Connect with us

Environment

Ogoni Clean-Up: Traditional Rulers calls For HYPREP’s Independence

Published

on

Share
BY Gom Mirian , Abuja

The traditional rulers in Ogoni region have called for total independence of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in the implementation process of Ogoni land clean-up in Niger Delta region.

They made the call in Abuja recently, at a One-day High Level Policy Dialogue on the Clean-Up of Ogoni Land: A Critical Appraisal of Stakeholders’ Roles, Concerns and Way Forward.

Speaking at the event, organised by African Center For Leadership , Strategy and Development ( Centre LSD) in collaboration with Face Initiative, with support from Cordaid, a member, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH, King Suanu Baridam said HYPREP which is saddle with the environmental clean up of Ogoni Land needs total independence to work effectively.

According to him, “HYPREP is not being allowed to operate. It is good for us to have this kind of peaceful situation. HYPREP should be freed to operate as an organization, one should not be dragging one leg, another one dragging the left and another person dragging the right hand, they will not perform anything.”

Amid claims by some experts that HYPREP is not carrying others along in their deliverables, the Royal father further lamented that it is because activities in the region are being politicized.

The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Dr Marvin Dekil disclosed that additional fund is needed to complete the accessement process in the ogoni land, adding that procurement process is ongoing in collaboration with the Rivers state government to ensure safe drinking water for additional communities within the ogoni land which were not captured in the UNEP’s report.

He however urged those criticising the organization to note that the essence of setting up the organization (HYPREP) was to achieve one thing, “which is the remediation of oil impacted sites. HYPREP is not a parallel government that will provide roads, hospitals, schools, jobs as it’s being envisaged in the communities,” he said.

In his address, the Acting Executive Director of the African Center for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), Mr Monday Osasah, represented by Uchenna Arisukwu said the policy dialogue was conceptualized to provide a platform for interaction between citizens, policy makers and practitioners on the clean up of the Niger Delta and make suggestions to resolving the issues militating against role play of stakeholders in its implementation.

He stressed the need for other parts of the country especially the new areas where oil has been discovered to learn from oil exploration and exploitation experience of the Niger Delta. “Few days ago, it was reported that Gombe and Bauchi State are presently at loggerhead over the ownership of a location where oil is said to have been found. If the disagreement will begin to rear its head at the stage of exploration, what will happen at the stage of exploitation? He asked.

Environment

Prolonged Public Holidays Come with Negative Economic Effects on Citizens – Anambra Residents

Published

on

Share

Anambra residents have slammed the additional day approved by the Federal Government for the Muslim faithful to celebrate the 2024 Eid-Ei-Fitr, saying this will have negative effects on the economy.

The Federal government had early declared April 9 and 10 as Muslim-Ummah for the successful completion of a month’s spiritual rejuvenation.

Reports says that residents of Anambra capital city believe that the additional day which they did not plan for will result in economic hardship to the citizenry.

Most respondents believe that people had planned to resume their economic activities instead of wasting their time staying at home doing nothing..

Former Chairman, Awka Chamber of Commerce, Chief Felly Akosa, described the additional day to the two days approved earlier as “unfair to the economy of the country as people were unprepared for the additional day.

Akosa said that although it is right for the Muslim faithful to celebrate their holiday after a month-long fasting, the process needs to be carefully planned for in place of the additional rest day which could inhibit business activities.

Chief Damian Okeke-Ogene, National Vice President of Igbo Apex Social Cultural body, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said the policy would cause huge economic waste as businesses are put on hold,

He advised that, in future, a proper and well planned programme needs to be in place before declaring a public holiday for any celebration that will be national.

“Our economy and other sectors are not very healthy,” and it would, therefore be appropriate to plan well to avoid declarations that will hamper the citizens’ welfare.

Mazi Christian Beluchukwu, a business man in Awka, described the extension of the Eid-El-Fitr public holiday to Thursday, April 11, as an added hardship for the citizenry.

Beluchukwu said that any public holiday for three days, April 9 to 11, to celebrate any feast in the country is an economic loss to the nation.

He said that it was best to stick to the two-day national public holidays as this gives room for the people to plan their activities very well.

He stated that his wife went to a public hospital on Tuesday and was unattended to because there was no doctor on seat to provide medical attention.

“She resorted to visiting a private hospital which cost extra money which the public hospital is expected to handle at a reasonable cost. (NAN)

Continue Reading

Environment

World Bank Fund: Corporation Rehabilitates Treatment Plant, Reticulation in Jos South

Published

on

Share

The Jos Water Services Corporation (JWSC) has said that the World Bank fund received would be used to boost water supply to Bukuru and environs in Jos South Local Government Area.

Mr Apollos Samchi, the Managing Director of the corporation, said that N1.7 billion would be expended on the rehabilitation of water treatment plant, over head steel tank and laying of pipes to homes of consumers.

Samchi, who disclosed this on Friday in Jos, during a two-day capacity building workshop, said that the projects were expected to be completed in four months.

Reports says that the workshop organised for contractors has at its theme: “Implementation of Environmental and Social Management Plans for Projects in Jos South.

The MD said that the projects would ensure steady provision of potable water to residents in Gyel and Kurgiya in Jos South Local Government Area.

He said the treatment plant when rehabilitated would pump out 5,000 cubic litres of water daily.

The MD further stated that the reticulation exercise would cover residents who weren’t initially connected to public water supply in the area.

Samchi said that the essence of the workshop was to ensure that the contractors were trained to develop adequate measures and controls to minimise and mitigate potential environmental and social risks that could adversely affect the project implementation.

He called on all the contractors handling the projects to ensure that they adhered to the environmental and safety standards and deliver within the specified timeframe.

In his remarks, Mr Jonathan Malann, the Plateau Project Coordinator, Sustainable Urban, Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene programme (SURWASH), also advised contractors to adhere to the environmental and safety standards as provided by the World Bank.

The Federal Government had received $700m financing from the World Bank to ensure that all its people have access to sustainable and safely managed WASH services.

The seven participating states are Plateau, Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Katsina, and Kaduna.(NAN)

Continue Reading

Environment

Erosion Control Project: Gombe SEC Approves N389m Compensation for Residents

Published

on

Share

The Gombe State Executive Council (SEC) has approved payment of N389 million as compensation for residents that would be affected by the gully erosion control project at Federal College of Education (FCE) Technical and its surrounding communities.

The Commissioner for Finance, Gombe State, Malam Mohammed Magaji, stated this at the end of the SEC meeting on Friday in Gombe.

Magaji said the payment, which would commence immediately, would be for individuals and organisations along the gully erosion site.

He said almost 1000 persons were expected to benefit from the gesture.

According to him, the compensation is part of the requirements of the World Bank, which specifies that such payments be made to property owners.

Magaji said the payment would also be made to ensure seamless resettlement of affected persons.

“The beneficiaries are in hundreds, almost a 1,000 people; there is compensation for houses, and also for business premises.

“There is also stipends for the elderly living around that area so that they are able to have good livelihood,” he said.

The commissioner for Education, Hajiya Aishatu Maigari, also said the SEC approved upgrade of the five mega senior secondary schools in the state to sustain improvement in the education sector.

Maigari said the upgrade would be carried out based on the needs of each of the schools.

She stated that infrastructure in some of the schools were already being upgraded to global standards.

“We have seen construction of toilets, installation of solar-powered light, construction of roads, school clinics, boreholes and many more,” she said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had on Nov. 23 signed a N12 billion contract with Triacta Nigeria Ltd. for a 21-kilometre gully erosion control work in six communities within Gombe metropolis.

The project is under ACRESAL project, a World Bank-assisted project to address the challenges of land degradation and climate change in northern Nigeria. (NAN)

Continue Reading

Read Our ePaper

Top Stories

NEWS4 hours ago

Tinubu Establishes c’ttee on Green Economic Initiatives, Appoints Ajuri as Special Envoy

Share President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a committee to oversee the Green Economic Initiative, known as the Presidential...

NEWS4 hours ago

ASUU Kicks as FG Unveils Tertiary Institutions’ Governing Council

ShareA few days after the Academic Staff Union of Universities gave the Federal Government an ultimatum over the failure to...

NEWS4 hours ago

Sacrifice and Selflessness as Hallmark of Leadership 

ShareBy Lawrence Onoja It gives me great pleasure and | am truly honoured to be asked to serve as Guest...

SPORTS3 days ago

Para Badminton: Bolaji, Chigozie qualify for Paris 2024 Paralympics

ShareThe duo of Mariam Eniola Bolaji and Jeremiah Chigozie have qualified for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games coming up from...

NEWS3 days ago

FCTA Moves to Curb Medical Tourism

ShareBy Laide Akinboade, AbujaFederal capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has pledged to provide the necessary support for the successful completion and...

NEWS3 days ago

Ortom, Ode, Asemakaha Felicitates  With Alia on 58th Birthday

ShareFrom Attah Ede, Makurdi  Former Governor of Benue State, Chief Samuel Ortom, the incumbent Deputy Governor, Barr Sam Ode and...

BUSINESS3 days ago

NAICOM, RMAFC Collaborate on Economic Diversification

ShareBy Tony Obiechina, AbujaThe Commissioner for Insurance/CEO, Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, and his management team have met with the members...

BUSINESS3 days ago

22,000 Beneficiaries to Get N50,000 Nano Businesses Grant in Kogi

ShareFrom Joseph Amedu, LokojaNo fewer than 22,000 beneficiaries in Kogi will get N50,000 each, under the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme...

dailyasset-greetings dailyasset-greetings
NEWS3 days ago

CBN Unveils Strategy to Boost Remittances

ShareBy Tony Obiechina, AbujaThe Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has activated plans to double foreign-currency remittance flows through formal channels...

BUSINESS3 days ago

Accountant General Declares N318.5b Revenue Inflow in First Quarter

ShareBy Ubong Ukpong, AbujaThe Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein on Wednesday said total revenue inflows to the...

Copyright © 2021 Daily Asset Limited | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc