By Awuya Maryanne
The Federal Government’s drive to restore and develop Ogoniland is set for a major boost following a fresh appeal for international backing and donor collaboration.
Speaking through the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), the government urged global partners to accelerate ongoing cleanup efforts.
The call was made during a high-level conference focused on securing diplomatic and donor support for the region, organized by the Board of Trustees of the Ogoni Trust Fund Incorporated.
Persecondnews correspondent at the event reports that it gathered key Ogoni representatives, financial advisors, and critical stakeholders to map out the future of the region’s remediation project.
Reaffirming the government’s stance, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, emphasized that the administration remains deeply committed to delivering environmental justice, ecological restoration, and sustainable growth to Ogoniland.
According to him, major interventions have already been implemented in healthcare, water supply, environmental remediation, livelihood support and education across Ogoniland.
Lawal disclosed that the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration was nearing completion and would serve as an international postgraduate research institute focused on remediation and environmental restoration.
“It is going to be an international institute that will address remediation issues globally,” he said.
The minister noted that thousands of residents had also benefited from skills acquisition, entrepreneurship and economic empowerment programmes under the project.
He stressed that environmental restoration in Ogoniland required sustained investment, technical support and stronger partnerships with donor agencies, development organisations and the private sector.
“No government or organisation can do it alone. We require support, collaboration and sustained investment to ensure the long-term sustainability of the project,” he stated.
HYPREP’s newly inaugurated Board of Trustees Chairman, Emmanuel Nwika Deeyah, highlighted that prudent management has driven significant progress on the cleanup, overcoming initial remediation challenges.
Deeyah promised development partners and stakeholders that all project funds will be managed transparently and in line with global standards.
“We cannot do all of this alone. Whatever support you provide will not be wasted,” he said.
Also speaking, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, highlighted achievements recorded in potable water supply, healthcare delivery and environmental remediation in Ogoniland.
According to him, the project has delivered 15 mini water schemes and five windmill and solar-powered water systems to improve access to clean water in affected communities.
Zabbey added that HYPREP had strengthened healthcare services through the construction and rehabilitation of hospitals, deployment of ambulances and installation of solar power systems in selected facilities.
He disclosed that the Buan Cottage Hospital had reached 100 percent completion, while the Ogoni Specialist Hospital was about 78 percent completed.
The project coordinator also revealed that the Ogoni Human Biomonitoring Study had commenced to examine the health impact of hydrocarbon pollution on residents.
He said the interventions were aimed at improving healthcare access, environmental sustainability and public health outcomes across Ogoniland.
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