Business
THE Board of Trustees of the Ogoni Trust Fund Incorporated, under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), has called for sustained global collaboration to address environmental challenges in oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta.
Mr Emmanuel Deeyah, HYPREP BOT Chairman, made the call on Thursday in Abuja.
The call comes ahead of its conference on Donor Facilitation and Diplomatic Support Engagement, scheduled for May 26, to strengthen partnerships for environmental restoration and sustainable development in Ogoniland.
Deeyah said the complexity of pollution in the region required coordinated efforts among governments, development partners, diplomatic missions, multilateral agencies, civil society organisations and the private sector.
“As HYPREP advances implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), there is growing need for technical cooperation, funding partnerships, policy support, research collaboration and adoption of international best practices.
“The conference is conceived as a strategic platform to mobilise support and accelerate ongoing remediation efforts.
“The conference aims to showcase HYPREP’s progress and milestones, while strengthening relationships with donor agencies and diplomatic missions,” he said.
He added that it would also mobilise technical and financial support, promote sustainable development in impacted communities, and encourage international collaboration and knowledge exchange.
Other objectives include boosting stakeholder confidence and exploring innovative partnerships for long-term ecological sustainability.
Deeyah said the outcomes were expected to increase international visibility for HYPREP’s initiatives, deepen donor engagement, and create new funding and partnership opportunities.
It is also expected to enhance technical collaboration, strengthen stakeholder confidence, and support sustainable community development, while establishing frameworks for future international cooperation.
He listed its major milestones to include completion of phase one remediation across 50 lots, ongoing phase two remediation across 39 lots covering over 125 hectares, training of more than 2,400 community workers and creation of over 7,000 direct jobs.
He included others as empowerment of over 5,000 youths and women and medical outreaches reaching more than 12,600 residents.
He said shoreline clean-up was ongoing in eight communities, while over 1.5 million mangrove seedlings had been planted to restore ecosystems.
On infrastructure and public health Deeyah said HYPREP was expanding potable water access through 25 headworks, seven booster stations and projects in 69 communities.
He added that a 40-bed cottage hospital in Buan Community was nearing completion, while the Ogoni Specialist Hospital had reached 78 per cent completion.
He said the World Health Organisation (WHO) had commenced a comprehensive human health biomonitoring programme in Ogoni land, while construction of centre of excellence for environmental restoration had reached 96 per cent.
“The Ogoni Power Project and other infrastructure initiatives are creating jobs and supporting sustainable development.
“On research and stakeholder engagement, HYPREP continues to strengthen partnerships with international institutions, while technical staff receive specialised training in environmental remediation.
“The project remains committed to transparency, community participation, peace building , and engagement with donors and development partners.”
HYPREP was established by the Federal Government under the Federal Ministry of Environment to implement the recommendations of the 2011 UNEP Environmental Assessment of Ogoni land.
Since the commencement of operations in 2016, the project has focused on environmental remediation, public health interventions, livelihoods restoration, infrastructure development, research, and peacebuilding. (NAN)
A.I
May 15, 2026
Tags: HYPREP HYPREP BOT Chairman Mr Emmanuel Deeyah