HYPREP Inaugurates Technical Committee for Specialist Hospital in Bori

The Federal Government through the Hydrocarbon Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP) under the Federal Ministry of Environment has inaugurated a 14-member Technical Planning Committee for the operationalization of the Ogoni Specialist Hospital.

The inauguration took place on Wednesday, May 29, 2025, at the HYPREP Project Coordination Office, with Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, presiding over the event to ensure effective planning and sustainable delivery of healthcare services in pollution-impacted Ogoniland.

According to Zabbey, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital is a central pillar of the Federal Government’s Public Health Initiative under the UNEP Report’s recommendations.

The hospital, a 100-bed multi-specialty facility currently over 50% completed, is designed to provide advanced healthcare services to pollution-endangered residents of Ogoni.

“This committee has been carefully constituted with multidisciplinary experts to provide professional guidance on the operationalization and long-term sustainability of the hospital,” Prof. Zabbey stated, adding that the team will develop an implementation roadmap that meets both national and international healthcare delivery standards.

He emphasized that the mandate includes establishing governance structures, defining core medical services, and recommending sustainable management models.

The initiative, he noted, aligns with the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to accelerating the Ogoni cleanup in accordance with the directive of the Minister of Environment and HYPREP Governing Council Chairman, Balarabe Abbas Lawal.

Accepting the assignment, Chairperson of the newly inaugurated committee, Christy Mato described the mandate as “a task of hope” and pledged the committee’s dedication to ensuring the hospital becomes a cornerstone of public health in Ogoniland.

Other committee members include Charles Tobin-West, Vincent Ndemyor, representatives from UNEP, and Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited amongst others.

The Ogoni Specialist Hospital is expected to feature specialized departments including Oncology, Ophthalmology, Dental, Obstetrics, Gynaecology, and Emergency Services, with its completion seen as a major milestone in HYPREP’s wider healthcare strategy.

The committee is to deliver its findings within four months, after which the report will be reviewed by HYPREP and presented to the Governing Council for approval.

Prof. Zabbey concluded by urging stakeholders to continue supporting the Project, noting that transparency, professionalism, and urgency remains core principles guiding the implementation of the Ogoni Cleanup.