The committee made the appeal following a two-day oversight visit to project sites across Ogoniland. Its chairman, Dumnamene Dekor, told journalists that the funds initially provided for the exercise had been utilised, while implementation had progressed beyond the programme’s original expectations.

Dekor stressed that additional financial resources were needed to complete the cleanup, particularly at complex locations where remediation work was yet to commence fully. He urged relevant authorities and companies responsible for pollution to provide further funding to sustain the intervention.

The lawmaker also called on oil companies that contributed to the initial funding to renew their commitments, arguing that those responsible for environmental damage should bear the cost of remediation.

He noted that the original funding was intended to launch the programme and should not be regarded as sufficient to complete all outstanding work across Ogoniland.

Dekor further disclosed that the committee had initiated a bill aimed at extending environmental cleanup efforts to other oil-polluted communities across the Niger Delta.

According to him, the Ogoni exercise was designed as a pilot programme, while other communities in the region continue to face environmental degradation and require similar interventions. He said HYPREP, the Federal Ministry of Environment and other relevant stakeholders had been involved in discussions surrounding the proposed legislation.

During the oversight visit, the committee chairman commended HYPREP for its work, stating that the projects inspected were reportedly more than 80 per cent complete. He also praised the agency’s youth empowerment programme, which provides specialised skills training to young people in Ogoniland.

Dekor said about 2,400 young people had been listed as beneficiaries of the training initiative, adding that the skills acquired could create opportunities for employment and professional development.

He expressed optimism that the programme would help develop a pool of skilled local professionals capable of contributing to the region’s economy and other sectors.

HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, said the agency had established more than 120 project sites covering different areas of its intervention in Ogoniland.

He explained that the projects include environmental remediation, shoreline cleanup, access to potable water, improvements to healthcare facilities, job creation and skills development for youths and women.

Zabbey welcomed the lawmakers’ visit, saying it would allow committee members to assess the work firsthand and identify areas requiring further attention. He added that their observations and recommendations could help improve the implementation of the cleanup programme.

The call for additional funding highlights the financial and operational challenges involved in addressing decades of oil pollution in Ogoniland. Sustained funding and accountability from responsible parties remain important to completing remediation work and delivering lasting environmental and public health benefits to affected communities.