News
UNEP To Build HYPREP’s Capacity
In a bid to implement to the letter the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Ogoniland, a team of experts from the United Nations body arrived Port Harcourt last Sunday, to support the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to drive the Ogoni clean-up project, with a firm promise and commitment to build and enhance the capacity of top management staff of the Federal Government agency.
The Head of the UNEP delegation, which visited HYPREP’s corporate office in Port Harcourt, Monday, Mr. Mike Cowing disclosed that in supporting the agency to actualise its core mandate of remediation of oil impacted sites in Ogoniland, UNEP would provide training to top management staff of the agency.
Cowing further hinted that HYPREP’s senior managers and members of the Governing Council would also be taken on study tours of Europe, to expose them on how projects of the scale and magnitude of the Ogoni clean-up are planned and executed, and listed the countries to be covered by such tours to include the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands.
He said the UNEP team was in Port Harcourt to provide the requisite support to HYPREP’s activities because, as he put it, some of the works it is going to embark upon are very challenging and very demanding, stressing that “being here signifies the commitment of UNEP’s real engagement in the clean-up of Ogoniland.”
“We are going to be back-stopping HYPREP.
We are going to be adding to their in-house capacity. We are going to be providing training where training is needed, both in the classroom and in the field. And training will take place in Port Harcourt and in Ogoniland. There will be a set of training opportunities in Europe as well,” he said, adding that the UNEP team was expected to work with HYPREP over the next 12 months.
Cowing, however, disclosed that UNEP plans to open an office in Port Harcourt in
March, stressing that he and his four colleagues from the UNEP Office in Geneva would at the moment be preoccupied with spelling out requirements for the capacity building and training, before going back to Geneva to put together the training courses and bringing down the expertise from the United Nations.
“We are very excited to be here. We are hoping that if the partnership goes well, if we deliver on our policies, then, it is quite possible this relationship will carry on for many years to come,” Cowing said.
In his remarks, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Dr. Marvin Dekil expressed delight over the visit of the UNEP team, contending that the team came at the best time when the Ogoni clean-up proper had commenced.
Dekil explained that the UNEP team was in Port Harcourt to support the clean-up project, ensure compliance with the recommendations of the UNEP Report as well as ensure that HYPREP’s activities are best delivered to benefit the Ogoni people.
Donatus Ebi
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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