President Bola Tinubu has intervened to reinstate Professor Nenibarini Zabbey as the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), following widespread community outcry and demands for his reinstatement.
In a statement issued on Monday by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, it was revealed that President Tinubu decided to reinstate Prof. Zabbey after a thorough performance review. The decision, effective immediately, underscores the president’s commitment to adhering to the regulations governing the execution of HYPREP’s mandate.
The reinstatement follows pressures from the Movement for The Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and youth leaders in Ogoni, Rivers State, who gave the Federal Government a 24-hour ultimatum to restore Prof. Zabbey to his position.
MOSOP argued that Prof. Zabbey, an impartial Ogoni native, possesses the requisite qualifications and dedication needed for the role, particularly in overseeing the environmental remediation of Ogoni land based on the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report.
MOSOP’s President, Prof. Olu Wai-Oguso, emphasised the importance of stability and non-political interference in HYPREP’s operations, urging that appointed coordinators be allowed to serve their full terms.
The announcement of Prof. Zabbey’s reinstatement comes amidst controversy surrounding the recent appointment of Dr. Olufemi Adekambi as the new HYPREP coordinator, which sparked dissatisfaction among Ogoni youth organisations. Leaders from the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP), Ogoni Youths Federation, Ogoni Students Association Worldwide, and the Association of Ogoni Martyrs have voiced their opposition to Dr. Adekambi’s appointment, asserting that Ogoni has qualified individuals capable of leading the project without external imposition.
With tensions high, youth leaders have threatened to disrupt project activities if Prof. Zabbey’s reinstatement was not honoured, underscoring their commitment to ensuring that HYPREP serves the interests of the Ogoni people above political considerations.
