The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has promised to inaugurate more water projects in Ogoni communities in 2025.
Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, HYPREP Project Coordinator, made the pledge in a statement made available on Friday, January 17, 2025, in Abuja.
Zabbey said that two additional water schemes in Beeri and Bunu in Khana and Tai Local Government Areas respectively which were in Phase II of the project would be completed and ready for inauguration in February.
He said that the water schemes were part of HYPREP’s mandate to provide potable water to impacted communities in Ogoni.
Zabbey expressed satisfaction at the pace of work and the commitment of community workers to the project shortly after his visit to the water facilities and some shoreline remediation sites in K-Dere, Gokana LGA.
He said he was impressed with the water projects at very advanced stages of completion, assuring that more communities would have access to clean drinking water.
Zabbey reiterated that the project was community-centric as both stakeholder buy-in and useful feedback were necessary for effective project implementation,
He promised to attend to the demands of K-Dere community.
The project coordinator advocated for women inclusion in the proposed meeting with K-Dere community.
He said that, as drivers of the local economy, women should not be left out in discussions that would affect them.
“In 2025, we will embark on a lot of trading with the youth and women of Ukoni especially in the area of agribusiness to build their capacity in aquaculture.’’
Zabbey promised to organise trainings in sustainable aquaculture for the people of the area to enhance food security in the region, assuring that Ogoniland would contribute to national food security.
“HYPREP is currently carrying out 34 shoreline remediation works in Gokana LGA and the construction of 14 water lots in its Phase II water project which will provide potable water to 68 communities.
“Currently, the shoreline cleanup is at 25 per cent completion, covering 123 grids across 357.6 of 1747.6 ha. Also the general percentage completion for the 14 water lots is 55.56 per cent.’’
He expressed satisfaction over the return of oysters to the community.
“Oyster is a salt water bivalve molluscs that was once in abundance before the environmental pollution in the creeks.’’
Zabbey attributed the positive development to an improvement in the ecosystem following the ongoing remediation of the environment by HYPREP.
“So, what we are doing is not just for the Ogoni people, it is also for contiguous communities.
“It is also for Nigerians because Ogoni used to be a full basket of this region and what we are doing will return Ogoni a better state,” Zabbey said.
By Abigael Joshua
