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HYPREP Harps On Wetlands’ Protection

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As the global community celebrated the 2024 World Wetlands Day recently, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project ( HYPREP) has emphasised the need to protect wetlands in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta region and Ogoniland.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who gave this indication in a statement in Port Harcourt to mark this year’s World Wetlands Day, said the theme of the celebration, ‘Wetlands and Human Wellbeing’ resonates deeply with Nigeria, a nation blessed with abundant wetlands that play vital role in supporting biodiversity and the livelihoods of communities, adding that HYPREP takes the opportunity to highlight the critical importance of wetlands in Nigeria’s rich and diverse ecosystem, the Niger Delta.
According to him, the change in attitude towards the environment, sustainable use of the ecosystems and co-management of ecological infrastructure by communities are essential components of a sustainable wetlands restoration regime.
He, therefore, posited that all stakeholders must work together to implement sustainable practices that protect and restore these vital ecosystems for the benefit of the current and future generations, stressing that HYPREP is committed to raising awareness about the significance of wetlands and advocating for their protection.
While calling on the government at all levels, civil society organisations, businesses, communities and the public to join hands in preserving these critical ecosystems, Zabbey said, “Our collective efforts can contribute to achieving sustainable development goals, particularly those related to clean water and life on land and underwater, as well as climate action”.
The Project Coordinator further indicated that HYPREP encourages individuals and communities to engage in activities that promote wetland conservation, such as clean-up drives, educational programmes and tree-planting initiatives.
“Working together, we can ensure that wetlands continue to thrive for the benefit of the current and future generations. We therefore urge you to appreciate the beauty and importance of wetlands and please, to be stewards of these ecosystems,” he pleaded.
He said the theme of this year’s celebration recognises wetlands as critical to all facets of human wellbeing, including psychological, mental, social and spiritual, stressing that it underscores the intrinsic value of wetland ecosystems to sustainable development and human wellbeing.
“Wetlands, including mangroves, lagoons, creeks, ponds, rivers, associated seasonal water bodies, sustain life, foster biodiversity, and ensure the health and prosperity of our communities through their regulatory, provisioning, protecting, replenishing and sustaining functions,” he said.
Zabbey hinted that over 4,000 hectares of mangroves have been destroyed by decades of oil spills in Ogoniland alone, which he said has exacerbated poverty, as traditional livelihoods dependent on healthy mangroves are destroyed.
According to him, the degradation of these crucial ecosystems poses risks to biodiversity and compromises the wellbeing of communities that depend on wetlands for their survival.
He noted that a range of these ecosystems exists in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta region, where they contribute to the sustenance of various local cultures, offering valuable resources for fishing, agriculture, traditional and spiritual activities.
The Project Coordinator said mangroves typically serve as natural buffers against floods; store and purify water as well as provide food and habitat for various plant and animal species, adding that despite their invaluable contributions, wetlands face numerous threats, including urbanisation, reclamation for social projects, plastic and crude oil pollution, deforestation, dredging and the impact of climate change.
Zabbey disclosed that HYPREP has taken bold steps to restore hectares of shoreline and mangrove ecosystems in Ogoniland, which have been degraded, by undertaking a preliminary shoreline clean-up assessment of over 3,000 hectares of shoreline; conducting a chemical characterisation of oil levels in the sediment; delineating the 3,000 hectares of the assessed shoreline into 833 grids; and starting the process of remediating 1,747 hectares of the 3,000 hectares.
According to him, the Project has also piloted mangrove rehabilitation of 460 hectares while at the same time providing skill training to 5,000 Ogoni youths, including artisanal refiners, to create alternative livelihoods, as a means to prevent recontamination of remediated ecosystems.
He further hinted that 90 Ogoni youths and women have been trained in mangrove restoration and empowered with grants to set mangrove nurseries, while HYPREP has also created and funded Environment Clubs in secondary schools in Ogoniland, to sustain its education, awareness and sensitisation campaigns on the risks of wetland degradation.

 

Donatus Ebi

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Rivers Judiciary Denise Media Reports On Issuing Judgement Sacking SOLAD

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The Rivers State Judiciary has denied claims of media reports circulating online that a judge of its High Court issued a ruling in favour of Governor Siminalayi Fubara against former Governor Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu, there by sacking the sole Administrator of the state, vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).

A statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi yesterday in Port Harcourt, described the purported report as false and misleading, particularly for linking a judge of the State High Court, Justice Boma Diepirii, to a ruling that reportedly came from a Federal High Court.

According to the statement, Justice Boma Diepirii is a Judge of the Rivers State High Court and not of the Federal High Court and currently on Easter Vacation, which commenced on Monday, 14th April.

The Chief Registrar further clarified that the Federal High Court and the State High Court are separate entities, stressing that “the inclusion of Justice Diepiri’s name in the fabricated report underscores the crass ignorance of the author.”

“The attention of the Rivers State Judiciary has been drawn to a fake news report alleging that His Lordship, Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri, delivered a judgment sacking the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. This is false in its entirety,” the statement read.

“Justice Diepiri is a judge of the High Court of Rivers State, not of the Federal High Court as was falsely reported”.

” Additionally, His Lordship is currently on Easter vacation which began on Monday, April 14, 2025, Ihua-Maduenyi stated.

The statement however advised the general public and members of the media to always cross checked information concerning the judiciary before publishing and as well disregard the said report in its entirety as its an embodiment of falsehood and fabricated story.

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Senate Passes Bill For Establishment Of University In Abia

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The Senate yesterday approved the bills for the establishment of Federal University of Medical  and Health Sciences and College of Education, Bende at its plenary session.
The two bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon . Benjamin Kalu came to the Senate for concurrence after the approvals from the House of Representatives.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Lola Ashiru in the absence of the Majority Leader presented the recommendations of the Lower Chamber for consideration and Concurrence .
The Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia State seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others.
Kalu had in his lead debate stated that Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four local government areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government. Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen. This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
For the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, he said when it becomes law, the university will be charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi

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South East Caucus Kicks As  Senate Rejects  Nwosu’s Immortalisation

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South East Caucus of the Senate has  appealed to President   Bola Ahmed Tinubu  to immorttalise late Professor Humphrey Nwosu  considering his commitment  to achieving a  practical democracy for Nigerian.
The Senators visibly  angered by the  Senate’s  rejection of the  need to immortalise the late National Electoral umpire who stood for democracy through the turbulent  1993 elections  stormed out of the Senate Chambers   and spoke to the press .
The Chairman of the South East Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( Abia South),  as he did in plenary on Wednesday, presented a motion for immortalisation of Humphrey Nwosu by naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , after him , for laying the foundation in 1993 and conducting the freest and fairest Presidential election in the country .
The late Professor Nwosu was the National Chairman of the National Electoral Commission ( NEC) , now known as Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , who through option A4, conducted the June 12, 19993 presidential election , adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country.
Abaribe in the motion co – sponsored by 15 other Senators , said  late Humphrey Nwosu deserved to be immortalised like other heroes of the June 12 , 1993 presidential election .
He also urged the Federal Government to honour the late former electoral umpire with post humous  national honours .
But Abaribe’s request , seconded by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and supported by Senators from the South East including forner Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi ( Kebbi North) , was roundly rejected by other Senators who said the deceased deserved no immortalization .
Specifically , Senator Adams Oshiomhole ( Edo North) , in his contribution to the debate said the motion to him, was nothing but an attempt to manipulate and rewrite  history.
“ Professor Humphrey Nwosu as NEC Chairman in 1993, failed to deliver on the June 12 , 1993 Presidential Election for lack of Courage
“ He who is not ready to die for something , will die for nothing
“ If he was afraid of the gun from announcing the election results and winner in 1993 , he cannot be rewarded now , more so, when many Nigerians died for what he inadvertently created “, he said .

Nneka Amaechi -Nnadi

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