Nenibarini Zabbey, the coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), announced significant progress in the restoration of mangrove species in Ogoniland.
In a statement released on Monday, March 31, 2025, Zabbey highlighted that three species of mangroves, including the white and black varieties, have been successfully restored as part of HYPREP’s broader environmental efforts.
These efforts encompass shoreline cleanup, soil and groundwater remediation, and public health improvements, all aimed at reversing decades of environmental degradation in the region.
Zabbey also revealed that the World Health Organization (WHO) will conduct a three-year bio-monitoring study in Ogoniland, Rivers State.
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The research aims to assess the health benefits of the ongoing environmental restoration as the cleanup of crude oil-polluted sites progresses. Zabbey shared this development during a visit by a delegation from the University of Port Harcourt, led by Pro-Chancellor Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, on Friday, March 28, 2025, in Port Harcourt.
HYPREP’s efforts extend beyond environmental restoration to support the local community. In 2024, HYPREP awarded educational grants to 250 undergraduate students from Ogoniland, and in 2025, approximately 300 postgraduate students received scholarships.
Zabbey emphasized the organization’s commitment to enhancing the region’s healthcare system, with plans to upgrade four key hospitals, including the Corner Cottage and Ogoni Specialist Hospitals.
As part of its water access initiative, HYPREP has provided clean water to 30 Ogoni communities, with plans to expand this coverage to an additional 60 settlements in 2025.
Ogoniland, once the center of Nigeria’s oil production, has suffered extensively from environmental degradation due to decades of oil spills.
Between 1976 and 1991, over two million barrels of crude oil polluted the region’s soil in nearly 3,000 separate incidents, according to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).
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These spills have severely impacted the livelihoods of local farmers and fishermen, while residents face an elevated risk of cancer and respiratory diseases. The life expectancy in the Niger Delta is 41 years, a full decade below the national average.
Fegalo Nsuke, president of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), expressed deep concern for the ongoing suffering of the Ogoni people.
He urged all stakeholders, particularly the oil industry, to approach the situation with honesty and integrity in order to find a lasting solution.
Nsuke also emphasized that while the region’s natural resources are often discussed, the Ogoni people must be compensated fairly, and the government must show genuine empathy for their suffering.
Georgewill Owunari, vice-chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, underscored the importance of sustainable development and environmental restoration in the Niger Delta. He called for a collective effort to address the region’s challenges and ensure a better future for its people.
