The House of Representatives Committee on Host Community has called on the management of Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation project to increase youth’s participation in the cleanup project in Ogoniland.
The committee believes the action will help in curbing the security challenges being faced in different project sites.
Chairman of the Committee, Dumnamene Dekor, made the call on Wednesday during a two-day inspection tour of remediation sites and water facilities in the four Local Government Areas in Ogoniland.
Dekor, who represents Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives however applauded the effort of HYPREP on the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of water projects in various communities particularly the pace of the projects.
He said “One thing you can achieve is to get the people buy-in. Once people have a buy-in, I’m not sure you will find soldiers all over the place.
“The people should be allowed to come into this project and that is why I’m calling on the management of HYPREP to also look the other way for the possibility of ensuring that some young people from this community are brought in”.
The lawmaker also frowned at the “militarization” of the project sites by security agencies.
He also appealed to youths in Ogoniland to embrace the project to enable the recovery of their environment to degradation.
On his part, the officer overseeing the project coordination office, Professor Philip Shekwolo, thanked the members of the committee who he described as “patriotic” for taking out time to visit remediation sites as he promised that livelihood in the area will be improved.
