Port Harcourt: For decades, the waters of Ogoniland in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta ran black with crude, turning once vibrant rivers lifeless and rendering farmlands barren. Despite oil production halting in 1993, the environmental damage persisted, leaving the residents who relied on subsistence farming and fishing in dire straits. Today, a slow but determined effort, led by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), is underway to restore the land and heal the communities.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, HYPREP, a government initiative under the Federal Ministry of Environment, has been making uneven progress amidst challenges. However, signs of recovery are beginning to emerge. Clean water infrastructure has been provided to more than 30 communities, reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases. Healthcare delivery has improved with the commissioning of new health facilities, and vocational training programs have empowered over 5,000 youths with skills in various fields.
The environmental history of Ogoniland is marked by injustice and political exclusion. Between 1976 and 1991, over 1,000 oil spills devastated ecosystems and displaced communities. In response, the late Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) led peaceful resistance, demanding environmental protection and local autonomy. The government’s brutal response, including the execution of Saro-Wiwa and other activists, drew international condemnation and Nigeria’s temporary suspension from the Commonwealth.
A turning point came with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 2011 report, which revealed severe hydrocarbon contamination and recommended a $1 billion, 30-year clean-up project. Since HYPREP’s launch, notable progress includes clean water access for communities, healthcare improvements, and significant strides in land remediation. More than 1,500 hectares have been designated for clean-up, with 16 of the 20 sites in the first phase certified clean.
The project also focuses on capacity building. Educational and vocational training programs have been launched, with youths gaining skills in aviation, seafaring, and other fields. Land remediation efforts using bioremediation and soil washing are underway, with pilot crops on remediated land showing promise.
Despite these gains, HYPREP faces criticism over delays, lack of transparency, and insufficient community engagement. Civil society organizations and environmentalists have called for urgent, transparent, and inclusive decision-making, as well as the integration of climate adaptation strategies.
Led by Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey since 2024, HYPREP has acknowledged past oversights and is working to improve oversight and quality control. Contracts have been revoked, and annual independent audits have been instituted.
For many, the initiative represents more than environmental remediation; it is a moral reckoning and a pledge to correct decades of injustice. As Prof. Ahmed Salisu from Ahmadu Bello University notes, the project is about restoring dignity and transforming a region long associated with neglect into one defined by resilience. While the journey to full recovery may take decades, each restored waterway and empowered youth contributes to a new narrative for Ogoniland.