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Ogoniland: 500 Youths Recruited, Deployed As Security Supporting Clean-up Sites, Facilities – Project Coordinator

Published

2 years ago

July 19, 2023

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

… As CSOs Pledge Sustained Pressure on HYPREP To Deliver On Mandate

No fewer than 500 youths have been recruited and deployed as civil security supporting clean-up sites and facilities in Ogoniland, Professor Nenibari Zabbey, Project Coordinator, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), has disclosed.

Zabbey who made the disclosure during a day National Roundtable on the HYPREP, organised by the Peoples Advancement Centre (PAC) in Port Harcourt, vowed to prioritise mangrove restoration with a view to
adequately addressing the livelihood challenges of the locals.

According to a statement made available to INFO DAILY by Elvira Jordan, Communications Officer, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), the National Roundtable had in attendance over 20 civil society groups including ERA/FoEN, women-led and grassroots groups from across the country.

The statement added that Zabbey, during the meeting pledged to work constructively with civil society to addressing the gaps in the operations of the agency.

He announced that the gender disparity in the agency as reflected in only 5% women in the agency will be addressed to ensure parity with the menfolk.

He disclosed his readiness to put in place a framework for inclusion, community engagement and standard operating procedures within the shortest possible time to ensure that the gaps observed by Ogoni people and civil society are addressed headlong.

On his part, Chima Williams, Executive Director, ERA/FoEN, restated the resolve of civil society groups advancing the full implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Assessment Report on Ogoniland to work with the new leadership of HYPREP to achieve the objective.

The ERA/FoEN boss on behalf of others pledged civil society groups’ commitment in playing their watchdog role in order to make the new helmsman succeed and the goals of the UNEP Assessment achieved.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, PAC Convener, Celestine Akpobari explained that HYPREP as an agency of government was not set up for the love of the impacted people of Ogoniland, but because of civil society pressure exposing the decades long injustices meted on the Ogoni people.

Akpobari said the convening was targeted at getting the new leadership of HYPREP to stay on course in implementing the UNEP assessment even as he noted that HYPREP had deviated from its original mandate in some cases.

Some critical recommendations from the convening are the need for Federal Government to go back and adhere to the original mandate that the HYPREP was conceived to achieve; the need for a civil society liaison desk within HYPREP; the immediate need for HYPREP to carry out chemical, air and health assessments as recommended by the UNEP Assessment Report in Ogoniland, and the need for the agency to address current observed staff shortages in key areas such as monitoring and operations for it to be able to deliver on its mandate, among others.

Related Topics:#Ogoniland Chima WILLIAMS ERA/FoEN HYPREP

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Edo To Dredge Ikpoba River For Revenue, Flood Control

Published

2 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

Edo State government has proposed the dredging of Ikpoba River to curb flooding and exploring potentials for enhancing revenue generation in the state.

The state Commissioner for Mining, Hon. Andrew Ijegbai, disclosed this when he led a delegation on an inspection of the river in Benin City.

According to him, the initiative was to find a lasting solution to the incessant challenges of flooding and river overflow on the busy road.

He added that his team was on the ground to assess the condition of the river to get a firsthand observation of its impact on communities near its bank.

Also speaking, Director of Mining in the ministry, Mr. Omoruyi Ihianle expressed the state government’s determination to turn challenges into successes.

He stated that the primary objectives of the project were to generate revenue for the state government through mining and to mitigate flooding in the host communities.

“As a government, we have found a way of converting our challenges until success.

“As a result of the silted river channel, the host communities have been suffering from flooding, hence the Edo State Government is stepping in to desilt while raising revenue for the State Government,” he said.

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JUST IN: Ex-Eagles Goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, Is Dead

Published

3 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

Peter Rufai, the former Super Eagles goalkeeper, has died.

Waidi Akanni, a former teammate and associate, confirmed the legendary goalkeeper’s death to TheCable on Thursday.

Rufai, affectionately nicknamed Dodo Mayana, died at 61 after a reported battle with long-term illness.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria also announced the demise of the former goalkeeper on the team’s official X account.

“Forever in our hearts, Dodo Mayana. We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 AFCON champion,” the post reads.

“Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond.”

Rufai is regarded as one of the best football goalkeepers Nigeria has ever produced. He was the Eagles’ first-choice goalkeeper when Nigeria won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

He also represented Nigeria at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the US and the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Rufai had over 60 caps for the Super Eagles over the course of a decade with the team.

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AMCON Sells Ibadan DisCo For N100bn

Published

7 hours ago

July 3, 2025

Editor

The Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) has announced the sale of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) for N100 billion.

AMCON’s Managing Director/CEO, Gbenga Alake, disclosed this at a media parley on Thursday.

Apart from IBEDC, AMCON also manages other distribution companies, including the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Benin Electricity Distribution Company, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, and Kano Electricity Distribution Company.

Alake said, “Today, I announce to you that Ibadan DisCo has been sold. When we came in, it had already been sold, but we renegotiated the price and got almost double of what it was initially going to be sold for.”

Regarding ongoing legal issues, Alake stated, “We have sold it, and whatever is still happening in court, we will face it.”

However, officials of IBEDC did not respond to inquiries about the sale.