Some Civil Society Organizations in Rivers State have vowed to monitor the current water project in Ogoni land awarded by Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP). Speaking at a one-day consultative meeting on comprehensive and inclusive implementation of HYPREP Water Project in Ogoni communities, Comrade Anthony Aalo, the Executive Director of Kallop Humanitarian and Environmental Centre stated that the aim of the meeting was to brainstorm on how effective they could come together to work with HYPREP to make sure that Ogoni people drink potable water, while ensuring that CSOs and key stakeholders take the issue of water to the next level.
Executive Director of Kebetkache Women Development and Resources Centre, Emen Okon explained that some years ago her organization hosted about seven countries of the world, as a network and the countries picked interest in the Ogoni Clean-Up. She said the network, known as the International Alliance for Natural Resources in Africa is committed to work with CSO’s and stakeholders to make sure that Ogoni people have potable drinking water in the shortest possible time.
Emen maintained that CSO’s noted that they will increase community participation on the Ogoni Clean-Up, while expressing concern that there is a big gap between HYPREP and the community members for a successful Clean-up process. She also said that there must be a collaboration between the Rivers State Government, HYPREP and communities in the delivery of water.
In his response, Mr. Richard Mkpe of the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit of HYPREP representing Dr. Ebimaro Sampson expressed joy for the meeting.
He stated that the remediation on phase 1 has been done where 10 lots have been completed and certified by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), an agency empowered by the Federal Government to monitor spills and how it will be cleared.
Mr. Mkpe also explained that the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) has a total of 69 lots which were captured in the UNEP report. Speaking further on livelihood, Mr. Mkpe said that some women were trained with the support of UNITAR, while stating that contracts have been awarded and contractors mobilized to sites for some water projects after the flag-off by the Hon. Minister of Environment. He told participants that the water will be delivered in 6-9 months time.
In his remarks, Dr. Sam Kabari tasked HYPREP to work with CSO’s especially Kebetkache and Kallop to make the water project a reality, while Dr. Tambeke Gbarakoro expressed concern on the issue of monitoring the water project so that they can know the depth and quality of water to be given to Ogoni people considering the level of benzene in the water table of Ogoni.
Some of the participants prayed that the water project should be sustained and maintained, while communities should make sure there is peace during and after the project and that siting water project should not cause crises in Ogoni land, while HYPREP should open up communication for better collaboration with CSOs and other stakeholders.
