‎By Rosemary Ogbonna

‎Organised Ogoni Youth Community has declared support for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), and its Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, while calling for clarification on the contract variation process in the Ogoni Clean-up Programme.

‎In a joint statement, the National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP), the Youth Wing of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), and the Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF), said they would resist any action that could undermine the implementation of the clean-up.

‎The groups said they had noted the circulation of official HYPREP documents in public discussions and urged the agency to provide clarity on issues relating to contract variation.

‎They, however, stressed that nothing should be allowed to delay the completion of what they described as legacy projects.

‎According to the statement, HYPREP is the product of decades of struggle led by MOSOP and the sacrifices of Ogoni people. The youth bodies said protecting the integrity of the programme was critical to preserving that vision.

‎They added that they remained vigilant against attempts to politicize or undermine the clean-up, and insisted the project must continue to align with the community-centred mandate in the UNEP Report.

‎On the contract variation controversy, the groups said their findings showed that variation is a statutory procurement process under Nigeria’s public procurement framework and not peculiar to HYPREP. They said the process commenced in June 2024 and had followed due procedure.

‎The statement noted that variations may arise from changes in market conditions, exchange rates and project costs, but must receive approval from relevant statutory authorities before execution. It urged the public not to mistake a lawful procurement process for wrongdoing.

‎The youth organisations reaffirmed support for Zabbey, saying progress under his leadership had restored hope and strengthened confidence in the clean-up.

‎They claimed he enjoys broad support across Ogoniland and warned against campaigns of misinformation or division.

‎The groups said they would mobilize Ogoni youths to defend the integrity and continuity of the programme if the HYPREP mandate, the UNEP Report implementation, or the leadership of Zabbey were further undermined.

‎They called on traditional rulers, women groups, civil society, development partners and stakeholders to support the successful completion of the project. They also urged the Joint Representative Council (JRC), to mobilise the youth community in support of the clean-up.

‎The statement was signed by Comr. Mene Elijah and Emmanuel Bie, former National President of the National Union of Ogoni Students Worldwide and Chairman of the Ogoni Fishermen Association.