Stakeholders Urge HYPREP, UNEP Partnership

Stakeholders from Ogoniland and oil companies representatives at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Community Consultation Committee (CCC), meeting at the United Nations House in Port Harcourt, have urged the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) to urgently partner with the UNEP over the restoration of Ogoniland’s environment.

In a resolution after the meeting, the stakeholders stated that HYPREP must partner with UNEP on proper implementation of the environmental remediation programme for Ogoniland in line with the UNEP report on the Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland.

The resolution was signed by the traditional Rulers, women representatives, youth leaders and local government officials representing the four Ogoni local government councils at the CCC meeting.

The participants also resolved that HYPREP should integrate UNEP personnel in whatever contact or community mobilisation being carried out by HYPREP for the local support of the Ogoni People on the project.

The stakeholders decried the long delay in implementing the UNEP’s report on the restoration of contaminated areas and environment of Ogoniland.

Speaking to The Tide, UNEP representatives led by UNEP special envoy, Erik Solheim, said the UNEP delegation had met top government officials and other key partners on the Ogoniland Environmental Protection in Abuja before coming to Port Harcourt.

He said the UNEP delegation was seeking effective ways of implementation of the UNEP’s report since it was submitted in 2011 to the Federal Government.

Philip Okparaji