Niger Delta

Stakeholders Okay HYPREP’s Performance

Published

2 years ago

July 16, 2024

Stakeholders and industry regulators, have reviewed the activities and performance of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project ( HYPREP) in the second quarter of 2024 and gave the Project a clean bill of health, affirming that it has done excellent and tremendous work to improve the living conditions of the Ogoni people within the period under review.

This is even as they have unanimously fixed their third and fourth quarterly meetings with HYPREP for September 26, 2024 and December 5, 2024 respectively.

This indication came to the fore during the second quarterly stakeholders/ industry regulators meeting organised by HYPREP at Casoni Hotel in Port Harcourt last Thursday.

The former Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Deinibarini Zabbey said in his welcome address that the attendance of the meeting by the key stakeholders and industry regulators is an expression of their commitment to HYPREP’s goals and objectives.

He noted that the quarterly review meeting is a component of HYPREP’s monitoring and evaluation framework, which is crucial, as it brings together key project stakeholders and industry regulators, including representatives from the Federal Ministry of Environment; National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA); Rivers State Ministry of Environment; Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources; Rivers State Ministry of Health;Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC); Stakeholders Democratic Network (SDN); Centre for Environment Human Rights and Development (CEHRD); AIFES; SWAYA; and other players.

He noted that HYPREP is using the platform to provide an update on the status of its project delivery, saying, “Over the past quarter, we have made significant progress in our remediation efforts and other project thematic areas”.

According to him, key milestones include the ongoing remediation of several land and shoreline sites; mangrove restoration; the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration; the Ogoni Specialist Hospital; water facilities; and sundry livelihood programmes.

Zabbey said the journey has not been without challenges, adding that “We have encountered logistical hurdles, including malicious cutting of planted mangroves; inter- intra communal land disputes; community leadership tussles; and targeted fence erections that impeded access to contaminated sites.”

He, however, posited that in the face of these odds, HYPREP’s tenacity remains unshaken, as it is more determined than ever to achieve its goals, as it would continue to utilise its conflict prevention and resolution mechanism to resolve the issues, and solicited the continued support and collaboration of the stakeholders to effectively address the challenges and bottlenecks.

The former Project Coordinator said the meeting provides a unique opportunity for the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Rivers State Government, industry regulators, the funding partners, civil society partners and other key stakeholders to provide feedback on HYPREP’s performance, saying, “this platform allows us to align our efforts with regulatory expectations and industry best practices”.

He further indicated that through it, HYPREP welcomes the insights and suggestions on how it can improve its strategies, processes, enhance compliance and achieve its project goals more effectively and within stated timelines, saying, “your insights and evaluations will guide our strategic adjustments and shape our future direction, ensuring we remain on the right path toward achieving our remediation, livelihood, peacebuilding and other project objectives”.

Zabbey also hinted that HYPREP is reviewing site assessment and stakeholder engagement strategies for optimum results and intensifying its community engagement initiatives, by ensuring that the Ogoni communities are informed and actively participating in the Project.

According to him, this includes training programmes for youth, enhancing their skills in sustainable livelihoods and environmental management, and providing inclusive employment opportunities.

“Community content has become part of our contract administration.We are committed to transparency and accountability in our operations,” he intoned.

While expressing his sincere appreciation to the stakeholders for their unending support and collaboration, Zabbey affirmed that, “together, we can overcome the challenges before us and achieve the goals and objectives of HYPREP.”

He enjoined the stakeholders to continue to work with HYPREP in harmony and with focus, “leveraging our collective expertise and resources to restore and return the Ogoni environment, restore the livelihoods of its people, and build structures for peace”.

The Monitoring and Evaluation officer of HYPREP, Mr Goodluck Msu mounted the stage and presented a lucid account of HYPREP’s activities and scorecard to the participants within the period under review, which elicited reactions and comments on how the Project has fared so far, in its bid to improve the living conditions of the Ogoni people.

While scoring HYPREP high on what is currently on ground, the Head of Environment, Stakeholders Democratic Network (SDN), Mr Jude Samuelson Ikenna commended the Project for the work it is doing but stressed the need for it to employ more technical personnel to improve its monitoring and supervision of projects since the volume of work is increasing by the day.

On her part, the Assessment and Sustainability officer of the Centre for Environment Human Rights and Development ( CEHRD), Baridapsi Nyiaghan expressed satisfaction with the various projects and programmes undertaken by the Project in Ogoniland but solicited for an improvement.

Also speaking, Mrs Oguns Oke of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Ogoni Restoration Project while expressing her excitement, assured HYPREP of SPDC’s continued support, and stressed the need for mechanism to be put in place to channel floods away from ongoing project sites , particularly now that the rains have set in.

Overall, the participants expressed grave concern about the fencing of some ongoing project sites in Eleme by an individual, and called for prompt action to address the inherent challenge.

While responding to this anomaly, the former Project Coordinator noted that the Zonal Representative Committee and the Central Representative Advisory Committee(CRAC) of HYPREP had been deployed to handle the issue in accordance with the Project’s peace building policy instead of employing force.

On the call for the Project to employ more technical hands, he hinted that recommendations to that effect had already been presented to the Governing Council for consideration and approval.

Among personalities who attended the meeting was the Head of Reference Laboratory of the National Oil Spill! Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA), Dr Kenneth Aroh, who represented the agency.

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.