President Bola Tinubu has reinstated Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, a senior lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, as the coordinator for the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
Tinubu initially removed Zabbey from the position on July 13, appointing Olufemi Adekanmbi, former commissioner of special duties in Ondo, as his replacement. However, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) condemned Zabbey’s removal, threatening to seal the HYPREP office in Port Harcourt if he was not reinstated. The group criticized the appointment of a non-Ogoni person, asserting that Ogoni has qualified individuals capable of leading the project.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, announced in a statement that Zabbey had been reinstated as HYPREP coordinator.
The statement read, “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).”
The statement further emphasized that the reinstatement of the HYPREP Project Coordinator is effective immediately.
