President Muhammadu Buhari has approved actions to fast-track the long delayed implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland.
The President also approved the composition of a Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) Governing Council as well as the Board of Trustees for the HYPREP Trust Fund.
The HYPREP trust fund will kick off with an initial deposit of 10 million United States dollars from stakeholders within 30 days of setting up the board of Trustees.
As part of the actions to fast track the implementation of the UNEP report and restoration of the Ogoniland, President Buhari also approved the amendment of the Official Gazette establishing the HYPREP.
It is now to reflect a new governance framework comprising a Governing Council, a Board of Trustees and Project Management.
The President’s approval is based on recommendations made to him by the Executive Director of UNEP, the UNEP Special Representative for Ogoniland, Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministries of Environment and Petroleum Resources, and other stakeholders.
According to a statement by the Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina, “In keeping with his avowed commitment to working for the development and well-being of all Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday
in Abuja approved several actions to fast-track the long delayed implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland”
The HYPREP governing council will include: One representative each from the from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Federal Ministry of Environment, Impacted States (Rivers), United Nations System.
Four representatives from oil companies and the NNPC, two representatives from Oginiland, the secretariat is to be headed by a project manager.
The President also approved the composition of a Board of Trustees for the HYPREP Trust Fund, they include: one representative each from the Federal Government , NNPC, International Oil Companies, Ogoniland and
the United Nations System .
Adesina further stated that following a meeting held on the directive of President Buhari, it was also agreed that a contribution deposit of 10 million United States dollars will be made by stakeholders within 30 days of the appointment of members of the Board of Trustees for the Trust Fund who will be responsible for collecting and managing funds from contributors and donors.
A new implementation template has also been evolved at the instance of President Buhari, and the environmental clean-up of Ogoniland will commence in earnest with the President’s inauguration of the HYPREP Governing Council and the Board of Trustees for the Trust Fund.
Buhari had during his campaign tour in January this year visited Ogoniland and promised to implement the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) environmental assessment of the Ogoniland.
The UNEP report had estimated that countering and cleaning up the pollution and catalyzing a sustainable recovery of Ogoniland could take 25 to 30 years. It had also recommended the deployment of modern technology to clean up contaminated land and water, improved environmental monitoring and regulation and collaborative action between the government, the Ogoni people and the oil industry.
Elizabeth Archibong
