The Acting Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof. Philip Shekwolo, has charged contractors handling both remediation and water contracts to expedite action towards the speedy completion of the projects.
Shekwolo gave the charge during a performance review meeting held with contractors at the Project Coordination Office (PCO) in Port Harcourt, recently.
He stated that the project will not condone any delays to the completion of projects, and particularly frowned at the slow pace of work on some sites and warned that some remediation contractors could risk revocation of their contracts if they do not intensify efforts in completing their contracts on record time.
He stressed that although HYPREP is disposed to growing the capacity of local contractors, it will be raising the bar in subsequent contracts to allow for more financially viable remediation companies to come in, adding that this is against the backdrop of contractors’ claims of delays occasioned by lack of funds. “Records show that HYPREP pays contractors based on milestones they have achieved,” he said.
Shekwolo noted that HYPREP has stepped up performance monitoring measures to further assess contractors’ performance and urged them to take advantage of the dry season to complete their works.
The Project Coordinator further enjoined contractors to ensure proper housekeeping by demobilising from sites upon completion of work to avoid vandalism of their equipment.
Speaking on the sustainability plans for water, the Project Coordinator revealed that the Central Representative Advisory Committee (CRAC) has been assigned to set up community-based water consumers’ committees and provide them with the Terms of Reference (ToR).
Representative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Mike Cowing, who was present at the meeting commended HYPREP for organising the interactive session with contractors, stating that it is a good platform to ‘track progress made, identify challenges and re-strategise’.
He urged HYPREP to tighten the processes to ensure that contractors meet up the timeline for project completion.
In his intervention, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) representative on the project, Engr. Clark Ekiyokenegha, expressed the company’s expectations for timely project delivery and assured of the oil giant’s support to the project. “We want to see HYPREP succeed,” he said.
Ekiyokenegha observed that there is a lack of adherence to work plans and urged contractors to show roadmaps on how they intend to complete the projects.
He further urged contractors to utilise the instrument of collaboration by setting up regular meetings with HYPREP representatives on sites.
A similar position was stressed by the Head, Security of HYPREP, Commander Owens Izokpu, who called for collaboration, especially in information sharing between the project and contractors for hitch-free operations on sites.
The contractors took turns to give their scorecards. Most of the remediation contractors assured of completing works before the end of March, 2022.
The water contractors in their separate presentations noted that significant milestones have been recorded in their contracts.
Expectations are high that potable water will soon be provided in communities in Ogoniland. The next phase of the water contracts will cater for more communities in Ogoniland.
The performance review meeting is aimed at forging an interactive platform for HYPREP and its contractors to evaluate the milestones achieved in terms of project delivery, identify challenges and proffer solutions to them in a bid to ensuring that the project is delivered in good time. The Project Coordinator assured that the interface with contracts will be regular.

By: Donatus Ebi