressive performance in his first tenure.

    “It is clear that the list was tampered to suit the selfishness of a person or a group of persons for a cheap political card against the wish of the President in particular and to unnecessarily steer an avoidable bad blood amongst the people of Ogoniland in general.

    “We therefore urge the President to note this and the crucial need to review the reconstituted BOT in good time.

    “Another concern is the wrong representation of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project in the acronym used in the said press release. Instead of HYPREP, HYREP was used.

    “Again, looking at the exhalted office of the presidency, this second error cannot be anything short of lending credence to the hasty and poor proofreading attempt by an individual or group of individuals with vested interest in the removal and substitution of the name of the originally re-appointed HYPREP BOT Chairman, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, in the person of Dr. Mike Nwielaghi former BOT Chairman Ogoni Trust Fund (HYPREP). HYPREP will not be allowed to be politicized.

    “It is Worthy of note that under the leadership of Dr Mike Nwielaghi as Chairman of BOT and Professor Nenibarini Zabbey as Project Coordinator, the project has been maintaining an unprecedented upwards progressive spiral to the admiration of the Ogoni people.

    “Whilst we once again believe the president would rectify this aberation, we wish to state that delay to do so can inevitably attract the unnecessary altercations from different quarters and
    circles of leadership and influences from Ogoniland and its people.

    “We believe we are all counting on the ideal counter reaction to this for the proper normalization of the contending issue of the mutilation of the rightful occupant of the position of the BOT Chairman.” the statement said.

  • Rivers, HYPREP partner to build transmission station in Ogoni

    Rivers, HYPREP partner to build transmission station in Ogoni

    The Rivers state government has disclosed its collaboration with the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation  Project (HYPREP) to build a transmission station in Ogoni as part of its goal of ensuring 24 hour electricity across the state.

    The state’s Commissioner for Power, Solomon Eke confirmed the development on Monday while inaugurating solar-powered

    streetlights built across 16 communities by the Chairman of Gokana Local Government Area, Monday Dumiya.

    Eke lauded the streetlight initiative of Dumiya and other projects completed by the council’s chairman as part of his achievements in 100 days in office.

    The commissioner, who was the Special Guest of Honour at the event said:  “ I want to say that in our roadmap for 24 hours electricity for Rivers people, the State Ministry of Power in collaboration with HYPERP is ensuring a transmission station is built in Ogoni and the entire Ogoni axis will be connected to the national grid for the use of our people. It’s going to be 24 hours”.

    Eke lauded the council chairman’s strides ans urged the people of Gokana to protect the solar powered streetlights.

    Addressing the chairman, he said: “You will serve Gokana and serve them well. Gokana be rest assured that you are in God’s hands through Monday, your executive chairman.

    “The youths are the army of communities. And I know the youths deserve good things. Because they are the ones that will stay here more than us. Please talk to the youths. Talk to everybody concerned. Let them protect this facility”.

    Speaking earlier, Dumiya commended the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his support, saying the project was important in the communities. 

    He said: “The streetlights will positively impact on socio-economic activities in Gokana, especially as small businesses have started springing up under the light. 

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    “It will certainly reduce crime rate through increased night visibility and surveillance. Improve road and enhance pedestrian safety, thereby reducing the risk of accident and fatalities.

    “The streetlights will enable businesses to operate for longer hours, make the area more attractive, increase property values, lead to increased activities and foster community engagement, enhance quality of life by providing a sense of safety and security, increase mobility, reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, reduce light pollution, improve air quality and protecting the environment”.

    The chairman further called on members of the community to cooperate and protect the projects from vandals.

    Other projects showcased by the chairman were renovation and remodeling of schools in th area such as the Community Primary School 4, Bodo City;  Community Primary School 1, Biara;  Community Primary School, Lewe and Community Primary School 1, K-Dere, among others.

  • HYPREP addresses Ogoniland socio- ecological challenges

    HYPREP addresses Ogoniland socio- ecological challenges

    The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) is currently focused on addressing the socio-ecological challenges of hydrocarbon pollution in Ogoniland.

    The project aims to design and implement a program to tackle these issues.

    HYPREP’s project coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, emphasised in a press statement that for a region whose primary livelihood depends on fertile soil and flourishing river systems, it is essential to restore degraded environments to recover and sustain biodiversity.

    This is also crucial for improving agricultural productivity and enhancing communities’ livelihoods. The future of the Ogonis and the wider Niger Delta largely depends on the condition of their land.

    He said HYPREP joins the global community in celebrating its collective efforts towards a greener, healthier planet. This year’s World Environment Day with the theme: “Our land. Our future: land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience’’ Resonates deeply with HYPREP’s mission and ongoing efforts and achievements in Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta region.

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    According to the coordinator, “The 2024 World Environment Day provides an opportunity to reflect, design, and facilitate approaches to protect our commonwealth – land, restore degraded ones, and discourage human activities that compromise the integrity of the environment and biodiversity.

    “HYPREP is equipped with the necessary resources and strategically positioned to lead this generation to undertake this task decisively. Within the context of Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta, protecting and restoring the land is multifaceted. We urge stakeholders to take definite stands to

    “Prevent oil pollution occasioned by oil theft, vandalism, and artisanal refining. Prioritize oil infrastructure maintenance and monitoring to protect the environment.”

    He said there is a need to develop citizens’ capacity to pursue alternative and sustainable livelihoods, which will dissuade local communities from engaging in unethical environmental acts. 

    HYPREP reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the remediation and restoration of Ogoniland.

  • HYPREP partners firm to empower 454 Ogoni

    HYPREP partners firm to empower 454 Ogoni

    The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and Buafa Agro Resources Ltd have begun a four-month marathon training of 454 Ogoni indigenes in agricultural entrepreneurship.

    This is in line with the alternative livelihood empowerment scheme, recommended for the people of Ogoni by the United Nations Environment Project (UNEP) report as part of conditions to clean up oil impacted areas of the communities.

    No fewer than 5,000 people are expected to benefit in this first phase of the livelihood empowerment programme.

    Read Also: Don seeks change in HYPREP leadership

    There are diverse aspects of the training, but Buafa Agro Resources Ltd is collaborating with the Federal Government interventionist agency to train those interested in agriculture, particularly fishing and poultry farming.

    Speaking to The Nation at the training centre in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the training firm, Famaa Bariledum, said beyond the agreement reached with HYPREP, his company deliberately decided to include a course in “mindset for entrepreneurship”, to gift them the right mindset that would help them succeed in the business.

    “The training is on and we are trying to impart in the people the right knowledge in agricultural entrepreneurship development.”

  • Don seeks change in HYPREP leadership

    Don seeks change in HYPREP leadership

    The Joint-Chair, Ogoni Kingdom Development Forum, Prof Barika Saro-Laka, has urged President Bola Tinubu to effect change in the leadership of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

    Specifically, Saro-Laka urged Tinubu to appoint either Dr. Life Kaanagbara or Dr. John Idamkue as Project Coordinator of HYPREP.

    He argued that Khana LGA has never produced anyone for the position of Project Coordinator of HYPREP.

    He noted that for justice, decorum and fairness, the next project coordinator of HYPREP should be appointed from Khana LGA of Ogoni Kingdom.

    Saro-Laka noted that those appointed to coordinate the cleap – up of Ogoniland in the past had failed “woefully in delivering the official mandate of HYPREP, despite several billions of Naira already spent.”

    He said this during a press conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

    According to him, it is the plea of the masses of Ogoni that HYPREP should be an effective instrument for promoting the sustainable development and progress of Ogonis.

    He said: “We implore Your Excellency to sincerely help Ogoni Kingdom and her natives to experience, for the first time, rapid development through the instrumentality of the only federal presence on the soil of Ogoniland known as the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

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    “The huge sacrifices of some core Ogoni patriots (Ogoni 13) forced the establishment of HYPREP by the Federal Government of Nigeria and we want the Federal Government under the able leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to do the Right Thing, by appointing a non-political nominee to head this agency. The key reason is because political nominees in the past failed woefully in delivering the official mandate of HYPREP, despite several billions of Naira already spent.

    “It is the plea of the masses of Ogoni that HYPREP should be an effective instrument for promoting the sustainable development and progress of Ogonis. Thus, the patriotic and foundational work done on HYPREP by Mr. ‘Wale Edun and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) must not be allowed to waste in favour political nepotism, blindness, incompetence, impunity and sweeping theft.

     Some politicians without conscience and their stooges have stolen enough in HYPREP while Ogoni people and the spirits of those who lost their lives for its creation, are unhappy and unfulfilled.”

  • ‘HYPREP should be disbanded’

    Two groups campaigning against environmental degradation in Ogoniland – National Union of Ogoni Students (NUOS INTL – USA) and Ogoni Lives Matters International (OLM – USA) – have called for the disbandment of Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP).

    They also suggested that the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) should step aside in Ogoniland, Rivers State.

    Their position was contained in a statement by the groups, titled: “HYPREP a fraud and a scam; it should be disbanded, UNEP should step aside”. It was signed by the President and Secretary-General of NUOS INTL, USA – Pius Baripkoa Nwinee and Sampson Npimnee; and Coordinator and Secretary General of OLM INTL, USA – Cornelius Dumerene and Toate Ganago.

    The statement reads: “Despite recent investigations exposing HYPREP medical and environmental malpractices, awarding contract to companies with no professional and technical skill or technology, in a quest to siphon money out of the project, they still continue toeing the same line reported in the investigation.

    “Ogoni demands are simple – the contracting of an international company with capable professional and technical skills to handle the area because Ogoniland is under stress and we can no longer tolerate, accept or ignore this retrogressive, deceptive contraption with HYPREP.

    “The belated international visit facilitated by UNEP to five sites in the United Kingdom, and the purported statement made by the Netherlands’s ambassador to Nigeria is a fraudulent assault against environmental conflict and global warming.

    “The intriguing question the ambassador needs to ask the world ar; “is she agreeably blindfolded with HYPREP deceptive scheme, the environmental malpractices or the medical fraud? Or is she attempting to cover HYPREP fraud to bamboozle and hoodwink Ogoni not to stand up for their rights.

  • Ogoni clean-up, a template for Niger Delta – Minister

    The Federal Government said on Friday the Ogoni clean-up exercise would serve as template towards the clean-up of other areas in the Niger Delta.

    The Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Jubril Ibrahim, stated this at a one-day Roundtable meeting with stakeholders on Ogoni clean-up project organised by Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP), in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State.

    Ibrahim, who was represented at the meeting by the Senior Technical Adviser to the Minister of Environment, Ishiyaku Mohammed, said the government would leave no stone unturned in the bid to clean Ogoni land and appealed for patience from stakeholders in the region.

    “This is to assure the entire stakeholders that the Federal Government commitment on the Ogoni clean-up is unwavering. But there is need for the laying of a solid foundation for the actual clean-up and restoration of the environment. Because of this, we are not in a hurry to fail. The Ogoni clean-up will serve as the template for the clean-up of other impacts sites in the Niger Delta region.

    “Within this year, President Muhammadu Buhari has given unfettered political supports and he takes Ogoni clean-up project as his personal program, especially as it is one of his campaign promises to people of the region.”

     

     

  • Ogoni ex-refiners to FG: We can’t stop illegal refining except you empower us

    Ogoni ex-refiners to FG: We can’t stop illegal refining except you empower us

    Ogoni ex-artisanal refiners popularly called “kpor-fire” have openly informed the Federal government that they will not leave illegal refining except they see commitment on the side of the government to empower them through any means that could enhance their living standard.

    They disclosed that  after some of them were delisted from pipelines surveillance by government agencies, illegal refining became the only source to earn a living, adding that it was from the illegal business that they carter for  their family and love ones.

    The former illegal refiners made their position known during a one-day consultative meeting with the Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibrin, organized by the office of the Project Coordinator, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Port Harcourt.

    The ex-artisanal refiners in Ogoni who were led by Mr. Elvis Ikoma and Domka Humphrey told the Minister, Alhaji  Jibrin who represented the Federal government on the consultative meeting that they can only leave illegal refining when federal government shows commitment on their livelihood.

    Though, they also told the Minister that if they were not committed to support Ogoni cleanup none of them would honour his invitation, stressing that some of them have already left the illegal refining after HYPREP Project Coordinator, Dr. Marvin Dekil approached them to stop.

    One of the ex-artisanal refiners, Domka Humphrey said, “Sir, I will tell you our minds, if you don’t empower us we will not stop refining, because this is what we use to feed our family and relatives. We don’t have anything doing after government takes away the pipeline surveillance from us.

    “So, we need to be carried  along,  some of us are graduates,  many people are still in the bush refining, if you empower us, we will talk to them and they will leave the bush. But where we are not seeing anything it would be very difficult for us to leave the illegal refining.”

    Responding,  the Minister of State for Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibrin said he was happy that they opened up their minds, adding that illegal refining is not only  dangerous to the environment but to those who are engaging in it.

    The Minister promises that the Federal government in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum and the office of the HYPREP Coordinator will ensure that they are trained with the aim to secure their livelihood

    Jibrin said: “I have heard all of you, I’m assuring you that the issue will get to the Acting President, but remember that you have fishes of all kinds, animals, we cannot get them if you contaminate the water with hydrocarbon pollution.

    “We need the mangrove, because we use it for firewood, but it is in our own interest to keep our environment clean, it is in our own interest to ensure that whatever we must do we have to take care of our environment.

    “That is why the federal government has taken the issue of Modular refinery serious, it is community base, it is authority. It is going to be regulated. There is need for us to organize ourselves into responsible cooperatives.

    “Whether they are community or local government base but there is need to have something that would regulate us.  And with your support I am assuring you that the Federal government is determine through HYPREP to support your training and empowerment. But you must be at the front to drive the process”

     

  • Ogoni clean-up: HYPREP calls for stoppage of re-pollution

    Ogoni clean-up: HYPREP calls for stoppage of re-pollution

    As the Federal Government through the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP gears up for the actual clean-up of oil impacted Ogoni environment, the Project Coordinator, Dr. Marvin Dekil has met with Ex-Artesenal Refiners on the need to stop the re-pollution of the environment.

    Dr. Dekil made the case at an interactive session with the leadership of Ogoni Ex-Artesenal Refiners Forum in his office in Port-Harcourt.

    He noted that apart from the huge economic loss on the country and its attendant damage to the environment, artesenal refining poses serious health hazards to those involved in the illegal act.

    The HYPREP Coordinator said the federal government is serious with the cleanup of Ogoni land and so there is need for the group to reciprocate the gesture by putting a stop to the re-pollution of the environment.

    Dekil stated that one of the key derivable of the clean-up project is the provision of alternative sources of livelihood for those whose original sources of income (farming and fishing) were affected by the oil pollution so that as the environment is being cleaned up, they can fend for themselves and their dependents.

    He urged the Ex-refiners to key into the project and not go back to illegal oil refining.

    Chairman of the Ogoni Ex-Artesenal Refiners Forum, Cassidy Nbeera commended the President Mohammadu Buhari administration on summoning the needed political will to making the Ogoni cleanup project a reality. He pledged his group’s determination to stop all forms of illegal oil refining to see to the success of the Ogoni cleanup project.

    Nbeera also promised the group’s willingness to join in the campaign to dissuade youths from further polluting the environment through a guided sensitization of Ogoni communities.

    The Ex-refiners’ chairman urged the Federal Government to live up to its bidding of providing training for them to go into modular refining and listed other alternative sources of livelihood for them to include; Agro/Allied business, Waste Recycling, Basic Skills in Health, Safety and Environment Management (HSEM), Building, Fishing/Trawling, welding and fabrication.