The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commenced the second phase of shoreline cleanup and mangrove restoration in Ogoniland, as the Federal Government marked 10 years of efforts to restore the polluted environment, rebuild livelihoods and improve the wellbeing of affected communities.
The anniversary was marked at Patrick Waterside in Bodo City, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, where the Minister of Environment and Chairman of the HYPREP Governing Council, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, flagged off the second phase of the shoreline cleanup and mangrove restoration and unveiled the remodelled Ogoni Cleanup Plaque.
The milestone also featured the presentation of International Maritime Organization (IMO) certificates to 1,420 community workers and the handover of Ogoni Wetlands Ramsar certificates to chairmen of the four local government areas in Ogoni as custodians of the communities.
Other anniversary activities were held at the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration in Wiiyaakara, Khana Local Government Area, and included a documentary on the transformational cleanup, the unveiling of the Socio-Economic Study of Ogoni, a panel discussion on “The Ogoni Cleanup – The Journey So Far,” cultural displays and goodwill messages from stakeholders.
The event brought together the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh; representatives of the Minister of Budget and National Planning; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ogoni Trust Fund, Emmanuel Deeyah; members of the HYPREP Governing Council; Senator Magnus Abe; Senator Olaka Nwogu; member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency, Dumamene Dekor; former MOSOP President Legborsi Pyagbara; KAGOTE President, Chief Lesi Maol; representatives of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, community representatives, women and youth groups, development partners and other stakeholders.
Speaking during the flag-off, Lawal described the remodelled plaque as a permanent reminder of the Federal Government’s commitment to the people of Ogoni. He said its return to the historic site after 10 years demonstrated that the government had not abandoned its promise to restore the degraded environment.
The minister said the Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remained committed to implementing the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and restoring the Ogoni environment.
According to him, the elevation of HYPREP to a national priority since 2023 had accelerated remediation and livelihood restoration activities across Ogoniland.
Lawal highlighted interventions covering soil and groundwater remediation, shoreline cleanup, potable water, public health, the Ogoni Power Project, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, the Cottage Hospital in Buan and various capacity-building initiatives.
He urged stakeholders to sustain constructive engagement, transparency and mutual respect, stressing that the success of the cleanup ultimately depended on ensuring that its benefits reached the people of Ogoni.
The minister said the 10th anniversary should serve not only as an opportunity to celebrate achievements but also to assess outstanding challenges and establish a clear direction for the next phase of the intervention.
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 measurable benefits for Ogoniland.
Lawal also called for stronger sustainability and post-remediation management of completed HYPREP projects so that investments by the Federal Government and its partners would remain protected and continue benefiting affected communities.
He said the Federal Government’s objectives in Ogoniland remained focused on two fundamental priorities: restoring the degraded environment and restoring the livelihoods and wellbeing of the people.
The minister 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.
He expressed confidence that the next phase would produce stronger evidence of ecosystem recovery, restored livelihoods and improved prosperity across Ogoniland, while assuring stakeholders of continued government and international funding.
The HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, said the second phase of shoreline and mangrove restoration would deepen efforts to rehabilitate 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 programmes. Their engagement, he said, 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 see encouraging signs of ecological recovery, including the gradual return of fish and other aquatic species to restored areas.
According to him, the designation of the Ogoni mangrove wetland as a Ramsar Site of International Importance further reinforced the responsibility of communities to protect the restored ecosystems.
Zabbey appealed to shoreline communities to avoid overharvesting and indiscriminate cutting of mangroves, warning that uncontrolled exploitation could undermine the ecological gains already being recorded.
He said HYPREP would continue sensitising communities on responsible resource use and the need to protect the ecological character of the Ogoni mangrove wetland.
The Project Coordinator also described the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration as one of the physical symbols of progress under the Ogoni Cleanup Programme, noting that it was expected to support research, training, partnerships and knowledge development in environmental restoration.
Zabbey said implementation had accelerated significantly since 2023 following HYPREP’s elevation to a national priority under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He highlighted progress in environmental remediation, mangrove restoration, potable water provision, healthcare, livelihood restoration, infrastructure development, peace-building, security, transparency and accountability.
While acknowledging challenges including community disputes, access to project sites, misinformation and sabotage, Zabbey said HYPREP had overcome many of the obstacles through the cooperation and support of stakeholders.
In separate goodwill messages, the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh; Senator Magnus Abe; Senator Olaka Nwogu; Dum Dekor; Emmanuel Deeyah and the traditional ruler of Eleme Kingdom, King Philip Obele, commended HYPREP for its interventions and impact on the environment and people of Ogoni.
They urged Ogoni leaders and residents to put aside internal differences and take advantage of Federal Government support to advance the cleanup and broader development of the region.
They also commended the Federal Government, the Minister of Environment and the HYPREP Project Coordinator for their commitment to the success of the programme.
The panel discussion featured Prof. Barineme Fakae, Dr. Celestine Akpobari, King Samuel Nnee, Legborsi Pyagbara, Chief Priscilia Vikue and Ndume Green.
As HYPREP enters the next phase of the Ogoni Cleanup Programme, the focus is shifting from remediation alone to sustaining restored ecosystems, creating lasting livelihoods and ensuring that the environmental gains of the past decade translate into improved living conditions for communities across Ogoniland.
