The collapse of the multi-million-naira water station, located at Gwara, Khana local government area of Rivers, built by the
Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has been described as a clear case of corruption and poor accountability that is the bane of the country.
Reacting to the collapse of the water project four days after its commissioning, the Centre for Oil Pollution and Environmental Response (COPER) has called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the collapse of the project.
The Executive Director of COPER, Dr. Kaani Zorva,
condemned the incident, describing it as another example of corruption and poor accountability in the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)-recommended clean-up projects, and called for an immediate investigation into the incident.
He said: “This collapse is not just an engineering failure; it is a moral failure. Billions have been spent in the name of the Ogoni people, yet what we see are substandard projects designed to fail.
The project which was inaugurated last week amid praise from top government officials, including representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment is part of the Federal Government’s effort to provide safe and clean water to communities affected by decades of oil pollution.
The provision of potable water is part of the efforts by the Federal Government for remediation of the Ogoni communities devastated by pollution due to oil exploration.
Sources informed The Atlantic Bell that the water treatment plant developed structural faults shortly after its commissioning, leading to the collapse of a major section of its reservoir platform.
The community, which just started enjoying potable water a few days ago, after years of agonising wait, has been thrown back to the past as a result of the poor job executed under HYPREP.
The Ogoni clean-up, launched in 2016 and re-energized under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, has faced persistent criticism over alleged mismanagement, delays, and poor quality of work.
With this latest development, Ogoni indigenes are of the opinion that such risks further erode public trust in the government’s sincerity toward environmental justice in the Niger Delta and the ability of HYPREP to deliver on the mandate of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the federal government .
The collapse of the water project which has been seen as very embarrassing has forced the HYPREP Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, to constitute a high level committee to immediately visit the site and commence investigation into the immediate and remote cause of the incident.
in a statement in it’s official social media platform, HYPREP Management on Wednesday, said the Committee set up by the Project Coordinator had visited the site.
“The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) is deeply disturbed by the collapse of the overhead tank at the newly commissioned Gwara Water Station in Khana LGA.
“In the interim, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, Project Coordinator has constituted a high level committee to immediately visit the site and commence investigation into the immediate and remote cause of this unfortunate incident.
“Consequently, the Committee has visited the site and will be painstaking in its investigation to establish likely structural failure or third-party interference.
“The Project further empathises with the Gwara community and asks for calm as steps are being taken to ensure that the damaged facility is being restored, and water reticulated to affected communities.
“HYPREP remains committed to continue to deliver quality projects that meet best standards. It has introduced both internal and external measures to ensure quality assurance and control. This includes the engagement of a Project Consultant, EcoProject, supervision from the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit and Water Supervisors among others,” the statement read.
