The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its commitment to the successful implementation of the environmental restoration of Ogoniland under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
Zissimos Vergos, deputy head of EU Delegation to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the conference on donor facilitation and diplomatic support engagement for HYPREP.
R Vergos described the 2011 environmental assessment of Ogoniland conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as one of the most comprehensive environmental assessments carried out in Africa.
He said the report revealed decades of hydrocarbon contamination across soil, groundwater and mangrove ecosystems in Ogoniland, with severe consequences for the health and livelihoods of the people.
The EU envoy said the Nigerian government responded to the findings through the establishment of HYPREP, describing it “as an institutional commitment backed by law and resources to restore the environment.”
He said the EU became a long-standing partner in the remediation programme because of its governance structure, which includes the Governing Council, Board of Trustees and the Project Coordination Office.
“The structure was designed to promote accountability and sustain the trust of the Ogoni people.
“The European Union is not a new voice in the room but a long-standing partner with a considerable stake in the future of Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta,” he said.
Mr Vergos said the EU had maintained institutional partnership and investment in the Niger Delta region for more than 30 years through various community-based projects and interventions.
He added that the EU remained committed to promoting community-centred approaches aimed at addressing environmental degradation, violence and insecurity in the region.
The envoy said the EU would continue to advocate within multilateral institutions and through diplomatic channels for sustained international attention and support for the Ogoniland cleanup.
He stressed the need for remediation processes that were technically credible, community-centred and free from conflicts of interest capable of undermining public confidence.
Mr Vergos described the recent progress recorded by the HYPREP as a significant milestone, but noted that much work still remained to be done.
He highlighted that greater speed, increased resources and stronger international solidarity are required to complete the cleanup exercise successfully, while resilience and patience of the Ogoni people remained the moral foundation of the restoration programme.
There were also donor commitments from some financial institutions, development partners and organisations, such as the Fidelity Bank and Premium Trust Bank, among others
They pledged strong commitments to providing strategic support for the project for the restoration of the region.
(NAN)
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