The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Environment, has reaffirmed its commitment to the Ogoni-up project with the commencement of the second phase, which is the characterization and remediation of 15 complex sites in Ogoniland.
Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, made this announcement during a site visit with German remediation experts to Isisiokane in Eleme, one of the 15 high-risk sites in Ogoniland.
Zabbey noted that the characterization is a precursor to moving to the project’s second phase, which is the remediation of complex sites where groundwater was contaminated.
He, however, explained that the characterization does not negate the one done by the United Nations Environmental Programme(UNEP) in 2011, explaining that although the UNEP study is a base line, the time when the study was conducted has changed.
“UNEP data are base line data but between when they did the study and now things have changed, environmental conditions are dynamic and not static and so the site characterization of this site and other high risk complex site will give us the true picture of physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the site.
“It is in terms of the contamination, it will give us workable data on the vertical and horizontal spread of the contamination, it will also give us foundational data that will enable the clean up process to be fit for purpose.
“We are at Isisioke one of the high risks complex site that HYPREP plans to clean and looking at the new report Isisiokane is one of the sites that UNEP reported high concentrations of benzine which is Nine Hundred Times (900x) above permissible limit making the contamination both in the soil and the ground water.
“As you can see this is a residential area and the contamination is under people’s houses, shrines, community artifacts, churches and streams and dealing with this kind of site requires high level of safety precautions and so we are here today with members of SENSATEC from Germany they’re here to do reconnaissance survey of the site and they’ll also go to other high risk sites to get first hand feel of the situation we are dealing with.”
The experts aim to conduct a reconnaissance survey of high-risk sites in the area.
Representative of the German remediation firm, Harry Ylkangas assured the people of Ogoniland that they will collaborate with local communities throughout the process, sharing knowledge and ideas with indigenous environmental experts.
In a related development, Zabbey reinstated FG’s commitment to ensuring sustainable access to clean water for the people of these communities in Ogoniland.
Zabbey spoke at the inauguration of the Water Consumers Association for the Alesa Water Scheme, saying it is an important step in direction of cleaning up Ogoni.
“We are gathered to celebrate a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s effort through HYPREP to ensure that the People of Alesa, Alode, Agbonchia, Aleto, and some Ogale communities continue to access potable water,” Zabbey said.
“Therefore, this occasion marks a new chapter in our shared commitment to ensuring sustainable access to clean water for the people of these communities.”
