By Barbara Nwaiwu
The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its commitment to the environmental restoration of Ogoniland under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), while calling for stronger international support to sustain the cleanup process in the Niger Delta.
Deputy Ambassador of the EU to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Zissimos Vergos, stated this on Tuesday during the Conference on Donor Facilitation and Diplomatic Support Engagement for HYPREP held in Abuja.
Vergos described the 2011 environmental assessment of Ogoniland conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as one of the most comprehensive environmental assessments ever carried out in Africa.
According to him, the UNEP report revealed decades of hydrocarbon pollution affecting soil, groundwater and mangrove ecosystems across Ogoniland, with serious implications for the health and livelihoods of affected communities.
He said the Federal Government responded to the findings through the establishment of HYPREP, which he described as an institutional framework supported by legal backing and resources aimed at restoring the environment.
Vergos noted that the EU became a long standing partner in the remediation programme because of its governance structure, which includes the Governing Council, Board of Trustees and Project Coordination Office.
“The structure was designed to promote accountability and sustain the trust of the Ogoni people. The European Union is not a new voice in the room but a longstanding partner with a considerable stake in the future of Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta,” he said.
The envoy stated that the EU had maintained institutional partnerships and investments in the Niger Delta region for more than 30 years through several community-based projects and interventions.
He added that the union remained committed to supporting community centred approaches targeted at addressing environmental degradation, insecurity and violence within the region.
Vergos further said the EU would continue advocating through diplomatic channels and multilateral institutions for sustained international attention and support for the Ogoniland cleanup exercise.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that remediation activities remain technically credible, community centred and free from conflicts of interest capable of undermining public confidence in the project.
While acknowledging recent progress made by HYPREP, Vergos said more work still needed to be done to fully restore the polluted environment.
He noted that greater speed, increased resources and stronger international solidarity would be required to successfully complete the remediation programme, adding that the resilience and patience of the Ogoni people remained central to the restoration process.
The conference also featured commitments from financial institutions and development partners, including Fidelity Bank and Premium Trust Bank, which pledged strategic support toward the cleanup and restoration of Ogoniland.
