Rivers
HYPREP Holds Performance Review Meeting With Contractors …Urges Speedy Completion Of Projects
The Acting Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof. Philip Shekwolo, has charged contractors handling both remediation and water contracts to expedite action towards the speedy completion of the projects.
Shekwolo gave the charge during a performance review meeting held with contractors at the Project Coordination Office (PCO) in Port Harcourt, recently.
He stated that the project will not condone any delays to the completion of projects, and particularly frowned at the slow pace of work on some sites and warned that some remediation contractors could risk revocation of their contracts if they do not intensify efforts in completing their contracts on record time.
He stressed that although HYPREP is disposed to growing the capacity of local contractors, it will be raising the bar in subsequent contracts to allow for more financially viable remediation companies to come in, adding that this is against the backdrop of contractors’ claims of delays occasioned by lack of funds. “Records show that HYPREP pays contractors based on milestones they have achieved,” he said.
Shekwolo noted that HYPREP has stepped up performance monitoring measures to further assess contractors’ performance and urged them to take advantage of the dry season to complete their works.
The Project Coordinator further enjoined contractors to ensure proper housekeeping by demobilising from sites upon completion of work to avoid vandalism of their equipment.
Speaking on the sustainability plans for water, the Project Coordinator revealed that the Central Representative Advisory Committee (CRAC) has been assigned to set up community-based water consumers’ committees and provide them with the Terms of Reference (ToR).
Representative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Mike Cowing, who was present at the meeting commended HYPREP for organising the interactive session with contractors, stating that it is a good platform to ‘track progress made, identify challenges and re-strategise’.
He urged HYPREP to tighten the processes to ensure that contractors meet up the timeline for project completion.
In his intervention, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) representative on the project, Engr. Clark Ekiyokenegha, expressed the company’s expectations for timely project delivery and assured of the oil giant’s support to the project. “We want to see HYPREP succeed,” he said.
Ekiyokenegha observed that there is a lack of adherence to work plans and urged contractors to show roadmaps on how they intend to complete the projects.
He further urged contractors to utilise the instrument of collaboration by setting up regular meetings with HYPREP representatives on sites.
A similar position was stressed by the Head, Security of HYPREP, Commander Owens Izokpu, who called for collaboration, especially in information sharing between the project and contractors for hitch-free operations on sites.
The contractors took turns to give their scorecards. Most of the remediation contractors assured of completing works before the end of March, 2022.
The water contractors in their separate presentations noted that significant milestones have been recorded in their contracts.
Expectations are high that potable water will soon be provided in communities in Ogoniland. The next phase of the water contracts will cater for more communities in Ogoniland.
The performance review meeting is aimed at forging an interactive platform for HYPREP and its contractors to evaluate the milestones achieved in terms of project delivery, identify challenges and proffer solutions to them in a bid to ensuring that the project is delivered in good time. The Project Coordinator assured that the interface with contracts will be regular.
By: Donatus Ebi
The Rivers state Chief Judge, Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI has given an indication to sanction any lawyer who fail to comply with directive of a judge in the state to transferred a case to Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse for Alternatives Dispute Resolution.
Justice AMADI stated this during a brief ceremony held at the chief judge auditorium in port Harcourt Friday held to hand over certificates of operation to two private ADR chambers on Precarious Dispute Resolution Services and Harmony Arbitration and mediation center .
He urged the two private ADR centres to be diligent in the discharge of their duties and warned against compromising the standard of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR but should observed the regulations set out in collaboration regulation by the state Multi Door Court House.
Earlier in a address, the Director of the State Multi Door Courthouse, VICTOR NWEKE esq, highlighted some of the achievements of the Multi Door Courthouse especially in decongestion of court rooms.
NWEKE while disclosing how the department certified the two private ADR centres called for serious punitive measures be taken against any lawyer who fail to comply with a case referred to Multi Door Court House by a judge or magistrates in the state.
In her acceptance speech on behalf of the two certified private ADR centres, ALICE NIMI commended the State Judiciary and Multi Door Courthouse for the approval and assured that all the rules and regulations spelt out will be followed.
In a related development; the Rivers State Judiciary has assured its readiness to collaborate with Nigerian Securityding Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC in using Alternative Dispute Resolution to resolve some of the issues in their office.
The state Chief Judge , Justice SIMONE CHIBUZOR-AMADI made the promise when he received in audience the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE OLOWO and his team who paid him a courtesy visit in his office , Friday where issuees ADR utilization took centre stage.
He used the opportunity to brief his visitors on the hurdles judges faces daily in the court room and the need for the decongestion of the court room , stressing that one judge handle more than three hundred cases but that if lawyers and litigants adopt ADR practice court rooms can be releive of the daily congestions.
The state Chief Judge however urged NSCDC to ensure a wider sensitization of the members of the public on the practice of ADR for a better awareness and knowledge.
Earlier in his speech, the Zonal Commander of NSCDC, Assistant Commandant General, AYINLA TALYE-OLOWO said the visit was to seek collaboration on the use of ADR in resolving some issues which he insisted would help decongest the courtrooms.
Our correspondent reports officials of the Rivers State Multi Door Courthouse led by the Director, VICTOR NWEKE led the team of NSCDC on a technical session where information on how to the fully in cooperated into the Multi Door Courthouse and operation of ADR will be emphasized.
Akujobi Amadi