By: Felix Ikpotor
Fifteen years after the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on Ogoniland, yhe Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project ( HYPREP), says the project is on course and implementing all recommendations of the report.
Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, who said this in a statement to mark the 15 years of the release of the report noted that since the establishment of the HYPREP ProjectCoordination Office (PCO) in February 2017 to implementUNEP recommendations, the Ogoni Clean-up has advanced through severalstages, achieving significant milestones in environmental remediation and livelihood restoration, with appreciableinvolvement from the local communities, the Project regulators and otherstrategic stakeholders.
He thanked the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for accelerating the project, adding that the Ogoniland cleanup is considered a national priority under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Nigeria.
“So, 15 years later, HYPREP is actively implementing all therecommendations of UNEP and is on a progressive course towards creatinga knowledge legacy and a sustainable template for the cleanup of otheroil-impacted areas in Nigeria, ” he said.
In environmental remediation, Zabbey said significant progress has been made in remediating hydrocarbon-impacted sites, saying 30 of the 65 sites UNEP investigated and recommended for remediation have been closed out.
“Currently, 17 medium-risk complex sites are being remediated, whiledetailed site characterisation of the remaining 18 high-risk complex sites isprogressing towards remediation scoping. Mangrove restoration effortscontinue to advance, supporting the revival of fragile coastal ecosystems.
“The Project is leading the world’s largest restoration of oil-degradedmangroves. As of today, a total of 1,537,885 mangrove seedlings ofdifferent species (red, white, and black) have been planted and are thriving.
The successful cleanup of over 1000 ha of shoreline complements therehabilitated mangroves in stimulating biodiversity recovery and enhancinglocal fisheries. Phase 2 of the shoreline cleanup and mangrove restoration isunderway, ” he said.
He also listed the provision of potable drinking water to 49 communities in Ogoniland and other achievements in healthcare delivery such as the ongoing 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital, Buan Cottage Hospital amongst others.
Zabbey also highlighted the projects achievements in livelihood supports saying HYPREP has continued to integrate environmental cleanup with human capacity building. He said thousands of Ogoni youths and women have been trained and providedwith start-up kits to develop specialised vocational, climate-smartagricultural, and technical skills.
“Under the current administration, HYPREP has transformed thesocio-ecological landscape of Ogoniland through the Ogoni cleanup. TheProject has been brought closer to the people through the introduction ofpeople-centric programmes. Prominent among them are the creation of morethan 8,000 direct jobs and the training of Ogoni youth and women inhigh-demand skills in Creative Arts, Aviation Cabin Crew, Seafaring, andMechatronics.
“Other high-demand skill training programmes funded by HYPREP forOgoni youth and women include Commercial Diving and UnderwaterWelding. 2,300 youths are also being trained in Mud Logging, Full-StackDevelopment, Cybersecurity, GIS and Cloud Mapping, Rigging, RopeAccess, Software Development, Animation and Graphics, among others.
“HYPREP has also trained 5,000 Ogoni youth and women in 20 skill sets,including Argon Welding and Metal Fabrication, Offshore/OnshoreOperations, Crane Operation, Solar Panel and CCTV Installation, and DataAnalytics, and has provided beneficiaries with start-up kits, ” the Project Coordinator said.
Zabbey further thanked Ogoni stakeholders for their role and support in the implementation of the report.
“On this 15th anniversary, HYPREP is pleased with the efforts of allstakeholders in implementing the UNEP Report and believes this serves as avital checkpoint for government bodies, international partners, and industryoperators to renew their commitments to environmental sustainability,promote healthy communities, and support the sustainable development ofthe people, ” he stated.
