Plastic pollution threatens N’Delta ecosystem, says HYPREP

Opeoluwani Akintayo

The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project has expressed concerns over the increase in plastic pollution and described it as an emerging threat to mangroves and the ecosystem in the Niger Delta region.

HYPREP revealed that it would soon commence the shoreline clean up and mangrove restoration of oil-impacted areas in Ogoniland.

HYPREP came into being following the report of the environmental assessment of Ogoniland by the United Nations Environment Programme, published in 2011 and in 2016.

It has the mandate to provide alternative livelihood for people in Ogoniland, whose sources of income have been adversely affected by oil spills.

The Coordinator of the project, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, in his address to mark the 2023 World Environment Day, lamented that plastics do not only suffocate and kill mangrove biodiversity but also impact local livelihoods and compromise the mangroves’ capacity to sequester and mitigate climate change.

According to him, a project with a mandate to remediate and restore oil-polluted ecosystems, HYPREP was positioned to offer solutions to plastic pollution, which synergistically mitigate the effects of hydrocarbon contamination.

He said, “The 2023 WED commemoration, which also marks the 50^th World Environment Day celebration, presents a golden opportunity to deploy science, adapt innovation, and develop sustainable policies towards addressing environmental problems.

“HYPREP is about to commence shoreline cleanup and mangrove restoration in Ogoniland. Recently, plastic pollution has been identified as an emerging threat to mangroves in the Niger Delta.”

In proffering solutions to plastic pollution flex in line with the 2023 World Environmental Day’s theme, the HYPREP coordinator recommended a reduction in plastic production and consumption and the promotion of sustainable alternatives and reusable products.

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