PORT HARCOURT, July 24, 2025 – The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has announced that it has planted approximately 1.3 million mangrove seedlings across various shorelines in Ogoni land as part of its ongoing environmental restoration efforts in the Niger Delta.
The initiative, which is a core component of the broader United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommendations, is aimed at reversing decades of ecological damage caused by oil exploration and spills in the region. According to HYPREP officials, the mangrove restoration programme spans multiple impacted communities and is designed to restore biodiversity, protect coastlines, and support livelihoods dependent on a healthy ecosystem.
Speaking during an inspection visit, HYPREP representatives explained that the replanting exercise is progressing steadily and aligns with global best practices in ecosystem rehabilitation. They noted that mangrove forests play a crucial role in carbon capture, serve as nurseries for fish, and act as natural barriers against coastal erosion.
Local leaders and environmental advocates in Ogoni have welcomed the project, describing it as a long-awaited intervention for sustainable recovery. While commending the scale of progress, they urged continued transparency and community engagement to ensure the long-term success of the cleanup and ecological recovery mission.
The mangrove reforestation is part of the wider Ogoni clean-up campaign, which was launched following the 2011 UNEP report that documented extensive environmental degradation and called for urgent remediation measures.