The Project Coordination Office of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has expressed determination to complete a significant number of its projects in 2025.

“Notably, a significant number of these projects will be completed for public use in 2025,” Nenibarini Zabbey, project coordinator of HYPREP, said in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

He said the emerging projects would require robust community content and participation.

“The projects involve soil and groundwater remediation, shoreline cleanup and mangrove restoration,” he said. “Others are constructing the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER), Ogoni Specialist Hospital, Buan Cottage Hospital, Ogoni Power Project, potable water schemes and various livelihood packages.’’

According to him, the HYPREP will also commence the socio-economic study of Ogoniland in 2025, which will produce “a robust blueprint for the post-cleanup socio-economic development of Ogoni.

“Similarly, a three-year comprehensive public health (human bio-monitoring) study of the Ogoni people will start by the second quarter.”

Mr Zabbey believed the new projects would produce jobs and enhance the capacity of Ogoni youths and women.

“Correspondingly, we will conduct a carbon stock assessment of mangrove restoration shorelines and commence the RAMSAR accreditation of Ogoni mangroves,” he stated.

Mr Zabbey said the project would also intensify the off-site research on the West African bloody cockle spat production and conduct field stocking trials to boost local livelihoods, among other earmarked projects and activities.

He commended the federal government’s commitment through HYPREP for creating opportunities for Ogoni youths.

The project coordinator said a list of at least 300 successful candidates (100 for PhD and 200 for Masters) for the Ogoni postgraduate scholarship had been released.

He stated, “2024 was quite eventful for us at the Project Coordination Office as we accelerated the Ogoni Cleanup in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda; consequently, we simultaneously implemented over 130 projects.”

Mr Zabbey commended Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment and the chairman of the governing council of HYPREP, for supporting the Ogoni community.

(NAN)