Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, have said that there is renewed vigour on the part of the Federal Government and the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in the clean-up of Ogoniland in Rivers State.

The committee members, who dropped the hint during an oversight visit to some remediation sites, water and project sites in Ogoniland recently, said the clean-up project is still work in progress.

The Chairman of the committee, Rt Hon Dumnamene Dekor, while addressing newsmen on behalf of the members, said after visiting some of the project sites, they have seen renewed vigour in the delivery of services to the Ogoni people.

According to him, the clean-up project is so far, work in progress.

While stressing that the visit of the project sites by the members was done in exercise of their oversight functions, as provided in the Constitution and the rules of the House, Dekor commended the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal Abbas and the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Deinibarini Zabbey and their team for the good work done so far.

He noted that having been around as a former member of the House Committee on Environment; and chairman of the House Committee on Host Communities for the second time, the lawmakers can spot the difference in what was being done in the past and today.

Dekor said the committee would encourage the Federal Government and the HYPREP team , adding, however, that they should not see the committee’s position as a pat on their back, because, according to him, “we have also spotted some gaps, there are some contractors that may have to do some explanations while there are others we have to commend at the end of the exercise.”

The federal lawmaker further indicated that generally, what the committee had seen at the sites visited conformed with what they had expected, saying, “We did not believe that we would get this far.”

The committee chairman said the Ogoni people had long been deprived and had suffered degradation of their environment for a very long time, and called on the Federal Government and HYPREP to do more for the people, saying he was happy that the Project Coordinator had told the committee members that every Ogoni community would be provided potable water.

He expressed delight that young Ogoni people are engaged at the various project sites, and urged them to be shining examples, grow themselves and be more creative, since there is no free lunch anywhere, as Manna no longer falls from heaven.

Dekor also used the opportunity to appeal to the youths to shun cultism, illegal oil bunkering, crime and criminality, and embrace what is happening in Ogoniland.

He equally promised that the committee and the National Assembly would work with HYPREP and the Ogoni Board of Trustees to ensure that the Federal Government, particularly the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited pays its counterpart funds for the clean-up project.

According to him, the International Oil Companies(IOCs), especially the Shell Petroleum Development Company are trying in fulfilling part of their own bargain, assuring the people that the committee would ensure that all those who are yet to pay the counterpart funds do so.

He disclosed that what was being used for the clean-up project are take- off grants, which he said, are almost completely spent.

The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Deinibarini Zabbey, while also addressing newsmen, said the Project was excited over the visit of the lawmakers to some of its project sites, saying, “We have taken note of their concerns and commendations. They are motivating us to do better.”

He reassured Ogoni stakeholders that HYPREP, under his watch, would give the people of the area the best.

The members of the committee visited the barricaded remediation site in Ogale Community; and Lots 3, 11 and 15 in Eleme Local Government Area; Kpoghor/Gio water scheme in Tai Local Government Area; Ogoni Specialist Hospital; Buan Cottage Hospital; Buan water project; Kwawa remediation site; and Bieere water scheme; among others.