Niger Delta
A’Ibom Flags Off Planting Of 300,000 Coconut Trees

Governor Udom Emmanuel, Saturday flagged off the planting of 300,000 special breeds of coconut seedlings in Akwa Ibom, announcing September 18 as the annual state coconut day in the state.
This follows the government’s target of cultivating two million coconut seedlings in the State to serve as raw materials for the just-completed St. AGabriel’s Coconut Oil Factory at Mkpat-Enin.
Performing the flag-off, Governor Emmanuel who led other top government officials by example himself, planted 50 seedlings at the Government Coconut Plantation, Ekeya, Okobo, saying coconut which is of high yielding value in the international market, has the potentials to replace crude oil.
He said the coconut planting exercise was being performed simultaneously across all the local government areas in the state, adding that planting coconuts in schools were also being targeted in the scheme to ensure that the state coconut oil refinery was fully supplied with coconut fruits.
He called on the federal government and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to partner with the State in coconut investment.
“Today is a very special day. It is the day that is borne out of vision.
“The At Gabriel’s Coconut Oil Virgin Refinery we have in the state is first in Africa. We want to create a future for our young ones. Coconut has 365 uses which means that every single day that God created has a use for coconut”
“The Coconut refinery has been completed. What is next is a test run and knowledge transfer.
“Coconut is of high value and can serve as an alternative to crude oil. This is a great investment for CBN and the Federal government”
“We have a much bigger plantation in Mkpat-Enin, Eastern Obolo, and Ikot Abasi.
We are embarking on a campaign to cut down trees without economic values in schools, to replace them with coconut. Each student in public schools will be given a coconut seedling to plant.
In one day, one million students of secondary school would have planted one million coconut seedlings.
This will create competition among the youngsters. These are high-breed seedlings we’ve been able to acquire across the world. The refinery is going to be a master economic breakthrough”, said the Governor.
He appealed to the host communities to ensure the coconut plantation is nurtured and protected.
“This is the resource of 7.2 million people. We believe that you will nurture, protect and sustain it”
Earlier in her speech, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Glory Emmanuel Edet said God had blessed the state with fertile soil, and hailed the Governor for paying a premium to agriculture and food security.
She noted that the massive investments in coconut plantation were part of measures to further diversify the economy of the state, adding that Akwa Ibom is set to take over the International coconut oil market in Nigeria.
“Coconut oil is taking over the crude oil market, Governor Emmanuel is a visionary leader for planting coconut across the state and building the coconut refinery at Mkpat Enin.”
She further lauded Governor Udom Emmanuel’s numerous developmental strides in the agricultural sector.
The State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Uyobong Uko commended Governor Emmanuel for spreading the coconut planting initiative like wildfire across the state, adding that he has witnessed several farm inputs shared to farmers across the state on a regular basis through the Governor’s initiative.
He reiterated the support of the Federal Government towards the coconut initiative and said that they would continue providing rural infrastructure to farmers across the state.
Speaking also, the Chairman of Okobo Local Government Area, Sylvester Attah described the Governor as a visionary and creative leader whose creativity has brought great development in the Agricultural sector of the state.
He further appreciated Governor Emmanuel for having the interest of Okobo people at heart by intervening in a communal war in the area, as well as the construction of a major road in the area, and pledged their undying support towards his administration’s Completion Agenda.
Niger Delta
HYPREP Installs ICT Equipment In Secondary Schools

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project(HYPREP) is installing ICT equipment in five designated secondary schools in Ogoniland in Rivers State.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Neinibarini Zabbey, who dropped this hint during the commissioning of two water projects in Beeri Community and Bunu Community by the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said the installation of ICT equipment in five designated secondary schools is part of the pilot phase of HYPREP’s Information Technology-supported classroom project.
He noted that the project held the kick-off meeting penultimate week as a necessary first step toward implementing the socio-economic study of Ogoniland, stressing that these interventions align with the long-term effort to create sustainable alternative livelihood for oil-impacted communities in Ogoniland.
He said HYPREP is also engaging in innovative research to enhance the science and practice of remediation and restoration, as it intentionally builds the capacity of Ogoni youths and women.
According to him, this includes research to improve post-remediation soil fertility with biofertilizers made from indigenous microbes, restore the West African cockle, and utilise biodegradable bags in mangrove nurseries to prevent plastic pollution.
The Project Coordinator disclosed that the Beeri water facility with a tank capacity of 900, 000 litres will serve seven communities while the Bunu water project, with a capacity of 850,000 litres will serve three communities, stressing that access to clean water is a fundamental human right in sync with UN SDG6(clean water and sanitation).
He said the commissioning ceremony also proves that HYPREP is making significant progress in the Ogoni cleanup implementation process, as it remains focused on meeting set timelines for project completion.
Zabbey noted that across Ogoniland, over 100 HYPREP projects are at advance stages of completion, and expressed delight that the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration is now at 79 percent completion.
He equally indicated that as of today, HYPREP has planted 1,279,139 mangrove seedlings, as part of its efforts to restore oil-degraded mangroves in Ogoniland, saying the mangrove restoration programme is ecologically sound and community-driven.
“These efforts align with our broader vision of ensuring that the people of Ogoniland enjoy a cleaner and healthier environment that supports economic activities and other needs,” he said.
At 30.8 percent of the job completion rate in phase 1 of the shoreline cleanup, he said, “we observe the gradual recovery of livelihood and indicator species, such as periwinkles, oysters, crabs and mud skippers, adding that some community people have shared similar testimonies, expressing their excitement on social media at the return of the food species.
He further disclosed that HYPREP has provided medical equipment, including radiology, life support systems, theatre equipment, surgical instruments and microbiology equipment in order to strengthen the capacity of some health facilities in Ogoniland.
According to him, HYPREP has also installed complementing 30KVA solar power sources at Bori General Hospital; Terebor General Hospital; Kpite Health Centre; and Nchia General Hospital.
He equally hinted that the planning for the comprehensive health impact study has advanced, and implementation by the World Health Organisation(WHO) is expected to begin in the second quarter of the year.
He said the distribution of start-up packs to 5,000 Ogoni women and youths trained in 21 skill areas is almost concluded.
Zabbey thanked the Minister of Environment for his strategic guidance and leadership, which have been essential in keeping HYPREP on track; and the Minister of Regional Development, Engr Abubakar Momoh; the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall; members of HYPREP Governing Council; as well as Chairman and members of the Ogoni Trust Fund for their support.
While emphasising that HYPREP’s work goes beyond infrastructures and environmental remediation, the Project Coordinator said, as outlined in the official Gazette establishing the project, ensuring security and promoting peace building efforts in affected communities remain at the core of HYPREP’s mandate.
“We recognise that the Ogoni restoration effort and the broader sustainable development of the area cannot flourish without peace, which is why HYPREP has continued to actively implement initiatives that foster dialogue, reconciliation and community engagement,” he said.
On the strength of this, he said the Project Coordination Office had trained Ogoni traditional rulers and key stakeholders to advocate for Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR), adding that the training had a widespread impact, allowing beneficiaries to effectively emerging conflicts and other challenges at the community level, contending that the training would continue this year, as the project strives to empower more traditional rulers and additional key stakeholders, to constructively address conflict, enhance community engagement and develop conflict resolution mechanisms that promote peace and harmony in the public interest.
He revealed that HYPREP has faced challenges like restricted access to polluted sites, targeted misinformation, chieftaincy disputes, baseless court cases and other actions that have sometimes slowed project activities.
Also speaking, the Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, said the commissioning of the water projects is “a testament of our unwavering commitment to sustainable peace and development as well as remediation and restoration of Ogoniland.”
While expressing gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his commitment to environmental sustainability and restoration of Ogoniland, said his leadership has ensured that the recommendations of the UNEP report are not only implemented but expedited to bring tangible benefits to the Ogoni people.
He noted that the President’s commitment to peace, environmental justice and socio-economic empowerment in Ogoniland has been a beacon of hope for communities long affected by environmental degradation, stressing that access to clean and potable water is not just a necessity but a fundamental human right.
According to him, water projects delivered under HYPREP are part of the Federal Government’s commitment to the restoration of Ogoniland.
Through HYPREP, he said, “we are not only remediating polluted sites but also ensuring that communities benefit from clean water supply, improved healthcare and sustainable livelihoods,” contending that the contamination of water sources due to Hydrocarbon pollution has devastating consequences on the health and livelihoods of the people of Ogoniland, as the provision of potable water to the communities is a critical step towards improving public health, reducing water borne diseases and enhancing the overall quality of life, saying it also signifies a renewed commitment to ensuring that the people of Ogoniland reap the full benefits of the environmental remediation efforts.
“We will continue to ensure that communities in Ogoniland have access to clean, safe and sustainable drinking water. With this initiative, but restoring hope and dignity to communities being deprived of this essential need.Let me emphasise that water projects like this is only one of many incentives planned under the comprehensive remediation efforts in Ogoniland.We remain committed to ensuring that other critical needs such as healthcare, education and economic empowerment are addressed to create a sustainable future for the people of the region,” he said, and assured the people that HYPREP will continue to deliver it’s mandate efficiently, ensuring transparency, accountability and community involvement in all aspects of the remediation process.
Lawal commended the management of HYPREP under the leadership of Prof Neinibarini Zabbey for the relentless commitment and efforts towards the actualisation of the water projects, and appealed to the people to take ownership of the various projects.
Donatus Ebi