Six contractors to pilot Ogoni water project

In line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), six contractors are to be hired by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) for the provision of potable water in impacted communities within Ogoniland.

The contractors were picked from six lots in the bids opened last week, and the companies will work across various locations in the four Local Government Areas of Ogoniland, to provide water in the next three to five weeks.

The provision of potable water for communities affected by pollution and whose underground source of water was impacted was a key recommendation in the UNEP Report.

The communities UNEP identified for water provision are; Ogale, Kpean, Nsisioken, Korokoro, K-Dere and B-Dere. “These six lots are the first phase for the provision of water, there will be subsequent phases coming up for many other communities as we progress,” HYPREP Project Coordinator, Dr. Marvin Dekil said.

He explained that the bidding process is transparent and in line with the guidelines in the Procurement Act, adding that the provision of water would be in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources. Dekil also maintained that precautionary measures against COVID-19 were been maintained by HYPREP and contractors handling the sites.