By: Felix Ikpotor
The Projects Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Dr. Ferdinand Giadom has denied rumours that management of the agency was behind an alleged planned protests against persons engaged to work on the Project.
HYPREP is the responsible for the remediation of oil impacted sites in Ogoniland.
Giadom who made the denial through a statement by HYPREP’s Head of Communications, Kpoobari Nafo, said the organization had no hand in any planned protest and had never at any time called, mobilized or incited anyone to protest against the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Environment or the Presidency over re-engagement of any project personnel.
The statement said Giadom has appealed to all stakeholders and the Ogoni community to shelve any protest in the offing and engage the Project with the aim of addressing whatever grievances they may have against the leadership of the project.
“This is necessary because the Ogoniland clean-up project must not be allowed to derail over matters that are peripheral to the overall picture of the HYPREP project and its deliverables to the Ogoni people”, he said.
The Projects Coordinator expressed satisfaction that the Minister for Environment, Barrister Mohammed Abdullahi and himself have within one month in office outlined laudable programmes and activities for the good of Ogoni as typified in the plan to connect Ogoniland to the national grip for sustainable water supply to communities, deliver the Center of Excellence in Environmental Remediation and have also developed schemes for the stimulation of economic growth and a myriad of other project deliverables.
Port Harcourt Spectator understands thatsome Ogonis under a group known as Ogoni Development Drive,ODD, had planned a protest for today against the alleged attempt to reappoint the immediate past acting project coordinator, Professor Philip Shekwolo to oversee some projects in the agency.
ODD reportedly called off the protest following what it described as clandestine moves by some persons to infiltrate them and cause mayhem at the agencies office.
