Regulators, asset owners and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the remediation and allied value chain in the Ogoni Cleanup programme have commended the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) for its transparency.
Speaking at the 2nd Quarterly Key Regulators/Asset Owners Meeting held in Port Harcourt on Saturday, the stakeholders said HYPREP’s gesture was a step in the right direction.
They praised the Project for organizing the quarterly engagement meeting, a platform through which it presents its progress updates and garners useful feedbacks and interventions from stakeholders.
The participants also stated that the development reflects the Project’s commitment to public accountability, collaborative partnership and inclusivity for effective project delivery.
In addition, they noted HYPREP’s diligent implementation of recommendations and submission from them and reiterated their continuous support to the Project.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey who was represented by the Director Technical Services, Professor Damian-Paul Aguiyi
informed that the Project had made some significant milestones in its thematic areas including soil and groundwater remediation, mangrove restoration, shoreline, portable water, livelihood, Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), Public Health, Ogoni Power Project (OPP), Innovative Research, among others.
Participants were drawn from the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian Pipeline and Storage Company Limited (NPSCL), Federal Ministry of Environment, Rivers State Ministries of Environment, Water Resources and Rural Development, Health and Power.
Others were Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), Centre for Environment Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA) and Renaissance African Energy Company.
Dignitaries including Professor Iyenemi Kakulu from the Rivers State University was also in attendance.
