Ogoni Cleanup: Amabu Urges Stakeholders To Embrace Shared Responsibility, Defend Project Sustainability
Commends HYPREP Coordinator, Cites National Assembly’s 80% Performance Rating, Calls for Accountability, Professional Independence and Constructive Engagement
An Ogoni stakeholder, Ledogo Amabu, has called on the Federal Government, community leaders, civil society organisations, the oil industry, youths and other stakeholders to embrace shared responsibility in ensuring the successful implementation and long-term sustainability of the Ogoni cleanup programme.
Amabu said the restoration initiative, being implemented through the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) under the Federal Ministry of Environment, represents a historic opportunity to address decades of environmental degradation, improve public health and create sustainable economic opportunities for the Ogoni people.
In a statement on the progress and challenges of the programme, Amabu stressed that the sacrifices, advocacy and resilience that sustained the Ogoni struggle for environmental justice over several decades must translate into tangible and lasting benefits for the people.
Quoting revolutionary thinker Frantz Fanon, who wrote that each generation must discover and fulfil its mission, Amabu said the present generation of Ogoni leaders and stakeholders had a responsibility to protect the gains already achieved and ensure that the cleanup programme delivered its intended objectives.
He maintained that the success of the initiative depended not only on government commitments and institutional performance but also on the willingness of stakeholders to work together, promote peace and pursue accountability through constructive engagement.
According to him, the Ogoni cleanup programme emerged from years of advocacy by the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), the Ogoni people and other stakeholders, culminating in the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommendations on the environmental restoration of Ogoniland.
He warned that the sacrifices behind the struggle must not be undermined by unnecessary political interference, misinformation, personal interests or disagreements capable of obstructing legitimate restoration work.
Amabu Backs Professional Leadership at HYPREP
Amabu called for sustained institutional support for HYPREP Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, noting that professional expertise, technical competence and institutional stability were essential to the successful execution of the cleanup programme.
He observed that several major projects, including some water infrastructure contracts, were reportedly awarded before Zabbey assumed office, arguing that project performance should be assessed against the circumstances surrounding their award, contractual obligations, implementation timelines and measurable outcomes.
He noted that Zabbey's academic background as a water scientist offered relevant professional knowledge for overseeing projects involving water infrastructure and environmental restoration.
However, Amabu emphasised that professional credentials and institutional support must go hand in hand with demonstrable results, adherence to quality standards, transparency and effective service delivery.
He urged critics and supporters of the programme to adopt an evidence-based approach when assessing HYPREP's performance.
"Supporting professional leadership does not mean abandoning accountability, just as demanding accountability should not mean disregarding progress or undermining legitimate development work," he stated.
Amabu maintained that project delays should not automatically become grounds for discrediting the current leadership without examining the underlying causes and determining whether the challenges arose from contractual issues, funding constraints, administrative bottlenecks or other factors.
He added that genuine advocacy should focus on identifying problems, demanding corrective action and ensuring that public resources produce the intended benefits.
Exchange Rate Changes and Project Delivery
Addressing concerns surrounding delays in some legacy projects, Amabu pointed to changes in the foreign exchange market as one of the factors that may have affected project execution.
He noted that some contracts were reportedly awarded when the exchange rate was below ₦400 to the dollar, while subsequent depreciation of the naira, with the rate rising above ₦1,500 to the dollar, significantly altered the economic environment in which some projects were being implemented.
According to him, such changes may have increased contractors' costs and contributed to pressures surrounding project delivery and contract variations.
He cited the two regional healthcare facilities and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration among the projects whose implementation challenges warrant careful examination.
Nevertheless, Amabu stressed that exchange rate fluctuations should not be treated as a blanket explanation for every delay.
He called for project-specific assessments of contractual terms, approved variations, funding arrangements, construction progress and the actual circumstances affecting delivery.
He said transparent scrutiny of these factors would enable stakeholders to distinguish between unavoidable economic pressures and challenges requiring administrative or contractual intervention.
Major Projects Hold Promise for Ogoni's Development
Amabu described the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration as a flagship Pan-African facility with the potential to advance environmental research, strengthen technical capacity and position Ogoniland as an important centre for environmental restoration expertise.
He also highlighted the importance of the proposed and ongoing healthcare infrastructure, including the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital and the 43-bed cottage hospital in Buan.
According to him, these projects, alongside water infrastructure, mangrove restoration, environmental remediation and the Ogoni Power Project, could significantly improve living conditions and expand development opportunities across the area.
He said their long-term value, however, would depend on timely completion, quality construction, adequate equipment, effective management and sustainable funding for operations and maintenance.
Amabu urged stakeholders to look beyond the construction of physical infrastructure and focus on whether the projects would ultimately provide reliable healthcare, safe water, environmental protection, employment opportunities and improved livelihoods.
He added that the successful implementation of the UNEP recommendations should remain the central measure of the programme's effectiveness.
House of Representatives Committee Reportedly Rates HYPREP 80 Per Cent
Amabu also commended the House of Representatives Committee on Host Communities for its two-day fact-finding and oversight visit to Ogoniland on October 14 and 15, 2026.
According to his statement, the committee, led by its chairman, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Deekor, inspected selected HYPREP project sites and reportedly awarded the programme an 80 per cent performance rating on project delivery.
Amabu described the reported assessment as an important contribution to public evaluation of the cleanup programme, noting that firsthand inspections by legislative oversight bodies could help strengthen transparency, identify implementation gaps and build public confidence.
Among the projects reportedly inspected were the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital, the 43-bed cottage hospital in Buan, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, water projects, the Ogoni Power Project, mangrove restoration sites and environmental remediation facilities.
He commended Professor Zabbey and the HYPREP team for the progress acknowledged during the visit, while urging stakeholders to sustain the momentum and ensure that outstanding commitments were fulfilled.
Amabu further welcomed the committee's reported intention to work with the Federal Government towards legislation supporting the sustainable cleanup of Ogoniland and other oil-impacted states in Nigeria.
He said such legislative initiatives could strengthen institutional continuity, clarify responsibilities and provide a more durable framework for environmental restoration.
The reported 80 per cent rating, he added, should serve not only as recognition of progress but also as an incentive for HYPREP and other stakeholders to address outstanding challenges and deliver measurable improvements.
Calls for Protection Against Political Interference
The Ogoni stakeholder emphasised the need to preserve the professional independence of HYPREP's Project Coordinating Office, arguing that technical decisions concerning environmental restoration and project implementation should not be subjected to undue political pressure.
He maintained that institutional stability was essential for continuity, effective planning and the successful execution of long-term restoration projects.
Amabu, however, cautioned that protecting the Project Coordinating Office from political interference must not be interpreted as shielding it from legitimate scrutiny.
He called for a balanced approach that protects technical decision-making while strengthening established mechanisms for accountability, legislative oversight and community participation.
According to him, the Federal Government has a responsibility to safeguard the integrity of the UNEP Report implementation process and ensure that administrative or political disputes do not undermine the objectives of the cleanup programme.
He warned that avoidable disruptions could have consequences extending beyond environmental restoration, potentially affecting regional peace, economic activities and efforts to rebuild confidence between the Federal Government and the Ogoni people.
Amabu also stressed the importance of continued international cooperation, noting that confidence in the programme's integrity would be crucial to sustaining access to environmental expertise, technical assistance and appropriate funding.
Water Projects Require Evidence-Based Assessment
On the implementation of water projects, Amabu said stakeholders should carefully examine the professional reasoning behind HYPREP's reported decision to direct contractors handling multiple projects to complete one project before moving to another.
He cited projects in Kaani and Sogho, as well as Kpean and Bori, as examples of locations where this approach was reportedly being pursued.
He explained that concentrating resources on completing individual projects could help prevent contractors from spreading personnel, materials and equipment across multiple locations, potentially leaving several projects unfinished simultaneously.
However, he said the effectiveness of the strategy must ultimately be determined by verifiable evidence, including completion records, water quality, operational reliability and the benefits delivered to the affected communities.
Amabu also noted that administrative challenges and changes in leadership arrangements at the Ogoni Trust Fund Inc. had been suggested as possible contributing factors to delays during the year.
He cautioned that any connection between such developments and project delays must be established through evidence rather than speculation.
He urged stakeholders to examine the full circumstances surrounding project implementation before assigning responsibility for setbacks to particular individuals or institutions.
Ramsar Designation Presents an Environmental Opportunity
Amabu also acknowledged the significance of the Ramsar designation relating to the Ogoni wetlands, noting that the recognition presented an opportunity to strengthen environmental conservation and promote the long-term sustainability of restoration efforts.
He stressed the importance of accurately recognising the institutions and contributions associated with environmental milestones while ensuring that such achievements translated into practical benefits for the people.
According to him, the conservation of wetlands, restoration of mangroves and remediation of polluted sites must be pursued alongside measures that protect biodiversity, support community livelihoods and prevent further environmental degradation.
He said the sustainability of the cleanup programme would depend on the ability of relevant institutions to maintain environmental standards and ensure that restored ecosystems remained protected over time.
Warns Against Misinformation and Destructive Criticism
Amabu called on community leaders, youths, social commentators and civil society organisations to distinguish between constructive criticism intended to improve project delivery and campaigns primarily aimed at discrediting individuals or institutions.
He said watchdog criticism remained essential to the implementation of the UNEP recommendations but insisted that public commentary should be guided by facts, evidence and the public interest.
He warned that misinformation, propaganda and accusations unsupported by verifiable evidence could deepen divisions within Ogoniland and distract attention from the urgent task of environmental restoration.
At the same time, he acknowledged that support for HYPREP's leadership should not prevent stakeholders from raising legitimate concerns or demanding corrective action where shortcomings were established.
He urged both critics and supporters to subject their positions to the same standards of truthfulness, responsibility and accountability.
Amabu further encouraged Ogoni youths and community leaders to understand the wider political, economic and environmental interests surrounding development in Rivers State and the Niger Delta.
He said the ability to assess public statements critically, verify information and engage institutions responsibly was essential to protecting the collective interests of the Ogoni people.
According to him, disagreement should lead to constructive dialogue and improved performance rather than personal attacks, unnecessary confrontation or actions capable of obstructing legitimate development work.
Stakeholders Must Fulfil Their Responsibilities
Amabu stressed that the success of the Ogoni cleanup programme could not rest on HYPREP alone, calling for a coordinated commitment from every institution and stakeholder involved.
He said the Federal Government must sustain its funding and policy commitments, HYPREP must deliver on its mandate, the oil industry must fulfil its obligations, and the National Assembly must maintain effective and responsible oversight.
He also called on MOSOP, community leaders, traditional institutions, youths, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to contribute through informed participation, constructive engagement and responsible monitoring.
He emphasised that each stakeholder had a distinct responsibility but that their collective objective must remain the environmental recovery, development and prosperity of Ogoniland.
Amabu maintained that no individual or institution should be above lawful scrutiny and that no government institution should be used to obstruct legitimate progress.
He also urged the Federal Government to remain committed to its financial obligations, warning that funding gaps and avoidable administrative disruptions could undermine the programme's long-term objectives.
He posed two fundamental questions for stakeholders to consider: Who benefits when instability and avoidable delays undermine the cleanup programme, and who bears the cost when projects intended to improve healthcare, restore the environment and create economic opportunities fail to deliver their intended benefits?
For him, these questions underscore the need for decisions to be guided by evidence, public interest and the long-term welfare of the Ogoni people.
Sustainability Must Go Beyond Project Completion
Looking to the future, Amabu said the success of the cleanup programme should not be measured solely by the number of projects initiated or the infrastructure completed.
He argued that sustainability required a broader commitment to environmental protection, institutional accountability, community participation and the maintenance of restored ecosystems and completed facilities.
He called for effective monitoring systems to track project performance, transparent reporting on the use of public resources and continued engagement with host communities to ensure that their concerns were addressed.
He also emphasised the importance of maintaining healthcare facilities, ensuring the consistent provision of safe water and protecting remediated land and restored mangrove ecosystems against renewed degradation.
According to him, the ultimate objective of the cleanup must be to create conditions in which future generations of Ogoni people can enjoy a healthier environment, improved economic opportunities and a better quality of life.
He said professional leadership, adequate funding, institutional cooperation and a sustained commitment to measurable results would be indispensable to achieving that goal.
Ogoni's Future Must Take Priority
Amabu reiterated his position that the restoration of Ogoniland must remain above personal interests, political rivalries and divisive narratives.
Reflecting on his earlier contribution, Courage, Conscience and the Fight for Good Governance in Ogoniland: The Progress Under Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, he said he would continue to engage younger comrades and the wider Ogoni community on the need to protect the gains of the struggle while insisting on responsible governance.
He appealed to political and community leaders to guide their supporters towards informed and constructive participation, adding that the willingness to acknowledge shortcomings and correct misinformation must apply equally to supporters and critics of the programme.
He urged stakeholders to reject divisive conduct and focus their energies on ensuring that the cleanup programme delivered tangible and lasting benefits.
"The Ogoni struggle must produce results for our people," he maintained, stressing that the sacrifices of previous generations would only be fully honoured when environmental restoration translated into improved health, economic opportunities, social development and lasting prosperity.
Amabu concluded by urging all concerned stakeholders to support professional leadership at HYPREP, demand accountability through established channels and work collectively towards the successful implementation of the UNEP Report.
He maintained that the future of Ogoniland depended on a shared commitment to truth, justice, responsible engagement and the protection of the restoration process from avoidable disruption.
He said the time had come for all stakeholders to move beyond divisions, strengthen cooperation and ensure that the Ogoni cleanup programme fulfils its historic promise of environmental recovery, sustainable development and a better future for generations yet unborn.
