Speaking at the 2nd Civil Society Dialogue on HYPREP and Ogoni themed "Ogoni Beyond Oil is Possible to him, Akpobari said the region has struggled with environmental degradation, land deprivation, and reckless extraction processes, which undermine ecological sustainability.

He said HYPREP, being a project gazetted to implement the 2011 United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, Report on Ogoniland, has made progress, with the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, committing ten million dollars to the Ogoni Restoration Fund.

In his remark, the Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF Nnimmo Bassey, emphasized that HYPREP must, as a blueprint for environmental cleanup, extend its cleanup efforts beyond Ogoniland to the entire Niger Delta region.

Bassey, who was the keynote Speaker at the event, said a recent expert committee report presented to the Bayelsa government highlighted the need for comprehensive cleanup and resource allocation just like the Ogoniland Clean-up, in Bayelsa State, and the entire region.

He however,warned that divestment without proper cleanup resources is a scam, urging transparency and accountability.

Meanwhile; HYPREP has called for partnership and collaboration with civil society organizations to ensure the successful cleanup of Ogoniland.

Representing HYPREP's Project Coordinator, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, the Team lead, communications unit, Kpobari Nafo, emphasized the importance of working together to address the region's environmental challenges.