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By Joel Anekwe
Stakeholders from Ogoniland have reacted differently to the announcement last week by the Federal Government that it has released another $177 million into the account of the Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP) for the Ogoni cleanup exercise.
While some think the release of the funds was a political gimmick considering the timing of the announcement, others say it is rather a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to the cleanup of the Ogoni polluted environment. The government had in 2017 released $10 million into the account of HYPREP.
In his reaction, former president of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Ledum Mitee described the news of the release of the funds as a political gimmick. He challenged the government to show commitment and sincerity to the cleanup of impacted Ogoni environment and stop playing politics with the process.
Mitee said: “Over a year after several activities have been shown to have happened, nothing is on ground. Now we are close to elections, it has become convenient for people to say, oh we have this money. When will that money do things that will change the lives of the people?”
He added: “There are certain emergency activities that need to be done, including another study that should determine what sort of cleanup should be done where. I’ve not seen that happen.
“They say people are drinking water that is one thousand times contaminated more than anywhere in the world and that water should be provided for these people, nothing has been done about those things,” he said.
Mitee further alleged that “Those we thought should stand to protect the interest of the people have found themselves to be those who are presenting what I think is the government view or what I think is the oil companies view and that is unfortunate for our people.”
Also reacting, Dr. Kabari Sam, Head Environment & Conservation, Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), Port Harcourt, observed that the money had been released over one month ago, pointing out that what was important was a framework by government to guarantee a sustainable funding of the cleanup exercise.
“We are more concerned about sustainable funding throughout the remediation process,” he said, adding “It has been this same amount for the past 1 month. Let the government come up with a framework for devoting more money for the cleanup.
“What is important is a sustainable framework to which all stakeholders will be committed. Remember $10m was paid in 2017, and it took another year to have another $167m. The remediation exercise will require consistent commitment, otherwise, HYPREP will be stranded and would not be able to meet up its mandates,” he said.
Dr. Sam accused the government and HYPREP of insincerity, adding: “If they are committed to best practices as recommended by UNEP, no cleanup would start when the Integrated Soil Management Centre, ISMC has not been built. The greatest concern we have now is the possibility of a shabby cleanup. Contractors could dig up waste from polluted sites in Ogoni and either dump it in other areas of Ogoni or elsewhere.”
On his part, Niger Delta environmentalist, Celestine Akpobari hailed the Federal Government for the release of the fund, adding that he was not surprised by the gesture.
“Am not surprised and I think that it was expected that the money be released annually, only those who didn’t believe that the cleanup was real. Of course that money has been in the account of HYPREP for over three months now.”
According to Akpobari, it was on the basis of the release of the money that HYPREP advertised for the remediation of 26 sites and water installation for Ogoni which over 400 companies bid for.
He said: “It’s something that we know all this while, the money has been there. It was released on the polluter pay principles. It’s not government money. That money did not come from government. It came from the oil companies that polluted the environment.”
He ruled out any political undertone behind the release of the money asserting: “I was part of the team that negotiated for $200 million every year right from Jonathan’s time. It didn’t start today. It was from Diezani Alison when she was the Minister of Petroleum that we started the negotiation.”
He explained that just like the TSA which started during Jonathan’s time, President Buhari was implementing the Ogoni cleanup which Jonathan refused to implement.
He said “so it (the release of the money) is not politically motivated because it’s Buhari government or any government. Government come, government go. It’s $200 million annually for five years.”
A board member of HYPREP, Dr. Peter Meede confirmed the release of the $177 million and said it would be used for the first year of the exercise, adding that the fund was released to HYPREP for the immediate commencement of the cleanup exercise after the completion of the procurement process.
Dr. Meede stated: “Well the information the minister is conveying is information I am aware of because I am member of the board of trustees and am aware that we have received the money meant for the first year of the cleanup exercise.
“Specifically, 80% of the money which is $177 million, the other 20% is expected to come from the local refineries which we are yet to receive. But as we speak today we are good to go because the money that is able to take the first year of the cleanup is ready.”
He disagreed with the claims that the Federal Government was playing politics with the Ogoni cleanup and denied the insinuation that Ogonis on the board of HYPREP had been insincere with the people.
“Anybody that will tell you that Ogoni people on the project are not capable or that the Ogoni on this project are not sincere, it is they themselves that are not sincere because if you want me to mention names, they are all commercial people collecting money from companies and collecting money from people and that is because we are not giving them the chance to come and share money, that is why they are not satisfied with us here,” he stressed.
