President Muhammadu Buhari has kick-started the process of restoration of Ogoniland with approval of action plans for implementation of the long delayed United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report on the environmental restoration of the area .
The newly approved action plan is based on recommendations jointly provided by the Executive Director of UNEP, the UNEP Special Representative for Ogoniland, Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministries of Environment and Petroleum Resources, and other stakeholders
The recommended actions include the amendment of the Official Gazette establishing the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) to reflect a new governance framework comprising a Governing Council, a Board of Trustees and Project Management.
The new HYPREP Governing Council approved by President Buhari is composed of one representative each for the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Environment, affected state-Rivers and the United Nations System.
HYPREP Governing Council which will also have four representatives from the Oil Companies and NNPC as well as two representatives from Ogoniland will have a Secretariat headed by a ‘Project Manager’.
Following a meeting held on the directive of President Buhari, it was also agreed that a contribution deposit of $10 million will be made by stakeholders within 30 days of the appointment of members of the Board of Trustees for the Trust Fund, who will be responsible for collecting and managing funds from contributors and donors. .
A new implementation template has also been evolved at the instance of President Buhari, and the environmental clean-up of Ogoni land will commence in earnest with the President’s inauguration of the HYPREP Governing Council and the Board of Trustees for the Trust Fund.
By Olisemeka Obeche
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