CSOs condemn protest against HYPREP project

…Urged Ogoni youths not to disrupt ongoing remediation work

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working on environmental justice in the Niger Delta has condemned protest, by few Ogoni youth against the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), in Abuja recently, describing it as malicious and a procured protest.

While passing a vote of confidence in Nenibarini Zabbey, a professor and coordinator of HYPREP, the coalition urged the protesters to avoid actions that could disrupt the ongoing remediation work.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt, Michael Garale of Rainbow Watch, stated that the youths that protested in Abuja were highly sponsored and paid.

“We want to make it known that the motive behind the protest was to blackmail HYPREP under the leadership of Zabbey with the aim of extorting money from the Project Coordinator, and they were fully paid with transportation, feeding and accommodation for days.

“We acknowledge the frustration of some communities that have waited decades for a clean environment, while others have been cleaned, but sabotaging the cleanup process will only delay justice for Ogoni people

“After reviewing project data, site visits, and stakeholder feedback, we pass a vote of confidence in Zabbey and the HYPREP management team”, Gbarale said.

The CSOs noted that significant improvements in accelerated soil and groundwater remediation in Phase 1 sites, increased engagement with Ogoni communities and traditional institutions, transparent procurement processes and employment of Ogoni contractors and youth, establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, provision of portable drinking water in 46 communities, cottage hospital at Buan, Specialist hospital in Kpite, Ogoni electricity power project at Wiiyaakara, which is ongoing and the clean up of complex sites and the revegetation of mangrove in key areas.

They cautioned that protests targeting HYPREP risk halting contractors, displacing workers, and giving room to misinformation that undermines donor confidence and federal support.

“We call on Ogoni youth to engage constructively, through the Community Liaison structure, grievance redress mechanism, and dialogue with HYPREP and traditional leaders. Violence, blockades, or attacks on project sites will not clean our land faster, it will set us back,” the coalition started.

The CSOs reaffirmed their commitment to independent monitoring of HYPREP and urged the Federal Government to release outstanding funds to keep the cleanup on track.

“We stand with the people of Ogoni, but we also stand with truth. Zabbey and his team deserve the space to deliver on the UNEP recommendations. Let us not throw away progress for politics,” the statement concluded.

The group further alleged that those Ogoni youths, who protested in Abuja did not have the financial capacity and capabilities in paying high cost of transportation to Abuja with the number of those involved, accommodation with the number of days and feeding, noting that while they have freedom of speech it should not be misguided to tarnish the image of Zabbey, who has done tremendously well and received several awards.

“We disassociate ourselves from this faceless group, led by Monday Moikara and Co” said the statement.

Speaking further Solomon Clifford, the National Chairman Defence for Democracy said that Zabbey had given HYPREP a new shape and wondered why a faceless group will tarnished the image and assassinate the character of the Project Coordinator, while calling on the President and the Minister of Environment to disregard the protest.

Stella Amayie, explained that as CSOs that they monitored HYPREP clean up and water facilities to ensure compliance, saying that those who protested have their selfish reasons and urged the public to ignore them.