Buhari sacks HYPREP coordinator, Giadom; appoints Zabbey

By Elfredah Kevin-Alerechi

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday sacked the project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) coordinator, Ferdinand Giadom, and replaced him with Nanibarini Zabbey almost five days after the groundbreaking ceremonies for the construction of the centre of excellence for environmental restoration, the Ogoni power project, and 100-bed specialist hospital.

The newly appointed Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Professor Nenibarini Zabbey officially resumes at the PCO after the outgoing, Project Coordinator, Dr. Ferdinand Giadom (MFR,FNAEGE) handed over to him.@FMEnvng @UNEP pic.twitter.com/oEBr8Qwinw

— HYPREP (@HYPREPNigeria) May 4, 2023

This comes less than two weeks after NewswireNGR exposed HYPREP’s slow pace in providing drinking water for the Ogoni people as recommended by UNEP.

The investigation also revealed that Shell had provided a total of $572 million from 2018 to 2022 to restore the lands the company polluted between 2008 to 2009.

Buhari was reported to have virtually attended the flag-off ceremony. On the government-verified Twitter page, Buhari noted that the “Power Project” will help to sustain other HYPREP’s ongoing projects, such as the Livelihood programme, centre of excellence for environmental restoration, among others in the Ogoniland.

He said that the Ogoni specialist hospital will treat patients who had long-term exposure to hydrocarbon poisoning and other disorders connected to local environmental deterioration.

According to the President, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration will provide scholars in Nigeria and other parts of the world with resources and opportunities for research linked to environmental restoration.

You will recall that from the Gokana local government area (LGA) to the Eleme LGA between 2008 and 2009, British Shell oil spilled and polluted the environment.

The incident, which took place for over a decade, resulted in a global presence, including organisations like the UNEP.

The almost 30,000-barrel oil spill also destroyed rivers and significant drinking water supplies.

According to a 14-month UNEP research, the extensive pollution affected biodiversity, farmlands, streams, rivers, and areas that, on the surface, seemed unharmed but were poisoned.