By Miriam Humbe
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, (HYPREP) has unveiled a five-year strategic plan 2026–2031 to focus on the completion of outstanding projects, and sustain ecosystems and safeguarding the gains of the Ogoni Cleanup Programme.
This is in an attempt to deliver value to the people.
Minister of Environment and Chairman of the HYPREP Governing Council, Balarabe Lawal, revealed this during activities marking the 10th anniversary of the Ogoni Cleanup in Rivers State.
The Minister said the new strategic plan would provide a clear roadmap for the next phase of the Government’s intervention in Ogoniland.
Lawal stated: “The plan will focus on completion of outstanding interventions, sustaining restored ecosystems, preventing re-pollution and strengthening community ownership of completed projects.”
He said the strategy would also ensure that HYPREP continued to deliver measurable and lasting value to the people of Ogoniland.
He emphasized the need to strengthen the project’s sustainability and post-remediation management framework.
The Minister said that the framework would be integrated into the new strategic plan to ensure that investments made by the Federal Government and its foreign partners remained protected and continued to benefit affected communities.
He said that the Federal Government’s objectives in Ogoniland remained centred on two key priorities: Restoring the degraded environment and restoring the livelihoods and wellbeing of the people.
On the 10th anniversary of the cleanup programme, Lawal said the milestone would provide an opportunity to assess achievements, identify outstanding challenges and establish a clear direction for the next phase of the intervention.
