HYPREP Nears Ogoni Mangrove Completion

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has announced that it has reached 94 percent completion in the first phase of its mangrove restoration initiative across Ogoniland. The agency also revealed significant advancements in its land and shoreline remediation efforts aimed at reviving the region’s degraded ecosystem.

HYPREP Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, made the disclosure during the third-quarter interactive engagement with Ogoni youth groups held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. According to him, the quarterly forum introduced in 2023,was created to promote transparency, inclusivity, and open dialogue with young people regarding the progress of environmental restoration and community development projects in the area.

Zabbey reaffirmed that the cleanup project remains firmly on track to deliver on its core objectives as outlined in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report and in accordance with the government gazette establishing HYPREP. “We are committed to ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the implementation of all cleanup activities,” he stated.

Providing updates, Zabbey noted that shoreline remediation had achieved 67.1 percent completion, while the second phase of land remediation had reached 36.55 percent.

On potable water supply, the HYPREP coordinator disclosed that 14 completed water facilities had been commissioned, providing safe drinking water to 40 Ogoni communities. He further announced that two additional facilities located in Bane and Gwara communities in Khana Local Government Area would be inaugurated next week, bringing the total number of operational water schemes to 45.

He also mentioned that the process of establishing the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Remediation had commenced, while the Ogoni Power Project was making steady progress with compensation and construction work ongoing at the Bodo and Wiiyaakara substations.

According to Zabbey, work on the Ogoni Specialist Hospital has reached 76.8 percent completion, while the Buan Cottage Hospital is 98.7 percent complete. He added that other health-related initiatives, including the Human Bio-Monitoring Survey, are ongoing as part of the project’s broader public health interventions.

Highlighting the project’s impact on local livelihoods, Zabbey disclosed that over 7,000 Ogoni youths and women had gained employment through HYPREP-related projects, while another 5,000 individuals had completed vocational training and received start-up kits to establish small businesses.

He assured that the programme would continue to provide education grants, scholarships, and capacity-building workshops to support the region’s long-term development. Training in emerging and high-demand skills such as cybersecurity, full-stack software development, mud logging, commercial diving, and underwater welding will commence later this quarter, he added.

Zabbey appealed to Ogoni youths to remain peaceful, resist misinformation, and work collaboratively with project teams in their communities. “This project belongs to all of you, and its success depends on your unity, cooperation, and constructive participation. Let’s continue to resolve issues through dialogue rather than confrontation,” he urged.

He further commended HYPREP’s security personnel for maintaining peace and stability around project sites, emphasizing that their professionalism had helped ensure smooth operations.

Reaffirming the agency’s commitment, Zabbey assured that HYPREP would ensure that the benefits of the Ogoni cleanup extend to all segments of the population whether in business, farming, education, advocacy, or entrepreneurship.