By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, has commenced the development of a new five-year Strategic Plan for 2026–2031, focusing on completing outstanding projects, sustaining restored ecosystems and safeguarding the gains of the Ogoni Cleanup Programme.
The Minister of Environment and Chairman of the HYPREP Governing Council, Balarabe Lawal, disclosed this on Monday during activities marking the 10th anniversary of the Ogoni Cleanup Programme in Rivers State.
Lawal said the new strategic plan would provide a clear roadmap for the next phase of the Nigerian Government’s intervention in Ogoniland.
The announcement came as HYPREP flagged off the second phase of shoreline cleanup and mangrove restoration at Patrick Waterside, Bodo City, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to him: “The plan will focus on completing outstanding interventions, sustaining restored ecosystems, preventing re-pollution and strengthening community ownership of completed projects.”
He noted that the strategy would also ensure that HYPREP continued to deliver measurable and lasting value to the people of Ogoniland.
The minister stressed the need to strengthen HYPREP’s sustainability and post-remediation management framework, explaining that “the framework would be integrated into the new strategic plan to ensure that investments made by the Nigerian Government and its partners remained protected and continued to benefit affected communities.”
Lawal spoke against the backdrop of the 10th anniversary of the cleanup programme, saying the milestone provided an opportunity to assess achievements, identify outstanding challenges and establish a clear direction for the next phase of the intervention.
He reiterated that the Nigerian Government’s objectives in Ogoniland remained centred on two key priorities: restoring the degraded environment and restoring the livelihoods and wellbeing of the people.
The minister said the government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remained committed to implementing the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP.
He noted that the elevation of HYPREP to a national priority since 2023 had accelerated remediation and livelihood restoration activities across Ogoniland.
The HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, said 1,420 certified community workers were beneficiaries of the project’s livelihood and capacity-building interventions.
He explained that HYPREP’s interventions had contributed to the creation of more than 8,500 direct jobs for Ogoni youths and women.
Zabbey said the second phase of shoreline and mangrove restoration would deepen efforts to rehabilitate degraded coastal ecosystems in Ogoniland.
He disclosed that HYPREP was beginning to observe encouraging signs of ecological recovery, including the gradual return of fish and other aquatic species to restored areas.
