The Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has reiterated his commitment to continue to run a transparent and accountable cleanup programme in Ogoni land.
Professor Zabbey emphasised this yesterday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, stressing his long-standing stance on transparency and accountability.
”I have always been a strong advocate for transparency and accountability, even before assuming my current role as the Coordinator,” he said.
Briefing the Committee on the activities of HYPREP and efforts at ensuring accountability and transparency, Prof. Zabbey noted that the Project was making significant progress towards accelerating the cleanup.
To further ensure transparency, the PC stated that regular updates on the Project activities are made on its website, allowing the public to track the projects’ progress.
Some measures embarked on by the Project Coordinator to ensure transparency and accountability in the cleanup project includes: Monthly contractors’ meeting to ensure the work is carried out according to specification and within the timeline.
The constitution of a Milestone Evaluation Committee that reviews contract milestones to ensure quality control and value for money and the Technical Coordination Committee (TCC) for strategic technical guidance and the Remediation Document Review Committee (RDRC) for reviewing remediation site characterization and remedial action plans.
Furthermore, HYPREP organises regular stakeholder meetings with its stakeholders across strata, including youths, community leaders, Civil Society Organizations, sponsors, and regulators.
This has created a robust stakeholder paradigm that enables HYPREP to manage stakeholders by keeping them abreast of activities, extracting helpful feedback and planning with them.
For fiscal responsibility, the Project’s books are audited monthly, quarterly, and annually by internal, external, and the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation auditors.
Currently, HYPREP is implementing over 100 projects, namely, 39 Medium Risk Remediation Sites, 34 Shoreline Remediation Sites, 9 Mangrove Restoration sites, the constructions of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), 100 Bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital, Buan Cottage Hospital.
Others are the provision of 14 water schemes alongside the completion of the remaining 6 water schemes (Phase 1 water scheme), construction of the Ogoni Power Project and livelihood programmes. This is not to mention several other human capacity development initiatives, including the latest scholarship award to 300 Ogoni Postgraduate Students.
Professor Zabbey apologised to the Committee for failing to appear at previous invitations, citing office exigency. He stated that his office highly regards the National Assembly and will not disregard the institution.
The Committee’s Chairman, Senator Aliyu Wadada, accepted the Project Coordinator’s explanation, requested that the Project furnish the Committee with more documents when they appear later, and adjourned the meeting sine die.
