Nigeria: Ogoniland Gets International Wetland Status As Ramsar Certificate Presented

What the report says

Ogoniland’s wetlands in Rivers State have received international recognition after officials formally presented a Ramsar certificate naming the area a Wetland of International Importance. According to This Day, the handover took place in Wiiyaakara, Khana Local Government Area, during events marking the 10th anniversary of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) at the new Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration.

The certificate was presented by Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, to Chief Lesi Maol, president of the Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme (KAGOTE) group, who then passed it to the chairmen of the four Ogoni local government areas. Lawal said the designation was the 18th Ramsar certificate issued in Nigeria and noted that Ogoniland was the first case in the country where one Ramsar recognition covered four local government areas in a contiguous zone.

The recognition is significant because Ogoniland’s wetlands and coastline are considered important for flood control, water purification, carbon storage, fisheries and coastal protection. The area has also faced long-running environmental damage linked to oil exploration and production, making the new status relevant to ongoing remediation and conservation work under HYPREP.

Officials said the designation should help draw more attention to protecting and sustainably managing the region’s ecosystems for current and future generations.