The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has announced plans to create over 1,500 direct jobs in Ogoniland in 2026, as part of the next phase of its mangrove restoration and shoreline remediation projects.
More than 2,000 youths and women will also benefit from expanded skills-acquisition programmes.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, disclosed this in Port Harcourt during a Project Review Meeting with Key Ogoni Stakeholders, an accountability and scorecard session aimed at reviewing progress, challenges and future plans of the Ogoni Clean-up Programme.
The event, which drew wide commendations from traditional rulers, political leaders, civil society groups and community representatives, highlighted what stakeholders described as a “sterling performance” by HYPREP under Prof. Zabbey’s leadership.
According to him, the upcoming employment opportunities will be generated through the next phase of mangrove and shoreline remediation projects.
Beneficiaries of the skills programme will undergo training in 10 demand-driven skills and five specialised skills for persons with disabilities, ensuring inclusivity.
“This platform is crucial to the overall success of HYPREP as it provides accountability, constructive feedback and learning, enabling us to identify gaps and make necessary improvements,” Prof. Zabbey said.
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The Project Coordinator outlined several achievements across key intervention areas.
“Major Milestones Recorded:
Presenting HYPREP’s scorecard for the period July to December 2025, in remediation activities. Phase One shoreline remediation has reached 72.7 per cent completion. Mangrove restoration stands at 99 per cent, while soil and groundwater remediation of medium-risk complex sites has attained 39.01 per cent completion.
“On potable water provision, HYPREP has completed 16 water facilities with booster stations, currently supplying clean water to 42 Ogoni communities, while construction of 29 additional water facilities is ongoing” he explained
Health and Infrastructure Development
Prof. Zabbey also highlighted progress in public health and infrastructure projects, including the three-year public health study being conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
He added that the Project plans to distribute ambulances to improve healthcare delivery, strengthen health facilities and expand medical outreaches across Ogoni.
“Construction works are progressing steadily, with the Ogoni Specialist Hospital at 78.2 per cent completion, Buan Cottage Hospital at 98.5 per cent, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) at 93.5 per cent, while the Ogoni Power Project has reached 61.13 per cent completion” he stated.
Livelihoods, Education and Scholarships
Under livelihood restoration and improvement programmes, Prof. Zabbey announced that additional skills-training activities will commence in January, covering areas such as cybersecurity, mud logging, commercial diving, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and mechatronics.
He further announced that the list of 500 beneficiaries of the Batch Two HYPREP Postgraduate Scholarship will be released on January 1, 2026, noting that 300 postgraduate students were awarded scholarships earlier this year.
He disclosed that water supply has been restored in Ebubu, while efforts are ongoing to restore supply to Gwara, adding that the Technical Investigation Committee would submit its report this week.
Prof. Zabbey noted that HYPREP will continue to address challenges such as community land disputes, threats of re-pollution, vandalism and operational constraints with diligence and a strong sense of responsibility.
He attributed the successes recorded so far to the commitment of the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, and the continued support of stakeholders, stressing that the Ogoni Clean-up Programme remains a priority under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The Renewed Hope National Agenda is alive and active in Ogoni. It has made the Ogoni clean-up a national priority, placing restoration and development of Ogoniland at the centre of national discourse,” he said.
“Most importantly, the agenda seeks holistic and sustainable development, ensuring that environmental restoration goes hand in hand with improved livelihoods, social wellbeing and renewed hope for the Ogoni people.”
In their remarks, the Project Status Presentation delivered by Mr. Ifiok Idiyo of HYPREP’s Monitoring and Evaluation Unit stakeholders commended HYPREP’s milestone achievements and called for collective support to ensure the programme’s success.
The meeting featured prominent Ogoni personalities whose presence underscored widespread support for the clean-up programme, with calls for its eventual replication in other polluted regions of Nigeria and beyond.
Olusola Akintonde