The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) had called on stakeholders to work collaboratively towards the development and empowerment of Ogoni youths.

NYCOP made the call in a communique issue over the weekend after an emergency Congress in Port Harcourt and signed by its President, Comrade Raymond Nwibani Marcus.

In the communique, NYCOP endorsed President Bola Tinubu’s appointments of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BOT) members of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), particularly Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah as Chairman of HYPREP’s BOT.

It respectfully appealed to the President to consider appointing a representative from the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) under the leadership of Engr. Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu, being the pioneering social vehicle for Ogoni advocacy since the inception of the Ogoni struggle, adding that it would significantly contribute to the decision-making process.

The body commended the overall management of HYPREP and urges the President to continue funding the HYPREP project.

NYCOP furthermore recommended considering the conversion of HYPREP from a project to a full-fledged agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The communique also stated that NYCOP thanked President Tinubu for establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology, and for appointing key staff, forming a dialogue committee, and initiating infrastructural projects like the Eleme axis of the East-West Road and the Bonny-Bodo Road, significantly enhancing regional connectivity and economic prospects.

In solidarity with the Renewed Hope Agenda, the endorsed President Tinubu’s second-term bid, saying it believes his leadership embodies the aspirations of the Ogoni people and Nigerians at large.

“After thorough consideration of the Disciplinary Committee’s report, NYCOP resolves:

” To indefinitely suspend Comrade Nade Nade Burale from his position as Secretary General due to misconduct.

“To declare Comrade Saviour Imeabe persona non grata on Ogoni youth issues, given his actions’ potential to instigate crisis in Ogoni and beyond” the communique stated.

NYCOP in his resolution issued a 7-day ultimatum to former HYPREP BOT Chairman Mike Nwialeghi to explain the $100 million HYPREP fund investment, warning of potential litigation.

NYCOP reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ogoni youth interests and preventing personal aggrandizement.

According to the communique the resolutions demonstrate NYCOP’s efforts to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth.

“We will no longer tolerate any individual or group using the name or issues of Ogoni youth for personal aggrandizement.

” Our mandate is clear: to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth” the communique said.

NYCOP passes a vote of confidence in Hon. Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah, acknowledging his impeccable credentials and credibility to lead the BOT of HYPREP effectively.

Kiadum Edookor

The Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, last Thursday commissioned four additional water projects in four Ogoni communities in Rivers State, stressing the need for the communities to take full ownership of the projects by protecting them.

Indeed, the commissioning ceremony, which took place in Bodo City, witnessed another landmark achievement in the commitment of the Federal Government to the full implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on Ogoni environment, specifically in the provision of potable water to communities, following the commissioning of the water projects in Bodo, Uegwere-Boue, Taabaa and Eteo Communities in Gokana, Khana and Eleme Local Government Areas, respectively.

While commissioning the gigantic water projects in Bodo, the Minister of Environment and Chairman of HYPREP Governing Council, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, urged the communities to work with HYPREP, own and safeguard the facilities against vandalism, stressing that the sustainability of the projects begins with community stewardship.

He noted that providing water to communities underscores a shared commitment to the health, dignity and well-being of the Ogoni people, and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the full implementation of the UNEP Report and the sustainable development of Ogoniland, correct historical wrongs and deliver genuine remediation, development and renewal to affected communities.

Acknowledging the contributions of traditional and youth leaders, NGOs and Renaissance/JV partners, the Minister noted that the actualisation of the projects attests to stakeholders’ collaboration and collective resolve, adding that the projects symbolise hope, equity and justice for communities that have long endured the consequences of environmental degradation.

Meanwhile,the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, has noted that the water commissioning is part of HYPREP’s contribution to the Renewed Hope National Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as driven by the Minister of Environment.

Zabbey announced that stakeholders’ interests in and acceptability of HYPREP have remarkably increased, describing it as indicative of growing confidence and ownership of the Project by the people.

He said the Project is deepening stakeholders’ engagement, strengthening monitoring and evaluation, reinforcing transparency and accountability, while pushing to ensure that the benefits of the Project reach every single corner of Ogoniland.

Beyond remediation, livelihood, public health interventions, among other projects, the Project Coordinator explained that HYPREP has significantly expanded its peace building efforts in line with the Project’s mandate, which has helped to foster unity, stability and collaboration across Ogoniland.

Goodwill messages from the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Limited, Engr Tony Attah, who was represented by General Manager, Relations and Sustainable Development, Mr Igo Weli; Chief Kenneth Kobani; Mr Legborsi Saro Pyagbara; and Gbenemene Tai Kingdom, King Samuel Nne, paid glowing tributes to HYPREP for the successes recorded.

Also in attendance were the Director General of the National Environment Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency(NESREA), Prof Innocent Barikor and other eminent Ogoni sons and daughters.

The Minister also commissioned the Gokana Area Office, an initiative of HYPREP, to foster project-community relationships; presented symbolic cook stoves to fisher folk-a programme aimed at reducing dependence on mangroves for firewood; and visited the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER).

With the latest commissioning, HYPREP has now provided potable water to 40 communities and hopes to cover more by the end of the year.

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) has started savouring and reflecting on the release of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP) Report on Ogoniland, contending that 14 years after the release of the report, a glimmer of hope now beckons from the horizon, transforming a once seemingly bleak and despairing situation into one of opportunities, boundless possibilities and a reassuring future for Ogoni communities and posterity.

The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who gave this indication in a statement signed by the Project’s Head of Communications, Dr Enuolare Mba-Nwigoh, said the release of the UNEP Report on August 4, 2011 signals the Federal Government’s commitment to address decades of environmental concerns in the Niger Delta and further heralds a transformative developmental trajectory for the Ogoni people.

He noted that the implementation of the report’s recommendations by HYPREP has made its spirit and letter a reality, expressing and interpreting its tenets in ways that place the people at the core of the environmental remediation and restoration of the livelihood efforts.

According to him, HYPREP has recorded tremendous successes in soil and ground water remediation, shoreline cleanup, mangrove restoration, provision of potable water, public health interventions, construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, construction of the Ogoni power project and sustainable livelihoods.

“We are pleased to confirm that we are on track in our noble quest to fulfil the Project’s core objectives. This is evident in the scorecard so far,” he said, contending that in the area of remediation, HYPREP has completed and obtained NOSDRA’s closeout certification for 50 lots in the simple risk sites while the ongoing remediation of medium risk sites is now at 38 percent completion stage.

According to him, the phase 1 shoreline cleanup and mangrove restoration stands at 56 percent and 93 percent completed, respectively, while notable achievements have been recorded in the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which is currently at 90 percent completion stage; Ogoni Specialist Hospital; and Buan Cottage Hospital which are at 86 percent and 98 percent completion level, respectively.

Zabbey further indicated that the provision of potable water has gained momentum, with 30 communities already having access to water while four additional water projects were commissioned yesterday, August 7, thus, bringing the number of communities with reticulated potable water to 42, adding that the phase 1 of the Ogoni power project is now over 40 percent complete.

He said the Ogoni cleanup programme is revolutionising the socio-economic landscape of the region, empowering people and families, contributing to peace building and security, and improving the Human Development Index(HDI), while aligning with almost all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).

The statement noted that “The dedication and dexterity deployed by previous leaders have taken the Project this far. Still, it is the innovation, inclusivity and a bottom-top approach to programme conceptualisation and implementation, proactive and strategic paradigms of Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, Project Coordinator of HYPREP, under the supervision of the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, that has buoyed efforts to deliver a people-centred, sustainable and fit-for-purpose cleanup programme in Ogoni,”

The Project Coordinator said in demonstrating a greater commitment to the swift implementation of the UNEP Report, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, has prioritised the Ogoni cleanup through the Presidential Directive, the directive which he noted, prioritises the remediation of the environment and ensures that the Ogoni people benefit from the cleanup efforts.

“We are further encouraged by the fact that the Ogoni people are benefiting from the full range of deliverables from the various projects and are active participants, working closely with HYPREP for effective project delivery,” he said.

Zabbey noted that HYPREP is particularly interested in sustaining the goals recorded so far, saying, this is why it is building collaborative partnerships across strata, including the development of technical and administrative frameworks to achieve a sustainable cleanup programme.

According to him, HYPREP remains grateful for the tremendous support it has received from governments, the diplomatic community, the Ogoni people and other stakeholders.