HYPREP Seeks Support from Stakeholders in Ogoni Cleanup
Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has urged stakeholders to support its efforts in the ongoing Ogoni cleanup exercise.
This came as the agency has also urged regulators, asset owners and other stakeholders to remain resolute in their support, assuring international standard practice in the remediation of the polluted Ogoniland in Rivers State.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, made the call in his welcome address, at the 2025 first quarterly key stakeholders meeting held in Port Harcourt, State capital.
Prof. Zabbey explained that the meeting platform remains instrumental in providing a structured avenue for regulators, asset owners, and implementation partners to offer feedback to HYPREP on project performance and deliberate on ideas that move the project forward.
He stated that the meeting enables the stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, deepen synergy, and reinforce collective responsibility in the project.
Zabbey who recalled that the “UNEP’s 2011 Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland provided a comprehensive blueprint for the clean-up and sustainable management of hydrocarbon pollution in the region. The Report also made recommendations which are being given due attention”, said the work on several fronts of the project is progressing steadily.
He told the stakeholders that “As key project partners, your insights and shared experiences have always enriched our operations, and as we look ahead, such cohesion remains critical to the success of HYPREP’s mandate”.
Drawing from the Renewed Hope National Agenda which emphasises the acceleration of the Ogoni Clean-Up, the HYPREP coordinator said “the policy thrust for 2025 is clear”, stressing that they are intensifying efforts to complete various ongoing projects including remediation works and mangrove restoration, potable water facilities, Ogoni Specialist Hospital and many others projects.
Zabbey told the stakeholders that the agency will soon commence a new set of shoreline cleanup, mangrove restoration, water, and livelihood training projects to sustain the momentum of implementing the Ogoni Cleanup.
Also, he revealed that HYPREP has concluded plan to conduct detailed site characterisation of the high-risk, complex sites leading to remediation execution works at the sites.
“We are delighted to inform you that socio-economic study of Ogoni has started and we have contracted the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization to commence in the next quarter a three-year human health biomonitoring in Ogoniland.”
He however, urged each “regulatory agency and asset owner represented here to deepen their involvement and continue to provide strategic support to the project”, adding that HYPREP collaboration with the Rivers State Ministries of Power, Health, Water Resources, Environment and civil society organisations remains vital.
Zabbey noted further that “The technical and administrative support of all relevant government agencies and our funding partners is indispensable in helping HYPREP overcome operational bottlenecks, especially those encountered in interfacing with host communities”.
During the meeting, the Executive Coordinator of Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD) Dr Francis Nubari, observed that some of the contractors may be sabotaging the remediation projects indirectly through their actions and inactions.
Speaking with journalists, Dr Nubari urged HYPREP management to wade into the conflict with contractors and workers, so it doesn’t continue disrupting smooth cleanup exercise.
He said: “I feel the apathy on the side of the workers that has to do with the contractors. In that note, I charge HYPREP to step up with the contractors. If it must be right, then the contractors must be up to their responsibility task.
“The issue is, if the contractors are primarily economic driven, of course they cannot help HYPREP actualise their dream”, Dr Nubari added.
