News
Restructure HYPREP For Speedy Ogoniland, Others Cleanup, Group Tells Buhari
Published
5 years agoon
By
Editor
The executive director, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, (ERA/FoEN), Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo, Wednesday, August 5th called on President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency, restructure the Hydrocarbon, Pollution, Remediation Project, (HYPREP) for effective service delivery to the people of the oil producing regions, especially the Ogoni land.
The Executive Director made the call in Benin while speaking on the topic ‘A Litany of Failure and a Season of Discontent’ occasioned by HYPREP on the people of Ogoni land.
He said if such is not done, the rate at which things are at the moment, it will take more than 100 years for HYPREP to complete the more complex polluted sites in Ogoni land which they have not even started to address.
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Ojo said it was exactly nine years after the United Nations Environment Program, (UNEP) submitted a groundbreaking report to the Nigerian state detailing its findings, conclusions and recommendations on the environmental assessment of Ogoni land but without any tangible results to show for it.
“It has been nine years of motion without movement, nine years of unfilled promises, nine years of high-level manipulations by Shell and the Nigerian states as well as nine years of opaqueness and unaccountable operations by HYPREP. It has been nine years cluttered with a litany of failures and continuous discontent throughout Ogoni”, he said.
According to Ojo, the reason HYPREP has not lived up to its billings is because it’s not designed nor structured to implement a project as complex and sizeable as the Ogoni cleanup, stressing that it therefore needs restructuring to position it for a more effective cleanup.
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The Environmental Activist alleged that work had stopped at 11 of the 17 cleanup sites researchers visited, and that many of these sites stopped work in late 2019 while the two sites had not even commenced work at the time of their except for the information board displayed outside their area of operation.
The Environmentalist also alleged that HYPREP is bogged down by the Nigerian government bureaucracy and Shell bureaucratic bottlenecks which has seen the programme unable to make progress to open the bid process for the more complex sites and there appears to be no disclosed strategy on how to move forward with the aspect of the project.
The Environmentalist recommended that strong legislations by governments in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands mandating companies to respect human rights and apply the same environmental standards across global operations.
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The Executive Director also recommended the immediate implementation of all emergency measures recommended by the UNEP especially the provision of portable water, the conduct of a health audit setting up of a health register in impacted communities.
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The Anambra State Government has directed residents and occupants of dilapidated buildings defacing the environment in public view areas across the state to repaint their structures, adding that regulators will be embarking on field operations to enforce compliance beginning from July 1.
In a press statement released on Thursday, the state Commissioner for Environment, Dr Felix Odimegwu, said repainting of buildings with particular emphasis in Onitsha, Awka, Nkpor, Nnewi and Ekwuluobia areas, respectively, will commence with immediate effect with the aim of achieving a clean, beautiful and eco-friendly environment.
Odimegwu said concerned residents and corporate organisations in the areas mentioned are required to repaint their houses/buildings, especially those that have not been repainted in the last 10 years or buildings whose current paint is defacing the environment.
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He said the exercise is aimed at strengthening the existing building structures, improving the aesthetic ambience, and the green space of the state as enshrined in the Anambra State Environmental Management, Protection and Administration Law 2024, Part 4 sec 79 (1-7).
The statement partly read, “Notice is hereby given to all residents and occupants of buildings which are in public view areas of the state with particular emphasis on Onitsha, Awka, Nkpor, Nnewil and Ekwuluobia respectively, that general house hold inspection on dilapidated and unpainted structures defacing the environment shall commence with immediate effect.
“This exercise is aimed at strengthening the existing building structures, improving the aesthetic ambience, and the green space of the state as enshrined in the Anambra State Environmental Management, Protection and Administration Law 2024, Part 4 sec 79 (1-7).
“Hence, residents are enjoined to fully maintain, repaint (if necessary) their residential and commercial premises which are in public view (anyaora) areas.”
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He added that the Anambra State Environmental Management Protection and Administration Law 2024 provides the legal framework for beautification and aesthetic face-lifting of the state.
“Regulators will be embarking on field operations starting from July 1, 2025, for this particular purpose. Therefore, concerned individuals and corporate organisations within the purview as stated above are required to repaint their houses/buildings, especially those that have not been repainted in the last 10 years or buildings whose current paint is defacing the environment.
“A clean, beautiful and eco-friendly Anambra is possible if we join hands together to improve her aesthetic ambience,” the statement added.
News
Umahi Terminates Benin–Warri Road Contract, Seeks Refund
Published
52 minutes agoon
June 20, 2025By
Editor
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has terminated the contract awarded to Levant Construction Limited over its failure to deliver on the Benin–Sapele–Warri road project.
The road, a major federal highway, is being reconstructed under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
Speaking in Abuja after a meeting with contractors handling various sections of the project, Umahi accused Levant of abandoning its section of the road despite multiple warnings and a final termination notice.
According to a statement signed by his media aide, Orji Uchenna, on Wednesday, the minister disclosed that despite intervention by the Edo State Government on the worst sections of the road, Levant failed to mobilise to its portion of the site, leaving critical areas unattended.
“We even begged the Edo State Governor to fix the worst-hit parts while Levant handled the remaining. While the governor delivered on his 23km stretch for N35bn, Levant abandoned its section.
“They received multiple warning letters, including a final notice, but chose not to return to the site,” Umahi said.
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Umahi directed the Permanent Secretary to finalise the contract termination, initiate a joint measurement for completed works, and write to the company’s bank for the recovery of the Advance Payment Guarantee.
He warned that failure to refund the public funds could lead to prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In contrast to Levant’s performance, the minister praised Geld and SKECC for agreeing to return to the site following renegotiations.
He noted that a project review has been approved to accommodate inflationary pressures, including the rising cost of asphalt, now pegged at ₦30,000 per square metre from a previous ₦9,000.
“I’m pleased with Geld’s commitment. For their other job on the Lokoja-Abuja road, we’ve agreed to a price review. The same applies to the Itoki–Ikorodu road. We are happy to see movement again,” he said.
He also lauded the efforts of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, for stepping in to fund critical sections of the federal road.
“We are grateful. These governors are doing very beautiful work,” he said.
READ ALSO: 52% Of Ongoing Road Construction In Northern Nigeria – Umahi
Reacting to recent claims by some Northern groups accusing the Tinubu administration of favouring the South in road projects, Umahi described the allegations as “malicious and uncharitable”.
He stressed that project distribution under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has been fair, inclusive, and based on inherited commitments and current needs.
“In this ministry, we don’t count regions. We follow the President’s example—he inherited projects and chose to continue them irrespective of location,” Umahi said, citing the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road project as a case in point.
He noted that under the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme alone, Niger State accounts for 26 per cent of the project portfolio, while the South-West and South-East combined barely get 9 per cent.
In his detailed response, Umahi listed several ongoing projects in the North, including the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road (Sections I & III) worth N252bn, with 30 per cent already paid.
He said, “Section II of the same highway, 164km long, valued at N525bn, with another 30 per cent (N152bn) already disbursed. Sokoto–Zamfara–Katsina–Kaduna 750km road at N825bn, started under President Tinubu.
“There are Dangote-backed Tax Credit projects in Borno, including 49km in Bama and 52km in Dikwa. The N958bn dual carriageway project in Kebbi, with a second phase heading to FEC for approval. The 439km Akwanga–Jos–Bauchi–Gombe superhighway is being redesigned to a six-lane concrete pavement on Tinubu’s directive.”
He added that under the Renewed Hope legacy projects, the North is receiving 52 per cent of the investments, while the South gets 48 per cent.
On the controversial Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi said the project is not designed to favour any region, explaining that comparable investments are being made in the North with the same quality and cost standards.
“For instance, the Kebbi section alone, with just one carriageway, is costing about N958bn. When the second lane is approved, that’s nearly N2tn—comparable to Lagos-Calabar segments,” he said.
Addressing criticisms on the slow pace of work on the Eleme–Onnexis of the East–West Road, Umahi said the contractor, RCC, has since improved performance after initial issues. He clarified that asphalt work being done on a completed lane was to maintain traffic flow around flyover sections.
“Let the critics go and verify. We’ve done one carriageway. Where asphalt is being reapplied, it’s around flyover intersections for smooth movement,” he said.
The minister reaffirmed his commitment to restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s road infrastructure, saying, “We want Nigerians to feel the impact of governance.
“President Tinubu is investing heavily in roads—North, South, East and West—because he understands the economy runs on infrastructure. I have never seen such a unique President.”
(PUNCH)

A total of 542 senior Non-Commissioned Officers retired from the Nigerian Armed Forces on Thursday after 35 years of service.
The retirement ceremony, held at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre in Oshodi, Lagos, included 362 soldiers from the Nigerian Army, 134 from the Navy, and 46 from the Air Force.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, represented by Major General Aligbe Obhiozele of TRADOC, praised the retirees for their dedication.
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Obhiozele stated, “Today we celebrate your courage, discipline and selfless service to our great nation. Your 35-year journey embodies the finest military traditions of resilience and patriotism.
“As you transition to civilian life, we urge you to uphold these values and become pillars in your communities.”
He also urged the retirees to avoid financial mismanagement and neglect of their health, warning that society expects them to continue to uphold the discipline they displayed during service.
NAFRC Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Bashir Mamman, said the centre had trained over 53,000 personnel since its establishment.
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Mamman thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving major improvements such as bigger starter packs for retirees, digitisation of records, e-learning upgrades, and new workshop equipment.
“These interventions have significantly enhanced our capacity to prepare servicemen for civilian life,” Mamman noted.
Retirees, who were trained in various vocational skills, received discharge certificates to the cheers of their families. Some described the moment as emotional, but hopeful.
Sergeant Musa Bello said, “The training has prepared me well for civil life. I was trained in farming. I hope to invest my gratuity in it. I am proud of my service years.”
The event ended with the traditional lowering of flags, marking their formal exit from military service.
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