Twelve Years After UNEP Report: Progress and Concerns in the Battle Against Oil Pollution in Ogoni land

By Obiabin Onukwugha

On August 4, 2011, the United Nations Environmental Project (UNEP) delivered a significant report to the Federal Government of Nigeria, detailing the extensive environmental degradation caused by decades of oil spills in the Ogoni region.

The report, among its recommendations, proposed joint funding from Shell and the Nigerian government, cleaning and restoration of over 200 contaminated sites, provision of clean drinking water facilities, establishment of medical and resource centers, and more, all aimed at rejuvenating the region’s health and vitality.

Responding to these pressing issues, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari officially launched the Ogoni cleanup project on June 2, 2016, instituting the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) to oversee the cleanup and revitalization of the Ogoni environment.

However, twelve years following the UNEP report, the cleanup project remains unfinished, raising concerns among environmental activists. They worry that the slow progress of the Ogoni cleanup project, intended as a test case for the entire Niger Delta region’s restoration, might hinder broader environmental recovery efforts.

On the occasion of the twelfth anniversary of the UNEP report, HYPREP Project Coordinator Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey released a statement emphasizing the strides made in the cleanup initiative.

“While commemorating the 2023 anniversary of the UNEP report, we’re delighted to report substantial achievements in the past year. Addressing the key recommendation of sustainable livelihoods for Ogoni women and youths, we initiated training for a hundred youths in aviation-related skills,” Prof. Zabbey stated.

He highlighted the training of thirty individuals, with more groups to follow, and the provision of clean drinking water to the Barako community, signifying progress in supplying potable water to Ogoni communities.

Furthermore, Prof. Zabbey underscored the strides in site remediation, ranging from closing out numerous lots to commencing Phase 2 remediation activities for medium-risk sites.

In a visionary move, HYPREP also embarked on mangrove restoration efforts, aiming to establish a mangrove nursery and restore 3,000 hectares of oil-degraded mangrove in Ogoniland. These endeavors are set to include planting approximately 10 million mangrove seedlings, marking the world’s largest restoration effort for oil-degraded mangroves.

However, amidst these accomplishments, concerns persist about re-pollution due to artisanal refining and oil spills. The Shell Petroleum Development Company confirmed an oil spill in Eleme local government area in Ogoni, affecting multiple communities. While larger oil spills garner significant attention, spills caused by oil theft and illegal refining often remain unreported.

In light of these developments, the HYPREP Coordinator stressed the imperative to halt re-pollution.

He urged all stakeholders, especially youths, to refrain from engaging in artisanal oil refining, as further pollution will compromise the ongoing cleanup and restoration efforts.

Addressing the issue, Executive Director of the African Indigenous Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development (AIFES), Legborsi Paigbara, criticized the role of youths in collaboration with certain oil industry players, contributing to ongoing environmental degradation.

As the twelfth anniversary of the UNEP report underscores both progress and concerns, stakeholders must intensify their efforts to secure a cleaner, healthier, and more vibrant future for the Ogoni region and the entire Niger Delta area.