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Appointment Of Ogoni Reps For HYPREP’s GC, BoT Angers MOSOP
A faction of the umbrella body of the Ogoni people, the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has condemned, in strong terms, the purported appointment of some Ogoni politicians as representatives to sit on the Governing Council and the Board of Trustees of Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Programme (HYPREP).
Reacting to the development, MOSOP, therefore, called on the Minister of Environment and all those involved to undo the anti-Ogoni appointments.
The faction, in a statement signed by its President, Prince Biira, last Friday, in Port Harcourt, “warned that failure to heed advice, the organization we would have no choice than to utilize all non-violent options to ensure justice for our people”.
The statement claimed that the appointment was reportedly done by the Minister of Environment in connivance with a notable APC politician of Rivers extraction.
According to the statement, “Reports available to us indicate that they are proposed to be secretly inaugurated by Abuja to prevent protests, which may stall the inauguration. MOSOP has, thus, warned that it will do everything lawful to resist the attempt to deprive her of the right to nominate Ogoni representatives as empowered by the HYPREP governing instrument”.
Biira said, “The lack of transparency and openness in the handling of the matter is not only suspicious and provocative but also immoral and unhelpful to the smooth operations of HYPREP and the progress of the Ogoni clean-up project. Coming at a time when our people and lovers of clean and healthy environment have lost confidence in the management of the project, the approach is no less an invitation avoidable conflict that would halt the clean-up exercise, which appears to be the intent of the architects.
“The condemnable lack of progress in the execution of the project over four years of implementation has been heavily linked to unwholesome politicization of HYPREP. We have it on good authority that certain politicians are eyeing remitted and expected revenues for the Ogoni environmental recovery exercise to assure the actualization of their 2023 political ambitions hence the attempt to plant their surrogates on the apex structures of HYPREP.
“The Ogoni clean-up exercise is an entirely environmental matter and not political. Therefore, politics must be completely removed from the project for it to record success, which is presently absent. Thus, politicians must look past the funds of the Ogoni project in the pursuit of their political dreams or be embarrassed by our people.”
“The attempt to create artificial divisions in MOSOP to enhance their devious plan to seize and manipulate HYPREP to their advantage, and frustrate effective monitoring and fencing of the agency has been roundly defeated by the matured approach of the leaders of the organization. And MOSOP is unanimously determined to frustrate moves at milking the HYPREP dry.
“Recognizing that MOSOP is the organization mandated by the Ogoni people to speak and act on its behalf; acknowledging that MOSOP is an internationally acclaimed champion of environmental justices for the Ogoni people and other minorities in Nigeria and beyond and knowing also of the powers conferred on the movement by the HYPREP governing gazette, the Federal Government contacted MOSOP to, and it nominated the immediate past Ogoni members of the top organs of HYPREP. And we have evidence to this fact.
“Besides the afore-stated, taking Article 4 (2) (j) and Article 7 (1) (f) of the HYPREP governing gazette together, one would be left in no doubt as to which authority in Ogoni is empowered to make nominations to the apex structures of the special purpose agency.”
By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a Federal Executive Council committee to move swiftly on measures to further reduce food prices across the country.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this in Abuja, on Wednesday.
According to him, the directive focuses on ensuring safe passage of farm produce across transport routes to cut logistics costs.
“The President has given a matching order with a Federal Executive Council committee already handling it on how we are going to promote safe passage of agricultural foods and commodities across our various routes in the country,” Abdullahi said at a capacity-building workshop for Senate correspondents.
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Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has faced worsening food insecurity since the removal of fuel subsidy, high transport costs, and insecurity on major highways disrupted the movement of goods.
Despite government interventions, food remains largely unaffordable for millions.
The minister said the plan is tied to Tinubu’s broader vision of food sovereignty—beyond availability to ensure affordability, accessibility, and nutrition on a sustainable basis.
To back this up, he revealed that government is set to roll out a Farmer Soil Health Scheme to boost productivity and a revamped cooperative reform initiative to mobilise resources and empower rural farmers.
“Mr. President has shown tremendous interest in the cooperative sector as a veritable tool for resource mobilisation, for economic activity generation, and to improve the livelihood of members,” Abdullahi added.
The event, with the theme, “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities,” also featured Senate Media Committee Chairman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu; ex-presidential aide, Senator Ita Solomon Enang; and NILDS DG, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman.
The Federal Government has warned contractors, including foreign firms, that any breach of regulations in road projects awarded to them may lead to arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, issued the warning during an inspection of the ongoing dualisation of the East-West Road (Section IIIA) from Eleme Junction to Onne Port Junction in Rivers State.
The section is being executed by Reynolds Construction Company (Nigeria) Limited.
Responding to questions from journalists, Umahi commended the quality of work on the project but expressed displeasure over the slow pace, stressing that the December completion deadline remains sacrosanct.
On the project, he said:“The quality of the work is excellent, but the pace of work is totally unacceptable. Let me make it very clear to the contractor that this project will neither be reviewed nor varied in price or claims.
“I’m sure we have issued over 10 warning letters to them. If they fail to comply with the completion deadline of December 15, we will not extend it.”
He added that the ministry had already put measures in place to enforce compliance
“The comptroller has negative certificates to issue, and I will recover the money from any of their other projects. All those letters are on record, and when the time comes, they will be invoked. Any contractor who refuses to abide by regulations will have the EFCC and ICPC to contend with,” he said.
Umahi further disclosed that the Federal Government had directed that road projects valued below N20bn would no longer be awarded to expatriate companies, in line with its “Nigeria First” policy aimed at strengthening indigenous capacity in the construction sector.
“This is part of the Nigeria First policy of the Federal Government. Henceforth, no expatriate firm will be awarded any project valued below N20bn. Such projects must go to indigenous companies, while expatriates focus on higher-value projects requiring more technical capacity,” he said.
The minister also noted that the Federal Ministry of Works had adopted a funding prioritisation framework to sustain road projects initially financed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
He stressed that President Bola Tinubu had directed that none of such projects should be abandoned, adding that priority would be given to critical economic corridors.
Umahi also decried the indiscriminate parking of heavy-duty vehicles on highways, saying it was damaging the pavements of completed sections of the road.
He said letters would be sent to state governors and the Inspector-General of Police to enforce punitive measures against defaulters.
Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State, Mrs Enwereama Tarilade, said RCC had completed 15km of the right carriageway and commenced work on the left carriageway, with one kilometre already laid in Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement.
The Rivers State Government says it will ensure the smooth and successful takeoff of the newly established Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET), in Ogoniland.
This commitment was made yesterday by the Administrator of Rivers State, Retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), during a courtesy visit by the university’s Governing Council and Management team at the Government House, in Port Harcourt.
The high-level delegation was led by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council, Professor Don Baridam and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedu Mmom.
In his address, Administrator Ibas warmly congratulated the pioneer council and management on their appointments, describing their task as both a recognition of individual accomplishment and a historic call to duty.
“This is not just a recognition of your personal achievements but also a call to history to shape an institution that will have a profound impact on Rivers State, the Niger Delta, and indeed our country,” he stated.
The Administrator commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the establishment of the specialized university in Ogoniland, describing the initiative as “timely and strategic.”
He emphasized that the university’s presence offers a critical opportunity to drive research, innovation, and community-focused solutions to the region’s pressing environmental and developmental challenges.
He further noted that the university’s core focus aligns perfectly with the priorities of his administration.“We consider this university not merely as another institution of higher learning but as a strategic partner in our collective effort to rebuild Rivers State under the ongoing state of emergency and beyond,” he affirmed.
Responding to specific requests presented by the delegation, Administrator Ibas assured the university of immediate support in critical areas essential for the its commencement.
These include the provision of operational vehicles, key facilities, and the completion of the access road to the campus, adding that other vital needs, such as perimeter fencing, refuse disposal, and the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, would be addressed within the framework of the state’s broader infrastructure and support programmes.
To ensure swift action, the Administrator directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to work closely with the university’s Governing Council to prioritize the sequence of requests, particularly those tied to the commencement of academic activities in September 2025.
“Let me assure you that Rivers State Government will stand as a dependable partner to the Federal University of Environment and Technology. We see this university as part of our long-term investment in knowledge, innovation, and the future of our youths,” he emphasized.
In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Professor Don Baridam, reaffirmed the university’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and community development.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has directed the institution to formally commence its academic session in September 2025, adding that preparations are in full swing to ensure a smooth take-off with adequate infrastructure and resources in place.
“Today’s meeting marks the beginning of a strategic partnership between the Rivers State Government and FUET, envisioned to establish the university as a premier hub for research, innovation, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta”, he said.