UNEP to get technical support from FG for Ogoni Clean-Up

The United Nations Environmental Programme has been re engaged by the Federal
Government to provide technical support to the Ogoni clean-up and ensure that the project remains executed in line with the UNEP recommendation.

The Project Coordinator, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, Dr Marvin Dekil, in a statement issued on Friday by the Assistant Director (Information), HYPREP, Mrs Ekaete Umoh, said the Federal Government re-engaged UNEP for the next one year to work with HYPREP in all aspects of the project while providing technical support in communication and project management.

The leader of the UNEP team, Mr Mike Cowing, said the re-engagement of the UNEP team for the Ogoni clean-up further gave the assurance and showed the commitment of the Federal Government to the professional implementation of the UNEP report.

He said the team was on a one-week mission to carry out a training needs assessment for both technical and non-technical members of staff.

Cowing described the Ogoni clean-up as a complex and challenging project, adding that the UNEP team would deploy professionals to the project for the duration of the contract, while providing training and capacity building for personnel within and outside Nigeria.

He said, “The training will expose members of staff to management techniques, procedures and how projects of this complexity can be planned and executed successfully.

“The team will ensure strict compliance with the recommendations contained in its report on the clean-up of Ogoniland.”

Cowing stressed that UNEP would set up an office in Port Harcourt immediately after the elections.

The HYPREP team paid a courtesy visit to the paramount ruler of Ogale Community, Eleme Local Government Area, Rivers State, Chief Bebe Okpabi, and the Genemene of Tai, King Godwin Gininwa. Bebe expressed his appreciation to UNEP for their tenacity and efforts put into the study that produced the report on Ogoni environmental challenges.

He urged the team to fast-track the processes for speedy implementation of the provision of a potable water project for people in the impacted communities.

Gininwa, on his part, promised to ensure that Ogoniland remained peaceful all through the period of the clean-up and beyond.

Dekil restated the commitment of the Federal Government to the Ogoniland clean-up, adding that the re-engagement of UNEP was to ensure that its recommendations as contained in the 2011 report were successfully implemented.