HYPREP Project Coordinator Nenibarini Zabbey described the Ogoni Cleanup Programme as a model for restoring oil-polluted communities and called for renewed United Nations support to speed up environmental remediation, livelihood restoration, and sustainable development efforts in the area.
A file photo of officials on duty somewhere in Ogoniland in Rivers State. Photo: Twitter- @FMEnvng
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to secure renewed international funding and technical support for the ongoing Ogoni environmental restoration programme, as the Minister of Environment and Chairman of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) Governing Council, Balarabe Lawal, led a high-powered delegation to the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The strategic engagement with the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, focused on strengthening global partnerships for the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)-recommended Ogoni Cleanup Project.
The delegation, which included the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ogoni Trust Fund, Emmanuel Deeyah, and HYPREP Project Coordinator, Nenibarini Zabbey, briefed the UN Deputy Secretary-General on achievements recorded over the past decade in environmental remediation and sustainable development across Ogoniland.
According to a statement by HYPREP, the minister described the Ogoni Cleanup Programme as a model for restoring oil-polluted communities and appealed for renewed United Nations support to accelerate environmental remediation, livelihood restoration and sustainable development initiatives in the area.
The statement said Nenibarini Zabbey presented HYPREP’s scorecard, highlighting progress in soil and groundwater remediation, shoreline cleanup, mangrove restoration, potable water projects, public health interventions, livelihoods restoration, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Ogoni Power Project and other initiatives promoting transparency, inclusiveness, research and peacebuilding.
Zabbey also appealed for stronger collaboration with various UN agencies, support for the internationalisation of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration through research and training partnerships, and assistance in accessing global climate financing to strengthen HYPREP’s large-scale mangrove restoration programme.
On his part, Deeyah urged the United Nations to support the mobilisation of both national and international funding for the successful completion of the Ogoni Cleanup Programme.
Responding, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed commended the Federal Government and HYPREP for the pace of implementation, noting the visible biodiversity recovery, infrastructure development and efforts to restore livelihoods in affected communities. She reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting the project and announced plans to visit the Ogoni cleanup sites.
The statement disclosed that the Minister and the HYPREP Project Coordinator also visited the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the United Nations, where they held discussions with Nigeria’s Deputy Permanent Representative, Ambassador Martin Adamu, on strengthening international cooperation for the project.
The Ogoni Cleanup Programme was launched by the Federal Government on June 2, 2016, following recommendations contained in the UNEP Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland. The latest engagement is part of HYPREP’s sustained efforts to attract international partnerships after hosting a high-level Donor Facilitation and Diplomatic Support Conference in Abuja earlier this year to mobilise global support for environmental restoration in Ogoniland.
