The Federal Government has urged all the stakeholders on Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) on Ogoni clean-up to ensure efficient implementation and effective delivery of the project.
The Minister of State for Environment, Chief Sharon Ikeazor, gave the urge on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at a two-day retreat for HYPREP Governing Council, Board of Trustee (BOT), Central Advisory Representatives Committee (CRAC) and Project Coordination Office (PCO), in Abuja.
Ikeazor said the synergy among the stakeholders including the governing council, BOT, CRAC and PCO would provide recommended service delivery as contained in the UN Environment Programme, (UNEP) Report.
She added that the collaboration would help to collectively chart a new and more efficient way of delivering on the HYPREP project together.
The minister said that she identified the need for the establishment of synergy and complementary for the various arms thus necessitating the convocation of the retreat.
“It is necessary to state at this point that though these functions are assigned individually but are to be executed in synergy with each other to attain our goals and deliver on our mandate.
“No arm is to operate in isolation nor usurp the powers of the other or attempt to be a sole organ unto itself.
“We must at all times network, collaborate and inter-relate but within our limits as provided for in the gazette.
“I urge all of us to give our utmost attention to the discussions that shall go on for these two days and contribute meaningfully to the success of the retreat,” she said.
Ikeazor acknowledged the support of the stakeholders, saying that such effort had made tremendous progress in the delivery of the project.
She also urged the stakeholders to collectively support the project coordination office as such would enhance the implementation of the project.
The minister said that the set goals and objectives were to clean-up Ogoniland, adding that the UNEP would clarify the different roles of each of the arms as contained in gazette establishing the project.
She said that the governing council was empowered to manage and superintend the policies of HYPREP, provide the general policy guidelines relating to her functions.
She said that the BOT carry out financial oversight that ensures the use of financial controls, ensuring that funds are prudently utilised in accordance with established financial policies.
“The project coordination office on the other hand is responsible for the overall execution of the project for which it was established.
“While the Central Representative Advisory Committee shall establish and maintain primary contact between HYPREP and the Ogoni communities,” she said.
The Coordinator of the project, Dr Ferdinand Giadom, said the project`s objective was to achieve one goal, through collective pool of knowledge, experience and determination to deliver a resilient environment for Ogoni people.
Giadom advised the stakeholders to engendering the support of each other and developing such synergy that would fast-track the implementation of the programmes.
“We shall deploy key drivers to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Gazette has served us with the mandate to deliver HYPREP’s project successfully,’’ he said.
The Managing Director, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Mr Osagie Okunbor, said that the company would continue to ensure effective implementation of the project.
The UNEP Representative, Mr Mike Cowing, said that the project could easily be delivered if all the stakeholders were focused on its objectives and effective cooperation for strong service delivery.
King of Gbenemene Bua Banbaha Kingdom in Ogoni land, Mr Suanu Baridam, said that the community was ready to cooperate with the stakeholders to ensure that the project was delivered efficiently.
By Vivian Emoni
