FG reaffirms commitment to complete Ogoni cleanup

Ten years after Nigeria launched the Ogoni cleanup, the federal government returned to Bodo City with a monument, a renewed pledge and an announcement of the project’s next phase.

Environment Minister Balarabe Lawal said President Bola Tinubu remained committed to completing the remediation and restoration of Ogoniland in Rivers State. He unveiled the Ogoni Cleanup Monument in Gokana Local Government Area, describing it as a permanent symbol of the government’s promise to the Ogoni people.

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Ten years ago in this very place, the flag-off of the Ogoni cleanup took place. Today, we return to affirm that commitment. The monument stands as a permanent reminder of a promise made and a promise kept.

Lawal said Tinubu issued a direct order after taking office to speed up the project. He pointed to work carried out under the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, including the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, a specialist hostel, a cottage hospital and the Ogoni Power Project. The environmental center, he said, could attract international collaboration and research.

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The Centre of Excellence is built on vast land that will attract international collaboration and research. It will place Ogoniland on the global map of environmental research and remediation efforts.

The minister also cited progress in soil and groundwater remediation, mangrove restoration, public health measures and access to potable water. He presented the return of aquatic life to local waterways as evidence that the ecosystem was recovering. “The fish, periwinkles, crabs, and shrimps are back,” Lawal said, linking that recovery to local livelihoods and the economy.

Four local government areas in Ogoniland recently received Ramsar accreditation certificates, an international designation for wetland conservation. Lawal said the recognition could open access to international funding and support. He announced the start of Phase II of the shoreline cleanup, saying simple and medium-impact remediation sites had been completed and work could now move to complex sites. He urged local stakeholders to maintain communication with HYPREP rather than pursue divisive actions.

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One of the most important developments is the evidence of ecosystem recovery. The fish, periwinkles, crabs, and shrimps are back. This is vital for the local economy and community livelihoods.