The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) says it has completed remediation and closed 30 contaminated sites in Ogoniland, Rivers State, while launching fresh investigations into 18 high-risk polluted locations within residential communities.

Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday during a press briefing ahead of a high-level donor and diplomatic conference scheduled for May 26, 2026.

Progress in Ogoni Cleanup Exercise

Zabbey said the remediation effort is guided by the 2011 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) assessment, which identified 65 contaminated sites and recommended urgent cleanup. However, he noted that additional polluted locations not captured in the original report are now being investigated.

According to him, 17 simple sites affected only by soil contamination have been fully remediated and officially closed out, with certification issued.

He also revealed that 13 sites have undergone natural attenuation, where environmental processes such as bio-remediation and photo-oxidation reduced pollution levels below acceptable thresholds. These sites were independently verified by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and subsequently declared closed.

Ongoing and New Investigations

Zabbey explained that remediation is ongoing at 17 medium-risk complex sites, including four groundwater-affected locations where contamination levels have reportedly fallen below the World Health Organisation’s safety benchmark of 600 microgrammes per litre.

He added that investigations have now commenced on 18 high-risk complex sites located in residential areas to determine contamination levels and guide future remediation strategies.

According to him, the new assessment phase is necessary because environmental conditions are dynamic and groundwater pollution patterns continue to evolve over time.

“The environment is not static. You cannot depend solely on the 2011 UNEP data to determine current conditions,” he said.

Strengthening Donor and International Collaboration

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ogoni Trust Fund Incorporated for HYPREP, Emmanuel Deeyah, said the upcoming conference will deepen partnerships with international donors, diplomatic missions, multilateral agencies, and private sector stakeholders.

He said discussions will focus on environmental remediation, public health, livelihood restoration, water provision, mangrove recovery, and broader sustainable development initiatives in Ogoniland and the Niger Delta.

Deeyah added that the event will feature technical presentations outlining HYPREP’s achievements, challenges, and long-term strategic plans. The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, and the Dutch Ambassador to Nigeria, Bengtvan Loosdrecht, are expected to attend.

Background

The Ogoni cleanup programme was launched following the UNEP 2011 report, which documented extensive hydrocarbon pollution linked to decades of oil exploration in Rivers State. HYPREP was established in 2012 to implement remediation, restore livelihoods, and support environmental recovery across affected communities.

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The Senate has revealed that about $303 billion in proceeds from stolen crude oil transactions both local and international remain unaccounted for.

This disclosure came on Wednesday as the upper chamber received an interim report from its Ad Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft and Related Sabotage in the Niger Delta, chaired by Senator Ned Nwoko (Delta North).

According to the report, forensic investigations conducted by independent consultants uncovered missing funds of $22 billion, $81 billion, and $200 billion across different periods.

The committee recommended that the Federal Government enforce internationally recognized crude oil measurement standards at all production and export terminals. It also urged the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to deploy modern measuring technologies or transfer the task to the Weights and Measures Department under the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment.

To curb theft, the report further proposed the deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and an integrity pipeline monitoring system, as well as the establishment of a Maritime Trust Fund to enhance maritime infrastructure, safety, and security.

The committee also called for the creation of a special court to expedite the prosecution of crude oil thieves and their collaborators. It advised immediate implementation of the Host Communities Development Trust Fund under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to reduce sabotage and hand over abandoned wells to modular refineries for local production.

During deliberations, several lawmakers expressed mixed reactions to the report.

Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) cautioned that while the committee could trace losses, it lacked constitutional power to recover stolen funds.

Senator Olamilekan Adeola (Ogun West) urged the consultants to name the companies and individuals involved.

Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin (Kano North) clarified that the National Assembly could only recommend recovery to the executive arm.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio commended the committee’s efforts, directing it to continue investigations and present a comprehensive final report before any recommendations are adopted.

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