Nigeria’s Ogoni creeks show signs of recovery after oil cleanup
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The Federal Government of Nigeria reported that fish, periwinkles, and crabs are returning to creeks in Ogoniland, Rivers State, as a result of ongoing environmental remediation work.
The government began the cleanup project ten years ago to address damage from oil pollution. Minister of Environment Balarabe Lawal affirmed the administration of President Bola Tinubu prioritizes completing the restoration of Ogoniland, and unveiled a monument to commemorate the project.
Lawal stated the government has also built infrastructure including a Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, hospitals, and a power project to support the area. The current phase of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) focuses on complex remediation sites and further shoreline cleanup after finishing work on simpler areas. Professor Nenibari Zabbey, the HYPREP project coordinator, explained that the Ogoni cleanup is the world’s largest oil remediation project and the mangrove restoration is the largest of its kind globally.
HYPREP has provided jobs to over 8,500 Ogoni youths and women and recently certified 1,420 community workers in maritime safety. Zabbey cautioned communities to avoid overfishing and mangrove deforestation to protect the recovering ecosystem.
