Tinubu reinstates Nenibarini Zabbey as HYPREP Coordinator

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President Bola Tinubu has reinstated Professor Nenibarini Zabbey as the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale in a statement said the President reached the decision following a performance review of the HYPREP Project Coordinator and concluded that the Project Coordinator is fit to discharge his functions in accordance with the regulations guiding the execution of the HYPREP. 

The reinstatement of Mr Zabbey takes immediate effect.

The reinstatement follows demands from the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and youth leaders in Ogoni, Rivers State, for the Federal Government to reinstate Mr Zabbey within 24 hours.

MOSOP issued a statement arguing that Prof. Zabbey, a non-partisan Ogoni native, is highly qualified and dedicated to the environmental remediation of Ogoni land as outlined in the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report.

In a statement signed by MOSOP President, Prof. Olu Wai-Oguso, the group called for Prof. Zabbey’s immediate reinstatement to complete his tenure, emphasising that HYPREP should not be used for political gains. 

They stressed the importance of allowing appointed HYPREP Coordinators to serve their full terms for the stability and growth of Ogoni.

MOSOP also warned that they would block the new appointee from entering Ogoni and seal the HYPREP office in Port-Harcourt if a non-Ogoni is appointed as HYPREP Coordinator.

Previously, it was announced by Ngelale that Dr. Olufemi Adekambi had been approved as the new HYPREP coordinator.