HYPREP Intensifies Ecological Monitoring at Bomu Creek as K-Dere Water Project Nears Completion

The Post Fish Stock Assessment exercise continued on Tuesday morning at Bomu Creek, with the Project Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, leading a team of technical experts and researchers to evaluate the progress of ongoing environmental restoration efforts in Ogoniland.

The assessment team comprised technical staff from HYPREP’s Mangrove Restoration and Shoreline Remediation Subunits, as well as researchers from the University of Port Harcourt, reflecting a strong collaboration between project implementers and the academic community.

The post fish stock assessment is a key scientific exercise aimed at determining the current status of fish populations and aquatic biodiversity in Bomu Creek following remediation of hydrocarbon-impacted sites. The data gathered will help establish whether ecological recovery is on track and guide future interventions where necessary.

Speaking during the field exercise, Professor Zabbey stressed that environmental restoration must be backed by measurable scientific evidence.

“Our responsibility goes beyond cleaning up polluted sites. We must ensure that nature is truly recovering. This post fish stock assessment provides us with credible scientific data to track ecological revival and ensure that aquatic life and local livelihoods are sustainably restored,” he said.

In a related development, HYPREP announced that the K-Dere Water Project in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State has reached over 90 percent completion.

Professor Zabbey visited the facility to inspect the pace and quality of work, expressing satisfaction with the progress recorded so far and reaffirming the project’s importance to the host community.

“Access to clean and safe water is not a privilege; it is a fundamental necessity. We are encouraged by the progress made on the K-Dere Water Project and remain committed to delivering a fully functional facility that will improve public health and enhance the quality of life for residents,” he stated.

The simultaneous push for ecological monitoring and critical infrastructure delivery underscores HYPREP’s integrated approach to environmental remediation and community development in Ogoniland, combining ecosystem restoration with tangible socio-economic benefits for affected communities.