KAGOTE President, Chief Lesi Maol, has received the Ramsar Certificate designating Ogoniland as a Wetland of International Importance, on behalf of the people of Ogoni.

The historic presentation was made during activities marking the *10th Anniversary of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP)* at the Amphitheatre of the newly built Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration in Wiiyaakara, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The Honourable Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, presented the certificate to Chief Lesi Maol, who subsequently handed it over to the chairmen of the four Ogoni Local Government Areas.

Receiving the certificate, Chief Lesi Maol described the Ramsar designation as a significant milestone for Ogoniland, stressing the importance of protecting the region’s vast and environmentally sensitive coastline and wetlands.

He presented the certificates to the four local government chairmen : Dr. Mbakpone Friday Okpe of Tai, Dr. Thomas Bariere of Khana, Dr. Obarilormate Ollor of Eleme, and Hon. Confidence Deko of Gokana, who was represented by his Vice Chairman.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Lesi said it was important for Nigerians and the international community to appreciate the enormous geographical and environmental significance of Ogoni.

“It is important to let everyone know that Ogoni has the longest coastline and shoreline in Africa, which starts all the way from Opuoko in Khana LGA to Akpajo in Eleme LGA,” he said.

Chief Lesi, who said he was familiar with the Ogoni coastline in the course of his work, congratulated the Minister of Environment for supervising HYPREP and supporting the project to achieve what he described as a major milestone for Ogoniland.

The Ramsar designation gives international recognition to Ogoniland’s wetlands and coastal ecosystems as areas of ecological importance which provides critical environmental services, including flood control, water purification, carbon storage, protection of coastal communities, fisheries and other sources of livelihood.

For communities across Ogoni, where many people depend directly or indirectly on rivers, creeks, mangroves, wetlands and other aquatic ecosystems, the designation could strengthen efforts to conserve and sustainably manage these resources.

For Ogoniland, the designation is particularly significant given the region’s long history of environmental degradation associated with decades of oil exploration and production. It provides an additional international framework for protecting sensitive ecosystems as remediation and environmental restoration efforts continue.

Speaking during the presentation, Minister Balarabe Abbas Lawal said the certificate presented to Ogoni was the “18th Ramsar certificate issued in Nigeria”, describing the occasion as a remarkable achievement.

According to the Minister, while about 100 such designations have been made globally, the Ogoni designation is particularly significant because it is the “first time a Ramsar designation is being presented to four local government areas within one contiguous area”.

The Minister’s remarks underscored the national and international significance of Ogoni’s wetlands and coastline, while highlighting the role of HYPREP in advancing environmental restoration and sustainable environmental management in the region.

The presentation marks another major development in the environmental journey of Ogoniland, with the Ramsar status expected to strengthen conservation efforts and draw greater attention to the protection and sustainable management of the region’s wetlands for present and future generations.