Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, has refuted the all
allegations from several quarters that Ogoni clean-up programme was
at variance with the recommendations documented in the report by the
United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Dr. Marvin Dekil, l said the
Federal Government has re-engaged UNEP to work with HYPREP in the
field and in the office, to provide technical support and build the
capacity of staff on the project.
Dr Dekil who maintained that HYPREP has not in any way deviated from
the recommendations of UNEP in its operations, also said the people of
Ogoni are receptive and supportive of the clean-up project.
A statement by HYPREP Head of Information, Mrs. Ekaete Umo, said Dekil
who was speaking at a live television interview, highlighted the
activities of HYPREP from inception, its achievements and progress as
well as the current status of the project.
He said that the successfully implement the UNEP Report submitted
eight years ago, HYPREP had to prioritize some of the activities that
were not considered emergency at the time the report was submitted
without deviating from the recommendations.
The Project Coordinator said one of the first activities HYPREP
embarked on was to carry out a mapping of the existing water
facilities in the entire Ogoniland because the UNEP Report identified
water as one of the critical things that needed to be provided for the
population.
The re-engagement of UNEP is a demonstration of the commitment of the
Federal Government to the clean-up of Ogoni in strict compliance with
the recommendations of UNEP.
The UNEP Technical Team during its one-week assessment visit to HYPREP
office studied the activities of Project since its inception and
confirmed that the implementation process was in line with the
recommendations in the UNEP Report.
This HYPREP had carried out two medical outreaches across the four
Local Government Areas of Ogoniland where over 20,000 patients were
treated and over 400 surgeries carried out.
The medical outreach that has served as an intervention as well as
provide a platform for gathering the initial data for the health
impact study recommended by UNEP, contrary to some speculations that
HYPREP has not implemented the emergency measures.
Further more, the Project Coordinator said HYPREP has adopted a
thorough process that will enable the provision of sustainable potable
water in Ogoniland.
He stressed that the process for the implementation of the water
project has reached an advanced stage and that the list of
pre-qualified contractors for the provision of water and health impact
study has been published on the project website.
Dr. Marvin Dekil dispelled insinuations that members of the impacted
communities were excluded from the project, adding that the project
had carried out a series of engagements with the various groups and
segments within and outside the communities.
He noted that HYPREP has consciously trained and engaged youths both
in the field and in the office with about 90percent of the staff made
up of youths from the impacted communities while assuring members of
the public that HYPREP procurement activities are carried out in line
with Federal Government guidelines.