The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP) has declared its support for President Bola Tinubu’s recent appointments, particularly the members of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
In a communiqué issued after an emergency congress, NYCOP President, Raymond Marcus, said the group was satisfied with the appointment of former Khana Federal Constituency representative, Nwika Deeyah, as Chairman of HYPREP’s BoT, passing a vote of confidence in his leadership qualities.
“NYCOP wholeheartedly endorses the President’s appointments of the Governing Council and BoT members of HYPREP,” the communiqué stated, adding, “We believe his leadership embodies the aspirations of the Ogoni people and Nigerians at large.”
The group praised HYPREP’s management and urged President Tinubu to sustain funding, while also calling for the project’s conversion into a full-fledged government agency.
NYCOP further expressed appreciation for the President’s initiatives, including the creation of the Federal University of Environmental Technology, infrastructural projects such as the Eleme axis of the East-West Road and the Bonny-Bodo Road, and the establishment of a dialogue committee with the Ogoni people.
Reaffirming its mission, the council stated: “Our mandate is clear: to promote the collective welfare and advancement of Ogoni youth.”
The group, however, suspended two of its officials for misconduct and issued a seven-day ultimatum to former BoT Chairman, Mike Nwialeghi, to account for the $100 million HYPREP fund investment, warning that it would pursue legal action if he failed to comply.
Deeyah, the new BoT Chairman, is a former member of both the House of Representatives (Khana/Gokana Constituency) and the Rivers State House of Assembly. He also serves as president of Kagote, an Ogoni socio-cultural organisation.