Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — In a major stride toward environmental restoration and community renewal, the federal has expanded potable water access in Ogoniland to 45 communities, as it commissioned two additional water facilities in Bane and Gwara, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, who commissioned the projects at the weekend, said the development reflects the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to improving public health and restoring the dignity of communities long affected by pollution.
“Access to clean, safe, and reliable water is not just a basic need, it is a fundamental human right,” Lawal stated.
“These projects symbolize renewed hope and demonstrate our government’s commitment under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to restore environmental integrity and uplift our people.”
Lawal, who commended the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP’s performance under its current leadership, noted that the commissioning marked another milestone in the Federal Government’s implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, Report on Ogoniland.
“The completion of these water facilities is a product of collaboration, diligence, and shared vision,” the Minister added. “Through HYPREP, our mandate goes beyond cleanup, it includes restoring livelihoods, providing vital infrastructure, and promoting sustainable development.”
He urged residents of the benefiting communities to take ownership of the water infrastructure to ensure sustainability, emphasizing that “sustainability begins at the community level.”
“These facilities belong to you; protect them and ensure they serve future generations. Together, we can rebuild trust, heal the land, and lay the groundwork for a greener and healthier Ogoniland.”
In his address, Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, disclosed that the project had achieved significant milestones across its operational pillars, with 14 completed water schemes now supplying 40 Ogoni communities, in addition to the two newly inaugurated facilities in Bane and Gwara.
“With today’s commissioning, 45 Ogoni communities now have access to clean and safe drinking water,” Zabbey said. “This is a lifeline for our people and proof that the vision of a restored and thriving Ogoniland is steadily taking shape.”
Zabbey outlined other ongoing projects, including the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which is 92% complete, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital at 76.8%, and the Ogoni Power Project, which is progressing with construction works at Bodo and Wiiyaakara substations.
He added that HYPREP’s livelihood and capacity development initiatives have benefited over 7,000 women and youths, while over 5,000 have received vocational training and start-up kits.
“We have trained young people in modern fields such as cybersecurity, GIS, software development, mud logging, and commercial diving,” he explained. “Our goal is to ensure that the cleanup translates into real, sustainable economic opportunities for the people of Ogoni.”
Zabbey also announced the continuation of HYPREP’s ICT-Supported Classroom Project, clean cookstove initiative, and upcoming distribution of educational materials across Ogoni schools.
“Every segment of Ogoni society must feel the impact of the cleanup,” he said. “This is not just about the environment; it’s about improving lives and securing a sustainable future for our people.”
Also speaking, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities, Hon. Dumnamene Dekor, affirmed that the Ogoni cleanup project was progressing steadily, with tangible results on ground.
“The cleanup is on course and it’s real,” Dekor said. “I have personally visited all the project sites, and I can confirm that the impact is enormous. The work HYPREP is doing is restoring confidence and hope in the Federal Government’s commitment to the Ogoni people.”
The commissioning of the new water facilities in Bane and Gwara represents another critical step in the Federal Government’s efforts to implement the UNEP recommendations, providing cleaner water, improved health outcomes, and sustainable livelihoods for thousands of Ogoni people.
