News

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

Published

3 years ago

August 6, 2022

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.

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.

“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.

“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.

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.

“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.

News

BREAKING: Tinubu Nominates New Defence Minister

Published

1 hour ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

President Bola Tinubu has nominated former Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, rtd, as the new Minister of Defence.

In a letter to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tinubu disclosed Musa’s nomination as the successor to Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, who resigned on Monday.

Musa served as Chief of Defence Staff from 2023 until October 2025. He won the Colin Powell Award for Soldiering in 2012.

Born in Sokoto in 1967, Musa received his primary and secondary education there before attending the College of Advanced Studies in Zaria.

He graduated in 1986 and enrolled at the Nigerian Defence Academy the same year, earning a Bachelor of Science degree upon graduation in 1991.

News

Edo Govt Bars Journalists From Covering Event In State House

Published

1 hour ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Journalists invited by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to cover the declaration of Edo as the official hosts of the 2026 NDDC Sports Festival were on Tuesday barred from covering the event inside the Government House in Benin City.

The journalists had sat at the venue of the event named Presidential Villa inside the Government House at around 11:00 a.m. for the official kick off of the event.

After waiting for over one hour in the Presidential Villa, information came that the venue for the event had been changed to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) office, prompting both the journalists, NDDC officials and other dignitaries to move from the Presidential Villa to the SSG office.

Not too long had both the journalists and other dignitaries seated at the conference hall of the SSG that one of the protocols of the governor popularly known as Pikolo arrived at the hall and announced that the government was informed that only 27 persons were invited for the programme, hence anyone whose name was not in the government list would not be allowed into to the programme when it commences.

A few minutes after Pikolo made the announcement, Chairman of the Edo State chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Kehinde Osaigede stood up to announce that he had been sent a message that the venue had been changed to the initial venue (Presidential Villa).

Moving out of the SSG section of the Government House to the Presidential Villa, journalists came across the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Fred Itua, and when he saw them (journalists) he asked after exchanging pleasantries, “were you invited by the organisers? No, I will not allow you in, this is strictly for State House reporters. The governor is personally attending the programme, so it is strictly for the State House. Presidential Villa? No!”

Shortly after uttering the above words near the Deputy Governor’s section inside the Government House, Itua moved hurriedly to the Presidential Villa section and the gate was shot for screening of persons.

When journalists and others invited got to the gate of the Presidential Villa they were subjected to screening. While some dignitaries were screened in, some journalists and some staff members of the NDDC were shut out of the venue.

News

Otuaro Felicitates Tompolo On Honorary Doctorate Award

Published

17 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro has congratulated High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, on the conferment of an Honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) by the E.K. Clark University.

Otuaro described the recognition as well-deserved and befitting, noting that Tompolo has, over the years, demonstrated uncommon commitment to the peace, progress, and stability of the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.

According to him, Tompolo’s role in sustaining peace in the region, particularly through his steadfast support for dialogue, community engagement, and nonviolent approaches to conflict resolution, has made a significant contribution to national security and economic stability.

He further noted that, beyond his contributions to peacebuilding, Tompolo has demonstrated extraordinary compassion, philanthropy, and devotion to humanitarian causes.

He added that his investments in youth empowerment stand as clear evidence of a man whose heart is truly with his people.

“Tompolo’s good heart, generosity, and love for humanity distinguish him as a leader of rare character,” Otuaro said.

The PAP Administrator commended E.K. Clark University for identifying and honouring a personality whose impact continues to resonate across the Niger Delta and beyond.

He urged other institutions to emulate such gestures that celebrate individuals advancing society through selfless service.

Dr Otuaro prayed for God’s continued guidance, long life, and strength for High Chief Ekpemupolo as he continues to serve the Niger Delta and Nigeria with dignity, wisdom, and compassion.