Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, says it has created over 7,000 direct and indirect jobs in Ogoniland through the implementation of various projects under the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP-recommended cleanup initiative.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, made the disclosure in a statement commemorating this year’s International Workers’ Day, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to improving worker welfare and tackling unemployment in the Niger Delta.
“Through our numerous projects across Ogoni, we have created over 7,000 direct and indirect jobs and helped develop the skills and capacities of youths and women, especially in environmental remediation,” Zabbey stated.
He noted that the ongoing cleanup efforts have gone beyond environmental restoration to deliver real economic impact by providing opportunities that support household incomes and strengthen local economies.
“By this, we are tackling unemployment and its attendant effects, fundamentally improving local economies, and positively impacting the Human Development Index, HDI,” he said.
Highlighting the progress made so far, Zabbey commended the dedication of HYPREP staff and community workers, particularly for their roles in key projects such as the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, Buan Cottage Hospital, the Ogoni Power Project, mangrove restoration, and water supply interventions.
“As we mark Workers’ Day, we salute the resilience and dedication of workers in the Project Coordination Office and across our project sites. Their commitment has been central to the milestones achieved,” Zabbey noted.
He added that HYPREP is working assiduously to ensure the timely completion and commissioning of ongoing projects, which will create even more employment opportunities in the region.
“Commissioning these projects will address unemployment further. We will continue to create jobs at our project sites through skill acquisition and employability enhancement training,” he assured.
Zabbey also reiterated the project’s focus on building a safe and productive work environment while prioritizing human capacity development.
“On this day, we acknowledge the immense commitment of our workforce. We urge them to continue to be patriotic and committed to playing their noble roles towards the successful implementation of the Ogoni Cleanup programme,” he said.
