By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has marked 10 years of the Ogoni Cleanup Programme with the flag-off of the second phase of shoreline cleanup and mangrove restoration, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring the degraded environment and livelihoods of communities in Ogoniland.
The milestone event also featured the unveiling of a remodelled Ogoni Cleanup Plaque at Patrick Waterside, Bodo City, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, as well as the presentation of International Maritime Organisation (IMO) certificates to 1,420 community workers.
“The Ogoni Wetlands Ramsar certificates were also formally handed over to the chairmen of the four local government areas in Ogoni, who are expected to serve as custodians of the internationally recognised wetlands”.
The Minister of Environment and Chairman of the HYPREP Governing Council, Balarabe Abbas Lawal who flagged off the second phase of the shoreline cleanup and mangrove restoration performed the unveiling of the remodelled plaque .
The activities continued at the main auditorium of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, Wiiyaakara, Khana Local Government Area, where a documentary on the transformational journey of the Ogoni Cleanup was unveiled.
Other activities included the unveiling of the Socio-Economic Study of Ogoni, a panel discussion titled, “The Ogoni Cleanup The Journey So Far,” cultural displays and goodwill messages from distinguished personalities.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, described the remodelled plaque as a permanent reminder of the Federal Government’s commitment to the people of Ogoni.
He said the return of the monument to its historic site after 10 years demonstrated that the government had not abandoned its commitment to restoring the degraded environment and improving the wellbeing of the people.
According to him, “the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remains fully committed to implementing the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and restoring the Ogoni environment”.
Lawal noted that the elevation of HYPREP to a national priority since 2023 had accelerated the implementation of remediation, livelihood restoration and other interventions across Ogoniland.
The Minister commended HYPREP for its interventions in soil and groundwater remediation, shoreline cleanup, provision of potable water, public health, the Ogoni Power Project, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, Cottage Hospital in Buan and various capacity-building initiatives.
He urged stakeholders to sustain constructive engagement, stressing that partnership, transparency and mutual respect were critical to ensuring that the benefits of the cleanup reached the people of Ogoni.
The Minister said the 10th anniversary provided an opportunity not only to celebrate achievements recorded over the past decade but also to assess outstanding interventions and establish a clear direction for the next phase of the programme.
He announced that HYPREP had commenced the development of a five-year Strategic Plan for 2026–2031, which he said 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 benefits to the people of Ogoniland.
The Minister further directed that the sustainability and post-remediation management framework for completed HYPREP interventions be strengthened and integrated into the new Strategic Plan.
He said this would help protect investments made by the Federal Government and its partners and ensure that completed projects continued to benefit affected communities.
Lawal reiterated that the Federal Government’s objectives in Ogoniland remained anchored on two fundamental priorities: restoring the degraded environment and restoring the livelihoods and wellbeing of the people.
He acknowledged the contributions of the Ogoni people, traditional and political leaders, 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 assuring stakeholders of continued government and international support for the cleanup.
Also speaking, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, said the second phase of the shoreline cleanup and mangrove restoration would deepen ongoing efforts to restore degraded shorelines and mangrove ecosystems across Ogoniland.
Zabbey disclosed that the 1,420 community workers who received IMO and swimming certificates were beneficiaries of HYPREP’s livelihood and capacity-building interventions.
He said 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.
According to him, “HYPREP was beginning to record encouraging signs of ecological recovery, including the gradual return of fish and other aquatic species to restored areas”.
He also noted that the Ogoni mangrove wetland had been designated a Ramsar Site of International Importance, stressing that the development further underscored the need for communities to protect restored ecosystems.
The Project Coordinator appealed to shoreline communities to desist from overharvesting and indiscriminate cutting of mangroves.
“Warning that uncontrolled exploitation could undermine the ecological gains already being recorded”.
He said HYPREP would continue to sensitise communities on responsible resource use and the need to protect the ecological character of the Ogoni mangrove wetland.
He also described the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration as one of the physical symbols of progress recorded under the Ogoni Cleanup, Zabbey said the facility was expected to support research, training, partnerships and knowledge development in environmental restoration.
He said the 10th anniversary provided an opportunity to take stock of HYPREP’s progress since the commencement of the cleanup, adding that implementation had witnessed significant acceleration since 2023 following the Project’s elevation to a national priority under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Zabbey 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.
He, however, acknowledged that HYPREP had faced challenges, including community disputes, access to project sites, misinformation and sabotage, but said the Project had overcome many of the obstacles through the support and cooperation of stakeholders.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Momoh; Senator Magnus Abe; Senator Olaka Nwogu; Rt. Hon. Dum Dekor; Hon. Emmanuel Deeyah; and the King of Eleme Kingdom, HM King Philip Obele.
In their separate remarks, the stakeholders commended HYPREP for its impact on the environment and people of Ogoni through various deliverables under the cleanup programme.
They urged Ogoni leaders and residents to put aside internal differences and take advantage of the support provided by the Federal Government to advance environmental restoration and development in the region.
“They also commended the Federal Government, the Minister of Environment and the Project Coordinator for their commitment to the success of the Ogoni Cleanup”.
Also, The panel discussion featured Prof. Barineme Fakae, Dr. Celestine Akpobari, HM King Samuel Nnee, Comrade Legborsi Pyagbara, Chief Priscilia Vikue and Ndume Green.
Meanwhile, dignitaries at the event were the Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh; Dr. Sampson Ebimaro, who represented the Minister of Budget and National Planning; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ogoni Trust Fund, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Deeyah; Chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Senator Magnus Abe; representing Rivers South-East, Senator Olaka Nwogu.
Others are member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Dumamene Dekor , traditional rules, other stakeholders from Ogoniland among many others.
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