Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, has assured the National Assembly that the Ogoni Cleanup Programme was in good hands and operates in line with best practices for the interest of the Ogoni people.
Prof. Zabbey made this declaration, during the Project’s appearance at the Public Hearing Session convened by the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on the Mismanagement of Oil Spill Clean-up Funds in the Niger Delta.
Addressing the Hon. Okpolump Etteh led Committee, Prof. Zabbey maintained that funds for the Project had been judiciously used for the execution of the Cleanup Programme in line with the recommendations of the UN Environment Programme Report on Ogoni Environment.
This, he said was evident in the over 120 Projects HYPREP was currently executing, including completed ones like the Simple-risk land remediation sites and some Phase 1 water Projects.
Accordingly, the Project Coordinator mentioned the various projects HYPREP was carrying out, this includes the Provision of portable water to 40 Ogoni Communities, Constructions of the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital and 40-Buan Cottage Hospital, Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), the Ogoni Power Project, Mangrove Restoration, land and shoreline remediation Projects, alternative livelihood programme, capacity development and peacebuilding.
He further maintained that HYPREP’s operations were transparent and in full compliance with the Procurement Act 2007 and other extant regulations. To enable the Committee’s investigation, he requested them to come to Ogoni for an on the spot assessment of the projects in line with the HYPREP COME AND SEE mantra.
Earlier, Rt. Hon. Emma Deeyah, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ogoni Trust Fund (OTF), noted that the Ogoni Cleanup recorded significant milestones with the financial commitment of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited (RAEC) and the Joint Venture Partners, assuring that the Ogoni Trust Fund would be cooperating with the Committee on its investigation. He requested the National Assembly to push for the institutionalisation of HYPREP as an agency of government.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Okpolump Etteh said the committee seeks to investigate how the funds released to HYPREP and other agencies for the cleanup of the Niger Delta and other related matters had been used in line with best standards, transparency, accountability and in the overall interest of the people.
HYPREP under Project Nenibarini Zabbey continues to prioritise transparency and accountability. This includes operating an open door policy, regular stakeholders meetings, quarterly performance scorecards, monthly, quarterly and annual financial audits by internal and external auditors and the Auditor-General of the Federation.
Other measures put in place to ensure transparency and accountability include the establishment of a Milestone Evaluation Committee to oversee contract milestones to ensure quality control and value for money, the Technical Coordination Committee (TCC) for strategic guidance and the Remediation Document Review Committee (RDRC) for evaluating site characterisation and remedial action plans.
