The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and the Belgian government have reaffirmed their dedication to the Ogoni cleanup initiative, emphasizing efforts to tackle environmental and socio-economic challenges in the region.
This renewed commitment followed a visit by Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt, and Prof. Olof Linden, a globally recognized mangrove expert, to HYPREP’s Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey.
Leenknegt highlighted that the visit aimed to assess progress in the ongoing cleanup and identify areas for further collaboration. He was joined by Dorien Laewnen, First Secretary to the Belgian Ambassador, who commended HYPREP’s environmental restoration efforts and its role in improving livelihoods in the Niger Delta.
Describing the initiative as “a modern approach to biodiversity conservation that empowers local communities as environmental stewards,” Laewnen reaffirmed Belgium’s commitment to supporting the project.
As part of the visit, Linden and Mike Cowing from the Post-UNEP team inspected HYPREP’s mangrove restoration site in Bomu, Gokana Local Government Area, Rivers State.
The United Nations has also reinforced its support for HYPREP’s mission. During a recent engagement with HYPREP, Mohamed Fall, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, stated that the UN and its agencies would provide technical assistance in mangrove restoration, climate change mitigation, food security, access to clean water, and public health.
Fall noted that the visit offered a platform to evaluate HYPREP’s progress and align efforts with the UN’s broader goals of human rights, environmental sustainability, and peacebuilding.
“I have seen significant progress in mangrove restoration, livelihood improvement, and enhanced access to essential services like potable water and healthcare. The UN remains committed to supporting this initiative,” he affirmed.
Expressing optimism about the growing international interest in the project, Prof. Zabbey highlighted HYPREP’s achievements, including the planting of over 1.3 million mangroves and the restoration of more than 38% of degraded shoreline areas.
He reiterated HYPREP’s commitment to fostering sustainable development and aligning with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 2, 6, 13, 14, and 17. Zabbey also called on the UN to mobilize further support from its agencies to sustain the project’s momentum.
During the visit, the delegation received a comprehensive briefing on project milestones and was presented with HYPREP’s manuals on mangrove restoration. Representatives from the FAO, WHO, UNDP, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights were also in attendance, further solidifying the global backing for the Ogoni cleanup effort.
