A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Rivers State has denounced a recent protest against the leadership of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) over the ongoing Ogoni clean-up.
Speaking at a media briefing in Port Harcourt, the coalition alleged that Muekara Monday, claiming to represent Ogoni CSOs, rented a crowd to stage a protest in Abuja, maligning HYPREP and its Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, on unfounded allegations of non-performance.
Mike Gbarale, Executive Director of Rainbow Watch and Development Centre, described the protest as a sponsored smear campaign targeting Zabbey.
The coalition — comprising Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA), Centre for Gender Equity and Development, Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, Lekeh Development Foundation, Pius Dukor Foundation, Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, Rainbow Watch and Development Centre, Miideekor, Environmental Rights Action (ERA), and Defence for Human Rights and Democracy (DHRD) — passed a vote of confidence in HYPREP’s current leadership.
While affirming that CSOs are not opposed to genuine scrutiny of HYPREP’s operations, the coalition rejected attempts by faceless groups to exploit the CSO platform for selfish interests.
Gbarale stressed that any unjust attack on HYPREP equates to an attack on the Ogoni people, noting credible progress under Zabbey’s leadership.
The coalition emphasised its long-standing involvement in the Ogoni and Niger Delta struggles that led to HYPREP’s creation, declaring its support for Zabbey’s stewardship.
It urged the public to disregard baseless allegations, describing them as blackmail attempts aimed at extorting the project coordinator.
Acknowledging that HYPREP has not fully achieved its mandate, the coalition reminded critics that the UNEP Report projected the clean-up would take over 20 years.
It explained that remediation is complex, involving contaminated soil, groundwater, creeks, mangroves, and shorelines, and insisted that any fair assessment cannot dismiss Zabbey’s efforts as failure.
Friday Nbani, Executive Director of Lekeh Development Foundation, echoed this stance, warning that attacks on HYPREP undermine Ogoni’s hope of environmental restoration.
He urged Ogoni stakeholders to unite, stressing that global “loss and damage” funds could provide opportunities to restore the Niger Delta.
