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‘HYPREP, Committed To Sustainable Ecosystem, Peace, Dev In Ogoniland’
The Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof Nenibarini Zabbey has maintained that the project, through the plethora of projects and programmes it is undertaking, is committed to the sustainable ecosystem, peace and development of Ogoniland.
Zabbey stated this when he presented a status update brief to the Ogoni community and other diaspora stakeholders in the United States of America at the November 10th Anniversary organised by MOSOP USA Chapter, as part of HYPREP’s strategic stakeholder engagement and inclusivity.
“It is our desire to see sustainable ecosystem, peace and development in Ogoniland. Since 2017, the Federal Government of Nigeria through HYPREP has been at the forefront of efforts to ensure that the people of Ogoniland live in a clean and economically viable environment. We believe that a clean environment is the gateway to the realisation of other goals and this platform – the 2023 commemoration – offers innovative and new workable model for stakeholder engagement and co-operation for the achievement of these set goals,’’ he said.
On livelihood, he mentioned the provision of sustainable livelihoods vis-à-vis training of 5,000 Ogoni women and youths in 20 different skill sets, training of 100 youths in mega skill areas of aviation, mechatronics, seafaring and creative arts. The first sets of 30 youths in the aviation training have been certified. Also, the project has carried out a survey of small and medium scale businesses in Ogoniland. In August 2023, HYPREP as part of its sustainable livelihood programme provided business interventions funds to 60 Ogoni small business owners.
Similarly, the commissioning of the Barako water station, one of the six water projects in the Phase 1 scheme is a demonstration of the Project’s commitment to provide potable water that meets World Health Organisation’s (WHO) standards. This is in addition to the earlier commissioned Alesa Water Station that is supplying water to the community and its environs.
He said the four other water stations in Bori, Kpean, Korokoro and Ebubu are nearing completion and ready for commissioning.
The Project Coordinator noted that another 14 water schemes that would supply water to 52 Ogoni communities are ongoing.
“It goes without saying that the construction of the fourteen water schemes will create job opportunities for the youths in these communities and thus reduce the burden of unemployment. During the construction works, plumbing and other relevant skills would be passed on to the locals who stand the chance of learning lifelong economic skills for their economic empowerment’’, he explained.
On the progress made in remediation, the Project Coordinator said, “The Ogoni clean-up project has progressed consistently from the first contracts of 21 lots in Phase 1 Batch 1 to 29 lots in Phase 1 Batch 2. We have closed out 36 lots, while 14 lots are at different stages of completion. We have also awarded contracts for tier 2 assessment for other sites that gave us concerns which we allotted into seven lots. In the Phase 2 remediation, the scope of work includes the preliminary works, site reassessment and characterisation by the contractors. The main contract has two stages: the contractors will do distinct site characterisation and remediation of both soil and groundwater. Which will culminate in the planting of mangroves being the natural flora in this area while taking into consideration their natural patterns”.
He further indicated that the planting of mangroves which is a key component of the shoreline remediation works will furnish locals with mangrove nursing skills and the economic benefits that come with it. According to him, the Ogoni people are already being trained in the nursing of mangroves. We plan to restore three thousand (3,000) hectares of oil-degraded mangrove in Ogoniland. This will involve the planting of about 10 million mangrove seedlings, which will be the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves. Much of the mangrove planting will be done following shoreline cleanup delineated into 34 lots. The pilot planting on approximately 600 ha of shores in Bomu community has been awarded to nine contractors. The areas earmarked for immediate mangrove revegetation have been identified through site characterisation using the Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT)’’.
He said all of these are running alongside the special projects, namely: the Ogoni Power Project, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) and the 100 Bed Specialist Hospital. He expressed optimism that these projects will gradually turn Ogoniland into a construction site with the resultant effect on the local economy and income of households.
Zabbey noted that these legacy projects will have far reaching benefits and address core concerns on health, sustainable livelihood, human capital development and environmental restoration.
He stated that the Project has maintained effective supervision, monitoring and evaluation to ensure value for money.
The Project Coordinator, however, expressed worries on the challenges bedevilling the smooth implementation of the projects and called for more stakeholders’ collaboration in addressing the issues.
He disclosed that HYPREP is institutionalising the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in resolving community issues and will continue to engage communities through sensitisation programmes, town hall meetings and interactive sessions.
He equally noted that HYPREP’s mission statement is simple: that all Ogoni people regardless of their status, creed or location should be a part of the clean-up process and benefit accordingly.
Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, had lauded the courage and commitment of troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in North East Nigeria.
Abubakar gave the commendation during a morale-boosting visit to the Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI in Maiduguri, Borno.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Public Relations and Information, NAF, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, yesterday, in Abuja.
The CAS said their sacrifices were etched in the history of the nation, and in the hearts of millions of Nigerians who sleep safer because of the troops’ vigilance.
He emphasised that their bravery and resilience in the face of adversity have not gone unnoticed, saying his visit underscored the vital role airpower plays in neutralising threats and protecting communities.
Abubakar pledged continued investment in cutting-edge technology to empower frontline units.
According to him, the NAF remains steadfast in its mission, guided by leadership, strengthened by unity, and driven by the selfless service of its personnel.
The visit comes at a critical moment, reinforcing the importance of public support for military operations and spotlighting the human element at the heart of national defence.
Nigeria’s soft drinks and beverage market continues to show strong growth potential, making it the leading consumer of soft drinks in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association.
A statement by the VDMA disclosed during a press conference held in Lagos ahead of drinktec 2025, that Nigeria consumed over 53 billion litres of soft drinks in 2024, placing it well ahead of other African countries such as Ghana and South Africa.
Despite challenges such as inflation and a weakening naira, Nigeria’s growing population, rising urbanisation, and expanding middle class are key factors driving demand in the beverage sector.
Bottled water led the segment with 48.7 billion litres sold in 2024, a figure projected to rise by 27% to 62 billion litres by 2028.
Carbonated soft drinks followed with 3.4 billion litres, expected to reach 4.4 billion litres by 2028, while energy drinks are forecasted to grow by 30% over the same period. Juices, though relatively small, are also on an upward trajectory.
“The Nigerian beverage market is expanding quickly due to increasing accessibility and affordability,” VDMA stated, citing data from Euromonitor International.
Set to take place in Munich from 15 to 19 September 2025, drinktec is the world’s leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry.
VDMA, a key exhibitor and technical partner for the event, revealed that Nigerian participation is expected to be strong, especially as the country anticipates economic recovery.
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has condemned the recent ban placed on a song by Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, describing the development as a return to the culture of censorship and a threat to the right to free expression.
Abdulkareem had waxed a song titled “Tell Your Papa” which criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
In a statement issued from New York University, Abu Dhabi, yesterday, Soyinka criticised the action and its wider implications, saying it echoed past attempts to stifle artistic and socio-political commentary in Nigeria.
“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem,” Soyinka said in the piece posted on PM news.
He expressed irony in suggesting that the ban did not go far enough, stating, “It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is member, should also go under the hammer.”
Soyinka noted that he had not listened to the banned song but stressed that the issue transcends content and concerns a fundamental democratic principle.
“It cannot be flouted. That, surely is basic. This is why I feel that we should look on the bright side of any picture and thus recommend the Aleshinloye cartoon – and others in allied vein – as an easy-to-apprehend, easy-to-digest summation of the wisdom of attempting to stifle unpalatable works of art or socio-political commentary,” he said.
He also pointed out the irony that censorship often benefits the targeted artist.
The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him,” he added.
The literary icon warned that such censorship was not only counterproductive but also dangerous to democratic development.
“We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseum. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizures of the fundamental right of free expression,” Soyinka said.
He warned that the ban creates “a permissive atmosphere of trickle-down power,” where state authorities feel emboldened to clamp down on dissent.
Soyinka’s statement also touched on broader issues of impunity and mob violence in Nigeria, lamenting the recent lynching of 19 youths in Edo State.
“My heart goes out to friends, colleagues and families of victims and traumatised survivors of this senseless slaughter. Our thirst for justice must remain unslaked,” he said.
Referencing the 2022 killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, Soyinka criticised the culture of impunity, saying, “Identified killers were set free to gloat, and paste their photos on the Social Media… in full daylight glare, in the presence of both citizen voyeurs and security forces.”
He called for accountability, warning that “as long as the culture of impunity is given the sheerest strain of legitimacy in any given cause, such gruesome assaults on our common humanity will continue to prevail.”
Soyinka concluded by urging the relevant regulatory body to reverse what he described as a “petulant irrationality,” warning that any government that only tolerates praise-singers “has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.”