Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
The federal government has officially inaugurated a 500,000 cubic metres of potable water scheme in Barako Community, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The 500,000 liters of reticulated water scheme is the first phase of the project executed by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), while 14 more of such projects have been awarded in the phase 2 of the water project scheme.
The project is in line with the recommendations of the United Nation’s Environmental Project (UNEP) report on Ogoni cleanup project.
Inaugurating the project yesterday, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Ibrahim Yusufu, said 52 Ogoni communities will benefit from the ongoing phase 2 water project of the federal government, in Ogoniland.
Yusufu, who is also the Acting chairman of HYPREP Governing Board, said the environment ministry was deliberately committed to recovering lost grounds in Ogoniland and ensure timely delivery of emergency intervention projects in line with the UNEP recommendation report.
He noted that it has become exigent to find lasting solution to challenges of theft and incessant sponsored agitations which he said have over the years encumbered delivery of emergency livelihood support projects.
Earlier, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey berated the re-pollution of Ogoni communities occasioned by oil theft and illegal oil refineries.
He called for a collective efforts to guarantee the successful clean-up of Ogoniland saying that community leaders and all stakeholders must be deliberate in stemming the overarching impact of the menace on the environment, economy, and health.
He said the completion and inauguration of the Barako Water Scheme is a further affirmation of the commitment of the Federal Government through HYPREP to the full implementation of the UNEP Report.
“The water scheme has an overhead tank with a storage capacity of 500,000 liters and a reticulation stretch of more than 10 kilometers.
“Since last year, the Alesa water station has been running, supplying clean water to the community and neighboring communities of Alode, Aleto, Agbonchia, and Ogale. The other water stations in Korokoro, Nonwa, Bori, Zaakpon, and Kpean have reached advanced stages of completion”
“To ensure the sustainability of these projects, HYPREP will continue to collaborate with communities in the design and execution of the projects and will hand over the water facilities to the respective communities for effective management.
“The facilities will be managed by HYPREP in the first two years, within which period it will train community workers and set up the Water Consumers Association (WCA) for their continuous management and sustainability”
“Let me mention that, given the need for potable water, HYPREP has commenced Phase II of the water scheme in Ogoniland with the award of an additional 14 contracts that will provide water to 52 communities”.
In his speech, the monarch of the host community, HRH Kadilo Kabari lauded the federal government for keeping to their promises.
He appealed that the project be replicated to other Ogoni communities adding that the number of surveillance job in the area be increased by at least 5000.
