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Clean-Up: HYPREP Cautions Against Remediated Sites’ Re-Pollution …As Contractor Recovers 22m Litres Of Crude From Spill Sites
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has called on the people of Ogoni to desist from activities capable of jeopardising the ongoing remediation of polluted sites in Ogoniland.
The Information Officer of HYPREP, Mr. Kpoobari Nafo, said this during an inspection of remediation sites and water supply projects by members of Oil Watch International.
Nafo stressed that the ongoing activities in the various remediation sites and water supply schemes in Eleme, Tai, Gokana, and Khana Local government areas, were indications that the Federal Government was sincere on the project.
He also advised companies in the oil sector operating in Nigeria and beyond to always maintain international best practices and ensure swift response to oil spills, to avoid unnecessary pollution of land.
“We have taken some non-governmental organisations from across Africa to our remediation sites. And they are very much satisfied with what they have seen.
“Re-pollution, this is also the issue that we have been talking about and we have been sensitising the communities, making them understand that the environment is theirs.
“So, re-polluting the environment is to their detriment. Although they have been giving us corporations and most of the communities have ensured that those who come to re-pollute their areas are no longer finding it as business as usual. We are making headway in terms of sensitisation so that people do not go back to resolute where we have worked.”
Also, leader of the OilWatch delegation, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, had confirmed that remediation activities in Ogoniland were ongoing, while urging HYPREP to expedite action in remediating the complex sites.
Bassey also expressed excitement over the take-off of the water projects.
“Though it should have been one of the first things for HYPREP to have done as an emergency measure, nevertheless we are happy that it is ongoing right now.
“We are also expecting HYPREP to start tackling the complex sites. Unfortunately, even if you clean up the entire Niger Delta in five years, it will take about three lifetimes to have the environment restored back to normal.”
Bassey said even though Goi community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, was not mentioned in the report of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) on the clean-up of the Ogoni environment, there was the need for the Federal Government to come to the rescue of the community.
It would be recalled that the entire people of Goi community fled their homes in 2004 following the pollution of their environment and frequent fire outbreak due to oil spills on the community river.
Speaking with newsmen at Goi shortly after leading Oilwatch members from several African countries to visit some oil spill sites in Ogoniland, Bassey, said members of the community were living as refugees in other communities in the state.
Bassey said the Goi community has been neglected.
“It has been neglected; the UNEP report didn’t mention Goi at all. You can’t hear Goi appearing in the question of cleaning this territory. This is the prime place where all these could have started.
“Goi people are living as refugees because you can’t see buildings here. Buildings here were destroyed by fire, pollution and neglect. You can’t stay here for two hours and remain healthy because the hydrocarbon is very thick in the air we are breathing.
“The Goi community needs attention and the government should not wait any further before adding this. Whether UNEP mentioned it or not, the government cannot shut its eye to this community.”
However, more than 22 million litres of crude oil were recovered from the spill site in Bodo community in GokanaLocal Government Area of Rivers State between 2017 and 2019 as part of ongoing clean-up of the environment.
The clean-up of Bodo oil spill, which occurred in 2008 and 2009, is being carried out by multinational oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) while the Hydrocarbon Protection and Remediation Project (HYPREP) is handling the other spill sites in Ogoniland.
The Project Manager of one of the contractors handling the clean-up exercise, Giolee Environmental Services, Dr Evidence Enoch, disclosed this while speaking with journalists at Patrick Tekuru Waterside, Bodo.
Enoch stated that while 20million litres of crude oil were recovered during the “Boom and Recovery” stage of the clean-up in 2017, over two million litres were recovered during the second stage of the exercise.
He said, “We started this exercise in 2017, and we recovered crude, debris and sand under the Boom and Recovery stage. We recovered up to 20million litres.
“In 2019, under the second stage of the clean-up, we recovered over two million litres of crude oil. This crude was recycled and was re-injected into the system. It was sold as normal crude.”
Similarly, the Ogoni struggle has gained the attention of an international non-governmental organisation based in Turkey, with sympathy to train youths in the area on skills acquisition with specifics on agriculture and other food-based nutrients.
This was disclosed in Abuja by the Senior Adviser to the President of the International Conference of Agriculture and Food (ICAF), Turkey, IdilSaguner, in a brief ceremony organised by its Nigeria’s partner, the Ogoni Liberation Initiative (OLI).
Speaking with Journalists, Saguner said the ICAF was happy to train as many youths in Ogoni land as well as youths from the Niger Delta region, adding that the gesture will help to positively engage youths from the region and end youth restiveness.
Saguner said: “We have studied the Ogoni people with kin interest and it is time for us to contribute our own quota to the development of these youths in other to end youth unemployment in the region”.
On his part, the President of Ogoni Liberation Initiative (OLI), Dr.Fabeke Douglas, said the partnership became imperative as youths in the region have suffered neglect from the Nigerian government.
Fabeke said despite the huge oil deposit in the region, the people have been grossly abandoned with their land polluted hindering youths to engage in farming, fishing and other activities to earn a living.
He said with the assistance from the Turkish-based ICAF, youths will find a new way of living.
“Travelling to Turkey will help broaden their horizon and change their thinking. We are taking 150 of them abroad as first set and subsequently others will follow.
“We have no support from government, only goodwill from spirited Nigerians kept us going.
“The diversification of our economy, especially the Agricultural Sector and Solid Minerals are viable sectors that must be explored. If government borrows to create industries and new industrial cities that will help our economy and create employment for our citizens, it will be the ideal thing to end insecurity that is ravaging our country.
“We hope that government will complement our effort so as to pacify the Ogoni people and the Niger Delta region in general”, Fabeke said.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.