– “Peace is not an option but a necessity”
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt – The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining peace and fostering community harmony across Ogoniland, as it convened a two-day capacity-building workshop on Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR, and peacebuilding techniques in Port Harcourt.
Themed “Mechanism for Alternative Dispute Resolution and Other Peacebuilding Techniques in Ogoni,” the workshop brought together traditional rulers, community leaders, women, and youth representatives from Ogoni to strengthen grassroots capacity in managing conflicts and promoting sustainable development.
Speaking at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, said peacebuilding remains a cornerstone of the ongoing environmental restoration and social renewal efforts in Ogoniland. He noted that without peace and unity, development efforts would be futile.
“We must all agree that peace is not an option but a necessity. Without peace, there can be no development; without unity, there can be no progress,” Zabbey said.
“The consequences of conflict are always negative — violence destroys lives, divides families, disrupts livelihoods, and delays development.”
He stressed that the workshop was strategically designed to deepen participants’ understanding of peaceful dispute resolution, particularly as HYPREP’s environmental remediation, livelihood restoration, and power projects progress in the region.
“Government alone cannot enforce peace; it must be built by the people, with the people, and for the people. We are here to sustain the gains already made and to strengthen local mechanisms for resolving disputes before they escalate into crises.”
Prof. Zabbey explained that the ADR initiative forms part of HYPREP’s broader peacebuilding mandate as captured in its Establishment Gazette and aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that dialogue and community engagement are vital to ensuring that the benefits of the Ogoni cleanup reach the grassroots.
“Development cannot thrive without communication and trust. We must constantly talk to one another, listen, engage, and prevent disputes from degenerating into violence.”
Zabbey urged traditional rulers and community leaders to be mindful of their words and actions, warning that leadership behavior could either promote peace or fuel discord.
“As leaders, we must always ask ourselves: Is my position in the interest of the people? Does it promote unity and progress? Will it enhance development?” he charged.
He further described ADR as a “powerful peacebuilding strategy” that complements both traditional and modern systems of conflict resolution.
Earlier, the Director of the University of Port Harcourt Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Dr. Chioma Daisy Onyige, whose team co-facilitated the workshop, said the program was designed to equip community leaders with the knowledge and tools to mediate disputes and sustain peace around project sites.
“HYPREP is implementing multiple environmental and livelihood projects, and sometimes misinformation can trigger tension or mistrust,” Onyige said.
“Traditional rulers are the first responders in community conflicts. Today’s training will help them adopt the right framework for engaging their people and resolving issues before they escalate.”
She lauded HYPREP’s inclusive approach, noting that peacebuilding and environmental restoration are inseparable components of community sustainability.
A participant, Chief Donatus Bardon, expressed appreciation for HYPREP’s grassroots engagement, noting that the training had reinforced the importance of peace in achieving development.
“We have come to realize that there cannot be sustainable development without peace,” Bardon said. “Our once devastated lands are gradually being restored, mangroves and seafood are returning — all thanks to HYPREP.”
He added that HYPREP’s community-inclusive model was rebuilding trust among the Ogoni people. “HYPREP is no longer speaking for the people; the people are carried along in her affairs. We will go back to our communities to share what we have learnt,” he said.
The Ogoni cleanup project, launched in 2016 following the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP Report of 2011, aims to restore the region’s heavily polluted environment after decades of oil exploration. HYPREP, under the Federal Ministry of Environment, is responsible for implementing the cleanup and accompanying socio-economic programs.
Since assuming leadership in 2023, Prof. Zabbey has prioritized community inclusion, and peacebuilding as key pillars for sustainable remediation. The ADR initiative, now in its second edition, builds upon earlier engagements designed to empower local leaders to manage disputes peacefully and strengthen the Ogoni Dialogue Process.
