The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has taken steps to provide a socioeconomic road map for the development of Ogoni land.
The project coordinator of HYPREP, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, who said this at an interface meeting at Mogho community in Gokana local government area of Rivers State, also revealed that the project has kicked off a socioeconomic study of the region with the aim of getting accurate and up-to-date information for effective planning and response to social and economic dynamics.
Prof. Zabbey said the study indicates HYPREP’s commitment to developing the needed template for government and development partners to actualise sustainable socio-economic development of the region.
The project coordinator, who was represented by the Head, Stakeholders Engagement Unit, Richard Nkpe, acknowledged the fact that there have been livelihoods losses, health challenges and other social security issues in the area which need to be documented.
He promised that in implementing the project’s activities, HYPREP will commit itself to every detail in the recommendations reached by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and also carry out other activities, within its capacity, that will better the lives of the people of Ogoni.
While calling on the people to cooperate with the research team that will administer questionnaires in the various communities, the professor also told the Forum, which comprises two representatives from each community, that qualified academics have been engaged to conduct the research in Ogoni, starting with Gokana Kingdom.
The project coordinator further revealed that HYPREP has engaged in related studies with foreign partners, including the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation, to carrying out health audit in the entire Ogoni area, following decades of oil exploration.
Also speaking, the head, Livelihoods Unit, Mrs. Josephine Nzidee informed the representatives of Gokana communities that the study became necessary to enable HYPREP obtain latest data about the people’s socio – economic status, including their health and occupational standing.
Also, the team lead for the Socio – Economic Study of Ogoni, Prof. Alubabari Desmond Nbete, commended HYPREP for embarking on such initiative, and assured of the team’s preparedness to conduct the research based on the best and acceptable professional standards.
