BY NGOZI NWANKWO, ABUJA – Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, has said that project remain committed to the active and timely implementation of the Ogoni Clean-up.
This was as he assured that the project will continue to remain accountable, transparent, and people-centric.
Zabbey, who stated these following his reinstatement on Tuesday, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, he would remain committed and focused in implementing the programmes of the HYPREP.
President Tinubu had on Tuesday through a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, reinstated Professor Zabbey as the Project Coordinator of HYPREP.
Ngelale had said; “The President reached the decision to reinstate the HYPREP Project Coordinator following a performance review of the HYPREP Project Coordinator and concluded that he is fit to discharge his functions following the regulations guiding the execution of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP.”
Zabbey thanked President Tinubu for reinstating him and commended him for his unwavering commitment to accelerating the implementation of the Ogoni Clean-up as articulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Zabbey further said that he would continue to drive the clean-up process with renewed vigour, passion, and zest toward meeting stakeholders’ expectations to deliver a world-class Project that meets the best standards, adding that he was not unaware of the eagerness of stakeholders and communities to see a speedy and quality completion of several HYPREP projects in Ogoniland.
He said that the HYPREP projects include the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), the Ogoni Specialist Hospital and Buan Cottage Hospital and the Ogoni Power Project.
Others include, the provision of potable water, sustainable livelihoods programmes, remediation of oil-impacted land and shoreline sites, and mangrove restoration among other interventions.
Zabbey also said that, in line with HYPREP’s strategic policy of inclusivity, the Project would continue to carry out robust stakeholder engagement to constantly get community buyin and inclusivity.
The Project Coordinator said that increased communication with critical stakeholders would be deployed thus, thanked the Ogoni community for their support and ownership of the cleanup.
While acknowledging the support of stakeholders for the Project, Zabbey urged them to keep faith as his eyes are on the ball to deliver on HYPREP’s mandate of a cleaner Ogoni environment and a better human development index.
