By: Felix Ikpotor
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, has called on Ogoni youths to have a united stand against all forms of oil theft and illegal artisanal refining in the area.
Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey gave the charge at the first quarter 2024 interactive session with Ogoni youths in Port Harcourt.
He said it is important to end oil theft and artisanal refining in Ogoni because it re-pollutes the environment and make the ongoing clean up exercise in the area difficult.
He urged youths of the area to take advantage of the various livelihoods programmes by HYPREP to enhance their capacities to get employment even outside Ogoniland.
Zabbey promised to work with ex-artisanal refiners to talk with those still in the trade in the area to stop.
” I’m laying an emphatic request to all of you that for the sake of sustainable clean up in Ogoniland, it is important that we have a united position against oil theft and artisanal refining.
“As you are aware, the mangrove restoration project has started in Bomu and shoreline cleanup is starting along the shorelines of Gokana, so we cannot allow anybody to re-pollute areas that we are cleaning, we cannot allow artisanal refining to take place along the shorelines of Ogoni, the reason is that if we do that, as we are cleaning, they will be re-polluting the areas we have cleaned.
“So we’ll continue to work with ex-artisanal refiners in Ogoni to talk to our brothers and sisters to stop illegal artisanal refining in Ogoni.
“We are also urging all of you to embrace all the livelihoods programmes we are rolling out so that we will continue to enhance the capacity of our people not just to work in Ogoni alone but to be able to work elsewhere,” he said.
The HYPREP Project Coordinator used the medium to brief Ogoni youths on some of the progress made so far on the clean up exercise.
He said: “I am particularly pleased to inform you that since our last engagement on the 29th of November, 2023, significant progress has been made across various fronts of our endeavour. Last year, the Honourable Minister of Environment and Chairman of the Governing Council visited Ogoniland on a two-day visit in December to commission water facilities in Korokoro, Ebubu, Terabor, and Kpean which continue to supply water to households in neighbouring communities.
“The Centre of Excellence for Environmental Remediation (CEER) construction in Wiiyakara has advanced. As of today, it is at a 47% completion rate. By developing innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable technologies and solutions that reduce the impact of pollutants on the environment, the CEER will serve as a focal point for knowledge management, with the overall goal being the ability to capture new knowledge and standardize scientific processes and deploy best practices from inside and outside of the business area. I am confident that every Ogoni will be proud to host the CEER.
“The Mangrove Restoration Project contractors have moved to the site and have started preliminary revegetation activities in their work area.
“The Ogoni shoreline clean-up contractors are setting up their base camp on-site. While the set-up in Bomu has been completed, similar activities are ongoing in the B-Dere and Kpor-Goi communities. Also, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) training for community workers will be completed this March 2024, and active cleanup is expected to follow suit.
“I am also excited to share the news that the construction of the Ogoni Specialist Hospital and Buan Cottage Hospital, which are beacons of hope for enhanced healthcare services in Ogoniland, is in progress. When completed, these state-of-the-art facilities will provide quality medical care to our people”.
He added: “The Livelihood training for 5000 Ogoni youths is ongoing, and upon completion, we will provide starter packs to enable them to continue as entrepreneurs. I also want to inform all trainees that the Governing Council has graciously approved additional funds for their transportation, and the monies will be disbursed to them accordingly. In addition to approvals for other training, the Governing Council has also approved the training of People Living with Disabilities, which will be rolled out subsequently.
“We are expanding our engagements with various community segments, including fresh graduates, students, and underserved populations. The scholarship grants to final-year students, which began last year, will be paid soon. We shall organize a Procurement and Business Strategy workshop for Young entrepreneurs in the coming weeks”.
He commended the energy, zeal and determination of Ogoni youths in seeing to the implementation of the clean up exercise.
Port Harcourt Spectator reports that the forum afforded youths from Ogoni the opportunity to ask troubling questions concerning the exercise.
