Ogoni Cleanup: Reps Threaten Contractors With Cancellation, Scores HYPREP 80%

The House of Representatives Committee overseeing the Ogoni cleanup has threatened to recommend contract cancellations against underperforming contractors, despite scoring the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) about 80 per cent in its implementation of the environmental restoration programme.

The lawmakers issued the warning during an oversight visit to Ogoniland, Rivers State, where they inspected remediation sites, water facilities, hospitals and youth training centres to assess progress and identify obstacles delaying project delivery.

HYPREP Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, said the agency was implementing more than 120 projects covering environmental remediation, clean water, healthcare, mangrove restoration, skills acquisition and livelihood support.

At the Limeview Training Centre, the delegation was informed that 2,400 Ogoni youths were undergoing technical and professional training. The committee commended the initiative, describing it as an opportunity to equip young people with employable skills and improve their prospects in the international labour market.

However, the inspection exposed implementation challenges, including flooding that submerges monitoring wells and soil-treatment areas. The delegation was also informed of an access dispute involving a community chief, prompting the lawmakers to pledge intervention to resolve the impasse.

On healthcare, Zabbey said HYPREP was developing specialised facilities, including an oncology unit for cancer screening and treatment. He also disclosed that a human-health monitoring study coordinated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, an arm of the World Health Organization, was investigating possible links between hydrocarbon pollution and health conditions among residents.

The project coordinator said the cottage hospital was nearing completion but required personnel before commissioning. He added that the Central Hospital of Excellence for Environmental Restoration had progressed beyond its previously reported 96 per cent completion level, with furnishing underway and commissioning targeted before the end of the year, subject to readiness and staffing.

While commending the progress recorded, the committee chair called for increased funding to accelerate the cleanup, stressing that the scale and complexity of environmental restoration in Ogoniland required sustained financial commitment. The lawmakers also urged oil companies, including NNPC/Renaissance and Shell, alongside other relevant partners, to sustain their contributions.

The committee, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the Buon water project, alleging that little visible progress had been made since its previous inspection. It said HYPREP management would be engaged on the project’s performance before recommendations, including possible contract cancellation, were considered against contractors failing to meet expectations.

In contrast, the lawmakers praised the Kedere water facility for its effective solar-powered system, urging HYPREP to replicate the technology in other communities where unreliable electricity affects water pumping and access to potable water.

The committee also indicated plans to inspect mangrove restoration sites and compare progress with findings from its 2024 visit. While acknowledging improvements across the programme, the lawmakers stressed that contractors must be held accountable, bottlenecks removed and outstanding projects accelerated to ensure that Ogoni communities receive lasting environmental, health and economic benefits.