The Minister of State for Environment, Chief (Mrs) Sharon Ikpeazor, has appealed to youths and communities in Ogoniland in Rivers State to always support the Federal Government and the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to speed up and effectively and seamlessly implement the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Ogoniland, as it concerns the clean-up project and provision of livelihoods to the people. This is even as HYPREP has promised to train additional 5,000 youths in the area.
Ikpeazor, who made the appeal during a one-day stakeholder engagement programme at the council secretariat of Khana Local Government Area in Bori on Monday, said the support of both the youths and communities in the area was needed to make the project work as well as enable the government and HYPREP work faster in improving the wellbeing of the people in the shortest possible time.
She disclosed that advertisement placements would soon be made for the construction of the Centre of Excellence in Ogoniland as contained in the UNEP Report, assuring that due process would be followed in the advertisement of projects and engagement of contractors for the execution of all HYPREP projects.
Ikpeazor further hinted that an environmental surveillance team, made up of Ogoni youths would also be put in place to provide security at remediation sites in Ogonniland, adding that the Federal Government was committed to training of Ogoni youths.
According to her, the government would ensure that other contaminated sites in Ogoniland not captured in the UNEP Report are included in the clean-up project so that the project would be truly owned by the people.
The minister further noted that the employment of casual workers by HYPREP to drive the clean-up project would be open and transparent, clarifying that HYPREP is not an agency but a project office which has no legal framework.
On his part, the Acting Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Philip Shekwolo said 5,000 Ogoni youths would be selected for the forthcoming livelihood training programme, assuring that the project office was determined to provide potable drinking water to contaminated Ogoni Comminties, as 12 additional lots were on the verge of joining six contractors already selected by the office to ensure that the ongoing water project gets to impacted communities.
Shekwolo further promised that the Centre of Excellence project would come on stream in 2022, and thanked Ogoni indigenous doctors for anchoring the project office’s outreach medical programme recently carried out in the four Ogoni local government areas of the state.
Also speaking, the President of the Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, King Godwin Giniwa stressed the need for the establishment of the University of Environment in Ogoniland, adding that education of the people of the area was key to development, and appealed that the clean-up project should be made faster.
Former Rivers State Commissioner for Environment, Prof Roseline Konya urged HYPREP to ensure that Ogoni people benefit from the clean-up project by carrying along the women and the youths of the area.
Former President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Barrister Ledum Mitee harped on the need for HYPREP to provide to the Ogoni people things that are sustainable instead of giving them what he described as mere handouts.
The Senator representing Rivers South East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Barry Mpigi commended the present leadership of HYPREP, stressing that the ongoing clean-up project was a national project which must be treated as such in all ramifications, adding that there was need to drive the project in such a way that it goes beyond the Muhammedu Buhari administration.
On his part, the Chairman of Khana Local Government Area, Dr Barinee Thomas, who spoke on behalf of other local government chairmen in Ogoniland, tacitly passed a vote of confidence on the present HYPREP leadership, and commended it for its humane disposition and serenity of purpose.
He, however , charged HYPREP to engage in deliberate actions to improve the wellbeing of Ogoni people as well as involve young Ogoni contractors in the execution of projects, saying “ All we want is result.”
The event was well attended by Ogoni sons and daughters including the state Commissioner for Agriculture and member, HYPREP Board of Trustees, Dr Fred Kpakol; Commissioner for Energy and Natural Resources, Dr Peter Medee; President of KAGOTE, Hon Emma Deeyah; former Secretary to Rivers State Government, Chief Kenneth Kobani; former Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof Barineme Fakae; among others.
The Director General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Restoration Agency (NOSDRA), Mr Idris Musa; and the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr. Hassan Musa were in the entourage of the Minister.
Ikpeazor visited the ongoing water project in Eleme and some remediated sites in the area.

By: Donatus Ebi