Tinubu reinstates Zabbey as HYPREP coordinator

President Bola Tinubu has reversed the decision to remove Professor Nenibarini Zabbey as the project coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP). The reinstatement comes after a careful assessment of Professor Zabbey’s performance.

The statement reads, “President Bola Tinubu has approved the reinstatement of Professor Nenibarini Zabbey as the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

“The President reached the decision following a performance review of the HYPREP Project Coordinator and concluded that the Project Coordinator is fit to discharge his functions in accordance with the regulations guiding the execution of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

It added, “By the directive of the President, the reinstatement of the HYPREP Project Coordinator takes immediate effect.”

On Saturday, President Tinubu had replaced Professor Zabbey with Olufemi Adekanmbi, a former commissioner for special duties, culture, and tourism in Ondo State. This move generated strong criticism, especially from the Ogoni community and other advocacy groups.

The Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) strongly opposed the decision to remove Professor Zabbey.

MOSOP President Olu Andah Wai-Ogosu issued a strongly worded statement expressing dissatisfaction with the appointment of Mr. Adekanmbi, who is not from the Ogoni community, as the new project coordinator.

MOSOP expressed anger at the appointment, seeing it as disrespectful to the Ogoni people’s right to lead the remediation project in their own community.

In their statement, MOSOP demanded the immediate reinstatement of Professor Zabbey and threatened to close the HYPREP office in Port Harcourt if their demands were ignored.

HYPREP is a government agency assigned to address the environmental and public health problems caused by oil pollution in Ogoni communities, which have suffered from oil extraction and spills for many years.