…FG unveils monument in Bodo as project marks 10th anniversary

The Federal Government has said the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) is entering the final stage of the Ogoni cleanup with the commencement of remediation activities on complex pollution sites across Ogoniland.

The Minister of Environment, Mr. Balarabe Lawal, disclosed this in Bodo City, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, during the 10th anniversary of the Ogoni Cleanup Project and the official unveiling of the Ogoni Cleanup Monument.

Lawal said the development marked a major milestone in the decade-long environmental restoration programme, stressing that the government remained committed to completing the cleanup and restoring the damaged ecosystem in Ogoniland.

According to him, the completion of simple and medium-impact remediation sites has paved the way for HYPREP to move into more complex sites, alongside the commencement of the second phase of the shoreline cleanup.

He said the transition demonstrated that the Federal Government’s commitment to the Ogoni cleanup had moved beyond promises to the delivery of concrete results.

“Ten years ago in this very place, the flag-off of the Ogoni cleanup took place. Today, we return to affirm that commitment. The monument stands as a permanent reminder of a promise made and a promise kept,” Lawal said.

The minister said President Bola Tinubu, upon assuming office, gave a direct marching order for the speedy conclusion of the project, adding that the progress recorded under HYPREP was a reflection of the administration’s determination to complete the environmental restoration of Ogoniland.

He listed infrastructure projects delivered under the cleanup programme to include the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, a specialist hostel, a cottage hospital and the Ogoni Power Project.

“The Centre of Excellence is built on vast land that will attract international collaboration and research. It will place Ogoniland on the global map of environmental research and remediation efforts,” Lawal stated.

Beyond the physical infrastructure, the minister said substantial progress had also been recorded in soil and groundwater remediation, mangrove restoration, public health interventions and the provision of potable water to communities.

He further pointed to the return of aquatic life in previously polluted waterways as evidence that the restoration programme was beginning to produce ecological benefits.

“One of the most important developments is the evidence of ecosystem recovery. The fish, periwinkles, crabs, and shrimps are back. This is vital for the local economy and community livelihoods,” he said.

Lawal also disclosed that the four local government areas that make up Ogoniland had recently received Ramsar accreditation certificates, an international recognition for wetland conservation.

He said the designation would provide opportunities for greater international support and funding for the conservation and sustainable management of the region’s wetlands.

The minister, who also announced the flag-off of Phase II of the shoreline cleanup, urged stakeholders in Ogoniland to strengthen communication with HYPREP and avoid actions that could undermine the progress of the remediation programme.

He said sustained cooperation among communities, government agencies and other stakeholders remained critical to the successful completion of the cleanup.

The HYPREP Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibari Zabbey, described the Ogoni cleanup as the world’s largest oil remediation project, while describing the mangrove restoration component as the largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves globally.

“Ten years is a significant milestone, offering all stakeholders an opportunity to reflect on where we started, where we are today, and where we are going,” Zabbey said.

Zabbey said the transition to complex remediation sites represented another significant phase in the implementation of the cleanup, coming after the completion of simple and medium-impact sites.

He disclosed that, as part of the Phase II shoreline cleanup flag-off, HYPREP presented the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and Swim Test Certificates to 1,420 community workers.

The latest figure, he said, had pushed the total number of direct jobs created by the project for Ogoni youths and women to more than 8,500.

The HYPREP coordinator, however, cautioned shoreline communities against overharvesting returning aquatic resources and indiscriminate cutting of mangroves, warning that such practices could reverse the ecological gains recorded through the restoration programme.

He called for controlled harvesting and responsible use of the restored ecosystem to ensure that the recovery of aquatic life translates into sustainable livelihoods for communities.

Zabbey acknowledged that HYPREP had encountered challenges, including community disputes, access difficulties and misinformation, but said continued engagement with stakeholders had helped the project overcome several of the obstacles.

The Board Chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Senator Magnus Abe, urged Ogoni leaders and residents to put aside internal differences and take advantage of the support being provided by the Federal Government.

Abe particularly called for an end to internal media disputes, stressing that the development of Ogoniland required collective action and sustained cooperation.

“Nobody can organize or strategize for us; those are things we must do for ourselves. The prosperity and development of Ogoniland cannot wait for anybody anymore. We must move together,” Abe charged.

He urged stakeholders to maintain constructive engagement with HYPREP and other government institutions, warning that disruption of project activities could delay the delivery of benefits to the people.

“Disruption and division will only delay the benefits meant for the people. Let us choose the path of partnership, transparency, and mutual respect,” he said.

The member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Dumnamene Dekor, appealed to the Minister of Environment to fast-track the completion and energisation of the Ogoni Independent Power Project.

Dekor described electricity as a critical catalyst for industrial development, economic growth and youth empowerment in Ogoniland.

Also speaking, the Senator representing Rivers South-East, Senator Olaka Nwogu, called for a broader approach to the activities of HYPREP, urging the agency to complement environmental remediation with interventions in education, economic empowerment and community safety.

The ceremony attracted the Minister of Regional Development, a representative of the Minister of Budget and Planning, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders from Ogoniland.

The stakeholders commended the progress recorded by HYPREP since the Ogoni cleanup formally commenced in 2016, while calling for sustained commitment towards the completion of the remaining remediation works.