The Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, says the Federal Government is using the Ogoni cleanup project as a tool to promote peace, justice, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
Speaking at a two-day training on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Peacebuilding for Ogoni community leaders in Port Harcourt, Prof. Zabbey said HYPREP’s interventions in environmental restoration, potable water supply, livelihood development, public health, and the Ogoni Power Project are helping to rebuild communities and reduce conflict risks.
He said by improving living conditions and creating new economic opportunities, especially for young people, HYPREP is reducing social tension and restoring hope.
“By transforming lives across our project areas, we are addressing the root causes of conflict. We are proud to contribute to peace and development in Ogoni and Nigeria,” he said.
Prof. Zabbey described traditional leaders and community influencers as central to peacebuilding, stressing that their actions and words have great impact on unity and social stability.
“We must always ask ourselves: Is my position in the people’s interest? Does it promote unity and progress? Will it enhance development?” he added.
He said HYPREP continues to promote dialogue and non-violent settlement of disputes through ADR mechanisms across its project sites to foster fairness, mutual respect and faster resolution of issues.
The Project Coordinator commended the Minister of Environment and Chairman of HYPREP’s Governing Council, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, for his commitment to peace and accelerated implementation of the Ogoni Cleanup Project under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He urged Ogoni stakeholders to embrace unity and constructive communication to prevent disputes from escalating into violence, emphasizing that development can only thrive in peaceful communities.
Also speaking at the workshop, Professor Chioma Daisy Onyige, Director of the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, University of Port Harcourt, said the training is designed to strengthen the capacity of traditional institutions to promote dialogue and non-adversarial engagement in the cleanup process.
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She said building the skills of Ogoni leaders in mediation, negotiation, and consensus-building would reinforce peace and trust in the region.
Participants, including traditional rulers and community stakeholders, commended HYPREP for the initiative and pledged their support to ensure peaceful implementation of the cleanup project.
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