Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, says it will soon commence the shoreline clean up and mangrove restoration of oil impacted areas in Ogoniland, regretting that plastic pollution was an emerging threat to mangroves in the Niger Delta region.
Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, said as a project with a mandate to remediate and restore oil-polluted ecosystems, HYPREP was positioned to offer solutions to plastic pollution, which synergistically mitigate the effects of hydrocarbon contamination.
Zabbey in his address to mark the 2023 World Environment Day, regretted that plastics does not only suffocate and kill mangrove biodiversity, but also impacts local livelihoods and compromises mangroves’ capacity to sequester and mitigate climate change.
He said the theme for 2023 WED, ‘Solutions to Plastic Pollution’, was apt as it provides opportunity to raise awareness about the urgent need for collective action to safeguard the earth from plastic pollution, as well as develop contextual solutions, as global environmental problems often have localized impacts, hence required contextualized solutions.
According to him, the 2023 WED commemoration which also marks the 50th World Environment Day celebration, presents a golden opportunity to deploy science, adapt innovation, and develop sustainable policies towards addressing environmental problems.
He said, “HYPREP is about to commence shoreline cleanup and mangrove restoration in Ogoniland. Recently, plastic pollution has been identified as an emerging threat to mangroves in the Niger Delta.
“The clogging of the breathing roots of mangrove plants and masking of the mangrove floor by plastics suffocate and kill mangrove biodiversity (e.g. mangrove crabs). This impacts local nutrition and livelihoods. It also compromises mangroves’ capacity to sequester carbon and mitigate climate change.
“In response to these challenges, HYPREP is evolving and expanding its alternative livelihoods programmes to include medium-to-high-tech skills driven by innovation and technological advancement to position Ogoni communities on the path for a circular economy.
“HYPREP also embarks on education and awareness programmes to increase public awareness of the impacts of environmental pollution, especially using the school clubs it has created as potent platforms to sensitize young minds. We are not resting on our oars until the oil-contaminated lands and wetlands in Ogoni are remediated and restored to render effective ecosystem services.”
In proffering solutions to plastic pollutions in line with the 2023 WED theme, the HYPREP boss recommended reduction in plastic production and consumption, and the promotion of sustainable alternatives and reusable products.
Other solutions according to him are, “Policies that will incentivize systems that will reduce single-use plastics notably, a reward system that supports the removal of plastic from the environment will reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in the aquatic environment.
“Improved waste management systems, including providing recycling infrastructure, to minimize plastic waste influx into the environment.
“Enhanced citizen education and awareness about plastic pollution’s impacts. Research and innovation are needed to develop biodegradable plastics and alternative materials in Nigeria.
“Development of federal and state-level plastic pollution action plans to provide a roadmap toward addressing the menace.Individuals and businesses should adopt responsible plastic use and disposal practices, etc.”
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