HYPREP reports progress in combating re-pollution, artisanal refining

Mkpoikana Udoma

Port Harcourt — The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, says it has recorded notable progress in its efforts to mitigate re-pollution and artisanal refining in Ogoniland.

Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey revealed that 4,724 Ogoni youths have currently received training in various skills, with plans to train an additional 5,000 in the livelihoods restoration program.

Zabbey speaking at the third quarterly stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt, said HYPREP was successfully engaging artisanal refiners, transitioning them to alternative livelihoods.

He said the event was imperative to offer the opportunity to engage with our stakeholders and regulators on the project and to keep them abreast with the activities and status of the project.

“We have identified artisanal refiners as the greatest threats to project execution because it will be horrible if we clean up the polluted sites and they get repolluted.

“So we have designed specific alternative livelihoods changes that are targeted at artisanal refiners, taking them away from artisanal refining process and it’s a major work in process.

“At the point, we are right now, a good number of them are very receptive to our proposals and we are certain that by the time we are done with livelihoods changes with them, there will be little or no repollution of our remediated sites.”

Zabbey represented by the Director of Technical Services, HYPREP, Prof. Damian-Paul Aguiyi, assured that with President Bola Tinubu’s renewed commitment, the Project was poised to accelerate the Ogoni cleanup and ensure a cleaner, healthier environment for Ogoni communities.

“HYPREP’s comprehensive strategy encompasses remediation of oil-impacted sites, sustainable livelihood programs, potable water provision, and establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration. Healthcare infrastructure upgrades, including the Ogoni Specialist Hospital and Buan Cottage Hospital, are also underway.”

Speaking to newsmen, the Executive Director of the Society for Women and Youths Affairs, SWAYA, Mrs. Stella Amanyie, advocated for the inclusion of more women in the project and charged HYPREP to commence distribution of starter packs to beneficiaries of livelihood restoration.

“For gender inclusivity, before now we had a problem with it, but HYPREP has taken our recommendation and right now a lot of women have been engaged in the project.

“Like in the shoreline remediation, a lot of women are part of that project. However, like Oliver Twist, I will still ask for more women inclusion in every one of their projects.”