Niger Delta
Stakeholders Okay HYPREP’s Performance
Stakeholders and industry regulators, have reviewed the activities and performance of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project ( HYPREP) in the second quarter of 2024 and gave the Project a clean bill of health, affirming that it has done excellent and tremendous work to improve the living conditions of the Ogoni people within the period under review.
This is even as they have unanimously fixed their third and fourth quarterly meetings with HYPREP for September 26, 2024 and December 5, 2024 respectively.
This indication came to the fore during the second quarterly stakeholders/ industry regulators meeting organised by HYPREP at Casoni Hotel in Port Harcourt last Thursday.
The former Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Deinibarini Zabbey said in his welcome address that the attendance of the meeting by the key stakeholders and industry regulators is an expression of their commitment to HYPREP’s goals and objectives.
He noted that the quarterly review meeting is a component of HYPREP’s monitoring and evaluation framework, which is crucial, as it brings together key project stakeholders and industry regulators, including representatives from the Federal Ministry of Environment; National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA); Rivers State Ministry of Environment; Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources; Rivers State Ministry of Health;Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC); Stakeholders Democratic Network (SDN); Centre for Environment Human Rights and Development (CEHRD); AIFES; SWAYA; and other players.
He noted that HYPREP is using the platform to provide an update on the status of its project delivery, saying, “Over the past quarter, we have made significant progress in our remediation efforts and other project thematic areas”.
According to him, key milestones include the ongoing remediation of several land and shoreline sites; mangrove restoration; the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration; the Ogoni Specialist Hospital; water facilities; and sundry livelihood programmes.
Zabbey said the journey has not been without challenges, adding that “We have encountered logistical hurdles, including malicious cutting of planted mangroves; inter- intra communal land disputes; community leadership tussles; and targeted fence erections that impeded access to contaminated sites.”
He, however, posited that in the face of these odds, HYPREP’s tenacity remains unshaken, as it is more determined than ever to achieve its goals, as it would continue to utilise its conflict prevention and resolution mechanism to resolve the issues, and solicited the continued support and collaboration of the stakeholders to effectively address the challenges and bottlenecks.
The former Project Coordinator said the meeting provides a unique opportunity for the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Rivers State Government, industry regulators, the funding partners, civil society partners and other key stakeholders to provide feedback on HYPREP’s performance, saying, “this platform allows us to align our efforts with regulatory expectations and industry best practices”.
He further indicated that through it, HYPREP welcomes the insights and suggestions on how it can improve its strategies, processes, enhance compliance and achieve its project goals more effectively and within stated timelines, saying, “your insights and evaluations will guide our strategic adjustments and shape our future direction, ensuring we remain on the right path toward achieving our remediation, livelihood, peacebuilding and other project objectives”.
Zabbey also hinted that HYPREP is reviewing site assessment and stakeholder engagement strategies for optimum results and intensifying its community engagement initiatives, by ensuring that the Ogoni communities are informed and actively participating in the Project.
According to him, this includes training programmes for youth, enhancing their skills in sustainable livelihoods and environmental management, and providing inclusive employment opportunities.
“Community content has become part of our contract administration.We are committed to transparency and accountability in our operations,” he intoned.
While expressing his sincere appreciation to the stakeholders for their unending support and collaboration, Zabbey affirmed that, “together, we can overcome the challenges before us and achieve the goals and objectives of HYPREP.”
He enjoined the stakeholders to continue to work with HYPREP in harmony and with focus, “leveraging our collective expertise and resources to restore and return the Ogoni environment, restore the livelihoods of its people, and build structures for peace”.
The Monitoring and Evaluation officer of HYPREP, Mr Goodluck Msu mounted the stage and presented a lucid account of HYPREP’s activities and scorecard to the participants within the period under review, which elicited reactions and comments on how the Project has fared so far, in its bid to improve the living conditions of the Ogoni people.
While scoring HYPREP high on what is currently on ground, the Head of Environment, Stakeholders Democratic Network (SDN), Mr Jude Samuelson Ikenna commended the Project for the work it is doing but stressed the need for it to employ more technical personnel to improve its monitoring and supervision of projects since the volume of work is increasing by the day.
On her part, the Assessment and Sustainability officer of the Centre for Environment Human Rights and Development ( CEHRD), Baridapsi Nyiaghan expressed satisfaction with the various projects and programmes undertaken by the Project in Ogoniland but solicited for an improvement.
Also speaking, Mrs Oguns Oke of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Ogoni Restoration Project while expressing her excitement, assured HYPREP of SPDC’s continued support, and stressed the need for mechanism to be put in place to channel floods away from ongoing project sites , particularly now that the rains have set in.
Overall, the participants expressed grave concern about the fencing of some ongoing project sites in Eleme by an individual, and called for prompt action to address the inherent challenge.
While responding to this anomaly, the former Project Coordinator noted that the Zonal Representative Committee and the Central Representative Advisory Committee(CRAC) of HYPREP had been deployed to handle the issue in accordance with the Project’s peace building policy instead of employing force.
On the call for the Project to employ more technical hands, he hinted that recommendations to that effect had already been presented to the Governing Council for consideration and approval.
Among personalities who attended the meeting was the Head of Reference Laboratory of the National Oil Spill! Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA), Dr Kenneth Aroh, who represented the agency.
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The Delta State Government says it will build roads and bridges to link every community with the state capital as part of the efforts to develop the state.
The Commissioner for Works (Rural and Riverine Roads), Mr. Charles Aniagwu, stated this on Thursday during the commencement of the 2.7km Issele-Azagba-Otulu Road construction in Aniocha North Local Government.
Aniagwu said Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was determined to develop all parts of the state in line with his administration’s ‘MORE Agenda’.
“Oborevwori’s desire is to make sure that every local government whether they are in the North, Central or Southern Senatorial district of the state are touched.
”So that by the time we are coming back to our people in 2026-2027, the people themselves would appreciate what we have done”, he said.
Aniagwu added, “You will recall that few weeks ago, the Executive approved a number of roads across the three Senatorial districts.
”After the approval, we proceeded to the process of awards and we got a number of contractors who bidded after the projects were advertised.
“This particular project, which links Issele-Azagba-Otulu and to Ubulu-Okiti, was among the projects that was approved in the course of that meeting.
“It has been awarded and we are here to examine the level of mobilisation and to formally hand over the projects to the different contractors.
“This particular project is comprising 2.7km and over 3km side drain has been awarded to a contractor we considered capable and it will link up Aniocha North to Aniocha South in Delta North Senatorial District”, he said.
According to him, once this road is completed, the people of Issele-Azagba may not go through the expressway again to get to their local government headquarters at Issele-Uku.
“I have extracted commitment from the contractor and from their work schedule, I am convinced that in no distant time this project would be delivered”, he said.
The commissioner also disclosed that the Oborevwori-led administration was mobilising contractors to ensure they work with the necessary speed to avoid price fluctuations.
Aniagwu said the contractor had been given 30 per cent of the contract sum, adding that he was expected to deliver the project within 12 months.
“We are doing this because we don’t want a situation were a job is given to anybody and he tells us that he has been very busy scouting for funds hence he has not been able to kick-start the process.
“Even though we know that a lot of the contractors have the resources to mobilise to site, we have to mobilise them so that they don’t move at their own pace because we want them to move at our own pace.
“What we desire first is quality job to be delivered, and secondly to meet up with the speed because we don’t want a situation where a contractor takes a job and then he goes to the market to buy a mattress and begin to sleep on the project.
“We want them to be progressing steadily so that at the end of the day we don’t have to suffer on account of fluctuations in the economy”, the Commissioner said.
Aniagwu, accompanied by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Works, Solomon Aghagba, also inspected Ichie James Obodoechi Avenue and Chikozie Okafor Road, in Asaba under construction.
The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) SOROH, has held a free education and medical outreach for residents of Diebu in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The Commander, Commodore Nanmar Lakan, told newsmen during the exercise on Saturday in Diebu, that the outreach was a way of promoting cooperation with host communities.
Lakan further said the education and medical outreach was part of the navy’s corporate social responsibility to the civil populace.
He said the exercise was in line with the navy’s broad mandate which extended beyond safeguarding the nation’s territorial waters and national assets.
“We also take steps to support the health, safety and development of the people in our host communities.
“This initiative is part of the navy’s non-kinetic operations which are mostly aimed at enhancing civil-military relations”, he explained.
The commander also said the exercise aligned with the vision and strategic directive of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla.
He stated that Diebu Community was chosen for the outreach because of its history of producing leaders who had served the nation in various capacities.
“Remember that education remains a key tool for personal and societal development. It is veritable a tool to unlock opportunities.
“Health is an essential requirement for productivity and growth. We are aware that access to quality healthcare remains a challenge to many.
“This outreach targets to promote education and healthcare delivery in this community”, he said.
Lakan thanked the community for the warm reception and cooperation accorded members of the outreach team.
He reiterated the commitment of the navy to strengthen the close ties between it and the people of Southern Ijaw.
The Akwa Ibom State Government has commenced the distribution of fertilisers and improved seedlings to farmers in the state.
The State Governor, Umo Eno, who kick-started the exercise on Thursday at Uruan Local Government Area, said the gesture was to support second planting season activities.
He said a total of 12,000 bags of fertilizers and improved seedlings would be distributed to farmers across the state.
He reiterated the commitment of the State Government to support more citizen participation in farming to ensure massive food production.
“Our intention is to take agriculture to another level, a level where young people will see farming as a business activity.
“Our state is blessed with good vegetation, favourable weather, good road network, and adequate security.
“With the availability of land, favourable weather and good vegetation, there is no reason for anyone not to plant what they will consume”, he said.
The Governor said the State Government’s free food initiative was a temporary intervention towards reducing the hardship in the country.
“The lasting solution to the poverty and hunger facing the people is to return to the farm”, he said.
He stated further that the State Government would also distribute 10,000 cassava cuttings, 20,000 improved oil palm seedlings and 5,000 trays of pepper seedlings among others.
“We believe that it is time to go back to the farm. We should make our children to understand the need to get involved in farming very early in life”, he said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Offiong Offor, urged Akwa Ibom people to key into the state government’s food sufficiency programme.
He expressed the commitment of the ministry to drive the state government’s agriculture initiatives in the interest of food sufficiency and economic prosperity.
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