News

MOSOP Squares For Fight With FG Over HYPREP Overhaul

Published

5 years ago

December 18, 2020

The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has expressed concern at the inconclusiveness of the widely publicised overhaul of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP), which, if concluded, would revitalise the Ogoni clean-up exercise.
A statement signed by the Secretary-General of MOSOP, Bari-ara Kpalap, indicated that “The progress of the project has been imprisoned by obvious inefficiency, lack of transparency and accountability, and related weaknesses.
“We recall that the Honourable Minister of Environment and Chairman of HYPREP’s Governing Council, Dr. Mahmood Abubakar, obtained Mr. President’s approval for the purpose since April hence we wonder why the restructuring exercise has remained inconclusive, many months thereafter.
“As it stands, it is Ogoni and her environment that are suffering. MOSOP would thus urge the minister to ensure the conclusion of the process as we enter the first months of 2021.
“We would equally call on the minister to expedite action on the constitution of the apex structures of HYPREP by calling for nominations from the relevant bodies captured in the agency’s governing gazette. The constitution of the Governing Council (GC) and the Board of Trustees (BoT) would aid effective governance of the project including check and balance.
“However, we are concerned about reports making the rounds that there are moves to bring back Dr. Marvin Dekil to the agency. This will be unacceptable to MOSOP and an overwhelming majority of the Ogoni population. And we will use all civilize means to resist it.
“The failings of the Ogoni environmental recovery exercise seats squarely on the lapses of Dr. Dekil hence his return will not be helpful to the project and the good intention of Mr. President to resolve the Ogoni environmental crisis through the clean-up exercise. However, we would caution against succumbing to pressure by busybodies and economic demons. This, in our view, would put the minister’s good relationship with the Ogoni people at risk if our advice is not heeded.
“The former project coordinator emplaced a management approach, which held no regard for procedure and law. We are aware that he, against Nigeria’s procurement act, awarded livelihood contract valued at millions of naira and made a 100% upfront payment when the contractor has not even started work. This is lawlessness and violated the said procurement act. We are also aware of other similar violations.
“Meanwhile, we wish to reiterate our unwavering stance against water trucking to Ogoni communities. Facts abound of modern technologies that can adequately deal with the water issue without trucking. The water, we insist, has to be piped to all Ogoni communities and not a select few. Water, we would say for the umpteenth time, is the only benefit of the clean-up project that would be Ogoni wide.
“MOSOP would likewise advice that training of Ogoni youths, sustainable livelihood for our people and alternative employment for artisanal refiners amongst others be prioritized as we enter the New Year,” the statement added.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

News

HYPREP Tightens Security At Project Sites

Published

6 hours ago

November 30, 2025

The Tide

Following the rupture of the ground tank of its water facility in Ebubu Community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has tightened security across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

HYPREP, which dropped this hint in a statement signed by its Head of Communications, Dr Enuolare Mba-Nwigoh, said the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey had given the directive for security to be tightened across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

Mba-Nwigoh noted that the tightening of security across the project sites has become necessary to forestall interference with the facilities.

He further disclosed that following the rupture of the ground tank of the Ebubu water facility, a team led by HYPREP’s Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi has visited the scene of the incident to assess the situation, stressing that the water facility has been cordoned off for public safety.

The statement indicated that following the incident, HYPREP has henceforth barred non-project personnel and non-facility staff from gaining access into any of its active project sites in Ogoniland without authorisation.

While appealing to residents of Ebubu Community and the public to remain calm, the Head of Communications assured them that the Project is taking prompt steps to restore water to the community, saying, the cause of the unfortunate incident is being investigated.

He equally noted that the Chief Security Officer of HYPREP has been directed to immediately tighten security across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

The statement said HYPREP is deeply concerned about the incident, stressing that despite the setback, the Project reiterates its commitment to delivering sustainable cleanup in Ogoniland.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

1 week ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

1 week ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa