Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), has said the project is not only restoring polluted ecosystems in Ogoniland but also re-engineering social cohesion and reviving cultural bonds within affected communities.
Prof. Zabbey made this known in Bomu, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, during a post-restoration fish stock assessment exercise, where he led a team from the University of Port Harcourt, HYPREP technical staff, and local fisherfolk to evaluate the impact of mangrove restoration in the area.
The assessment follows HYPREP’s successful restoration of about 560 hectares of degraded mangrove ecosystem, with the planting of 1.5 million mangroves under its Phase 1 project. The exercise forms part of a broader scientific study initiated in November 2023 to assess fish stock, species abundance, and biodiversity recovery in hydrocarbon-impacted creeks of Ogoniland, in line with recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
According to Prof. Zabbey, the post-restoration assessment in the Bomu creeks was conducted one year after mangrove planting to compare current fish stock data with pre-restoration findings. The study employed indigenous fish fencing methods across three study stations with varying mangrove vegetation cover to quantitatively assess catch volume and species diversity.
Findings from the study revealed a significant improvement in fish catch volume, size, and species abundance, indicating gradual recovery of ecosystem goods and services following HYPREP’s intervention. Experts explained that mangrove restoration enhances shoreline stability while providing breeding and feeding habitats for fish, in addition to contributing organic matter and nutrients that sustain aquatic food chains.
Beyond the scientific outcomes, the exercise also underscored the socio-cultural impact of environmental restoration. Following the assessment, fisherfolk, community women, and HYPREP officials gathered at the Bomu waterfront to share a meal prepared from the fresh catch — an activity that symbolised renewed cultural interaction and communal bonding.
Community members recalled that before shoreline remediation, the area was plagued by intense hydrocarbon stench and poor air quality, making such gatherings impossible. The improved environment now allows for social interaction and the gradual return of traditional livelihoods tied to fishing.
Prof. Zabbey noted that the event reflected the synergy between science and cultural reawakening, stressing that HYPREP’s work goes beyond environmental cleanup to restoring dignity, livelihoods, and communal harmony.
He recalled that prior to the commencement of mangrove restoration and shoreline remediation, fisherfolk had identified fish stock recovery as a top priority. The positive outcome of the assessment, coupled with visible community excitement, he said, demonstrates that HYPREP is meeting community expectations and steadily rebuilding the social fabric that defines Ogoni communities.
“This is about restoring life — not just to the environment, but to the people,” he added.
Comments
Post a Comment