By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated the second (2nd) Governing Council (GC) of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) together with the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Ogoni Trust fund, domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Environment.
He explained that the federal government is very committed to improving the socio-economic conditions of communities impacted by oil spillage in the Niger Delta.
Buhari, made the disclosed while inaugurating the governing council and BOT members in Abuja, at the weekend .
The President who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, delivering his keynote address,stated that “As representatives of the Federal Government on HYPREP, I strongly appeal to you to take this trust bestowed on you with all sense of responsibility and commitment.
“You are required to promote transparency, propriety and integrity in the operation of HYPREP to ensure optimal and satisfactory delivery of the required services.
“I expect you to proffer solutions to the challenges of community disruption due to land disputes, leadership tussles and unnecessary pressure on the Contractors. If these bottlenecks are removed, work will progress freely and we will regain lost timelines,” he said
He urged them to see their appointment as a patriotic national duty and a clarion call to service. You will be required to promote transparency, propriety and integrity in the operation of HYPREP to ensure optimal and satisfactory delivery of the required services.
According to him, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), 3rd March 2021,approved the award of contracts for six (6) water supply schemes at the total cost of about N6.05 billion. It is to facilitate the provision of potable water to impacted communities in Ogoniland.
The president said that “the Honourable Minister of Environment has informed me that remediation of polluted land is progressing in various parts of Ogoniland and I have approved his request to further rejig and restructure HYPREP in order to create an environment for enhanced structured and focused delivery of the Project.
“Your appointment therefore, is part of this deliberate effort and I hope that you will live up to expectation accordingly.”
Earlier in his remarks, Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammed Abubakar, expressed confidence that the inauguration will go a long way in structures,improve the socio-economic and political conditions of the people of Ogoniland.
