Buhari removes Dumbari as HYPREP boss, appoints Nanibarini Zabbey as coordinator

President Muhammadu Buhari has terminated the appointment of Ferdinand Giadom, coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

Olusegun Shogbola, media aide Abdullahi Mohammed, minister of environment, announced the development in a statement on Tuesday.

According to Shogbola, Giadom would be replaced by Nanibarini Zabbey, a senior lecturer at the Department of Fisheries Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt.

“His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the termination of the appointment of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) Project Coordinator, Dr Ferdinand Giadom, to be replaced with Prof. Nanibarini Zabbey as the new Project Coordinator of HYPREP with immediate effect,” the statement reads.

“Prof Nanibarini Zabbey is a foremost and renowned Ogoni expert on hydrobiology and has extensive experience and background on remediation-related activities with bias in bio-monitoring and restoration ecology.

“Until his appointment, he was a senior lecturer at the Department of Fisheries Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt.

“He is the first African recipient of the Association of the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) 2022 Ruth Patrick Award for research and engagement with a critical impact on the recovery of the Niger Delta ecosystem from oil spills and environmental justice for affected Communities.”

In 2022, TheCable reported that Buhari appointed Giadom as coordinator of HYPREP for a four-year term.