The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project said its coordinated interventions, including remediation of hydrocarbon-impacted sites and mangrove restoration, are restoring confidence in the clean-up of Ogoni land.
This is as it restates committed in adhering to international standards, processes, and protocols in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme.
The Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, stated this in his address at the 2025 3rd quarter key regulators and asset owners meeting held in Port Harcourt, on Monday.
Zabbey emphasised that considerable progress is being recorded across various ‘thematic’ areas of the Ogoni clean-up project, such as provision of potable water, public health interventions, and the Ogoni power, among others.
He added that the environmental awareness and capacity building in environmental management as well as livelihood restoration building, mangrove restoration, global partnerships, and linkages for sustainability, as part of the clean-up are going on progressively.
According to him, “These coordinated interventions are gradually restoring confidence in the clean-up effort and bringing renewed hope to Ogoni land.
“This meeting serves a dual purpose: first, to provide a platform for HYPREP to share updates on the status of the project and areas where further support is required; and secondly, to allow regulators and asset owners to provide constructive feedback that will help strengthen our collective approach.”
Prof. Zabbey further stated that the meeting was another opportunity for HYPREP to reaffirm its commitment to the environmental restoration of Ogoniland and to strengthen the vital partnership among the project, regulators, and asset owners to ensure the full implementation of the UNEP Report’s recommendations.
“I would like to recall the recommendations of the UNEP Report on Ogoniland, which emphasised the critical role of regulators and asset owners in ensuring environmental sustainability and accountability.
“The report calls for stronger regulatory oversight, strict adherence to environmental standards, and consistent stakeholder engagement to ensure environmental sustainability.
“This quarterly meeting is, therefore, a direct response to those recommendations, serving as a platform to deepen engagement and strengthen the bonds that make our collective efforts more impactful,” he said.
While praising the roles of regulators and asset owners in the project’s ‘quality control’ and ‘quality assurance framework’, the HYPREP boss said, ”Your consistent oversight, technical input, and commitment to upholding standards have remained essential to the integrity of the Ogoni clean-up efforts.
“Quality Assurance and Quality Control are being given increased attention at all levels of the project, and your continued support is crucial in this regard. QA/QC considerations are a key part of HYPREP’s policy framework, from the Governing Council decisions to field-level work,” he added.
Prof.Zabbey explained that the focus ensures that the project’s interventions and activities are executed professionally, safely, and in compliance with national regulatory standards and global best practices, guaranteeing value for money.
He said, “As we continue to consolidate the gains made so far, I want to reassure you that HYPREP remains steadfast in adhering to international standards, processes, and protocols. As an interventionist and community-based project, we will continue to engage all stakeholders transparently as we address challenges that may arise during project implementation.
“To this end, your continuous support and constructive feedback remain vital in helping the project coordination office overcome these challenges and sustain the momentum of progress.”
