The Federal Government has renewed its commitment to completing the Ogoni cleanup and environmental restoration project in Rivers State, assuring residents that efforts to address decades of oil pollution remain a priority.
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, gave the assurance on Thursday in Bodo City, Gokana Local Government Area, during activities marking the 10th anniversary of the Ogoni cleanup and the unveiling of the Ogoni Cleanup Monument.
Lawal said President Bola Tinubu remained determined to see the remediation programme through to completion.
According to the minister, the newly unveiled monument would serve as a lasting symbol of the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring Ogoniland.
Lawal recalled that the cleanup project was launched at the same location 10 years ago, saying the anniversary provided an opportunity to reaffirm the government’s commitment to the people.
He said Tinubu, upon assuming office, gave a clear directive for the accelerated completion of the project, with ongoing activities under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) reflecting that commitment.
The minister highlighted several infrastructure projects linked to the intervention, including the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, a specialist hostel, a cottage hospital and the Ogoni Power Project.
He said the Centre of Excellence, built on a large expanse of land, was expected to attract international partnerships and research while positioning Ogoniland as a major destination for environmental restoration studies.
Beyond infrastructure, Lawal said considerable progress had been achieved in the remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater, restoration of mangrove ecosystems, healthcare interventions and the provision of potable water.
He also pointed to the return of aquatic species to previously affected waterways as evidence that the environment was gradually recovering.
According to the minister, the reappearance of fish, periwinkles, crabs and shrimps was particularly significant because of the role these resources play in the livelihoods of local communities.
Lawal further disclosed that four local government areas in Ogoniland had recently received Ramsar accreditation certificates, an international recognition associated with wetland conservation.
He said the designation could help attract international funding and technical support for environmental conservation initiatives in the region.
The environment minister also announced the commencement of Phase II of the shoreline cleanup programme.
He explained that simple and medium-impact remediation sites had already been completed, allowing attention to shift towards more complex contaminated locations alongside the second phase of shoreline restoration.
Lawal urged communities and other stakeholders to maintain regular communication with HYPREP leadership, stressing that cooperation would produce greater development benefits than actions capable of creating division.
HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, described the Ogoni intervention as the world’s largest oil remediation project.
He also described its mangrove restoration programme as the largest effort of its kind involving oil-degraded mangroves globally.
Zabbey said the 10th anniversary offered stakeholders an opportunity to assess the progress made since the project began, review existing challenges and determine the direction of future interventions.
As part of the launch of Phase II of the shoreline cleanup, HYPREP presented International Maritime Organisation and Swim Test Certificates to 1,420 community workers.
The development, according to Zabbey, brought the number of direct jobs created for Ogoni youths and women through the project to more than 8,500.
However, he urged communities to protect the recovering ecosystem by avoiding excessive harvesting of aquatic resources and indiscriminate destruction of mangroves.
Zabbey said sustainable harvesting practices would be necessary to preserve the environmental gains recorded so far.
He acknowledged challenges including community disagreements, access problems and misinformation, but said cooperation among stakeholders had helped the project overcome several obstacles.
The member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dumnamene Dekor, appealed to the Environment Minister to accelerate the completion and energisation of the Ogoni Independent Power Project.
Dekor described reliable electricity as essential to stimulating industrial development, creating opportunities for young people and improving economic activity across the region.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Senator Magnus Abe, called on Ogoni people to unite and put internal disagreements behind them.
Abe urged residents and leaders to take advantage of the support provided by the Tinubu administration and avoid actions that could disrupt project implementation.
He said the future prosperity of Ogoniland required collective action, constructive engagement and greater unity among stakeholders.
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The Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Olaka Nwogu, called for the expansion of HYPREP’s programmes beyond environmental remediation.
He advocated greater attention to education, economic empowerment and community safety, arguing that such interventions would complement the ongoing restoration of the environment.
The anniversary ceremony was attended by the Minister of Regional Development, a representative of the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders.
They commended the progress recorded by HYPREP since the Ogoni cleanup programme commenced in 2016 and expressed support for efforts to complete the remaining phases of the project.