The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, has successfully treated over 937,000 litres of oily sludge from the mangrove sediment and evacuated over 1.7 million kilograms of solid waste from creeks in Ogoniland. Speaking during the first quarter interactive session with Ogoni youths in Port Harcourt, the project coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, while giving a scorecard on the activities of the project, explained that the interactive session was an avenue to engage Ogoni youths in meaningful dialogue to obtain necessary feedback that would ensure that the project’s activities aligned towards environmental restoration and sustainable development of Ogoniland. Professor Zabbey disclosed that HYPREP’s Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), located in Wiyaakara, will be commissioned this year for public use and also noted that work on providing potable water is being fast-tracked to ensure that more communities access clean and safe drinking water. ”In February 2025, HYPREP commissioned additional water facilities in the Beeri and Bunu communities in Khana and Tai Local Government Areas, respectively. This brings the total number of operational facilities to 10, supplying potable water to 30 communities in Ogoniland.” ”We have also achieved significant milestones in the ongoing construction of new water facilities in various communities across the four local government areas, particularly in the Bodo, Uegwere-Boue, Gwara, Taabaa, Okwale, Aleto, Kaani, Deken, K-Dere and Borobara communities. We are determined to commission these facilities in the third quarter of this year.” The Project Coordinator pointed out that HYPREP’s livelihood restoration programmes will continue to empower Ogoni youths with skills and opportunities for sustainable economic development. Giving his keynote address at the event, Associate Professor Sorbarikor Lebura called on Ogoni youths to be on the right side of history by ensuring that projects that are cited in their communities and local government areas are completed in due time and protected from acts of vandalism. He explained that every project has a timeline for completion, and those youths slowing the pace of work at different sites by unnecessary interference are on the wrong side of history. ”If a project is not meeting specifications, it is your job to cry out; it is your job to tell us. We must do it constructively; do it with the aim of seeing that there is an improvement in what is done.” Reacting to the timing of the Youth Interactive session, the Coordinator of the Joint Representative Council of Ogoni Youth Groups, Comrade Ledogo Amabu, said the event is timely, as the engagement has further shown that the leadership of HYPREP is fully interested in the manner in which various activities of the project is being received by the youths. ”We have a PC that is youth-friendly, that is accessible. Under his leadership, students have been empowered, so the youths are in support of the engagement.”
