19/02/2025
Eleme Focus Agenda Condemns Lack of Progress in Ogale Cleanup Despite N35 Billion Contract
The Eleme Focus Agenda has expressed outrage over the slow pace of work at the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) remediation site in Ogale, despite a contract sum of over N35 billion. A visit to the site reveals a lack of meaningful impact on the community, with workers being treated poorly and receiving meager salaries.
The situation is alarming, with workers unsure of their roles, responsibilities, and work days. The take-home pay is extremely low, with some workers earning as little as N30-40 thousand some month. This injustice is not only perpetrated by contractors but also by community leaders, who seem to be complicit in this conspiracy against the people of Ogale.
The HYPREP project was established to remediate the environment and restore the livelihoods of communities impacted by hydrocarbon pollution in Ogoniland. However, the current state of affairs at the Ogale site raises questions about the project's effectiveness and commitment to justice.
The community deserves better, and it is time for stakeholders to take action and demand justice. As the former HYPREP Project Coordinator, Dr. Marvin Dekil, stated, "greater transparency and involvement of stakeholders enhances trust, project acceptance, and local ownership, which are key to project sustainability and development outcomes.
The people of Ogale are still waiting to see tangible results from the N35 billion contract awarded for the cleanup of their community, which has been severely impacted by oil pollution. Despite the huge sum of money involved, some sites remain completely shut down, while others are operating at a skeletal level with no significant impact.
This lack of progress has raised serious questions about accountability and transparency in the management of the cleanup project. The people of Ogale demand to know why the government is voting such large sums of money into private pockets without any meaningful impact on the ground.
Furthermore, the 1% contract sum meant for the landlords was allegedly paid to unknown recipients, sparking concerns about corruption and mismanagement of funds. The people of Ogale deserve answers and demand that those responsible be held accountable.
It should be noted that accountability is not a favor done to the people but an obligation owed to the people. It is imperative that the government and relevant authorities take immediate action to address the concerns of the Ogale community and ensure that the cleanup project is executed transparently and effectively.
The Eleme Focus Agenda demands that the federal government and HYPREP take immediate action to address the concerns of the Ogale community. This includes ensuring that workers are treated fairly and receive decent salaries, and that the remediation work is carried out professionally, transparently and accountable manner.