The Federal Government has set up a Hydro-Carbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) as part of the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Assessment Report on Ogoni Land, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, said on Friday.
Alison-Madueke, who spoke at a news conference, explained that the setting up of HYPREP by President Goodluck Jonathan was in keeping with government’s determination to protect the environmental rights of the people.
She assured that government would implement the recommendations in the report and investigate other hydrocarbon impacted sites.
“With the establishment of this project, it is expected that all stakeholders, especially the impacted communities, will co-operate fully with Government,” she said. “We also hope that they will grant unfettered access to all impacted sites, to ensure complete success.’’
The minister solicited the co-operation of all stakeholders, especially community leaders, to ensure the effective implementation of the project.
Also, Hadiza Mailafia, the Minister of Environment, called for the protection and preservation of the environment, adding that the Ministries of Environment and Petroleum Resources would always collaborate to ensure a cleaner environment.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Goni Sheikh and Andrew Yakubu, the Group Managing Director, NNPC, were among those present at the meeting.
Others included Peter Idabor, the Director General, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and top officials of the ministries of petroleum resources and environment, as well as the NNPC.
Source: http://dailytimes.com.ng/article/fgs-hydro-carbon-pollution-restoration-project-takes
