The Ogoniland mangrove wetland has been officially designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, marking a major milestone in global recognition of the ecological value of the Niger Delta ecosystem.
The announcement was made in a Press Statement by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) through its Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, who described the designation as a significant boost to ongoing environmental restoration efforts in Ogoni communities.
The Ramsar Convention is an international intergovernmental treaty dedicated to the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
Adopted in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, it provides a framework for national action and international cooperation to protect crucial ecosystems like lakes, rivers, mangroves, and marshes.
He said, “The international recognition highlights the importance of the mangrove ecosystem and validates HYPREP’s extensive work in restoring oil-degraded mangroves across Ogoniland.
“The Ogoni mangrove wetland spans more than 31,700 hectares of interconnected ecosystems, including islands, tidal creeks, mudflats and mangrove forests that support diverse biodiversity such as fin fish, shellfish, crustaceans, crocodiles, turtles and the endangered grey parrot.”
He explained that the wetland plays a crucial environmental role by supporting fisheries production, regulating floods, purifying water and storing carbon, while also sustaining the livelihoods and cultural practices of communities in the region.
Professor Zabbey further noted that the Ramsar designation followed a detailed process that began in 2024 when HYPREP submitted a memorandum to the National Council on Environment seeking approval for the wetlands to be listed among sites of global ecological importance.
“Following the council’s endorsement, Nigeria’s Minister of Environment and Chairman of HYPREP’s Governing Council, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, formally wrote to the Ramsar Secretariat requesting international recognition of the Ogoni wetlands.”
After assessing the ecological significance of the area, the Ramsar Secretariat granted the designation, placing the Ogoni mangrove wetland among globally recognised wetlands requiring sustainable management and protection.
Professor Zabbey, said the development also fulfills a key recommendation contained in the United Nations Environment Programme Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, which called for stronger conservation efforts and international recognition of the region’s wetlands.
He added that the designation underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to the long-term environmental restoration of Ogoniland through the ongoing Ogoni Cleanup programme.
The HYPREP coordinator reaffirmed that the agency remains committed to restoring oil-polluted land, shorelines and mangrove areas, while working with stakeholders to develop a comprehensive and sustainable management plan for the Ogoni mangrove wetlands.
He also called on communities and relevant stakeholders to support efforts aimed at protecting the newly recognised wetland and sustaining the progress made in the environmental recovery of Ogoniland.