Fifteen years after the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) exposed the devastating impact of decades of oil pollution in Ogoniland, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) says it has recorded significant milestones in environmental restoration, public health, potable water supply and livelihood development.
Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, stated this Tuesday, in a statement marking the 15th anniversary of the release of the UNEP Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland.
The landmark report, presented to the Federal Government on August 4, 2011, documented widespread environmental degradation and serious public health risks caused by oil exploration, recommending an initial $1 billion intervention fund for remediation.
According to Zabbey, HYPREP, established in 2017 to implement the UNEP recommendations, has remained on course in delivering a sustainable cleanup model, with renewed momentum under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the project had completed remediation of 30 of the 65 polluted sites identified by UNEP, while remediation work is ongoing at 17 medium-risk sites. Characterisation studies for the remaining 18 high-risk locations are also progressing ahead of full-scale cleanup.
Zabbey described HYPREP’s mangrove restoration programme as the largest oil-degraded mangrove restoration effort globally, revealing that over 1.5 million mangrove seedlings have been planted while more than 1,000 hectares of shoreline have been cleaned, helping to revive biodiversity and fisheries.
On potable water, he disclosed that “49 Ogoni communities have been connected to safe water supply through integrated water schemes and wind-powered facilities in remote settlements”.
He also highlighted major investments in healthcare infrastructure, including the near completion of the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Kpite and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan. “Existing health facilities in Bori, Nchia, Terabor and Kpite have also been upgraded, while five ambulances have been donated to improve emergency response.”
Zabbey noted that HYPREP had launched a three-year human health biomonitoring study in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to assess the long-term health impact of hydrocarbon pollution on Ogoni residents.
The HYPREP boss said the project has combined environmental restoration with economic empowerment by creating over 8,000 direct jobs and providing specialised training for thousands of youths and women in aviation, seafaring, commercial diving, software development, cybersecurity, mechatronics and other high-demand skills.
He added that more than 5,000 beneficiaries have also received vocational training and start-up kits, while scholarships have been awarded to over 1,000 students, grants provided to 60 small businesses, and environmental clubs established in 31 secondary schools.
Zabbey further disclosed that “the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration is now 96 percent completed, while the recently designated Ogoni Wetland Ramsar Site of International Importance has entered a five-year conservation management phase”.
He described the anniversary as a critical moment for governments, development partners and industry operators to renew their commitment to environmental sustainability, healthy communities and inclusive development.
“HYPREP is actively implementing all the recommendations of the UNEP Report and is creating a knowledge legacy and sustainable template for the cleanup of other oil-impacted areas in Nigeria,” he said.
Blessing Ibunge
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