PUNCH

The Federal Government has inaugurated a Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project Central Representative Advisory Committee for the clean-up of Ogoni land.

The committee has a mandate to act as a bridge between stakeholders, communities, and groups on all issues relating to a successful project execution.

Inaugurating the committee on Monday in Abuja, the Minister of Environment, Suleiman Zarma, said in setting up HYPREP, the Federal Government was aware that in executing the clean-up project, there may arise issues from several areas that would require resolution.

The minister said it was in consideration of this that it was embedded in the HYPREP Gazette that a Central Representatives Advisory Committee must be established.

A statement from the ministry quoted Zarma as saying that the interface between the communities and HYPREP on thorny issues arising from the clean-up project would help build a peaceful and secured environment for the successful implementation of the clean-up of Ogoni land.

Speaking on behalf of members of the committee, the Chairman and Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Dr Marvin Decal, assured that they would deploy their wealth of experience towards achieving their mandate.