The Minister of Environment and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Honourable Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has charged the Project to leverage the renewed political will of the Federal Government and the collective engagement of key ministers to attract critical interventions required to accelerate the Ogoni Clean-up Programme.
Lawal gave the charge during a two-day joint retreat of members of the HYPREP Governing Council and the Ogoni Trust Fund Incorporated held in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. The retreat was convened to strategically reposition HYPREP for effective delivery of its mandate in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report on the Ogoni Environment.
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The Minister noted that the presence and active participation of ministers overseeing environment, budget and economic planning, regional development, and petroleum resources at the retreat underscored the strong political backing being accorded the Ogoni Clean-up Programme under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, HYPREP’s institutional structures must take advantage of this renewed momentum to mobilise support, unlock funding opportunities, and secure critical government interventions needed to scale up remediation activities in Ogoniland.
He further emphasised the need for close collaboration among the Governing Council, the Board of Trustees of the Ogoni Trust Fund and other key stakeholders, stressing that synergy and shared responsibility are essential for the Project to effectively deliver on its mandate.
“The success of the Ogoni Clean-up depends largely on how well all stakeholders work together, align priorities and maintain transparency and accountability in project execution,” the Minister said.
The retreat, themed “Strategic Governance for Sustainable Remediation of Oil-Impacted Environment,” brought together five ministers, members of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees, representatives of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and its Joint Venture partners, as well as officials of the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Discussions at the retreat focused on strengthening governance structures, improving policy and strategy frameworks, enhancing fundraising and grantsmanship, and ensuring effective monitoring and evaluation of projects.
Participants also reviewed HYPREP’s progress across key thematic areas, including soil and shoreline remediation, mangrove restoration, potable water provision, livelihood support programmes and public health interventions.
Outcomes of the retreat are expected to translate into concrete policy actions and improved inter-agency collaboration, positioning HYPREP to better harness existing political support and deliver measurable impact in the ongoing clean-up of Ogoniland.