Fresh embarrassment as another HYPREP water project in Ogoni crashes

…Again, HYPREP promises to launch investigation

Another water tank built by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in another part of Ogoni under the $1bn United Nations Environment Programme (UNDP) project has crashed.

This is about two weeks after such a project crashed in Gwara in Khana local council area two days after Minister of Environment commissioned it.

HYPREP, which had announced investigations in the first crash has angrily promised another investigation. A source in the organization said somebody must be held responsible, no doubt.

In a terse statement signed by Enuolare Mba-Nwigoh, Head, Communications, HYPREP said it is deeply concerned about the rupture of the ground tank at the Ebubu (Eleme) water facility. “The unfortunate incident occurred at 10:36 am today (November 22, 2025). On the directive of Nenibarini Zabbey, professor and Project Coordinator of HYPREP, a team led by another professor, Damian-Paul, the Director of Technical Services (DTS), has visited the scene to assess the situation, and the water station has been cordoned off for public safety.

“We sincerely regret the inconveniences this has caused the Ebubu community. We also appeal to the good people of Ebubu and the public to remain calm as the Project is taking prompt steps to restore water to the community. At the same time, the cause of the incident is being investigated.”

Consequently, Wigoh said, the Project Coordinator has further directed the Chief Security Officer of HYPREP to immediately tighten security across all HYPREP’s project sites to forestall interference with the facilities. “Henceforth, non-project personnel and non-facility staff are not allowed into the 16 water facilities and any active HYPREP sites in Ogoni without authorization. Despite this setback, HYPREP reiterates its commitment to delivering sustainable cleanup in Ogoniland.”

HYPREP was yet to recover from the shock of facing a crash of its water project just after Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment, had commissioned it.

HYPRED then launched an investigation. The organization seems rattked by the two crashes in two weeks especially as the first facility (Gwara) was serving 14 communities.

Gowon Ichibor, the vice chairman of the committee and HYPREP legal adviser, had said the committee had visited the site to assess the situation and communicated its preliminary findings to the HYPREP Project Coordinator.

Ichibor had said in the case of Gwara; “Whoever needs to be punished will be punished. We pray that at the end of it all, it won’t be human error. What we are more interested in is to see that we get water back to the Gwara people.”