Minister Tasks HYPREP On Oil Spills

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani
Alison-Madueke,  has tasked the
Hydro-carbon Pollution Restoration Programme (HYPREP) to fast track the cleanup
of oil spills in the Niger Delta.

The minister gave the charge on Thursday
in Abuja at a meeting with the leadership of HYPREP.

Alison-Madueke decried the level of
degradation and pollution in the region and called on all stakeholders to join
the cleanup campaign.

She said that there could be no
meaningful development in the region if environmental degradation was not
tackled.

The minister, who was represented by
the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Amb. AbdulKadir Musa, said that the
ministry would continue to work with relevant government agencies, oil
companies and donor agencies to remedy the situation.

Responding, the National Coordinator of
HYPREP, Mrs Joy Nunieh-Okunnu, said that HYPREP was already in the process of
implementing the emergency measures to clean up the region.

“We are collaborating with the
University of Port Harcourt Department of Public Health to carry out
epidemiological study and set up medical register for Ogoniiand,’’ she said.

She said that the programme was also
carrying out enlightenment campaigns and consultations with chiefs and youth
leaders in the area on the dangers of artisanal refining to their health.

She said that the socio-economic
blueprint for the development of the affected communities shall be implemented
through community-based cooperative societies to ensure that the programme was
sustained.

It will be recalled that HYPREP was
established by the Federal Government in July to ensure the restoration of
areas devastated by oil pollution in the Niger Delta. (NAN)

MUYI/HA/GY