Calling For Action On Nsisi-oken Water Project and Other Matters

The visit of the Hon Minister of Environment Hon. Balarabe Abbas Lawal to HYPREP on 19th and 20th December, 2023 for the commissioning of water schemes in Ebubu, Korokoro Kpean and Terabor witnessed the symbolic planting of mangroves in Bomu, Gokana/inspection of health facilities provided by HYPREP in Terabor General Hospital.
The Ogoni Clean-Up concerns four local government areas – Eleme, Gokana, Khana and Tai.
A lot of successes with respect to the provision of potable water for Ogoni people are linked to the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoni in 2011. Now those in Alode, Alesa, Aleto, Agbonchia and Ogale are getting water from the rehabilitated tank at Water Works Rd, Alesa. But Nsisioken people, the community that the World Health Organization, WHO, said their water was 900 percent contaminated, who, had their water project flagged off three years ago, are still waiting. Their water project is still not completed.
My group, Mba Okase Women, visited Nsisikoken Area on March 22, 2023 and noticed that the water project had not gone further than its earlier stage. No report was given about it during the minister’s visit last December. The poor masses are still buying water from Mai Ruwa water vendors. If it is chieftaincy or variation that is holding down the project, it should be fixed to save lives. No good business can take place there because it is especially for the elderly women and children.
I can beat my chest to say Eleme is not well represented in the Ogoni Clean-Up. Among the HYPREP staff they are not up to 20 there. While I was complaining, someone from the three other Ogoni LGAs said to me, “Why complain when you people said you are not Ogoni?”
That has to do with understanding. In the Ogoni Bill of Right, Eleme is not seen as an ethnic nationality, yet they are host to over 250 mostly oil related companies.
Yes, HYPREP is recording successes empowering women and youth, setting up restoration nurseries, direct and indirect jobs have been created but how many of those involved are from Eleme?
My plea is that all Ogoni youths from the four LGAs should be included in the clean-up process.
To those who will ask, who is she to ask all these questions? I say, my voice was a household name in the Ogoni clean-up issue and I have had many trainings and sensitization since 2016. I am the ‘Water Woman’ shouting and always carrying bottles of polluted water from our community to each HYPREP meeting I attend.
Also, women are not included in the clean-up process apart from a few sideline engagements – a cleaner and a side nurse, whereas we have many girls eagerly hoping for inclusion. There are a lot of things that women can do in the clean-up process but they are not being let in.
Thank God the HYPREP management has promised 40 percent women inclusiveness henceforth.
HYPREP needs to monitor its contractors’ community engagements. In Ogale, Eleme for example, there is a Lot that has sent its workers home since November 23 for no good reason. At the end of November 2023, they were paid N27,500. So what happened to the balance of their entitlements? The employments are part of empowerment packages to keep our youth busy so shortchanging them or causing them to stay home when they should be working is a disservice to Ogoni.
If women are not carried along and their sons, husbands or brothers who should be working and are paid due salaries, there’s no way the men will not put food on the table for at least two weeks before the wife, mother or sister takes over as the situation in our country has added to the responsibilities of women as prices soar daily and our lands no longer produce.
I feel it is the chieftaincy tussle in the community that has caused the job issue to linger up till now. It is unfortunate that people act anyhow when they are in a position to wipe away tears; they use their position to cause more pain for the needy and the poor. God knows all our actions and weighs and rewards us according to our works.
God told the Israelites in Egypt, ‘I have heard your cry and I have seen your tears’. He is still the same God and will always fight the enemies of the poor. What is happening in Eleme will not happen in the three other LGAs. Youth leaders should be interested in the wellbeing of their fellow brothers, not to undo them. They should be the eyes of the people, monitoring to see that the right things are done because the future belongs to them.
HYPREP talked about operating on international standards. I want to ask, how is that being put in place? Maybe for those working in their officers. However, I think that the international standard practice should be extended to its contract/field workers where the remediation is actually taking place.
That should include the following:
a. A letter of employment
b. Specified salary
c. Job designation properly specified
d. Condition of service well spelt out
e. Pay-off disengagement package at end of two/three year contract
f. At Clean Up sites, (i) a Laundry Section (ii) Catering Section (iii) Relaxation Section
g. As pioneer workers trained and experienced in the clean-up process, they should be certified for future services
On the 5,000 Youths/Women Skill Training:
There is an outcry of suffering, hardship and harassment. Beneficiaries were to be paid N60,000 monthly for transportation but that has been reduced to N40,000 and they haven’t been paid their November/ December allowance. Some of the affected borrowed to start the training and the interest on that has accrued. They are not happy with what is happening at the learning centers.
Finally, a word for the HYPREP leadership. Ogoni people have suffered so much. We need relaxation so those involved should try their best to return the smiles on our faces. I also know that since I started talking on Ogoni Clean-up, there have been four project coordinators. There has always been praises for the PCs from the beginning of the appointment of a new PC.
My advice to the new PC is, put your eyes on the ground; don’t let them hail you down. As usual, do with your might what your hands find to do. Remember that he who fails to do the right thing to him is sin.
– By Dr Patience Osaro-ejiji.