….As Three Water Treatment Facilities Set For Commissioning
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has confirmed the setup of a Directorate to manage the Centre of Excellence in Ogoni land.
According to the Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibari Zabbey, the Minister of Environment has approved the recommendation for the establishment of the Directorate.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the meeting, the HYPREP Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibari Zabbey said the meeting was part of the accountability and transparency mechanism entrenched into HYPREP’s operations to ensure that key regulators, asset owners and civil society organizations that operate in the environmental governance sector are updated on the various projects being carried out in Ogoni land.
Professor Zabbey revealed that the Centre of Excellence is 97% completed, awaiting installation of furniture and commissioning by President Bola Tinubu.
This development, he said, is a significant milestone in HYPREP’s efforts to restore Ogoni land, which has been affected by hydrocarbon pollution.
In addition to the Centre of Excellence, Zabbey said the project has also made significant progress in its water scheme.
According to him, three water treatment facilities are ready for commissioning, and villages far from the water facilities are being fitted with windmill-powered water supply bringing to 40 the number of communities that have access to portable drinking water.
He said: “As you saw in the presentation by my colleagues, even the windmill water projects have started and we don’t want to leave anyone behind, so while we are building gigantic water stations that reticulate to many communities.”
The HYPREP’s project coordinator emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement in the project’s success, stati g that the project is community-centered and that gathering feedback from critical stakeholders like asset owners, civil society organizations, and regulators is crucial to the project’s success.
Professor Zabbey highlighted the progress made in remediation projects, noting that species and organisms that were previously affected by pollution are beginning to return to the ecosystem.
According to him, this is a testament to the effectiveness of HYPREP’s efforts in restoring Ogoni land.
He added: “Every time you go to the field and see the work that has been achieved, species that were not there that are beginning to come back, it gives you a sense of optimism.”
The Representative of Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development, Mrs Wilcox Balafama while applauding the progress made by HYPREP in its water projects reiterated the commitment of Rivers State Government in supporting HYPREP’s activities.
The Representative of Society for Women and Youths Affairs, Dr. Stella Amanie called on HYPREP to ensure the implementation of its policy which mandates allocating 45 percent of its workforce to women and also provides access for more female contractors at its project sites.
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