Group Hails The Appointment Of Adekanmbi As HYPREP Coordinator.

 

A group, known as Environmental Rights Advocates Organization of  Niger Delta,  has hailed the appointment of Dr.Olufemi Adekanmbi, as the project coordinator of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), by President Bola Timubu describing it as a welcome  development.

The group said that his appointment was a  welcome development to the environmentally degraded communities of the Niger Delta region adding that he  has been part of the struggle for the betterment  of the region for sometime now.

In a statement on Sunday by Chief (Barr.) Francis O.Wainwei,Executive Director of the group, it stated that Adekanmbi is  a Niger Deltan and therefore can be appointed as the coordinator of the agency.

Although,  Professor Zabbey an Ogoni man was removed to make way for  Adekanmbi to step in but the group  has hailed that appointment maintaining that  the appointment is not a only meant  for Ogoni people alone.

The statement reads: "We wish to use this medium to unequivocally state that HYPREP,  is not exclusively established for Ogoni people but the entire Niger Delta Region and therefore, any competent Niger Deltan can be appointed as the Project Coordinator. 

"We are the umbrella body of environmentalists in the Niger Delta region and we are therefore, quite familiar with the activities that led to the establishment of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

"It is a project established by the Federal Government to clean up pollution caused by oil spills and other hydrocarbon-related activities in the Niger Delta region. HYPREP aims at restoring the environment, improve livelihoods, and promote sustainable development in the affected areas.

"It is  therefore, wrong for anyone to claim that it is only Ogoni people that can be appointed as Project Coordinators of HYPREP. It is true that HYPREP is currently engaging in the Ogoni environmental remediation, restoration and livelihood project ( The Ogoni Clean Up Project ) but that doesn't make it the patrimony of the Ogoni people.

"HYPREP remains a Federal Government project and it is designed to cater for the entire Niger Delta ,irrespective of its present focus on the Ogoni clean up project.

"HYPREP will certainly commission the clean up of other hydrocarbon pollution impacted communities after Ogoni and therefore, it will be chaotic and inappropriate for such communities to demand that it is only their indigenes that should be appointed project coordinators of HYPREP.

"The appointment of the project coordinator of HYPREP should  be based on competence and be open to all Niger Deltans.Therefore ,the appointment of Dr.Olufemi Adekanmbi s in the right direction, as he is adequately prepared and equipped for the job.His wealth of experience and knowledge will enable him pilot the affairs of the office meritoriously. He is indeed “a round peg in round hole. “

The group disclosed that  Dr.Olufemi Adekanmbi is a proud son of the Niger Delta region stating that  he has been actively involved in the advocacy for the environmental remediation of the Niger Delta communities, negatively impacted by hydrocarbon pollution.

According to the the group, he has been carrying out environmental awareness and advocacy programmes for the betterment of the Niger Delta communities for some years now adding that he is a prominent member of the Nigerian Environmental Society (NES).

"As an ardent environmentalist that holds a Doctorate Degree in Environmental Management, he knows exactly what to do to alleviate the plight of the communities suffering from hydrocarbon pollution therefore, his appointment is a welcome development to the environmentally degraded communities of the Niger Delta region, as he has been part of the struggle for the betterment  of the region for sometime now.

"We are therefore, calling on all patriotic Niger Deltans and critical stakeholders to support him and create the enabling environment for him to execute his new assignment for the betterment of our communities." The statement concluded.