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HOMEF To FG: Do Not Move HYPREP To N’Delta Affairs Ministry

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A non-Governmental Organisation – Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) – has urged the Federal Government to renege plan to move the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) from Ministry of Environment to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

HOMEF’s reaction follows an announcement reportedly made by the Minister of Transportation, Muázu Jaji Sambo in Abuja
where he reportedly stated that HYPREP is a purely Niger Delta affair hence the government has concluded plan to transfer it to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs because transferring the agency to the ministry would quicken the pace of the clean-up in the region.

INFO DAILY reports that Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) was established under the Federal Ministry of Petroleum of Nigeria in 2012 following a recommendation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report
on the assessment of the Ogoni environment in 2011.

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A statement by Nnimmo Bassey, Director, HOMEF, which was made available to INFO DAILY by Kome Odhomor Media/Communication Lead of the organisation argued that the planned move appears to stem from a major misconception that HYPREP is a solely Niger Delta affair.

“This is far from being accurate. We have hydrocarbon pollution in other areas of Nigeria outside the Niger Delta, including around Kaduna refinery, and at Atlas Cove, Badagary and other places in Lagos. It is also obvious that with oil extraction activities
in Lagos waters and Dangote’s refinery being built at Lekki, hydrocarbon pollution will soon become the norm in Lagos. That is not Niger Delta.

“Moreover, with plans to invest 30% of the profits of NNPC Ltd in prospecting for petroleum resources in frontier basins, the scope of pollution will expand. That will not be in the Niger Delta. Besides the fact that moving HYPREP to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs unnecessarily limits its scope, it also blindsides the essential backstopping that agencies such as National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) seamlessly provide to the agency.

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“If the move is allowed to stand there will be an avoidable duplication of personnel
as the new ministry grapples with the in-house expertise required for
the extremely specialized assignments of the agency.If such a move is allowed to stand there is a real risk of further slowing down the clean-up of Ogoniland or completely scuttling the process.

READ ALSO: Monitor, Protect Your Environment, HOMEF Charges N’Delta Communities

“We do not need the confusion and wastage that will be created by this planned move of HYPREP to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs,” Bassey said.

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He continued: “Considering the ecological crisis in the Niger Delta and across Nigeria, we expect the FG to order an urgent
commencement of environmental audit of the nation and ensuring that all polluters – the oil companies, including NNPC Ltd – pay for the clean-up of the entire Niger Delta and other areas afflicted with hydrocarbon
pollution.”

Bassey added that the planned move is a calculated distraction at a time when international oil companies are making moves to divest from onshore oil fields with undeclared but real intention
of avoiding responsibility for historical and current environmental
damage.

He reiterated that hydrocarbon pollution is not a solely Niger Delta
affair and should not be treated as that.

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“We also believe that such a
move would overburden the Ministry of Niger Delta Affair and that HYPREP may end up as another opaque agency like the Niger Detta Development
Commission (NDDC), to the detriment of the people and the environment,” he added.

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BREAKING: Ex-CDS Musa meets Tinubu At Aso Villa

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Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, is meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Musa was spotted arriving at the State House at 7:03 pm on Monday as he was led into the President’s office area by a senior security official.

Dressed in dark-green traditional northern attire with elbow-length sleeves, Musa is meeting the President publicly for the first time since Tinubu retired him on October 24, 2025.

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READ ALSO:Tinubu Sends Ex-INEC Chair, Former Oyo First Lady, 30 Additional Ambassadorial Nominees To Senate

The purpose of the meeting was not immediately known.

It comes amid heightened security concerns in the North, including the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi, the attack on worshippers in Eruku, Kwara, and the kidnapping of Catholic schoolchildren in Minna, as security agencies intensify counter-terrorism and anti-kidnapping operations across the North-West and North-Central.

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Insecurity: Former NYSC Director Tasks Corps Members On Self, Environmental Consciousness

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A retired Director, Information and Public Relations, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Directorate Headquarters, Eddy Megwa, has called on all corps members serving in the country to take their personal security seriously, always be self and environmental conscious.

The former Director made the call at the Bauchi NYSC permanent orientation camp, Wailo, Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state on Monday.

He warned that the times were evil, therefore vigilance, self consciousness and consciousness of the environment were of paramount importance.

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He also called on them to serve the nation with loyalty, commitment and zeal for patriotism, adding that no nation grew without the selfless service of the citizens and called on the corps members to rise up and make the desired change.

READ ALSO:FG Enlists NYSC Members In Campaign To Fight Small Arms, Light Weapons Proliferation In Northeast

I want to urge you all to deliberately work towards building a great nation of our collective dreams.

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“This is because if we have a country that is working very well, the youths will not be desperate about relocating to other countries of the world for greener pastures,” he said.

Megwa further discouraged the youth from illegal migration, describing it as a suicide mission as many of such ‘desperate people’ ended up losing their lives in the Sahara desert in the most gruesome manner.

The former NYSC Spokesman encouraged the corps members to strive for excellence in all they do and achieve even what their forebears could not achieve.

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“There are a whole lot of opportunities you have now and can leverage on which the older generation never had.”

READ ALSO: FG Approves New NYSC Mandatory Regulations

He told his audience not to put their names and their families into disrepute by getting themselves involved in crimes and other unwholesome activities.

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“The Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme of the NYSC is the panacea to graduate unemployment.

“I want to, therefore, advise you to take advantage of the programme by learning skills that will be useful to you in the future.”

Earlier, Mr Umoren Kufre, the state’s Coordinator of NYSC, appreciated the retired Director for the visit and words of motivation to both camp officials and corps members.

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He described the former Director as a living legend that shaped the NYSC Public Relations Unit to what it is today and left his footprints boldly.

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NiMet Predicts Three-day Sunshine, Cloudiness From Monday

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The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunshine and haziness from Monday to Wednesday across the country.‎

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja envisaged sunny skies over the entire northern region throughout the forecast period on Monday.‎

It envisaged ‎sunny skies with patches of clouds over the entire central region.‎”For the southern region, ‎cloudy atmosphere with sunshine intervals is anticipated over the region with slim chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, and Cross River during the afternoon to evening hours,” it said‎According to NiMet, dust haze is anticipated over Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Borno, and Yobe on Tuesday throughout the forecast period.‎It anticipated sunny skies with cloud patches over the entire central region.

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READ ALSO:NiMet Forecasts Rain, Flash Floods Nationwide

“For ‎southern region, ‎cloudy skies are expected over the region with slim prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of ‎Cross River during morning hours.‎” Isolated thunderstorms are anticipated over parts of Delta, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River later in the day,” it said.‎

The agency predicted dust haze over the northern region throughout the forecast period on Wednesday.‎NiMet anticipated a sunny and hazy atmosphere over the entire central region.‎”For the southern region, cloudy atmosphere are over the region in the morning hours.‎

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“Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms with moderate rains are anticipated over parts of Lagos, Ondo, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ekiti, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers ” it said.

READ ALSO:NiMet Forecasts Rain, Flash Floods Nationwide

NiMet urged the public to drive under the rain with caution and to take necessary precautions as ‎dust particles would be in suspension over the northern region.

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NiMet advised people with asthmatic health conditions and other respiratory issues to be cautious of the present weather ‎conditions.

‎”Airline operators are advised to get airport-specific weather reports (flight documentation) from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.‎” Residents are advised to stay informed through weather updates from NiMet – visit our website – www.nimet.gov.ng.

 

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