By Ken Asinobi
A two-day joint retreat for members of the Governing Council of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and the Ogoni Trust Fund Incorporated has been held in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, with a focus on strategically repositioning the Project to effectively deliver on its mandate as recommended in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the Ogoni Environment.
The high-level retreat marked a significant demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to the Ogoni Clean-up Programme under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, in line with the Presidential Directive on the acceleration of the clean-up, particularly Priority Three, Deliverable Three.
Five ministers attended the retreat, alongside key stakeholders in the oil and gas sector. They include the Minister of Environment and Chairman of the HYPREP Governing Council, Honourable Balarabe Abbas Lawal; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; the Minister of Regional Development, Honourable Abubakar Momoh; the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Honourable Heineken Lokpobiri, PhD, represented by Dr Enene Xynex Ambah; and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Honourable Ekperikpe Ekpo.
Other participants included the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Ogoni Trust Fund Incorporated, Rt. Honourable Emma Deeyah; the Project Coordinator and Secretary to the Governing Council, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey; and representatives of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and its Joint Venture partners.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Engr Tony Attah, was represented by the General Manager, Relations and Sustainable Development, Igo Weli, and the Project Manager, Environment and Oil Remediation Project, Mr John Ede. Joint Venture partners from TotalEnergies and Oando were also in attendance.
The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was represented by Alhaji Usman Iya Abbas, while the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Mahmud Kambari, members of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees were also present.
With the theme “Strategic Governance for Sustainable Remediation of Oil-Impacted Environment,” the retreat provided a platform for participants to critically appraise project performance, review policy frameworks, and make strategic interventions aimed at strengthening the implementation of the Ogoni Clean-up Programme.
Discussions centred on HYPREP’s mandate, the need for enhanced synergy among stakeholders, effective policy development, fundraising strategies, policy and strategy reviews, performance evaluation, accountability, and efficient project implementation.
Addressing participants, the Minister of Environment, Honourable Balarabe Abbas Lawal, reiterated the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to the Ogoni Clean-up Programme.
He urged members of both the Governing Council and the Board of Trustees to rise to their responsibilities, particularly in the areas of fund mobilisation and effective project monitoring.
The Minister added that the Project’s institutional structures should leverage the renewed commitment of the participating ministers to attract critical government interventions.
He further emphasised the need for close collaboration among the Governing Council, Board of Trustees, and other key stakeholders to ensure that HYPREP effectively discharges its mandate.
These positions were echoed by the Ministers of Budget and Economic Planning, Regional Development, and Petroleum Resources (Oil and Gas), who commended the Minister of Environment and HYPREP management for progress made so far in the Ogoni Clean-up Programme, while also proposing alternative funding sources to ensure sustainability.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ogoni Trust Fund, Rt. Honourable Emma Deeyah, called for HYPREP to be made a full-fledged government agency to strengthen its operational capacity and long-term sustainability.
He also advised the development of a holistic project implementation roadmap to enable the Project effectively deliver on its mandate.
Speaking on behalf of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, the operator of the Joint Venture, Igo Weli reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the success of the Ogoni Clean-up Programme, while urging prudent and transparent utilisation of funds.
Presenting the Project Status Report, the Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, highlighted key milestones achieved by HYPREP across several thematic areas.
These include soil and shoreline remediation, mangrove restoration and biodiversity recovery, provision of potable water, livelihood support programmes, public health interventions, and special projects such as the construction of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration and the Ogoni Power Project.
Technical sessions at the retreat featured presentations by resource persons on effective policy development, performance evaluation and accountability, leadership and crisis management, fundraising and grantsmanship, as well as the statutory roles and responsibilities of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees.
Participants later broke into groups to deliberate on the challenges and opportunities facing the Project, after which they presented their recommendations.
Outcomes of the retreat are expected to significantly influence policy direction, strengthen engagement with relevant inter-governmental agencies, and provide actionable strategies that will accelerate the implementation of the Ogoni Clean-up Programme.
The retreat is also anticipated to serve as a model for developing a sustainable framework for environmental remediation in other oil-impacted regions across Nigeria.
