Clean-up: MOSOP says HYPREP spent N1bn on media, with no drinking water in Ogoni

OGONI PRESSURE group, the Movement NEWS for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) has blamed the Federal Government for “failing to listen” over the recent fracas between some Ogoni youths and representatives of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Programme (HYPREP), in which a HYPREP bus was burnt down.

“The conduct of HYPREP in the implementation of the cleanup process has completely alienated the people, and [has] focused on private and monetary benefits rather than Ogoni interests. For instance, over N1 billion had been spent on communication, yet the local people do not know what HYPREP is doing in Ogoni.

Wouldn’t it have been better to invest such huge amount on water provision for the people,” Fegalo Nsuke, president of MOSOP retorted.

MOSOP said the incident, though regrettable and condemnable, was avoidable. “It is also a clear indication that the Ogoni people are dissatisfied with the Federal Government over the clean-up implementation. If the issues are not properly addressed by involving the people in every phase, there could be stronger resistance from the communities.”

It accused the Federal Government of pollution remediation agency of insensitivity, and not carrying along Ogoni locals in the challenging task of Ogoni clean-up.

“Although the incident regarding the burning of a bus owned by HYPREP was a tragedy, the Federal Government and HYPREP must realize that, in order for the (Ogoni) clean-up exercise to be successful, they must engage the people from the beginning stages to the end,” Nsuke, newly elected MOSOP president, said.

He warned that HYPREP and the Federal Government “must select a contractor who will not be biased, and who understands the UNEP requirements in full, and the total needs of the Ogoni people.”

According to Nsuke, “we must design a comprehensive plan and programme that will include oil spill clean-up, infrastructure building, installation of potable water piping, economic development, healthcare, education.”

The MOSOP boss regretted that, “rather than address these fundamental needs, the Federal Government has been desperate to award contracts ahead of the 2019 elections. It is unfortunate that the selection of contractors has been more like political patronages, a situation where some of those selected as contractors, do not even know the road leading to Ogoni.”

He accused the Federal Government of failing to heed the advice of MOSOP on the need for integrity and diligence in the clean-up implementation process.

“The government/ HYPREP think the Ogoni people do not have access to the UNEP report or are simply ignorant about their needs, and what should be done about the UNEP recommendations.

MOSOP recommended that the UNEP report should be implemented in a way that benefits the Ogoni people rather than for alleged political patronage.

“The people must be involved with every stage, including the rights to select contractors acceptable to them, and in line with our Local Content laws. This will require robust engagement to come up with a comprehensive plan on development and cleaning the pollution,” the group said.