- Says House Endorsement of HYPREP Compromised the Truth About Cleanup Failures
- Says House Betrayed the Trust of the People
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has lashed out at the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities over its recent support and commendation for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP). MOSOP says the House committee position compromised the truth and smacked a disappointment from a people whose obligation is to stand for the people.
President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke while commenting on a recent visit of the house committee to Ogoni and the committee commendation of the Ogoni cleanup said the House demonstrated a high level of ignorance and compromised the truth about the Ogoni cleanup failures.
“It is on record that the Ogoni cleanup exercise has received over N1 Trillion in the past 7years and nothing to show for it. The 2024 budget of HYPREP is N400 Billion. That is the budget of two Nigerian states put together. What have they got to show for it? Nothing!” he said
The House Committee in their remarks said they visited various project sites including the barricaded remediation site in Ogale, Eleme, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, CEER, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, Bori Cottage Hospital, Bori Water Scheme, Shoreline Remediation and Mangrove Restoration sites in Bomu, Gokana Local Government Area, and while at the Mangrove Restoration site in Bomu, members of the committee also historically planted mangroves seedlings. But the MOSOP President questioned if that is what over N1 Trillion has done in the past eight years.
“They have spent over 1 Trillion and Ogoni does not have water. Instead of addressing the critical issues, they are busy seeking avenues to cover their loots. They have not provided water but they are funding frivolous exercises. Their work was to remediate Ogoni and not to be making frivolous expenses on house committee visits” he said.
According to Nsuke, performance assessments are not done vaguely; they are done in relation to the amount of resources expended. HYPREP cannot spend over N1 Trillion and Ogoni will still be polluted.
“When you consider the past seven (7) years’ expenditure of HYPREP, then you will appreciate how much damage HYPREP has done to the Ogoni society. Ove 1 Trillion has been spent on remediation work in Ogoni and the people are still talking about pollution without drinkable water, whereas, clean water provision is the first thing that was to be addressed as an emergency” Nsuke said.
Nsuke urged the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities to keep their oversight functions away from Ogoni if they cannot be courageous enough to speak out against the deceit and corruption which are glaring in HYPREP.
“I will advise the House to keep their oversight functions away from Ogoni if all they can do is to look at Ogoni without water and N1 Trillion has been spent and tell us that HYPREP is doing well. If all they can do is to justify the loot that is ongoing in HYPREP, they should please stay away from us”
“I feel deeply sad when I consider the sacrifices of the Ogoni people and what all the efforts have turned into. But all hope is not lost. We are approaching a situation where the people will have to come out to demand accountability and end the corruption in HYPREP”
“HYPREP is overstepping its bounds. They are testing the people and we are getting to the point where we will get them to account. We have warned them to and we hope they listen” he said.
Recall that the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities had recently commended the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project over the cleanup of Ogoni. The House commendation was coming seven years after the Nigerian government launched the Ogoni cleanup programme.
Signed:
Alex Akori
Secretary-General,
MOSOP.
August 26, 2024.–
The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP)
Headquarters: Peace and Freedom Center, Bori Ogoni
Email: info@mosop.ngo, mosoppr@gmail.com
Website: www.mosop.ngo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mosoponline
