Ogoni Cleanup Probe: HYPREP Coordinator Rebuts Mismanagement Claims, Invites Reps for Site Inspection
The Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, has assured the National Assembly that the Ogoni Cleanup Programme is being executed transparently and in strict compliance with global best practices.
Speaking at a public hearing of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on the Mismanagement of Oil Spill Clean-up Funds in the Niger Delta, chaired by Hon. Okpolump Etteh, Prof. Zabbey dismissed allegations of mismanagement, insisting that HYPREP is delivering tangible results for the Ogoni people.
“The Ogoni cleanup is in safe hands. HYPREP’s operations are transparent and strictly follow the Procurement Act 2007 and other financial regulations. Funds have been prudently deployed in line with the UNEP Report recommendations,”
— Prof. Zabbey stated.
He highlighted that over 120 projects are currently at various stages of execution, with some already completed. These include:
Provision of potable water to 40 Ogoni communities
Construction of a 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital
Construction of the 40-bed Buan Cottage Hospital
Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER)
Ogoni Power Project
Mangrove restoration and shoreline remediation
Alternative livelihood programmes
Capacity development and peacebuilding initiatives
To prove HYPREP’s transparency, Zabbey invited the lawmakers to visit Ogoniland for an on-the-spot inspection under the agency’s “Come and See” transparency initiative.
Earlier in his remarks, Rt. Hon. Emma Deeyah, Chairman of the Ogoni Trust Fund (OTF), reaffirmed confidence in HYPREP’s progress.
He revealed that Renaissance Africa Energy Company Ltd (RAEC) and Joint Venture Partners have continued to meet financial obligations to the Ogoni Trust Fund.
“We welcome this investigation. We have nothing to hide. In fact, we urge the National Assembly to institutionalise HYPREP as a permanent government agency,”
— Deeyah said.
Committee Chairman, Hon. Okpolump Etteh, said the investigation was not a witch-hunt but a fact-finding mission to ensure public funds are used in the interest of the people of the Niger Delta.
“This inquiry will determine how funds released for cleanup projects were used. Transparency and accountability remain our focus,” he said.
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Speaking on HYPREP lists of accountability measures, Prof. Zabbey reiterated that HYPREP has adopted strict accountability frameworks, including:
Open-door stakeholder engagements
Quarterly performance scorecards
Monthly, quarterly and annual financial audits
Oversight by internal/external auditors and the Auditor-General of the Federation
Milestone Evaluation Committee for project quality control
Technical Coordination Committee (TCC) for strategic direction
Remediation Document Review Committee (RDRC) for project evaluation
The public hearing continues with other agencies expected to appear before the committee in the coming days.
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