President Bola Tinubu, Monday, reinstated Professor Nenibarini Zabbey as the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), as announced by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
The decision comes after widespread criticism and protests over the initial removal of Zabbey, who was seen as a qualified and dedicated leader for the project focused on the environmental remediation of Ogoniland.
According to a statement by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the reinstatement takes immediate effect following a performance review that concluded Zabbey is fit to discharge his functions.
The leadership change in HYPREP had attracted significant backlash, with the Movement for The Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) and youth groups demanding Zabbey’s immediate reinstatement. They argued that Zabbey, an Ogoni native, is highly qualified and the project should serve the Ogoni people, not political interests.
The youth groups had threatened to block the new appointee, Dr. Olufemi Adekambi, from entering Ogoni and seal the HYPREP office in Port Harcourt if a non-Ogoni was appointed as the coordinator.
President Tinubu’s decision to reinstate Zabbey appears to be a response to the widespread protests and concerns raised by the Ogoni community. The move is seen as a step towards ensuring the HYPREP project remains focused on its core mandate of environmental remediation and serves the interests of the Ogoni people.
As the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project continues to be a critical initiative for the Ogoni region, the reinstatement of Zabbey is expected to provide stability and continuity in the project’s leadership, allowing it to progress without further disruptions.
