Environment
THE Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), on Wednesday, urged the newly-elected Project Coordinator for the Hydrocarbons Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to promote an all inclusive-open-door policy during his tenure of office.
The Director of HOMEF, a non-governmental organization (NGO), Dr Nnimmo Bassey, gave the advice in a statement issued to newsmen by the Media Communication Lead, Kome Odhomor, in Port Harcourt.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the termination of the appointment of Dr Ferdinand Giadom, HYPREP’s former Project Coordinator, and replaced him with Prof. Nanibarini Zabbey, as the new project coordinator.
HOMEF Director applauded Federal Government on Zabbey’s appointment.
Zabbey is a professor of Biomonitoring and Restoration Ecology at the Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt.
Bassey therefore noted that the expectations of stakeholders in the Niger Delta were high with Zabbey’s pedigree as an academician and activist who had deep knowledge of the Ogoni environment.
He advised the new HPREP coordinator to do things differently while tackling the complex pollution sites in the Ogoni area and Niger Delta region.
Bassey stated that the Ogoni cleanup had taken longer than necessary in spite of the series change of coordinators, available resources and manpower made available for the cleanup.
Bassey congratulated the new coordinator and urged him to promote the policy of transparency, accountability and inclusion of all relevant stakeholders.
“While we congratulate Prof. Zabbey on his appointment, we equally take this opportunity to register some key urgent demands and hope that he uses his office to advocate for a comprehensive health and environmental audit of Ogoni land.
“He should also audit the entire Niger Delta and other areas that have experienced negative impacts of hydrocarbons exploration and exploitation,” he said.
Bassey called for regular consultation in which projected milestones were shared and achieved.
Bassey also called on the federal government, Oil and gas industries to begin a comprehensive cleanup of Niger Delta regions to end all forms of pollution. (NAN)
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Tags: Dr Nnimmo Bassey Health of Mother Earth Foundation HYPREP President Muhammadu Buhari Prof. Nanibarini Zabbey
