News
MOSOP Squares For Fight With FG Over HYPREP Overhaul
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has expressed concern at the inconclusiveness of the widely publicised overhaul of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP), which, if concluded, would revitalise the Ogoni clean-up exercise.
A statement signed by the Secretary-General of MOSOP, Bari-ara Kpalap, indicated that “The progress of the project has been imprisoned by obvious inefficiency, lack of transparency and accountability, and related weaknesses.
“We recall that the Honourable Minister of Environment and Chairman of HYPREP’s Governing Council, Dr. Mahmood Abubakar, obtained Mr. President’s approval for the purpose since April hence we wonder why the restructuring exercise has remained inconclusive, many months thereafter.
“As it stands, it is Ogoni and her environment that are suffering. MOSOP would thus urge the minister to ensure the conclusion of the process as we enter the first months of 2021.
“We would equally call on the minister to expedite action on the constitution of the apex structures of HYPREP by calling for nominations from the relevant bodies captured in the agency’s governing gazette. The constitution of the Governing Council (GC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) would aid effective governance of the project including check and balance.
“However, we are concerned about reports making the rounds that there are moves to bring back Dr. Marvin Dekil to the agency. This will be unacceptable to MOSOP and an overwhelming majority of the Ogoni population. And we will use all civilize means to resist it.
“The failings of the Ogoni environmental recovery exercise seats squarely on the lapses of Dr. Dekil hence his return will not be helpful to the project and the good intention of Mr. President to resolve the Ogoni environmental crisis through the clean-up exercise. However, we would caution against succumbing to pressure by busybodies and economic demons. This, in our view, would put the minister’s good relationship with the Ogoni people at risk if our advice is not heeded.
“The former project coordinator emplaced a management approach, which held no regard for procedure and law. We are aware that he, against Nigeria’s procurement act, awarded livelihood contract valued at millions of naira and made a 100% upfront payment when the contractor has not even started work. This is lawlessness and violated the said procurement act. We are also aware of other similar violations.
“Meanwhile, we wish to reiterate our unwavering stance against water trucking to Ogoni communities. Facts abound of modern technologies that can adequately deal with the water issue without trucking. The water, we insist, has to be piped to all Ogoni communities and not a select few. Water, we would say for the umpteenth time, is the only benefit of the clean-up project that would be Ogoni wide.
“MOSOP would likewise advice that training of Ogoni youths, sustainable livelihood for our people and alternative employment for artisanal refiners amongst others be prioritized as we enter the New Year,” the statement added.
By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
News
I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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