Ogoni Communities Applaud FG’s Appointment of Deeyah as New HYPREP Board Chairman

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt 

Babbe District in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State has lauded federal government for the appointment of Hon. Emmanuel Deeyah as the new Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

Babbe district comprises several communities in Khana LGA.

The communities speaking through Babbe Advancement Forum (BAF), described Deeyah’s appointment as a masterstroke and a proud moment for both Babbe District and the entire Ogoni ethnic nationality.

The socio-political organisation committed to promoting unity and driving the development of district and the wider Ogoni region, said the appointment reflected the trust and confidence of President Bola Tinubu in the capacity of Babbe people to provide credible leadership in national assignments.

In a statement jointly signed by its Convener, Emmanuel Aanee and his deputy, Mr. Benedict Kinakah, the group expressed gratitude to the President for nominating their son with impeccable credentials and unquestionable integrity to lead the body charged with overseeing the environmental restoration of Ogoniland.

“We sincerely thank Mr. President for nominating a worthy son of Babbe to chair the HYPREP Board of Trustees. Hon. Deeyah’s public service record is not only remarkable, it is inspiring. He has demonstrated time and again that he possesses the courage, wisdom, and vision to lead.”

The group stated that Deeyah served in the Rivers State House of Assembly before moving to the House of Representatives, as a vocal advocate of environmental justice and infrastructural development in the Niger Delta, particularly in Ogoniland.

“During his tenure as a legislator, Hon. Deeyah was never silent on issues affecting our land and people. He fought for environmental justice, infrastructural development, and the welfare of his constituents. Those qualities will now serve him and all of us as he leads HYPREP’s Board.”

The BAF said the appointment has brought renewed hope to Babbe and the larger Ogoni community, noting that Deeyah’s leadership style and experience will be critical in navigating the complexities of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report’s recommendations and ensuring their effective implementation.

Established in 2012, HYPREP is responsible for executing the recommendations of the 2011 UNEP Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland. The report documented extensive oil pollution in Ogoni communities and called for a comprehensive clean-up, estimated to last over three decades and cost billions of dollars.

However, HYPREP’s work has often been criticised for slow progress, questions over transparency, and alleged mismanagement. Local communities have repeatedly demanded that the agency’s leadership be accountable and inclusive, reflecting the needs and aspirations of the people most affected by oil spills.

The communities believe that Deeyah’s appointment, working with the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, is a new opportunity to rebuild trust between the agency and the Ogoni people. “This is one appointment the people of Babbe and the entire Ogoni nation are proud of, because we know what Hon. Deeyah stands for and represents integrity, fairness, and progress,” the statement noted.

The Forum stressed that the clean-up of Ogoniland is too important to be derailed by internal divisions or political rivalry. It urged leaders, youth groups, and community stakeholders to unite behind the new leadership and provide constructive support.

“This is our moment to turn the page and achieve what generations before us fought for a restored and thriving Ogoniland. We believe Hon. Deeyah has the vision and dedication to make this a reality,” Aanee said.

The statement also called on the federal government and oil companies to provide HYPREP with the full resources needed to accelerate its remediation efforts, warning that the credibility of the UNEP process depends on timely and transparent execution.

They observed that Deeyah’s appointment came at a decisive period for HYPREP, as the agency prepares to enter more intensive phases of soil and water remediation, livelihood restoration, and infrastructural development in Ogoni communities.