HYPREP Releases $360m for Ogoni Cleanup

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Board of Trustee (BOT) of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) as well as the Ogoni Trust Fund (OTF) have so far released about $360 million for the cleanup of the Ogoni degraded environment.

This was just as the BOT/OTF on a four-day tour inspecting the exercise on the affected sites expressed satisfaction with the level of work done in the ongoing Ogoni cleanup, noting that the remediation work had been conquered.
The HYPREP BOT members who visited all the remediated projects sites and the reticulated water projects in the four local government areas of Ogoni, noted that the work done had the value for fund already released.

The BOT Chairman, Dr. Mike Nwielaghi, other members including, Bebe Okpabi, Hon Emmanuel Deeyah, Babajide Damazio and Mr. Adokiye Ikpoki, visited completed water projects at Alesa Eleme, Bori Town, Kpean Community, Terabor, Gokana, Barako and Korokoro Tai. They had also visited remediated site at Alode, Kpean Gio/B-Dere, among others as its oversight function.

Speaking at the end of the tour, Nwielaghi commended the serenity of the coordinating office, adding that it has taken the status of a project and has not deviated from the mandate before it.

Nwielaghi, stated that HYPREP gazette mandates the BOT to release necessary funds, assess the projects regularly and report back, adding that the board ought to know what has been done with the money already given out.
He said: “It was the decision of board in line with the gazette of HYPREP that we do occasional tour to HYPREP project sites as to be able to acquaint ourselves with the fund we send to HYPREP, how it is being used, what projects are there for us to see and what more do they need.

“It has been a four-day intensive visit. We have gone to all the four LGAs. We have come and we have seen. In a way I can proudly say that we have conquered. As we speak, we have gone to remediated sites.

“Those sites that have been recovered we could see that grass and trees are growing. We will have to put a signal post on those sites to show that truly those areas have been remediated.  
“Remediation work is an intangible activity. If you look at the fact that hundreds of dollars have been put underground, there could be no appreciation, because what we are seeing is the same grasses that are growing. I can say without fear of equivocation that there has been value for money spent on the remediation projects.”