The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to the environmental remediation and sustainable development of Ogoni Land in Rivers State. Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, made this assurance during an official visit to commission completed water projects executed by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Gokhana and Tai Local Government Areas.
Lawal was joined by Minister of Niger Delta, Abubakar Momoh, to commission the water projects and inspect ongoing projects. Momoh praised the reinstatement of HYPREP’s Coordinator, Nenibarini Zabbey, as a testament to his recognized work.
Zabbey highlighted HYPREP’s achievements, including planting 514,819 mangrove seeds, marking the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves. The visit included commissioning a completed water scheme in Kporghor Community and inspecting flagship projects like the Centre of Excellence in Wiyakaara and the Ogoni Specialist Hospital.
The Centre of Excellence, born from United Nations Environment Program recommendations, will serve as a center for environmental research when completed. The visit culminated in an award recognizing Zabbey as the best HYPREP Coordinator so far.
The Federal Government’s commitment to Ogoni Land remediation and sustainable development is a significant step towards addressing environmental degradation and promoting economic growth in the region.
