Ogoni clean-up: HYPREP assures communities of full participation

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project has assured communities affected by hydrocarbon pollution in Ogoniland of full participation during the clean-up exercise.

The organisation also informed members of the communities that “the Federal Government has concluded all processes to ensure the commencement of the clean-up in Ogoniland.”

The Project Coordinator, HYPREP, Dr Marvin Dekil, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Assistant Director (Information), Ekaete Umo, gave the assurance during a sensitisation exercise in Alode and Obolo Ebubu communities in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.

He informed the communities that it had already consulted with the traditional rulers, youth groups, women groups, landowners and other critical stakeholders as well as engaged with civil society organisations to ensure equity and fairness during the exercise.

While addressing members of the communities, Dekil, who was represented by the Head of Communication and Community Engagements, Isa Wasa, expressed his appreciation for the support enjoyed from the communities from the beginning of the project.

According to him, HYPREP has diligently followed the steps outlined in the UNEP Report by carrying out the emergency measures before the full remediation commences.

Dekil briefed members of the communities of all the intervention programmes carried out by HYPREP as contained in the UNEP Report.

He said HYPREP had carried out a medical outreach where a team of 65 medical personnel were engaged and patients with various health challenges were attended to.

He further informed them that a technical team from HYPREP had carried out water sampling from households in the impacted communities in preparation for the provision of potable water.

As part of building capacity and providing skills, Dekil said HYPREP had commenced the process of data gathering under the Livelihood Programme to train women and youths in various life skills so as to restore their livelihoods and make them to once again be economically active and contribute to the economic growth of the community.