By Hillary Asemota/Stella Oriakhi
Ten years after the establishment of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), the Minister of Environment, Mr. Balarabe Lawal, has described the project as a conscious reminder of the Federal Government’s commitment to the people of Ogoni, stressing that its return to the historic site after 10 years reaffirms that the government has not abandoned its promise to restore the degraded environment.
In flag-off of the second phase of shoreline cleanup and mangrove restoration, and the unveiling of the remodeled Ogoni Cleanup Plaque at Patrick Waterside at Bodo City, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, to mark its 10th anniversary of the Ogoni Cleanup Programme.
The anniversary activities also featured, presentation of International Maritime Organization (IMO) certificates to 1,420 community workers, and handover of Ogoni Wetlands Ramsar certificates to chairmen of the four local government areas in Ogoni as custodians of the people.
Also, the phase 2 shoreline flag off and unveiling of the remodeled plaque, which was done by the Minister of Environment and Chairman of the HYPREP Governing Council, Balarabe Lawal, was proceeded with other 10th Anniversary activities at the main Auditorium of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration at Wiiyaakara, Khana LGA.
They include, documentary on the transformational cleanup, unveiling of Socio-Economic Study of Ogoni, Panel Discussion on the topic: “The Ogoni Cleanup – The Journey So Far,” cultural display, and Goodwill Messages by distinguished personalities.
Other dignitaries at the event were the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, Dr. Sampson Ebimaro, a Director at the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, who represented his Minister, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ogoni Trust Fund, Mr. Emmanuel Deeyah; and members of the Governing Council, Chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Senator Magnus Abe; Senator representing Rivers South-East, Senator Olaka Nwogu; member representing Khana/Gokana federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Dumamene Dekor, former President of MOSOP, Legborsi Pyagbara, KAGOTE President, Chief Lesi Maol, representatives of Renaissance Africa Energy company Ltd, representatives of Civil Society Organizations, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community representatives, women and youth groups, development partners and other stakeholders from Ogoniland.
The Minister, acknowledged President Bola Tinubu, remains fully committed to implementing the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and restoring the Ogoni environment, noting that the elevation of HYPREP to a national priority since 2023 had accelerated remediation and livelihood restoration activities in Ogoniland.
He commended HYPREP for interventions spanning soil and groundwater remediation, shoreline cleanup, potable water provision, public health, the Ogoni Power Project, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, Cottage Hospital in Buan and capacity-building initiatives, urging stakeholders to sustain constructive engagement, noting that partnership, transparency and mutual respect remained essential to ensuring that the benefits of the cleanup reached the people of Ogoni.
Addressing stakeholders at the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Minister said the 10th anniversary provided an opportunity not only to celebrate achievements but also to reflect on outstanding work and establish a clear direction for the next phase of the intervention, and announced that HYPREP has commenced the development of a five-year Strategic Plan for 2026–2031.
The Minister said the plan would provide a roadmap for completing outstanding interventions, sustaining restored ecosystems, preventing re-pollution, strengthening community ownership and ensuring that the Project continued to deliver measurable value to the people of Ogoniland.
He further stated that the sustainability and post-remediation management framework for completed HYPREP interventions be strengthened and integrated into the new Strategic Plan to ensure that investments made by the Federal Government and its partners remain protected and continue to benefit affected communities.
Lawal, reiterated that the Federal Government’s objectives in Ogoniland remains centred on two fundamental priorities: restoring the degraded environment and restoring the livelihoods and wellbeing of the people, and also acknowledged the contributions of the Ogoni people, traditional and political leadership, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Joint Venture partners, asset owners, the Ogoni Trust Fund, HYPREP’s Governing Council and the Project Coordination Office to the progress recorded over the past decade.
The Minister expressed confidence that the next decade of the intervention would produce stronger evidence of ecosystem recovery, restored livelihoods and improved prosperity across Ogoniland, while reassuring continued funding by the government and the international community.
On his part, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, said the second phase of shoreline and mangrove restoration will further deepen ongoing efforts to restore degraded shorelines and mangrove ecosystems in Ogoniland.
Zabbey, disclosed that the 1,420 community workers receiving IMO and swimming certificates were among beneficiaries of HYPREP’s livelihood and capacity-building interventions, adding that their engagement had contributed to increasing the number of direct jobs created by the Project for Ogoni youths and women to more than 8,500.
He said HYPREP was beginning to witness encouraging signs of ecological recovery, including the gradual return of fish and other aquatic species to restored areas, noting that the Ogoni mangrove wetland had also been designated a Ramsar Site of International Importance, stressing that the development reinforced the need for communities to protect restored ecosystems.
The Project Coordinator consequently appealed to shoreline communities to avoid overharvesting and indiscriminate mangrove cutting, warning that uncontrolled exploitation could undermine the ecological gains being recorded, adding that HYPREP would continue to sensitize communities on responsible resource use and the need to protect the ecological character of the Ogoni mangrove wetland.
Describing the Centre of Excellence as one of the physical symbols of the progress recorded under the Ogoni Cleanup, the Project Coordinator said it is expected to support research, training, partnerships and knowledge development in environmental restoration.
Zabbey, said the 10th anniversary was an opportunity to take stock of HYPREP’s progress since the commencement of the cleanup, noting that implementation had witnessed significant acceleration since 2023 following the Project’s elevation to a national priority under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He highlighted progress across the Project’s major thematic areas, including environmental remediation, mangrove restoration, potable water provision, health services, livelihood restoration, infrastructure development, peace-building, security, transparency and accountability, and also acknowledged that HYPREP had faced challenges including community disputes, access to project sites, misinformation and sabotage, but said the Project had overcome many of these obstacles through the support and cooperation of stakeholders.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Momoh, Sen. Magnus Abe, Sen. Olaka Nwogu, Mr. Dum Dekor, Mr. Emmanuel Deeyah, and HM Philip Obele of Eleme Kingdom.
In their separate speeches, they commended HYPREP for impacting the Environment and the people of Ogoni with various deliverables in the implementation of the Ogoni cleanup, and urged Ogoni leaders and residents to put aside internal differences and take advantage of the support being provided by the Federal Government to advance the cleanup and development of the region.