Rivers
We Must Support HYPREP’s Mangrove Restoration Project To Succeed -Minister

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
Niger Delta
Tai Agric Sector Gets Emergency Attention …As Chairman Distributes Farm Inputs, Inaugurates Technical Team

The Chairman of Tai Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon. Matthew Nenu Bari Dike has declared a state of emergency in the agriculture sector of Tai local government.
Speaking while distributing farm implements and other agricultural support packages to the farmers at the council’s headquarters in Saakpenwa, yesterday, Dike challenged farmers to show their farms before requesting for financial assistance.
The council boss stated that as a government, they were committed to putting smiles on the faces of the people and assured that his administration would ensure that every person in the local government is happy.
“As a government we want to assure you that, we will stop at nothing to ensure you all are empowered and living happily”.
According to him, “the gesture is aimed at enhancing food production and security through agriculture, and enjoined all lovers of agriculture in the local government area to identify with the quest to redefine development through agriculture in the local government.
He encouraged everyone to cultivate the passion and return to agriculture, to guarantee self-reliance, maximum food production and security in the area.
His administration, he said, would purchase more yam seedlings in order to get greater production to encourage exportation beyond the shores of Nigeria.
“A boost in yam production will also empower farmers in the Local Government Area”, the elated chairman said.
In a related development, the Chairman has inaugurated a five, member Agricultural Technical Committee for the Local Government Area.
The committee is made up of Pst. Anderson Wariboko, Barr. Paul Newman,, Smith Nyor-Ue, Gladys Jumbo and Dr Keke Rammyson
Also speaking, the Director of Agriculture, Tai Local Government Area, Mr Anderson Wariboko revealed that the event was part of activities to mark the chairman’s 100 days in office.
Wariboko who led the chairman, and other leaders of the council on the distribution of the farm inputs to the farmers, was full of praises for the chairman, Hon. Dike whom he said has the interest of the people at heart.
Kiadum Edookor
Rivers
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