…hands over others to contractors
By: Felix Ikpotor
As part of steps in implementing the recommendation by the United Nations Environmental Programme, UNEP, Report on oil impacted sites in Ogoniland, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, has provided portable drinking water for the people of Barako community in Gokana local government area of Rivers State.
This is even as contracts have been awarded for replication of similar projects in 52 other communities cutting across the four councils of Ogoniland.
The Barako Water Scheme, is the second completed lot under the six lots of the first phase of the Emergency Water Intervention for Ogoni Communities flagged-off on 2nd March, 2022.
Speaking during the commissioning, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment and acting Chairman of HYPREP Governing Council, Ibrahim Yusufu expressed delight at the timely delivery of the project.
He reiterated federal government’s commitment to the delivery of emergency and livelihoods projects in Ogoniland.
Yusufu charged contractors handling other projects to expedite action.
“It’s my pleasure to inform you that the water plant has a storage capacity of 500 cubic meters of water to guarantee a sustenable supply of good quality water to all households in the service community.
“The Federal Ministry of Environment has deliberately made consistent effort to recover lost grounds and ensure timely delivery of emergency intervention projects inline with UNEP Report on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland 2011. It is therefore, the ministry’s commitment in delivering the rest four lots of the emergency water Intervention scheme before the end of this year such as the Alesa/Nchia Booster Stations, Nsesioken/Ogale/Ebubu Booster Station, Terabor/Bera/Biara Booster Station and Bori/Kpean Booster Station.
“To this end, all contractors handling the various projects have been mandated to expedite execution and delivery of the remaining plants inline with the projects stipulation and global best practice,” he said.
“Furthermore, we will be handing over 14 lots under phase two to contractors for construction of additional fourteen portable water schemes covering 52 communities across the four local government areas of Ogoniland”, the permanent secretary added.
He noted the Alesa/Aleto and Agbonchia communities in Eleme local government area are already enjoying supply of portable water through the project.
Yusufu said the Federal Ministry of Environment and HYPREP has exhaustively engaged the beneficiary communities in decision making processes with a view to ensuring ownership, long-term functionality and sustainability of the water facilities.
The Permanent Secretary said while efforts are in the pipeline to cover more milestones in the HYPREP implementation framework, the challenges of theft, vandalisation of project items and incessant sponsored agitations should be discarded as it encumbers the procurement process and effective delivery of emergency and livelihoods support projects.
Earlier, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey said the commissioning of the project shows that the interventionist agency is committed to its core mandate of remediating the Ogoni environment and providing sustainable livelihoods.
He said the project would be managed for two years by the agency and later handed over to the community.
“The completion and commissioning of the Barako Water Scheme is a further affirmation of the commitment of the Federal Government through HYPREP to the full implementation of the UNEP Report.
“To ensure the sustainability of these projects, HYPREP will continue to collaborate with communities in the design and execution of the projects and will hand over the water facilities to the respective communities for effective management. The facilities will be managed by HYPREP in the first two years, within which period it will train community workers and set up the Water Consumers Association (WCA) for their continuous management and sustainability,” he said.
The HYPREP PC expressed the hope that when the water projects are completed, they will immensely increase access to clean water and reduce public health conditions associated with the consumption of contaminated water by Ogoni people.
While calling for community ownership and protection of the projects and facilities by the Ogoni communities, the Project Coordinator said the agency will continue to engage with stakeholders and be transparent in carrying out it’s core mandates.
“On our part, HYPREP will continue to provide a robust, accountable, and transparent stakeholder engagement interface to identify and address potential issues that would impede the successful implementation of the projects. We will continue to revise and improve our strategy to enhance inclusivity, community ownership, and the participation of stakeholders,” Zabbey said.
On his part, paramount ruler of the community, Mene Kadilo Kabari expressed gratitude that the project has come to fruition, stressing that the project has given hope to the Ogoni people.
He prayed that the impact of HYPREP should be felt in other communities in Ogoni.
A representative of Shell Petroleum Development Company, Engr Didi Clarke said the SPDC Joint Venture will continue to support the Ogoni clean up and efforts of HYPREP in delivering the project.
