Ogoni Clean-Up: Group Probe Of Agency

A Pan Ogoni Youths-based organization, under the auspices of Ogoni Youths Federation, (OYF) has called for a thorough investigation of activities of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, (HYPREP), stating that the federal agency has failed in the delivery of the Ogoni enviromental clean-up .The group also urged Shell Petroleum Development Company, (SPDC) to stop release of funds meant for the implementation of the Ogoni environmental clean-up project to the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in the 2020/2021 budget, until proper account has been made over previous funds released.
The body in a press statement signed by its national president, comrade Legborsi Yaamabana and made available to The Tide accused HYPREP of misappropriation of funds so far released for the Ogoni environmental clean up project, amounting to about $187m.
The statement, which read in part stated: “After the release of the initial $10m by Shell, there were cases of misappropriation and diversion which prompted Ogoni youths, through the OYF to institute a legal action against the federal ministry of environment and HYPREP to account for the funds.”
The group, which regretted the manner of the implementation of the Ogoni environmental clean up project said there was a “deliberate compromise of the emergency measures such as the provision of portable drinking water for the Ogoni people ,including the engagement of genuine stakeholders and proper representation of people at the grassroots as well as creation of jobs for the displaced youths of Ogoni.”
The group also condemned what it described as,  “a spree of clean up contract awards to firms of doubtful profiles and pedigrees in manner that appeared like political patronage,” and called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) to commence a forensic investigation of financial expenditure on the Ogoni environmental clean up project.
The  group also disclosed:  “the extreme politicisation of contract awards resulting in the exclusion of competent indigenous contractors from Ogoni is as insensitive as it is unacceptable.”

By: Taneh Beemene