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HYPREP Invites Foreign Experts For Complex Sites Remediation
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has invited some foreign experts and companies to handle the remediation of high risk complex oil impacted sites in some parts of Ogoniland in Rivers State.
This indication came to the fore last Tuesday, when the Chairman of Haemers Technologies, a company based in Europe, Mr Jan Haemers, visited one of the complex sites in Alode Eleme Community, to take stock of the extent of work to be done and the level of contamination of the site.
Haemers and his team were taken to the polluted site by the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, and other officials of the project.
Speaking to newsmen at the site, Haemers said the HYPREP’s Project Coordinator had specifically invited him, adding that he had come to Nigeria to develop partnerships with HYPREP and to bring remediation technologies to this area, in particular, to clean up soil and groundwater contaminated sites, in full respect of the local communities.
He noted that in the course of the work, he would also bring some other aspects of the job to the table, adding that the job would essentially take some time.
He further indicated that the work would be done in such a way that the whole time would not be wasted, as standards would be deployed to show results on regular basis, stressing that his company would ensure that most of the work on site would be done by the local people in the Ogoni communities.
Describing pollution issues as a legacy problem, Haemers said some small part of his company’s vast technologies would also be deployed to the area, to actually develop the skills of the people, in such a way that they would be directly involved in the remediation work.
He hinted that technologies that have been deployed by his company, in other parts of the world, including Africa and remote parts of North and South America, that had faced similar challenges of contamination, would be brought to bear in Ogoniland in carrying out the remediation work.
According to him, the clean-up is expected to be done in such a way that it benefits the local people and would be done by them so that they can also develop their skills and be the driving force behind the whole remediation efforts.
Haemers, who hails from Belgium said he was actually at the Alode Eleme contaminated site to know the realistic time of commencing the project, adding that assessing the level of contamination of the site and equally carrying out the characterisation of the site are very important and necessary.
He said though he could not place his fingers on the actual time the work would commence, he expressed optimism that it would start as soon as possible.
“We have come here to bring up the concrete steps involved.How long this job will take, I do not know. Part of the job is also to assess. Thecharacterisation should not stop the remediation of what is already known”, he said.
On his part, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey said the remediation process in the Ogoni clean-up is structured into phases, namely; simple sites, medium range sites and high risk complex sites.
According to him, HYPREP is currently remediating the medium range sites and is getting ready to move into the complex sites.
He indicated that both soil and groundwater are contaminated in the complex sites, which are located in residential areas.
In places like that, Zabbey said, there is absolute need for less disturbance, saying, “HYPREP is determined to deploy the best innovative technology that can be found globally”.
The Project Coordinator hinted that the visit of Haemers and his team is a culmination of the visit of the Minister of Environment, with his delegation to Europe in February, to search for companies to handle the complex sites.
He noted that a couple of companies had been identified to carry out the remediation of the complex sites, adding, “We are asking them to come and do comprehensive assessment of the complex sites, to determine the extent of contamination”.
He said after the assessment, the companies would come up with the proper technology to use at the sites.
The Project Coordinator said HYPREP had delayed the remediation of the complex sites until this year because it wanted to carry out proper investigation of the sites, stressing that site investigation involves proper scoping of the sites.
Zabbey assured Ogoni people that their capacities would be built to ensure that they are directly involved in the remediation of the complex sites.
“ We have been reminding and assuring our local people that our eyes are on the ball to give them the best of what is available globally”, he said.
By: Donatus Ebi
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.