The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has said that its ongoing potable water schemes in Ogoniland were helping to bridge gender gaps in access, safety and water stewardship, particularly for women and girls in the region.
Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, stated this while delivering a lecture titled “Water for All: Bridging Gender Gaps in Access, Safety, and Water Stewardship in HYPREP Projects” at the Centre for Water and Sanitation Studies (CeWASS), Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, as part of activities marking the 2026 World Water Day.
Zabbey explained that upon completion of 51 headworks and 14 booster stations, HYPREP would supply potable water to about 96.2 per cent of Ogoni communities. According to him, the development will significantly reduce women’s exposure to contaminated groundwater, improve health outcomes, reduce the time spent fetching water, and enhance educational opportunities for girls.
He noted that improved access to potable water would enhance productivity and promote the well-being of families, as women often bear the primary responsibility for sourcing water in many communities.
Highlighting progress so far, the Project Coordinator disclosed that 16 water facilities have been completed across Ogoniland, currently supplying potable water to 43 communities, while an additional 49 facilities are under construction.
He added that the K-Dere water project is 99 per cent completed, with a total reticulation network of 1,516.41 kilometres designed to ensure water fetching points are located less than 200 metres apart for easy accessibility.
He emphasised that women were not only beneficiaries of the HYPREP water projects but are also key stakeholders in water stewardship.
He explained that the project has deliberately included women in water management committees in recognition of their vital knowledge and role in sustainable water resource management.
According to him, improved water infrastructure enhances safety and dignity for women by reducing the risks associated with long-distance travel in search of water, heavy physical strain, and exposure to harassment or violence, as well as the challenges posed by limited sanitation facilities.
The HYPREP boss also highlighted other milestones achieved by the project, including the Ogoni Power Project, which supports sustainable water supply, ongoing medium-risk and shoreline remediation projects aimed at addressing groundwater pollution and restoring creeks, as well as the installation of solar-powered systems at water facilities.
He explained that these initiatives support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), adding that HYPREP’s interventions align with global commitments to environmental restoration and equitable development.
Zabbey reaffirmed HYPREP’s commitment to expanding potable water infrastructure in Ogoniland, strengthening gender inclusion, building community capacity, and promoting sustainable water management, stressing that bridging gender gaps in water access is both a moral obligation and a development imperative.
