The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to the environmental remediation and sustainable development of Ogoni Land in Rivers State.
This assurance came from the Minister of Environment Balarabe Lawal during an official visit to commission some completed water projects executed by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Gokhana and Tai Local Government Areas in Rivers State.
The commissioning of the water projects, as well as the inspection of ongoing projects by HYPREP, was jointly done by the Minister of Environment and his counterpart from the Ministry of Niger Delta, Abubakar Momoh.
On his part, the Minister of Niger Delta and a member of the HYPREP’s Board of Trustees Governing Council says Nenibarini Zabbey’s reinstatement is a testament that his work is recognized even at the federal level.
READ ALSO: President Tinubu Reinstates Zabbey As HYPREP Coordinator
While speaking on President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to restructure the country, he called for calm and urged the public to allow the administration to focus on improving Nigeria.
Zabbey also disclosed that HYPREP has planted a total of 514,819 mangrove seeds so far marking it as the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves.
Their arrival for a two-day official visit was greeted with an enthusiastic welcome.
Day two was also eventful, with the commissioning of the completed water scheme in Kporghor Community in Tai Local Government Area and the inspection of some flagship projects of HYPREP like the Centre of Excellence in Wiyakaara, Khana LGA, which is presently 70 percent complete, and the Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Tai LGA.
It is pertinent to note that the Centre of Excellence was birthed from the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) recommendations and, when completed, would serve as a center for environmental research for Ogonis and the world at large.
The high point of the events was an honour for their son with an award recognising the HYPREP Co-ordinator as the best so far.
