CRDCU Commends HYPREP’s Projects Implementation

The Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU) of the Federal Government of Nigeria has commended the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) on its achievements.
The commendation was made after the CRDCU with the Federal Ministry of Environment carried out a two-day visit to project sites of HYPREP to evaluate the execution of the Ogoni cleanup project recommended by the United Nations Environment Project (UNEP).
As part of its commitment to accelerate the implementation of the Ogoni Clean-up Programme being carried out by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), the Federal Government, through the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit (CRDCU) and the Federal Ministry of Environment, has concluded a two-day visit to project sites in Ogoni, commending the Project on the milestone achievements.
The head of CRDCU, who is also the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, was represented on the visit by Esege Ebei-Esege, said the, said the visit was to evaluate the various HYPREP projects.
She described them as one of the high-impact deliverables of the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The team commended HYPREP under Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, Project Coordinator, for achieving these feats within two years of his being in office. It called for continued stakeholder support for the Project, while acknowledging the Ogoni communities for taking ownership of the projects.
Ebei-Esege reaffirmed government’s commitment to the full implementation of the recommendations of UNEP Report on Ogoni Environment.
CRDCU promised to foster linkages and partnerships between HYPREP and other intergovernmental agencies to fast-track project implementation and completion.
Prof. Zabbey highlighted the various achievements of the Project, especially the completion of Phase 1 of the Mangrove Restoration and Shoreline Remediation projects, which have advanced significantly.
He informed that the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) training to certify community workers for Phase 2 of the shoreline project will soon commence, as the list is being collated from affected communities.
The project coordinator disclosed that the K.Dere Water facility was ready for inauguration, adding that the Ogoni wetlands would be designated a Ramsar Site of International Importance this year. He disclosed that the Ogoni Power Project was on course, with the installation of two 60 MVA transformers and towers at the Bodo Transmission Sub-station.
He said HYPREP was simultaneously implementing all the recommendations of UNEP, including carrying out innovative research to support the Federal Government’s Directive on Food Security and Plastic, with the use of growcoons- a biodegradable plastic bag, to replace plastics in mangrove planting, and an experimental process to enhance soil fertility and crop yield on closed-out remediated sites.
He explained that the Project in partnership with an Indian biotechnology company has isolated beneficial microbes that are indigenous to Ogoni to formulate biofertilizer.
This has been tested, producing a significant difference in crop yield where it was applied, he noted. All these, the PC stated, are HYPREP’s contribution to advancing the knowledge of remediation and restoration. “We cannot do a project of this large scale, without contributing to improving the science of remediation globally, overall we are doing very well” the PC maintained.
The PC is optimistic that the visit will help accelerate the implementation of the project, a position also shared by Mr. Ehioze Igbinomwanhia, the Renaissance Africa Energy Company/JV Representative in HYPREP. Engr Igbinomwanhia said Renaissance is committed to the Ogoni Cleanup Programme, noting that the visit further demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to HYPREP.
Prof. Damian-Paul Aguiyi, Director, Technical Services, guided the visitors to the various projects, including the Buan Cottage Hospital, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, Ogoni Power Projects (Wiiyaakara and Bodo Transmission Sub-stations), Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), Eteo and Ebubu Water Stations, Phase 1 Remediation lot in Botem, Ongoing Phase 2 Remediation lots in Ogale, High Risk Complex Site in Nsisionoken, Ogale, Mangrove Restoration sites in Bomu, and Shoreline remediation sites in K.Dere.