George George Idowu
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) have reinforced their partnership to meet the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) 25-30 year timeline for the remediation of the Ogoni region.
The collaboration aims to address any obstacles that could hinder the successful cleanup of the hydrocarbon-polluted area in Niger Delta.
This was revealed during a familiarization visit by HYPREP to the agency in Abuja recently.
NOSDRA’s Director-General, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke emphasized the importance of ensuring smooth operations between the two agencies to achieve their common goal.
He said: “In line with President Tinubu new agenda, we decided to meet and see how we can collaborate and ensure a very smooth free operation of HYPREP.”
He noted that they discussed strategies to streamline operations and eliminate any delays in the remediation project.
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Engr. Woke further assured that the collaboration between NOSDRA and HYPREP has been productive, with both sides working towards ensuring that their activities do not interfere with the timeline set by UNEP.
On the part of HYPREP’s Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, he echoed Woke’s sentiments and highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes the acceleration of the Ogoni cleanup.
Zabbey stressed the critical role NOSDRA plays in the success of the remediation efforts, saying, “We can not do that without the active support of NOSDRA.”
Zabbey also outlined some of the progress HYPREP has made, including land remediation, shoreline clean-up, and the restoration of oil-degraded mangroves. In addition to environmental remediation.
According to him, HYPREP has been working on improving living conditions in Ogoniland by providing potable water to the region.
In his words: “We have 14 schemes we are constructing that will reticulate potable water to 68 communities in Ogoniland.”
He further disclosed that strengthening health systems in the region, with ongoing projects such as the construction of the Ogoni Cottage Hospital, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration is essential.
This renewed partnership between NOSDRA and HYPREP marks a significant step towards ensuring the success of the Ogoni cleanup and achieving the long-term goals of environmental restoration and improved public health in the area.
