By: Felix Ikpotor
Following his reinstatement as the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey has promised to continue in the trajectory of job creation through the project for more Ogoni youths.
Zabbey stated this while addressing a crowd of Ogoni youths who came to receive him upon his return to work at the HYPREP office in Port Harcourt.
Recall that Zabbey, who was sacked by the President via a statement by his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale on Sunday was reinstated on Monday following series of protest by Ogoni youths and concerned stakeholders.
The Project Coordinator while addressing the youths said the project has several ongoing project which has engaged a lot of Ogoni youths and promised to continue to build capacity of Ogoni youths to fit into job opportunities even outside Ogoniland. He highlighted the extensive work currently being undertaken by HYPREP, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to environmental remediation, healthcare improvement, and sustainable livelihood programs.
“This is a busy period for HYPREP because we have about 130 ongoing projects in the area of remediation, water positioning, strengthening of hospitals for health systems, and a lot of livelihood programs. Under remediation alone, we have remediation of contaminated lands, we have shoreline cleanup, and we have mangrove restoration projects going on concurrently. These have created a lot of jobs for Ogoni youths. Our estimate is over 7,000 youths having direct employment. We will continue to build the capacity of the youths to be able to work elsewhere and provide support for the project,” Professor Zabbey stated.
He acknowledged the land-related challenges arising within the communities and disclosed plans to train traditional rulers in Ogoni on alternative dispute resolution to tackle them.
“We feel that if we strengthen their capacity in resolving and preventing conflicts, there will be stability in the region. Of course, one of the objectives of HYPREP is to promote peace-building, so we will train them, and they will be able to manage their respective communities in a manner that will continue to have peace and stability in the Ogoni region,” he said.
Professor Zabbey used the occasion to assured youths of Ogoniland that numerous programs are lined up for the year, designed to benefit them.
“Of course, the project is all about them because when we say sustainable cleanup, it will not just benefit the people that are here, it will benefit generations to come,” he noted.
He further explained that the regenerated environment would provide ecosystem services that will support the livelihoods and healthy living of the Ogoni people and the broader Niger Delta region while reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to the Ogoni cleanup, citing it as a key component of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The Federal Government is highly committed to the Ogoni cleanup. Recall that part of the Renewed Hope Agenda is the acceleration of the Ogoni cleanup, so the Federal Government is very committed, Mr. President is determined to clean up Ogoni sustainably in a manner that every son and daughter of Ogoni will be very proud of the cleanup,” Zabbey stated.
Speaking onbehalf of the Ogoni youths, Comrade Barinuazor Emmanuel, thanked President Bola Tinubu for listening to the appeal by Ogoni people and reinstating Zabbey.
He urged politicians to stay away from HYPREP and allow the PC to do his work.
“On behalf of Ogoni youths, we want to specially thank President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for yielding to our appeal and reinstating Professor Nenibarini Zabbey as the Project Coordinator of HYPREP. We are informing the President that the four-year tenure of Professor Zabbey is sacrosanct. Politicians should keep off from HYPREP. HYPREP is a special Project for Ogoni people. Our life is involved, our health is involved. Professor Zabbey has done well and in return must be allowed to continue with his good work. PC you are welcome,” he declared.
