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Ogoni Clean-Up: HYPREP Engages Illegal Oil Refiners
The Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP), says it has engaged illegal oil refiners in Ogoni communities of Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme local government areas of Rivers State in the clean-up process.
The Project Coordinator, HYPREP, Dr. Marvin Dekil, made the disclosure in Port Harcourt, while giving an account of the activities of the team over the last 100 days in office.
Dekil noted that artisanal refiners in the area have been engaged in the clean-up so that they will not continue to impact negatively on the area while the clean-up was going on.
The coordinator noted that when HYPREP met the illegal refiners, they (illegal refiners) promised to discontinue activities that are harmful to the environment.
He said that several of the youth, who illegally refined oil, have been engaged and retrained by the body to ensure that they were useful in the clean-up process.
“We met with the leadership of Ogoni ex-artisanal refiners. We had enlightened them about the project, and they promised not to be involved in such activities again having received our message that the trade is harmful to their heath, the society and the environment.
“We gave them the task of identifying the skills they would want us to train them on as an alternative source of livelihood for them,” Dekil added.
Speaking on the clean-up process, Dekil appealed to Ogonis in particular, and the entire people of Rivers State, to exercise more patience over the delay in the implementation of Ogoni clean-up exercise.
Dekil, who made the appeal at a press conference organised to mark his 100 days in office, in Port Harcourt, said it has become necessary to explain the process of the clean up to Ogonis.
He stated that, “the clean-up is done through proper assessment, characterization of the site, finding each of the pollutants, isolating them as well as identifying the best possible technology for removing them and these processes take time, skills and expertise”.
The coordinator added that there were processes and procedures involved in the Ogoni clean-up exercise that would require more time and patience from the affected communities to understand.
“Those baseline work, information gathering, and planning take time, and it is important that we reiterate again that you are not going to be seeing bulldozers in the field because that is not the way to do it.
“As for the report that we are not doing anything, that is wrong because we are doing so much, we are laying those scientific building blocks that will lead to an effective and professional clean-up exercise,” he added.
Dekil also hinted that in the past 100 days, his committee has embarked on educating and enlightening the people on the processes involved in the Ogoni clean-up project, adding that members of the affected communities have been engaged in the sensitisation exercise.
“We have met community leaders, youth, women, paramount rulers and their council of chiefs to explain to us their needs, and what was common is that ‘they need water’. Incidentally, that is one of the key recommendations of the report, ‘provision of potable water,” Dekil noted.
The Tide investigations show that HYPREP had visited Bodo, K-Dere, and Kpor communities, among others, as part of plans to commence the act of clean-up of oil impacted sites in Ogoni.
It would be recalled that the coordinator of HYPREP had earlier this month said that stakeholders had begun efforts to provide emergency water supply to address the concerns of Ogoni people, adding that in the next three months, project implementation would have been activated.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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