By Abdullahi Lukman
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has announced plans to broaden access to safe drinking water across Ogoni communities in Rivers State, marking a shift from limited intervention in oil-impacted areas to wider community coverage.
Project Coordinator, Nenibarini Zabbey, disclosed this in commemoration of World Water Day, stating that the initiative now aims to ensure all Ogoni communities benefit from potable water supply.
He said more than 43 communities have already been connected to clean water, with Phase 3 projects expected to extend services to an additional 17 communities.
He added that windmill-powered water schemes are also being deployed in rural parts of Khana Local Government Area to reach underserved settlements.
Zabbey further revealed that the K-Dere Water Project is over 99 percent complete and will soon be commissioned, providing a boost to water supply in the region.
He explained that the expanded intervention aligns with United Nations Environment Programme recommendations but goes beyond them to promote universal access, in line with Sustainable Development Goals target on clean water and sanitation.
Beyond infrastructure, he said HYPREP is promoting sustainability through community participation and institutional partnerships, including collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development and the Rivers State Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Agency.
Water Consumers’ Associations have already been established in some communities, with ongoing training supported by non-governmental organisations to ensure proper management of facilities.
Zabbey also urged residents to take ownership of the projects, stressing that long-term sustainability depends on community protection and support.
He noted that the initiative is critical to reducing waterborne diseases and improving public health across the Niger Delta.
