News
HYPREP Begins Clean-Up Of Ogoni Communities …Remediates Korokoro Soil
Determined to realise its core mandate, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commenced the full implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report in Ogoniland, with the remediation of soil in Korokoro Community in Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Feelers to this effect emerged, last Tuesday, when HYPREP conducted newsmen round its demonstration site in Korokoro Community where it has already started the remediation of impacted sites in the area.
While conducting journalists round Well 3 in the community, HYPREP’s Head of Communication, Mr. Isa Wasa, said the soil remediation in the community was to enable the people farm and carry out other necessary activities in their lands which had been affected by oil exploitation for several years.
He said the essence of the remediation was to show to the world that the clean-up of Ogoniland by the agency was in progress contrary to speculations that no positive work was going on in the area.
According to him, HYPREP had already entered into partnership with some companies to actualise its core mandate of cleaning up Ogoniland.
Wasa reassured that HYPREP would deliver on its mandate, and urged Ogoni people to continue to cooperate and support the agency in its bid to clean-up impacted communities in the area.
Also speaking, the Technical Director of one of the companies handling the soil remediation project, Vitruvian Global Resources, Engr. Barikor Felix said the company was working very hard to ensure that the purpose of the project was achieved.
“Our company is an indigenous company. We are in technical partnership with Shareforce LCC, an American company that has been assisting us in the demonstration exercise for HYPREP”, he said.
He further disclosed that the company had been at the demonstration site in Korokoro community for 12 days at no cost to the government and HYPREP, saying, it was basically at the site to showcase its capacity.
Felix hinted that since the arrival of the company at the site, it has been able to reduce the TPH level of the soil in the community, assuring that “with the help of our technology, we would be able to carry out underground treatment to restore the environment to a better level”.
He thanked the Paramount Ruler of Tai Kingdom, King Godwin Gininwa for the provision of security at the site and for other logistics support, which he said, had made the work of the company less cumbersome.
On his part, the Managing Director of DLK Oil & Gas Environment Resources, Engr. James Kasten said the remediation was actually in progress, as his company was effectively working with the people and other companies to achieve set target.
According to him, the necessary equipment had been deployed to improve the soil quality in the community.
“We have 1,500 cubic guard of soil we are treating,” he said.
“HYPREP has 750 but we are doing double of it. The rain is the greatest challenge we are facing. It is preventing us from getting into the excavation hole we have dug. We are applying bio-remediation in the cleaning of the soil in order to improve it”, he added.
Donatus Ebi & Amarachi Anene
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
