In
keeping with his avowed commitment to working for the development and
well-being of all Nigerians, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved several actions to fast-track the long delayed
implementation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report on
the environmental restoration of Ogoni land.
The actions approved by President Buhari, based on
recommendations to him by the Executive Director of UNEP, the UNEP Special
Representative for Ogoniland, Permanent Secretaries of the Federal Ministries
of Environment and Petroleum Resources, and other stakeholders, include
the
amendment of the Official Gazette establishing the Hydrocarbon Pollution
Restoration Project (HYPREP) to reflect a new governance framework comprising a
Governing Council, a Board of Trustees and Project Management.
The President further
approved that the HYPREP Governing Council should be composed as follows:
Ministry of Petroleum
Resources – One Representative
Federal Ministry of
Environment – One Representative
Impacted States (Rivers) –
One Representative
Oil Companies & NNPC – 4
Representatives
Ogoniland – 2
Representatives
United Nations System – One
Representative
Secretariat – Headed by
Project Manager
He also approved the
composition of a Board of Trustees for the HYPREP Trust Fund as follows:
Federal Government – One Representative
NNPC – One Representative
International Oil Companies
– One Representative
Ogoni Land – One
Representative
United Nations System – One
Representative
Following a meeting held on
the directive of President Buhari, it was also agreed that a contribution
deposit of $10 million will be made by stakeholders within 30 days of the
appointment of members of the Board of Trustees for the Trust Fund, who will be
responsible for collecting and managing funds from contributors and donors. .
A new implementation
template has also been evolved at the instance of President Buhari, and the
environmental clean-up of Ogoni Land will commence in earnest with the
President’s inauguration of the HYPREP Governing Council and the Board of
Trustees for the Trust Fund.
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