By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities has called for increased funding for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to accelerate the cleanup and development of Ogoniland.
The committee said the scale and complexity of the intervention required more resources than initially anticipated to ensure the timely completion of projects across the area.
Chairman of the committee, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Robinson Dekor, representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency of Rivers State, made the call during an oversight assessment visit to HYPREP project sites in Ogoniland.
Dekor, who led other members of the committee, including Dr. Emil Inyang, representing Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency, said the committee rated HYPREP’s performance at about 80 per cent based on the projects inspected.
“From our assessment, we rated HYPREP’s performance at 80 per cent from the work we saw here, and we are asking for an increment in funds for more development,” he said.
He said the committee had pledged to pursue legislation to support the sustainable cleanup of Ogoniland and other oil-impacted states.
The chairman said the committee inspected several projects, including the land remediation site at Ogale in Eleme Local Government Area; water project at Kegbara Dere in Gokana; cottage hospital in Buan and specialist hospital in Kpite, both in Tai Local Government Area; primary healthcare centre in Onne, Eleme; mangrove restoration sites in Bomu and Bodo; as well as the power plant and Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration.
Dekor commended HYPREP’s progress and renewed direction, while calling for stronger delivery, accountability and completion of outstanding projects.
He also urged companies responsible for pollution, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)/Renaissance and Shell, to continue contributing to the remediation effort.
The committee chairman warned that contractors who failed to make adequate progress on their projects could face recommendations for contract cancellation.
He, however, expressed concern over the Bomu water project, saying little visible progress had been recorded since the committee’s previous visit.
Dekor said the committee would engage HYPREP management on the project before making any recommendations.
He also commended the solar-powered water facility at Kedere and encouraged HYPREP to adopt solar power for other facilities affected by inadequate electricity supply or pumping challenges.
At the Limeview Training Centre, where 2,400 Ogoni youths were undergoing training in high-demand technical and professional skills, Dekor commended the programme, as well as HYPREP’s livelihood support and employment initiatives, saying the beneficiaries were acquiring internationally relevant skills.
During the inspection of remediation sites, the committee was informed that flooding could submerge monitoring wells and soil-treatment areas, thereby disrupting remediation activities.
Similarly, one of the committee member Dr. Emil Inyang observed an improvement in the condition of Ogoniland’s aquatic and marine environment compared with his visit to the area two years ago.
He recalled that the aquatic and marine environment had been severely damaged by oil pollution during his previous visit but said he observed improvements during the latest inspection.
He, however, noted that the visit also exposed some operational challenges confronting the cleanup programme, including flooding at remediation sites and restrictions on access to certain locations.
The delegation also inspected mangrove restoration sites in Bomu and Bodo, where HYPREP is rehabilitating damaged coastal ecosystems.
Responding, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, explained that flooding could prevent remediation activities because monitoring wells and designated soil-treatment facilities, known as bio-centres, could become submerged.
He also disclosed that a community chief had prevented the project team from accessing one of the remediation sites, raising concerns about public safety and the continuation of remediation work.
According to him, the committee resolved to intervene to facilitate access to the affected site.
Zabbey said the committee also had the opportunity to observe the growth of previously planted mangroves and changes in biodiversity.
He said the committee inspected healthcare facilities, including the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital and the 43-bed cottage hospital in Buan.
Zabbey said the cottage hospital had been completed but was awaiting the deployment of personnel before it could commence services to residents.
He disclosed that HYPREP had written to the Federal Government requesting the posting of staff to the facility.
He also said the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration was about 96 per cent complete and was being prepared for commissioning, which he hoped would take place before the end of the year.
He further highlighted a comprehensive human health monitoring study coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an agency of the World Health Organisation, to examine the relationship between exposure to hydrocarbon contaminants and the health of residents in affected communities.
He said the findings of the study could help guide public health management.
HYPREP disclosed that it currently had more than 120 project sites covering environmental remediation, shoreline protection, potable-water supply, healthcare, youth and women’s skills development, job creation and livelihood support.
The oversight visit was aimed at enabling the committee to independently assess HYPREP’s interventions and make recommendations to improve implementation.
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