By Ngozi Nwankwo
Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project,HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, has reassured his commitment to the active and timely implementation of the Ogoni Clean-up and assures that the project will continue to be accountable, transparent, and people-centric.
Zabbey made this statement following his reinstatement today ( Tuesday) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as conveyed in a State House Press Release issued by the Special Adviser to the President,Media & Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale.
The statement reads, “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 the President for his unwavering commitment to accelerating the implementation of the Ogoni Clean-up as articulated in the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Project Coordinator maintained 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.
He added that he is not unaware of the eagerness of stakeholders and communities to see a speedy and quality completion of several HYPREP projects in Ogoniland.
The HYPREP projects include the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration,CEER, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital and Buan Cottage Hospital, the Ogoni Power Project, the provision of potable water, sustainable livelihoods programmes, remediation of oil-impacted land and shoreline sites, and mangrove restoration among other interventions.
He stressed 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. He noted that increased communication with critical stakeholders of the Project would be deployed, and he thanked the Ogoni community for their support and ownership of the cleanup.
While acknowledging the support of stakeholders for the Project, Prof. 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.