The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project has counselled youths in Ogoniland, Rivers State, that the future of the area cannot be achieved through conflict and division.
HYPREP called for continued peace and unity among residents, emphasising that no region or project can succeed in an atmosphere of crisis.
The HYPREP Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, stated this during the project’s quarterly interactive session with Ogoni youths in Port Harcourt.
While noting that the cleanup project remains on course, Zabbey said the meeting was convened to cement peace and drive local development.
“Today, we bring a clear message of peace and sustainable development. These are not only important values for the development of Ogoniland, they are also central to HYPREP’s mandate.
“The project recognises that environmental restoration cannot succeed without peace, and that development cannot be sustained without a clean and healthy environment,” he said.
Zabbey listed ongoing initiatives, including environmental remediation, livelihood restoration, provision of potable water, public health interventions, the Ogoni Power Project, the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, Buan Cottage Hospital, and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration.
He noted that these programmes share a single goal: ensuring that the Ogoni people and youths live meaningful lives in a clean, peaceful, and prosperous environment.
The HYPREP boss stressed that securing the future of Ogoniland is a shared responsibility between the agency and the youth.
“On this note, I want to emphasise that the future of Ogoni cannot be secured through conflict or division.
“Our responsibility as young people is to protect the future of our communities by pursuing peace, staying united, and choosing dialogue as the most effective way to address our concerns,” he said.
Zabbey further urged youths to engage actively with the process, leverage available opportunities, and ensure that environmental restoration translates into lasting economic progress.
Earlier, the Project Support Lead and Joint Venture Representative for Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Ehioze Igbinomwanhia, expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded under Zabbey, noting that life is returning to Ogoniland.
“I have looked at the work that HYPREP has done. I have been to the specialist hospital, the cottage hospital, the centre in Weke, and inspected the power projects.
“Those are good quality projects, and life is returning back to Ogoniland; we are happy to be part of that journey,” he said.
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