Nigeria’s Federal Government has launched four new water projects in Ogoniland, boosting access to clean water for residents.

Located in Bodo, Eteo, Uegwere-Boue, and Taabaa communities, these projects bring the total number of Ogoni communities with reticulated potable water to 40. The initiative is part of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), aimed at restoring the environment and promoting sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.

The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas, emphasized the government’s commitment to implementing the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report and restoring the dignity of the Ogoni people. Abbas stated that access to clean and safe water is a fundamental human right and that the projects are not just infrastructure, but symbols of hope, equity, and justice for communities that had long suffered the impacts of oil-related pollution.

HYPREP’s Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, highlighted the project’s progress in various thematic areas, including soil remediation, health infrastructure, and livelihood support.

According to Zabbey, 50 simple-risk sites have been remediated, while work on medium-risk and complex sites is 38% done. The mangrove restoration project is already 93% complete, and over 5,000 Ogoni youths and women have been trained in 20 skill sets, with 7,000 direct jobs created.

The project has also made significant progress in healthcare, with the Buan Cottage Hospital and Ogoni Specialist Hospital nearing completion at 98% and 86% respectively.

The Ogoni Health Study is also underway, and HYPREP has reached the point of simultaneous implementation of key UNEP actions, including remediation, water, health, and livelihood support