HYPREP Records Major Environmental Milestones In Ogoniland, Promises More Progress.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has announced major achievements in its ongoing efforts to restore the environment and improve the lives of residents in Ogoniland. According to the Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, over 937,000 litres of oily sludge have been successfully treated from mangrove sediment, while more than 1.7 million kilogrammes of solid waste have been evacuated from the creeks of the region.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement in Port Harcourt, Prof. Zabbey described the event as an opportunity to involve youths in meaningful dialogue and gather feedback to ensure that HYPREP’s initiatives align with the goals of environmental restoration and sustainable development.
He also revealed that the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), situated in Wiyaakara, is set to be commissioned this year for public use. Additionally, the project is accelerating efforts to provide access to clean and safe drinking water for more communities in Ogoniland.
“In February 2025, we commissioned additional water facilities in the Beeri and Bunu communities in Khana and Tai Local Government Areas, respectively,” Zabbey said. “This brings the total number of operational facilities to 10, currently supplying potable water to 30 communities.”
The project has also made significant progress in constructing new water facilities across the four local government areas, including in Bodo, Uegwere-Boue, Gwara, Taabaa, Okwale, Aleto, Kaani, Deken, K-Dere, and Borobara communities. Zabbey assured that these facilities would be commissioned in the third quarter of the year.
Beyond environmental remediation, the Project Coordinator emphasised HYPREP’s commitment to youth empowerment through its livelihood restoration programmes, which aim to equip young people with skills and opportunities for sustainable economic development.
During the interactive session, Associate Professor Sorbarikor Lebura encouraged Ogoni youths to support the timely completion of community projects and protect them from vandalism. He urged them to hold stakeholders accountable constructively, stressing that all projects are time-bound and must be executed to specification.
“If a project is not meeting expectations, it is your responsibility to speak up,” Lebura said. “But do so constructively, with the goal of ensuring better results.”
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Joint Representative Council of Ogoni Youth Groups, Ledogo Amabu, praised the initiative, describing it as timely and necessary. He applauded the leadership style of Prof. Zabbey, highlighting his youth-friendly approach and commitment to transparency.
“We have a Project Coordinator who is accessible and genuinely interested in the concerns of young people,” Amabu stated. “Under his leadership, students have been empowered, and the youths are fully in support of this engagement.”
The positive developments mark a significant step forward in addressing the long-standing environmental challenges in Ogoniland, with HYPREP’s leadership pledging to sustain the momentum in delivering on its mandate.