By Abba -Eku Onyeka, Abuja
Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, the Project Coordinator, Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) may be in trouble as the Senate Public Accounts Committee has issued a serious warning to him to appear before it on February 4, 2025, or risk being arrested.
This threat comes after Zabbey’s seventh consecutive absence from the committee’s hearings, despite receiving $360 million for the cleanup of polluted Ogoni land in the Niger Delta.
According to Senator Aliyu Wadada – led Senate Public Accounts Committee, HYPREP has repeatedly snubbed invitations to account for billions allocated to the Ogoni land cleanup. The committee has expressed frustration over Zabbey’s refusal to appear, citing excuses ranging from other engagements to meetings with the supervising minister.
“This blatant disregard for constitutional oversight is unacceptable. Public funds are involved, and Nigerians deserve accountability,” Senator Wadada stated. The committee has highlighted several unanswered questions about HYPREP’s financial activities, including the utilization of over ₦16.6 billion for undocumented contaminated sites.
The Senate’s threat is a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of HYPREP’s activities. The committee seeks explanations on various issues, including appropriations, utilization of funds, and tax remittances. With the Coordinator’s seventh failure to appear, the committee has given him an ultimatum to appear on February 4, 2025, or risk being compelled to do so through constitutional provisions.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project had disclosed in November 2023 that $360 million had been released for the cleanup of polluted Ogoniland in the Niger Delta. However, the Senate’s Public Accounts Committee has raised concerns about the project’s transparency and accountability.
In a briefing at the National Assembly on Tuesday, Senator Wadada provided a timeline of the failed appearances, dating back to December 18, 2023.
The committee has emphasized that the Coordinator’s appearance is mandatory, and the Senate is determined to ensure accountability and transparency in the utilization of funds for the Ogoni cleanup project.
