The Federal Government on Friday announced the formation of a Hydro-Carbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) in clear furtherance of its commitment to implement the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Assessment Report on Ogoniland.
Speaking at a press conference in her office, minister of petroleum resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke told journalists that the setting up of HYPREP by the president is in keeping with the Federal Government’s determination to protect the environmental human rights of the people.
The minister announced that the project would implement the recommendations of the UNEP report on Ogoniland as well as investigate, evaluate and establish other hydrocarbon-impacted sites, and make appropriate recommendations.
“With the establishment of this project, it is expected that all stakeholders, especially the impacted communities, will cooperate fully with Government and grant unfettered access to all impacted sites to ensure complete success,” she said.
She solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders, especially community leaders, to ensure effective implementation of the programme.
Also present at the briefing were the minister of environment Mrs. Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia; the group managing director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Andy Yakubu; permanent secretaries of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Ministry of Finance; director-general, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and some top management staff of NNPC and the petroleum ministry.
In another development, Ogonis mourn with “fellow Ghanaians”
A press release by Dr. Goodluck Diigbo, MOSOP President / Spokesman states,
“ I accept the inevitability of death, but the death of Ghanaian President John Atta Mills; I regard as an African tragedy because of his democratic example.
Vice President John Mahama’s inauguration shortly afterwards proves that Ghanaians understand that public office is not a personal property or an ethnic entitlement.
This reflects Mills’ politics, which put nation before self during his three attempts at the presidency.
When Ogonis escaped brutal persecution by corrupt Nigerian rulers, we accepted Ghana as our home under former President Jerry Rawling.
Ogoni People today mourn with “our fellow Ghanaians.”
