President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commenced the construction of a Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, as part of the Federal Government’s commitment to the ongoing Ogoni Clean-up Project.
The Centre, when completed, will serve as a national and international hub for cutting-edge research in environmental remediation, as well as a central data repository for the historic cleanup of Ogoniland. It is expected to enhance scientific innovation and environmental governance while also contributing to the sustainable development of communities affected by decades of pollution.
The project builds upon the efforts of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who virtually flagged off construction of the Centre on April 28, 2023, shortly before leaving office. Now, under President Tinubu’s leadership, the project is being accelerated to ensure its timely completion and impact.
The CEER is a key component of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and aligns with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland.
Beyond environmental restoration, the Centre aims to drive socioeconomic transformation in Ogoni communities, offering job opportunities, local capacity building, and long-term infrastructural development for a region that has endured years of ecological degradation.
The Tinubu administration has reiterated its resolve to see the Ogoni Clean-up Project through to a successful and lasting conclusion, with the CEER standing as a symbol of that commitment.
