Residents of several Ogoni communities in Rivers State have raised concerns that oil pollution continues to affect their rivers and aquatic life despite the ongoing clean up by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project.
Fisherfolk from Gbee, K Dere and Nweemuu communities expressed their worries during a multi stakeholder dialogue held on Wednesday in Kpor, the headquarters of Gokana Local Government Area. The event focused on environmental restoration, livelihoods and community wellbeing.
Participants at the meeting included representatives of affected fishing communities, HYPREP officials, researchers from the University of Port Harcourt, civil society organisations, regulatory agencies, youths and women groups.
Community leaders and residents stated that farmlands, vegetation and water bodies in their areas remain polluted, adding that fish and periwinkles harvested from the rivers still show signs of oil contamination, raising health and livelihood concerns.
The convener of the dialogue, Anuoluwapo Adelakun of the Pulitzer Centre for Crisis Reporting, said the engagement followed investigative findings which revealed a communication gap between HYPREP and host communities. She noted that research conducted in collaboration with the University of Port Harcourt showed the presence of heavy metals such as nickel in water sediments and fish samples from parts of Ogoniland, posing long term health risks, particularly to children.
She observed that although progress has been reported in mangrove restoration and shoreline remediation, many families continue to rely on contaminated seafood for daily consumption.
Responding to the concerns, HYPREP officials maintained that significant remediation progress has been made, explaining that shoreline clean up is a long term process expected to last several decades, in line with international recommendations.
They disclosed that second phase clean up contracts have been awarded in affected communities and are expected to commence before the end of the first quarter of 2026, while health impact studies are ongoing to assess the effects of pollution on Ogoni residents.
