Rivers

HYPREP Set To Restore Ogoni Mangroves

Published

3 years ago

August 7, 2023

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has restated its commitment and readiness to restore the mangroves of Ogoniland devastated by oil pollution.
HYPREP’s Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, gave this indication while briefing newsmen shortly after the tour of some facilities in Ogoniland by members of HYPREP’s Board of Trustees(BOT) of the Ogoni Trust Fund last Thursday.
Zabbey said HYPREP has already awarded 34 shoreline clean up projects that will clean oil contaminated shorelines of Ogoniland, stressing that it has also awarded nine projects that would pilot the mangrove planting in Bomu community.
According to him, the essence of the mangrove pilot projects is to rejuvenate the Ogoni ecosystem as quickly as possible, because it is using the shoreline clean up assessment technique to drive its shoreline clean up project.
He said the technique entails the coming together of stakeholders, including regulators, civil society groups and HYPREP to assess the level of contamination of the shorelines.
“When we see that natural attenuation, natural cleaning of the environment has taken place, as a result of tidal flow, because water comes and goes out every six hours in this area we are talking about, that also leads to decontaminating the environment. When we see that rejuvenated mangroves have started to grow, mangroves that are referred as volunteers, it tells us that the level of contamination has reduced to a level that mangroves can cope”, he said.
In Ogoniland, he noted, mangroves are key resource because they provide a lot of ecosystem for goods and services to the people.
“It is in the mangroves that you have commercial fishes.It is in the mangroves that women can go to pick periwinkles.It is in the mangroves that they harvest oysters.It is the mangrove that protects the people’s shorelines.And the mangrove is very key for climate change mitigation and adaptation because the mangroves emit more carbon, five times more than the rain forest”, he said.
The Project Coordinator, therefore, indicated that restoring the mangroves in Ogoniland is a significant step that HYPREP is taking to restore the environment, as it is going to restore mangroves in 3,000 hectares of former mangrove areas.
Zabbey further hinted that HYPREP is starting the initiative with 600 hectares in Bomu community.
He noted that apart from this, there are 39 active remediation sites in Ogoniland, which he said have been structured and categorised as simple sites, medium-risk sites and complex sites.
According to him, several simple remediation sites have been completed while HYPREP is currently dealing with the medium-risk sites before moving to the complex sites where there is high level of water contamination.
The Project Coordinator also hinted that HYPREP has gone beyond the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP) Report on the Ogoni clean-up by embarking on massive capital projects like the power project and the specialist hospital, among others.
He said about $360million has so far been released by the Board of Trustees(BOT) for the running of HYPREP’s activities and execution of various projects, contending that it is pretty difficult for the body to score itself on what it has so far done, as it is only the stakeholders that have the prerogative to do so effectively.
Zabbey said a lot of sensitisation of the people is required to check the tendency of sabotage and re-pollution after the environment must have been cleaned.
He said apart from the six water projects embarked upon by HYPREP in the first phase, another 14 water projects have been awarded to reticulate water in 52 Ogoni communities, and enjoined the people to continue to support and own the projects.
He noted that the mandate of HYPREP is mainly to restore the Ogoni environment, both land and wetlands that have been contaminated by oil pollution as well as restore the people’s livelihoods of fishing and farming which have been degraded.
On his part, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees(BOT), Ogoni Trust Fund, Dr Mike Nwielaghi expressed satisfaction with HYPREP’s activities in Ogoniland, saying, members of the BOT could see the value of the monies so far released to the body, and scored it 70 per cent for the work done so far.
Nwielaghi said more aggressive and intensive publicity is needed for the world to be abreast of what HYPREP is actually doing in Ogoniland so that Nigerians would know that the clean-up exercise is not a farce.
He said the four-day tour of HYPREP’s facilities is part of the BOT’s oversight functions.

By: Donatus Ebi

Rivers

Dep Gov Seeks Collaboration, Transparency Between RIVCHPP, PHCMB

Published

2 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, has called for renewed commitment, transparency, and stronger collaboration among stakeholders in the health sector, particularly between the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) and the Primary Health Care Management Board.

She made the call today, during the First Quarter Review Meeting of the Task Force on Primary Health Care, held at Government House, Port Harcourt.

She emphasized the importance of honesty in addressing challenges within the healthcare system, urging all parties to remain open and truthful in their engagements.

According to her, transparency is critical to identifying and resolving underlying issues affecting service delivery.

“If we are not truthful, we will not cure the disease, but merely cover it up,” she stated.

The Deputy Governor recounted a personal experience at a primary health centre, where a patient, despite being duly registered under the RIVCHPP scheme with completed biometric capture, was still asked to pay for services.

She explained that intervention by relevant authorities later confirmed the patient’s eligibility, thereby exposing a communication gap between the scheme and healthcare providers.

Prof. Odu warned that such incidents could discourage community members from enrolling in the scheme and ultimately undermine its objectives.

“When this happens, we are disenfranchising our people. The message that goes back to the community is that even when you register, you are still made to pay,” she stated.

While commending the leadership and staff of the Primary Health Care Management Board, the Ministry of Health, development partners, and other supporting units for their efforts, Prof. Odu cautioned against complacency.

She urged stakeholders to continuously strive for improvement, raise standards, and ensure lasting positive impact within the healthcare system.

Rivers

Experts Converge To Tackle N’Delta Business Challenges

Published

2 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

As part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s economy, about 600 experts are billed to converge in Port Harcourt in a business conference to uplift middle-class businesses in the Niger Delta region.

The convener of the convergence, Lanre Oluseye, who disclosed this during a press briefing in Port Harcourt, said the conference, scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt for the first time, would equip middle-class businesses with the knowledge required to overcome challenges and scale up their businesses.

He explained that the convergence was conceived in response to challenges stalling business growth, particularly at the mid-level.

Oluseye noted that while Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) benefited from various interventions, middle-class businesses were often neglected despite facing significant constraints.

He added that the conference would bring together accomplished professionals and business leaders to mentor mid-level entrepreneurs on how to overcome barriers and attain greater heights.

“Convergence is a conference where thoughts, ideas and strategies come together to create a catalyst that enables business people to move to the next level.

“It is a platform that accelerates growth by bringing great minds together to chart a course for others to follow.

“Our objective is to move the Port Harcourt-based middle-class businesses to cross the barriers that are holding them down”, he said.

Oluseye continued that the conference, slated for April 18, would attract about 600 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and middle-level managers to address business challenges in the Niger Delta through innovative ideas and strategies.

He emphasised that the event would not be a mere social gathering, but a knowledge-driven platform designed to transform participants and provide networking opportunities to enhance their businesses.

He assured that participants would gain new insights, build valuable networks and engage with like-minded professionals.

Oluseye further said that top industry leaders expected at the conference included the Managing Director/CEO of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), Leye Falade; former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; and the MD/CEO of Aradel Holdings Plc., Gbite Falade.

Others are Tope Aladenusi of Deloitte Africa; the Partner, Chief Economist and Lead, Strategy and West Africa, Segun Zaccheaus; and a global thinker and futurist, Olakunle Soriyan.

Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso

Rivers

Monarch Urges Residents To Abstain From Crime

Published

3 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Traditional ruler of Evo Kingdom, His Majesty, King Leslie N. Eke, has called on residents of the Kingdom and Rivers State at large to shun all forms of crime and embrace peaceful coexistence in the interest of sustainable development.

He made the call recently while briefing newsmen at his palace in Woji Community , Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

While stressing that crime remains a major setback to growth and stability in the state, the monarch expressed deep concern over the rising cases of insecurity in some communities, noting that such acts not only endanger lives, but also discourage investment and meaningful development.

According to the royal father, traditional institutions must continue to play a pivotal role in promoting peace and guiding the conduct of youths within their domains.

King Eke, who is also the Chairman of the Forum of Ikwerre Government Recognized Traditional Rulers, urged community leaders to collaborate with security agencies to rid their areas of criminal elements.

He emphasized that lasting peace can only be achieved when residents consciously decide to uphold law and order, adding that no meaningful progress can thrive in an atmosphere of fear and violence.

He also used the occasion to throw his weight behind the peace initiative of the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, describing it as timely and necessary for the unity of the state.

He commended the Governor for prioritizing peace and stability, noting that such efforts would create an enabling environment for governance and socio-economic development.

King Eke called on youths in the state to resist the temptation of being used as instruments of violence, urging them instead to engage in productive ventures that would enhance their future.

He appealed to parents and guardians to instill moral values in their children, stressing that the fight against crime begins at home.

The traditional ruler reaffirmed the commitment of the Ikwerre traditional institution to support all genuine efforts aimed at maintaining peace and security across the state.

He also urged all stakeholders, including community leaders, security agencies and residents, to work collectively towards building a safer and more prosperous Rivers State.

King Onunwor