By Obiabin Onukwugha
Oysters which went extinct as a result of pollution in Ogoni shorelines are gradually returning there as remediation and clean up efforts continue.
Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, made this disclosure shortly after his visit to water facilities and some shoreline remediation sites in K-Dere, Gokana LGA, on Wednesday, January 15.
Oyster is a salt water bivalve molluscs that was once in abundance before the environmental pollution in the creeks.
Zabbey, who said he was excited at the return of oysters, attributed the positive development as an improvement in the ecosystem following the ongoing remediation of the environment by HYPREP.
He said “HYPREP is currently carrying out 34 shoreline remediation works in Gokana LGA and the construction of 14 water lots in its Phase II water Project which will provide potable water to 68 communities. At date the shoreline cleanup is at 25 percent completion, covering 123 grids across 357.6 of 1747.6 ha. Also the general percentage completion for the 14 water lots is 55.56 percent.”
The HYPREP project coordinator hinted that additional two water schemes in Beeri and Bunu in Khana and Tai LGAs, respectively, which are in its Phase II water Project, will be completed and ready for commissioning in February 2025 as part of the Project’s mandate to provide potable water to impacted communities in Ogoni.
While expressing satisfaction at the pace of works and the determination and commitment of community workers to the Project, Zabbey stated that the visit was to appraise the level of work on these projects and to encourage community workers as a way of enhancing the speed and quality of the work.
He also expressed delight that more communities will have access to clean drinking water, noting that other HYPREP’s projects,. including public health interventions, remediation, livelihood would improve the overall quality of life of the Ogoni people.