Reps scrutinizes HYPREP’s cleanup record

By Abbas Nazil

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has defended its performance in the Ogoni cleanup before the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the management of oil spill remediation funds in the Niger Delta.

Appearing before the committee chaired by Hon. Okpolump Etteh, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, said the agency has made measurable progress in implementing the recommendations of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Ogoniland.

He reported that 17 contaminated sites have been fully remediated, while 65 others are undergoing various stages of cleanup and environmental assessment.

Zabbey said the agency’s efforts reflect the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to restoring the ecological and socio-economic balance of the Niger Delta.

He explained that HYPREP’s mandate now goes beyond site remediation to include livelihood restoration, healthcare delivery, and community infrastructure.

The Project Coordination Office detailed how advanced technologies such as renewable reactive barriers and non-intrusive remediation techniques are being deployed in complex and high-risk areas.

Zabbey said the approach ensures that local homes, shrines, and cultural heritage sites are protected while cleanup operations proceed.

He said thousands of Ogoni youths and women have been trained in agriculture, aquaculture, renewable energy, tailoring, and ICT to strengthen community resilience and reduce oil dependence.

The Project has also rehabilitated and constructed water schemes across the four Ogoni local government areas to improve access to safe drinking water.

Zabbey added that health interventions have been scaled up through community medical outreaches and facility upgrades to address pollution-related illnesses.

The project coordinator assured lawmakers that all HYPREP projects comply with due process, transparency standards, and international best practices.

He explained that some contracts required selective procurement due to their technical complexity and specialized environmental components.

“Our work goes beyond cleaning up oil spills,” he said. “We are rebuilding livelihoods, restoring confidence, and creating a sustainable environmental legacy for the Ogoni people.”

Committee members commended aspects of HYPREP’s progress but urged the agency to ensure full adherence to financial and monitoring regulations.

Lawmakers also called for greater involvement of civil society groups and independent experts in tracking cleanup performance and verifying field data.

The committee noted that the Ogoni cleanup remains one of Africa’s most ambitious environmental restoration efforts.

It emphasized that success would depend on sustained transparency, community trust, and measurable environmental outcomes.