In keeping with his avowed commitment to working for the development and well-being of all Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja approved several actions to fast-track the long delayed implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland.
The actions approved by Buhari, based on recommendations to him 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, 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 President further approved that the HYPREP Governing Council should be composed as follows:
Ministry of Petroleum Resources – One Representative
Federal Ministry of Environment – One Representative
Impacted States (Rivers) – One Representative
Oil Companies & NNPC – 4 Representatives
Ogoniland – 2 Representatives
United Nations System – One Representative
Secretariat – Headed by Project Manager
He also approved the composition of a Board of Trustees for the HYPREP Trust Fund as follows:
Federal Government – One Representative
NNPC – One Representative
International Oil Companies – One Representative
Ogoniland – One Representative
United Nations System – One Representative
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 Buhari, and the environmental clean-up of Ogoniland will commence in earnest with the President’s inauguration of the HYPREP Governing Council and the Board of Trustees for the Trust Fund.
