Dumnamene Dekor Calls for More HYPREP Funding for Ogoni Cleanup

The House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, chaired by Dumnamene Dekor, has urged for increased funding for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to complete outstanding projects related to the Ogoni cleanup exercise. This call was made following a two-day oversight visit to HYPREP project sites in Ogoniland, Rivers State.

Dekor stated that the initial funds allocated for the cleanup have been exhausted and that the level of project implementation has surpassed expectations. He emphasized the necessity for additional funds to ensure the sustainability of the project and called on polluters, including the NNPC and Renaissance (formerly Shell), to contribute further.

Dekor also revealed that the committee is working on a bill to extend the cleanup initiative to other oil-polluted communities in the Niger Delta. He commended HYPREP for its commitment, noting that over 80 percent of the projects visited were complete and highlighted the training of approximately 2,400 Ogoni youths in specialized skills.