The apex socio-cultural body of the Ogoni, KAGOTE, has called for more action in the remediation process of impacted parts of Ogoniland.
The group said the demand was hinged on current realities as a lot of work still needs to be done to address the level of damage inflicted on the local productive economy and the environment.
Speaking as leader of Kagote delegation on a courtesy visit to the Acting Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof. Philip Shokwolo, First Vice President, Dr. (Mrs.) Priscilla Vikue, demanded speedy implementation of HYPREP’s mandate and activities in order to give Ogoni people hope for a better future.
Vikue reminded the intervention agency of the critical recommendations of the UNEP Report, which is the provision of potable water, described as an emergency.
“We have seen a new water scheme inaugurated but we believe that more should be rolled out in the shortest possible time. Water is not only important to life, but also to the overall health condition and standard of living of our people”, she said, and urged the management not to lose sight of the livelihood programmes which are capable of generating economic activities and create wealth for Ogoni people.
The Kagote delegation also appealed to Ogonis to support HYPREP programme and activities and shun acts of vandalism of the water projects as well as stop the artisanal refining popularly called ‘kpofire’, adding that such action amounts to re-polluting the same environment HYPREP was trying to clean.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Acting Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Professor Philip Shokwolo, enumerated the achievements of the agency but added that they were not without teething challenges such as vandalization of equipment and artisanal refining.
He said HYPREP had begun provision of water to some communities in Eleme especially Alesa and Agbonchia but regretted that the buster station that would have aided the supply chain had been vandalized.
He said more water tanks were being built in Bori, Khana Local Government Area and Teraborand B-Dere, both in Gokana Local Government Area, even as he disclosed that HYPREP had done well in human capacity development with training of Ogonis on entrepreneurial skills.
