HYPREP Council pledges to fast-track Ogoni oil spill clean-up

The Governing Council of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has pledged to accelerate the Ogoni oil spill clean-up, remediation, and restoration efforts in Rivers State. During an inspection of remediation and water projects in Ogoniland, council representative Prof. Nwibere Barinedum Michael identified funding, flooding, and accessibility as the primary obstacles to timely project execution.

To address these delays, the council confirmed that the federal government has approved and released funds, noting that previous slowdowns were due to mandatory administrative procedures rather than deliberate faults. The council intends to facilitate faster approval processes and may increase funding for specific projects where necessary.

Priority has been placed on the Ogoni Power Project and Lot 12 in Ogale, Eleme Local Government Area, to improve local living conditions. The council aims to provide accelerated approvals for most projects following the completion of their current oversight phase.