Barely three days after commissioning, the overhead water tank of the Gwara Water Project in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State has collapsed, causing outrage and fueling doubts over the quality of jobs executed by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).

The facility, situated in the ancient Gwara community, hometown of HYPREP’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Deeyah was meant to provide much-needed potable water under the Ogoni clean-up initiative. Eyewitnesses say the metal frame buckled without warning, sending the tank crashing to the ground. Although no casualties were recorded, residents are livid.

Observers are now asking: If a HYPREP project can fail in the community of its own BOT chairman, what happens in less-privileged areas?

While HYPREP expressed concern and described the incident as “unfortunate,” critics argue that this latest development exposes deeper issues of oversight, competence and quality assurance within the agency. The organisation has since set up a committee to investigate possible structural failure or sabotage.

The embarrassment comes despite HYPREP’s claims of successfully delivering over 16 water stations across more than 40 Ogoni communities. Stakeholders are now demanding transparent investigations, accountability and strict supervision.