– As HYPREP partners Australia’s remediation centre
Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, CEER, in Ogoniland has been tipped to spark a billion-dollar clean-up industry in Nigeria, replicating global models and positioning the country as a continental leader in environmental remediation.
This is as the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, has entered into a partnership with the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment, crcCARE of the University of Newcastle, Australia, one of the world’s leading institutions in environmental restoration, to tackle complex pollution challenges in Ogoniland.
Speaking during a visit to the CEER in Wiyaakara, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Prof. Ravi Naidu, Managing Director of crcCARE, revealed that the clean-up industry in his home country grew from $300 million to $6 billion annually, creating over 10,000 jobs — a blueprint he believes is achievable in Nigeria through the CEER.
Naidu who also chairs the UN FAO International Network on Soil Pollution, noted that crcCARE’s own Centre of Excellence in Australia, established in 2005, has trained over 180 PhD students and regretted that environmental pollution was a silent global killer, responsible for nearly 30 million deaths annually, according to WHO reports.
“What I see here is the seed of a billion-dollar industry. When we started crcCARE in 2005, the clean-up industry in Australia was worth just $300 million per annum. Today, it’s a $6 billion industry. HYPREP’s vision for the CEER has the same potential, especially with investment in innovation, training and policy support.”
Naidu stressed the need for Nigeria to move from pollution response to pollution innovation. “The Center should not only treat contamination but also develop solutions, train experts, and influence policy across Africa. That’s how industries are born.
“Pollution isn’t always visible, unlike flooding or famine. You could be breathing polluted air, drinking contaminated water, or eating food laced with toxins. That’s why this Center is crucial. If developed right, it could attract experts from around the world who will be trained here and take their knowledge back home.”
Naidu emphasized that remediation efforts must go beyond infrastructure to include the human factor—training and knowledge sharing. “You can build a Center, but it’s the people you train, the minds and hands you empower, that make the difference. That’s how you create lasting solutions.”
Also, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, said the CEER will serve as a multidisciplinary research hub, building youth capacity, creating jobs, and advancing Ogoni’s socio-economic transformation. “This is not just about remediation, it’s about building a sustainable future for the region,” he said.
Zabbey, described the collaboration as “novel and strategic,” adding that crcCARE’s expertise will help build a global-standard remediation programme in Nigeria.
“We are not just collaborating with any institution. We decided to partner with the world’s best. crcCARE in Australia is one of the foremost remediation centres globally, and having Professor Ravi Naidu here is a big win for our vision.”
He noted that the partnership is already yielding progress. “crcCARE is helping us characterize high-risk complex sites, and will also provide scientific and technical input to drive our remediation plans. Their team will work hand-in-hand with HYPREP to develop a world-class remediation template for Ogoni and the rest of Nigeria.”
