By Ngozi Nwankwo
Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, has reassured its dedication towards ensuring
a pollution free environment for sustainable development.
HYPREP disclosed its stands at the event commemorating 2025 World Environment Day.
In his speech, at the World Environment Day with the theme, “Ending Plastic Pollution” the Project Coordinator HYPREP, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey said the theme is a wake up call to the
urgent need to tackle the global threat of plastic pollution .
“Today, the global scourge of plastic pollution is having a profound impact on the ecosystems, posing a severe threat to the livelihood and pubic space.health.
“Contextually, the major contributor to plastic pollution is the expanding sachet economy, particularly water sachets which have become one of the most recognizable Single use products in West Africa
“In Nigeria, sachets have grown increasingly common, with over 50 to 60 million used water sachets discarded into the environment each day. Some how these end up in our canals, streams , rivers and oceans, significantly adding to plastic pollution and its negative impact on the Environment,” the Project Coordinator said.
Explaining measures put in place to combat plastic pollution, Zabbey said HYPREP has initiated initiated several interventions aligned with its belief that has nature based solutions and citizens actions that were necessary to tackle environmental degradation in the region.
” For example, to combat plastic pollution, HYPREP has launched the use of Growcoon to replace plastic bags in mangrove nurseries. We have adhered the federal Government’s directive by banning the use of single-use plastics in the HYPREP Projects Coordination Office and Area Offices, and we are extending this ban to our project site.
“We promote citizen action by educating Fisher folk and engaging young students in environmental activities .
We have established functioning environmental clubs in secondary schools in Ogoni
“In the same vein, we are promoting citizens actions against plastic pollution. Last year, we led members introduce members of the HYPREP Green Frontiers -the environmental club of the Project to the Bomu Creeks in the Gokans Local Government Area to clean up plastic waste from the mangrove. This initiative aims to improve citizens actions and science, particularly among young students in Ogoni.”
Zabbey, therefore, disclosed his resolve with HYPREP Green Frontiers to jointly embark on sensitization campaign with the Fisher folkin Bomu fishing port, focusing on actions to reduce plastic waste in creeks.
“To mark this year’s World Environment Day, the Project coordinator and the HYPREP Green Frontiers will jointly embark on a sensitization campaign with the Fisher folk in Bomu fishing port, focusing on actions to reduce plastic waste in our creeks. The effort supports our multi stakeholder approach to raise awareness and galvanize local citizens action on the occasion of this year’s WED calling for deliberate actions from all stakeholders, including government, industry players, communities, and individuals to help develop policies, ensure compliance with existing ones, and reduce activities that exacerbate plastic pollution and its attendant effects.
“We will continue to work with relevant stakeholders including government, Civil Society Organization (CSOs commutes, and other development partners to campaign and mobilize actions against plastic pollution in Ogoni and beyond.
“Together, we can end plastic pollution and ultimately contribute to achieving environmental sustainability,” said zabbey.