The Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has promised that the Federal Government would support the ongoing mangrove restoration project of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to succeed.
Salako, who gave the assurance during a visit to some remediation sites in Ogoniland in Rivers State recently, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prioritises the issue of environment as could be seen in the Renewed Hope agenda and the eight priority areas of his administration.
He also noted that when it comes to the issue of climate change mitigation, Nigeria plays an important role, adding that one important resource that Nigeria and, indeed, Africa have to offer is nature- based solutions to climate change.
“When it comes to the issue of climate change, one important resource that Nigeria and indeed Africa have to offer is nature-based solutions. When we are talking about nature-based solutions, our mangrove forest is a very very important element of that. Nigeria has the largest mangrove forest in Africa and about the third in the entire world, which means that our mangrove forest is very important to the fight against climate change. So we must support HYPREP to ensure that the mangrove restoration project is done,” he said.
He further indicated that Nigeria actively participated in key events at the recently held Conference of Parties(COP28) in Dubai and also took part in the Alliance for Climate Change anchored by countries that are dedicated to the restoration of the mangrove.
Salako, who also visited the construction site of the ongoing Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, where he was taken round by HYPREP’s Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, expressed delight over the project, describing it as the largest project the Federal Ministry of Environment is carrying out anywhere in the world and the second biggest of the Federal Government in the South South region after the East-West Road.
When completed in September, 2025, he said the project which is significant and very important is going to be a very impactful project at the heart of the Niger Delta.
“I have been taken round the project and I can see the vision of those who conceived it. I hope on completion, the people of the Niger Delta and, indeed, the entire global community would come around and celebrate this magnificent edifice,” he said.
The Minister, who equally visited the legendary Birabi Memorial Grammar School in Bori, used the opportunity to plant 10 trees, which he said are symbolic and significant to him personally.
According to him, the planting of the trees was part of his new year green resolutions to plant at least 50 trees this year in each of the geopolitical zones of the country.
He hinted that the 10 trees planted in the school are for the South South geopolitical zone, and urged students, teachers and the Principal of the school to help in nurturing the trees.
Salako equally inaugurated the Green Frontiers Club of the school as part of the clean environment campaign of the Federal Government.
The President of the club, who is the Senior Prefect of the school, Master Nathaniel Koalebari, alongside the other members of the club presented beautiful environmental renditions to the Minister and his entourage to the admiration of those present.
Both the Chairman of HYPREP’s Board of Trustees, Dr Michael Nweilaghi and the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey also planted trees in the school.
Meanwhile, the Minister also visited one of the remediation sites in Eleme Local Government Area, where he gained more insight into the enormous work HYPREP is doing in Ogoniland.
Said Salako, “I have been taken round one of the remediation sites in Eleme, and I have seen the very important work that is being done here. It is my hope that from here, Nigeria is learning a lot in terms of how to tackle the challenges of oil pollution, which is very common in the Niger Delta as a result of exploration and exploitation activities.What we are doing here is also to appreciate and recognise the very impactful contributions of the Niger Delta, the oil producing States and the oil producing communities of Nigeria to the economy. The government of Nigeria, therefore, has taken it as an important responsibility to ensure that those areas that have contributed so well to the growth of the economy are also supported to ensure that they have good livelihoods, better standard of living; the health of the people is protected and the environment is conserved.”
He further indicated that the environment has become a very important issue in global discourse these days because of the realisation that except the environment is used and treated in a sustainable manner, human beings would not have a place to live in as time goes on.
For this reason, Salako said the Federal Government is taking environmental issues seriously, as President Tinubu has prioritised the issue of environment.

Donatus Ebi