…As HYPREP Launches Probe
By Daniel Abia, Port Harcourt
A outstanding Ogoni conventional chief, Chief Anthony Waadah, has raised alarm over the collapse of a newly commissioned water mission in Ogoniland, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive motion in opposition to these sabotaging his administration’s integrity.
Chief Waadah, who additionally serves as President of the Ogoni Enterprise Homeowners in America, demanded the fast sack of the Minister of Atmosphere, the Undertaking Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Air pollution Remediation Undertaking (HYPREP), and the contractor chargeable for the failed water services in Bane and Gwara communities of Khana Native Authorities Space.
The water facility in Gwara collapsed barely three days after being inaugurated — an incident Waadah described as a nationwide embarrassment and a “monumental fraud” in opposition to the Ogoni folks.
In a press release on Wednesday, he condemned the Ministry of Atmosphere and HYPREP for what he termed “a deliberate act of deception and gross incompetence,” regardless of the $1 billion already spent on the Ogoni Clear-Up Undertaking.
“It’s unthinkable {that a} mission celebrated with a lot fanfare might collapse inside seventy-two hours of its commissioning,” Waadah stated. He insisted the failure amounted to financial sabotage and an insult to the Ogoni folks.
He urged President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on HYPREP’s actions and order a complete forensic audit of its contracts and funds. He additional urged anti-corruption businesses to analyze all firms working with HYPREP, alleging that many are “fronts owned by cronies and political allies with out technical capability.”
“Ogoniland doesn’t appear like a spot the place one billion {dollars} has been spent. Our persons are nonetheless consuming polluted water; hospitals are non-existent; and our roads are dying traps,” he lamented.
Waadah stated the legacy of Ogoni heroes comparable to Ken Saro-Wiwa and Barinem Kiobel was being desecrated by corruption, warning that the folks should not stay silent when substandard tasks are executed of their communities.
“These tasks should not favours. They’re our rights, funded by public cash. Silence within the face of corruption is betrayal,” he said.
He urged President Tinubu to behave swiftly to guard his administration’s integrity from officers who’ve “turned the Ogoni clean-up right into a political enterprise.”
In the meantime, HYPREP has introduced the launch of an investigation into the collapse of the newly commissioned overhead water tank in Gwara.
The water mission, inaugurated final Saturday by Minister of Atmosphere Balarabe Lawal, was meant to produce clear water to 14 communities. On Tuesday, nevertheless, the construction collapsed, prompting widespread outrage.
HYPREP’s Vice Chairman of the investigative committee and Authorized Adviser, Gowon Ichibor, stated officers visited the location on Wednesday to evaluate the injury and temporary the Undertaking Coordinator, Prof. Nenibari Zabbey.
“What we found was damaged partitions with wreckage everywhere in the floor,” he stated. “Water strain pulled down the entrance partitions. We now have reported our findings to the PC.”
Chief Resident Engineer of HYPREP, Tabe James, stated the inspiration of the tank remained intact however emphasised that full investigations, materials testing, and certification have been required to find out the precise trigger.
HYPREP’s Head of Communications, Enu-Olare Wigbo, expressed sympathy to the Gwara group and referred to as for calm, assuring that the broken facility can be restored and water provide reconnected.
“HYPREP stays dedicated to delivering high quality tasks that meet greatest requirements. Inside and exterior high quality assurance measures have been launched,” she stated.
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