The professional competence of the contractors handling projects in Ogoni areas of Rivers State under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, came under severe questioning last week when a gigantic water tank in Gwara community, Khana Local Government Area, designed to provide safe drinking water for about 14 communities, caved in barely three days after it was commissioned by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal at a very colorful ceremony.
Dan Abia, Rivers State Correspondent, in this report captures the mood of community folks and some central issues that gave rise to HYPREP.
Surprisingly last week, the fear of many observers of shoddy and half-baked jobs executed by quack contractors, was clearly established when one of the water projects at Banee and Gwara communities in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State collapsed barely 72 hours after the commissioning ceremony.
Recall that the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal had penultimate Saturday inaugurated two water projects in Bane and Gwara communities, both in Khana LGA. But three days after the inauguration, one of the facilities, specifically the Gwara water station meant to provide safe drinking water for about 14 communities, collapsed.
Expressing disgust over this unfortunate development, President of Ogoni business owners in America and Gbemene Legbo, Chief Anthony Waadah described the incident as a sabotage. “It is unthinkable that a project celebrated with so much fanfare could collapse within 72 hours of its commissioning.” He insisted that “the failure of the project was not an accident but an act of economic sabotage and an insult to the Ogoni people.”
Chief Waadah also urged communities across Ogoniland not to keep quiet when substandard projects are executed in their areas. He reminded them that access to clean water, electricity, and healthcare is not a privilege but a fundamental right, adding that they must expose corrupt officials and contractors whenever such failures occur.
“The Ogoni clean-up has turned into a cash cow for corrupt officials. Ogoniland does not look like a place where one billion dollars has been spent. Our people are still drinking polluted water, hospitals are non-existent, and our roads remain death traps,” Waadah lamented.
The collapsed project was allegedly awarded by the former project coordinator of HYPREP, Dr. Ferdinand Giadom.
Credit: Vanguard
