By Fatima Saka
Abuja – The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has announced that the Ogoniland mangrove wetland in Ogoniland, Rivers State, has been officially designated a Ramsar Site of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretariat.
The recognition highlights the ecological significance of the mangrove ecosystem and supports ongoing environmental restoration efforts in the oil-impacted region.
In a statement issued Friday, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Nenibarini Zabbey, described the designation as a major milestone for the people of Ogoni and stakeholders involved in the restoration and protection of the environment.
According to him, the wetlands cover more than 31,700 hectares of mangrove ecosystems made up of islands, tidal creeks, mudflats and dense mangrove forests that host diverse wildlife including fin fish, shellfish, crustaceans, crocodiles, turtles and the endangered grey parrot.
He explained that the ecosystem plays a crucial role in fisheries production, flood regulation, water purification and carbon storage, while also supporting the livelihoods and cultural practices of local communities.
Zabbey said the designation would also boost ecotourism opportunities and attract global attention to conservation efforts in the area.
The process leading to the international recognition began in 2024 when HYPREP submitted a memorandum to the National Council on Environment seeking approval to nominate the wetlands for Ramsar status.
Following the council’s endorsement, the Minister of Environment and Chairman of HYPREP’s Governing Council, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, formally wrote to the Ramsar Convention Secretariat requesting the designation.
After reviewing the ecological significance of the site, the international body approved the request, placing the Ogoni mangrove wetland among globally recognised wetlands of critical environmental value.
HYPREP noted that the recognition also fulfils a key recommendation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, marking another step in the implementation of the report’s recommendations on environmental restoration.
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The agency reaffirmed its commitment to restoring the Ogoni environment through remediation of oil-damaged land, shorelines and mangrove ecosystems, while calling on stakeholders to support sustainable management plans for the newly recognised wetland.
The Ogoni cleanup programme was initiated by the Federal Government as part of efforts to address decades of environmental degradation in the Niger Delta.
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