The Federal Government has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to completing the Ogoni cleanup project and restoring the environment degraded by decades of oil pollution in Rivers State.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, gave the assurance in Bodo City, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, during the 10th anniversary of the Ogoni Cleanup project and the unveiling of the Ogoni Cleanup Monument on Thursday.
Lawal said Tinubu remained committed to the full completion and restoration of the Ogoni environment, stressing that the government had not abandoned the people of Ogoniland.
He said the monument served as a permanent symbol of the government’s pledge to the Ogoni people and its determination to complete the remediation programme.
“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 noted that upon assuming office, President Tinubu issued a direct marching order for the speedy conclusion of the project, adding that ongoing operations under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) reflected the administration’s resolve.
Highlighting progress recorded over the years, Lawal pointed to the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, a specialist hostel, a cottage hospital and the Ogoni Power Project as some of the infrastructure developed under the cleanup programme.
He said the Centre of Excellence, built on a vast expanse of land, would attract international collaboration and research and position Ogoniland on the global map of environmental research and remediation.
Beyond physical infrastructure, the minister said significant progress had also been recorded in soil and groundwater remediation, mangrove restoration, public health interventions and the provision of potable water.
He described the return of aquatic life to local waterways as evidence of ecosystem recovery.
“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 four local government areas in Ogoniland had recently received Ramsar accreditation certificates, an international designation recognising wetland conservation efforts.
According to him, the accreditation would create opportunities for increased international funding and support for conservation and environmental restoration.
The minister also announced the flag-off of Phase Two of the shoreline cleanup project, saying simple and medium-impact remediation sites had been completed, paving the way for work on complex sites and the second phase of shoreline cleanup.
He urged stakeholders in Ogoniland to maintain regular communication with HYPREP’s leadership and pursue constructive engagement rather than actions that could divide communities or disrupt project delivery.
The HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, described the Ogoni cleanup as the world’s largest oil remediation project and its mangrove restoration programme as the largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves globally.
Zabbey said the 10th anniversary provided an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on the progress made, the challenges encountered and the work ahead.
As part of the Phase Two shoreline cleanup flag-off, HYPREP presented International Maritime Organisation and Swim Test Certificates to 1,420 community workers, bringing the total number of direct jobs created for Ogoni youths and women to more than 8,500.
Zabbey, however, urged shoreline communities to protect the returning aquatic life by avoiding overharvesting and indiscriminate cutting of mangroves.
He said controlled harvesting was necessary to sustain the ecological gains recorded through the cleanup.
The HYPREP coordinator acknowledged that the project had faced challenges, including community disputes, access issues and misinformation, but said stakeholder cooperation had helped overcome many of the obstacles.
Leaders from Ogoniland also used the occasion to highlight other areas requiring government attention.
The member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dumnamene Dekor, appealed to the environment minister to fast-track the completion and energisation of the Ogoni Independent Power Project.
Dekor described electricity as a key catalyst for industrialisation, development and youth empowerment in the region.
Similarly, the board chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Magnus Abe, urged Ogoni leaders and residents to unite, end internal disputes and maximise the support extended by the Federal Government.
“Nobody can organise or strategise 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 said.
He cautioned stakeholders against actions that could disrupt the cleanup, stressing that division and disruption would only delay the benefits intended for the people.
The senator representing Rivers South-East District in the National Assembly, Olaka Nwogu, called for the humanisation of HYPREP through interventions in education, economic empowerment and community safety to complement environmental remediation.
Earlier, during the third Quarterly Key Regulators and Asset Owners meeting on the Ogoniland cleanup, Zabbey said HYPREP had surpassed some of the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme, particularly in healthcare delivery and livelihood programmes.
He also disclosed that HYPREP had achieved 100 per cent shoreline cleanup and mangrove restoration in Bomu Community in Gokana Local Government Area.
The project coordinator said the quarterly meeting remained an important platform for stakeholders to assess successes, identify challenges and develop solutions to ensure the effective delivery of the Ogoni cleanup programme.
