HYPREP approves one-year plan for Ogoni clean-up

The governing council of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Programme (HYPREP) has approved a one-year strategic plan for implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland.

Sources told The Guardian that the Board of Trustees of HYPREP would meet today to deliberate on the plan and may ratify it.

The Project Coordinator for the implementation of UNEP report on Ogoni, Dr. Marvin Dekil, had during the meeting of the governing council at the weekend in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, presented his one-year strategic work plan which was later approved after thorough analysis.

A member of the council who did not want his name published disclosed that various equipment to be deployed for Ogoni clean up are being tested in some of the impacted areas. Afterwards, experts would recommend the best to be used for the exercise.

He explained that in line with the principle of transparency and accountability, the project coordinator would be required to present any work plan to the governing council, which if satisfied, would be recommend to the board of trustee of HYPREP to disburse funds.

The source said the governing council was briefed that $190 million to fund Ogoni clean up has been included in 2017 budget in addition to the earlier $10 million provided by the Federal Government.

According to him, the inclusion of the $190 million in this year’s budget is a pointer to the government’s resolve to implement the UNEP report. A total of $1 billion is required for the five years clean up.

HYPREP would commence the provision of potable water to impacted communities based on UNEP’s recommendation that government should urgently address this issue following findings of contaminated drinking water was with high levels of hydrocarbons in about 10 Ogoni communities.