HYPREP seals off 30 locations, investigates 18 hazardous zones in Ogoniland

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The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project has announced the closure of 30 contaminated sites in Ogoniland, Rivers State, while investigations have commenced on 18 high-risk polluted locations in residential communities.

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

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Zabbey explained that the United Nations Environment Programme had initially investigated 65 contaminated sites in Ogoniland and recommended remediation for the affected areas.

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He, however, noted that not all polluted locations in the area were captured in UNEP’s 2011 report, adding that HYPREP was currently investigating other undocumented sites for possible remediation.

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According to him, 17 simple contaminated sites where only soil pollution was recorded had been fully remediated and closed.

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He added that another 13 sites had undergone natural attenuation, adding that independent verification conducted by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency confirmed that the 13 sites no longer required remediation.

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He said, “UNEP investigated 65 sites and provided fact sheets on them and recommended that those sites should be remediated.

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“Mind you, UNEP did not investigate all the contaminated sites in Ogoni as of when they released the report.

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“So there are sites that we refer to as undocumented sites, which HYPREP is currently investigating to also remediate if they require remediation.

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“Seventeen simple sites, which are sites that only soil is contaminated, have been remediated and closed out. So we have the close-out certificate with us.

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“Thirteen had undergone natural attenuation. Natural processes like photo-oxidation and bio-remediation have reduced the contaminant level to below the reasonable limit.

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“NOSRA came, they did their own independent investigation and saw that they don’t require remediation. They have also closed out those 13 sites,” he said.

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The HYPREP coordinator further disclosed that remediation work was ongoing at 17 medium-risk complex sites, including four locations affected by groundwater contamination.

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He stated that contamination levels at the four groundwater sites had been reduced below the World Health Organisation’s benchmark of 600 microgrammes per litre.

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“We are making good progress on that,” he said.

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Zabbey added that investigations had commenced on 18 high-risk complex sites located in residential areas to determine the level and scope of contamination before contracts for remediation would be awarded.

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According to him, the detailed site characterisation will guide the remediation methods and ensure value for money.

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“The environment is not static. You cannot depend on the data UNEP published in 2011 to determine the scope because groundwater contamination is moving, though slowly,” he said.

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Speaking on the forthcoming conference, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ogoni Trust Fund Incorporated for HYPREP, Emmanuel Deeyah, said the event was aimed at strengthening partnerships with the diplomatic community, donor agencies, multilateral institutions, environmental experts and private sector stakeholders.

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Deeyah said the conference would bring together senior government officials, ambassadors, development partners and international organisations to explore collaborative approaches towards environmental remediation, public health interventions, livelihood restoration, water projects, mangrove restoration and sustainable community development in Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta region.

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“The highlight of the conference would be a technical presentation to showcase HYPREP’s achievements, milestones, ongoing interventions, challenges and future strategic priorities,” he added.

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Deeyah announced that the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal and the Dutch Ambassador to Nigeria, Bengtvan Loosdrecht, would be present at the event.

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The Ogoni cleanup programme was launched by the Federal Government following the 2011 United Nations Environment Programme report, which revealed widespread hydrocarbon pollution in Ogoniland, Rivers State, caused by decades of oil exploration activities.

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HYPREP was established in 2012 and later restructured under the Federal Ministry of Environment to implement the UNEP recommendations, including environmental remediation, public health interventions and livelihood restoration in affected communities.

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