TRACKING____The Federal Ministry of Environment (FME) has confirmed that the procedure adopted by Hydrocarbon pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), in the cleanup project of Ogoniland is in-line with UNEP recommendation.
This confirmation was made in a statement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State yesterday by the Head Information, Communication and Community Engagement, FME, Ekaete Umo, in response to a publication by Ogoni Youth Leaders entitled: ’Extra-ordinary mid-year leadership meeting on the re-organization of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP),’ which was made available to the media, Monday.
The ministry explained that the essence of the re-invigoration plan of HYPREP by the Federal Government, through the FME, “is to eliminate some identified administrative bottlenecks to fast track the cleanup process, and not to undermine the credibility of HYPREP project coordinator, Dr. Marvin Dekil in handling the project effectively.”
FME assured that the method the managers of the Federal Government cleanup agency is using in the project was not at variance with UNEP recommendations, adding that plans have been concluded to provide the emergency measures, including potable water across the four local government councils of Ogoniland as well as the provision of alternative livelihood for youths and women, and the setting of the centre of excellence.
According to the statement:
“Our attention has been drawn to the recent publication by Ogoni youth leaders after what they described as extra-ordinary mid-year leadership meeting on the re-organization of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
“The content of the publication is a clear indication of the group to continuously engage in misrepresenting and twisting facts to suit their intention of casting aspersion on some persons and portraying the project in a negative light.
“In the light of this, we wish to put the record straight and state categorically that:
The comment by the Honorable Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar to re-invigorate the project is a product of a request from the Project Coordinator, Dr Marvin Dekil and the process is ongoing.
“It does not in any way infer that Dr. Marvin Dekil has failed as a project coordinator or that the project itself is a failure. Also, this does not in any way undermine the competency and integrity of Dr. Marvin Dekil to successfully deliver the on project.
“The re-invigorating of the project is aimed at reassessing some of the processes to eliminate delays on the project to enable it function optimally to meet up the timelines set for the delivery of the Ogoni Clean-up Project,
“The operations of HYPREP in the coordination of the clean-up of Ogoniland is not at variance with the recommendations in the UNEP report to provide sustainable potable water to oil impacted communities in Ogoniland.
“As at today, HYPREP has carried out water quality assessment of all drinking water sources in the four (4) LGAs of Ogoniland.
“Assessment of the water sources has enabled HYPREP to determine areas most needed for the emergency water supply scheme. HYPREP has also carried out a survey of the water reticulating distances in the four LGAs for the supply of potable water in the communities.”
According to them, “ten existing water schemes will be rehabilitated across the 4 LGAs and are expected to supply about 10,950,000 litres of water per day to the communities. We are also in the process of engaging consultants to carry out detailed design for new water scheme in Ogoniland. The tendering processes are ongoing.
“The provision of alternative livelihood for Ogoni youths and women, not just those in artisanal refining had commenced with training of youths in the fabrication and use of casava processing machines while the training of 400 women from each Local Government in Ogoni is about to be flagged-off.
“Plans have reached advanced stage to commence the setting up of the centre of excellence. Every decision taken in the clean-up project process has been with the approval of UNEP, the IOCs and the BOT.
“While we welcome useful contributions that are constructive and aimed at the successful delivery of the project, we wish to reaffirm the commitment of President Mohammadu Buhari and the Honorable Minister of Environment Dr. Mohammed Mahmood Abubakar to ensure the successful clean-up of Ogoniland, ” FME appealed.
