Ogoni cleanup: Reps demand more funds for HYPREP
The House of Reps Committee on Host Communities has called for increased funding for HYPREP to complete outstanding projects in the Ogoni cleanup exercise. Read More:…
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) was set up to implement the United Nations Environment Programme's 2011 report on oil pollution in Ogoniland, Rivers State, which found decades of contamination from oil spills had devastated land, water and livelihoods in the region. The cleanup, funded partly through a $1 billion trust backed by the federal government and oil companies, has faced persistent criticism over slow progress, delayed payments to contractors and allegations of mismanagement since it formally began years after the UNEP report was released.
The House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities' latest assessment, following an oversight visit, offers a mixed verdict: while it rated HYPREP's overall performance at 80%, it simultaneously flagged underperforming contractors and called for more funding to finish outstanding work. The coverage from Punch and Leadership highlights different angles of the same visit — Punch focuses on the funding appeal, while Leadership emphasises the threat of contract cancellations — leaving open questions about which specific projects are lagging, how much additional funding is being sought, and what timeline the committee expects for completion.