By Danjuma Amodu | January 16, 2026
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has sounded a renewed call for collective action to prevent repollution in Ogoniland, following significant progress in shoreline remediation and mangrove restoration.
On Monday, 13 January 2026, Anuoluwapo Adelakun, convener of the Pulitzer Centre for Crisis Reporting, visited Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, Project Coordinator of HYPREP. Her visit signalled the Centre’s deep commitment to Ogoniland’s environmental story, echoing her acclaimed documentary “A Poisoned Legacy” which exposed decades of oil-driven contamination across Ogoni communities and her ongoing work with Water Journalists Africa.
Adelakun’s presence at the HYPREP office underscored growing international attention on Nigeria’s largest environmental remediation effort.
Just days later, on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, HYPREP took centre stage at a multi-stakeholder dialogue convened by the Pulitzer Centre in Kpor, Gokana, under the theme “Restoring Rivers, Reviving Livelihoods, Renewing Life”.
Representatives from HYPREP including Head of Communications Enuolare Mba-Nwigoh, Technical Assistant on Shoreline Peter Lenu, Technical Assistant on Mangrove Izuchukwu Uche, and Dr Letan Karikpo joined regulators such as NOSDRA and NESREA, civil society organisations, academics and community leaders to review progress and chart next steps forward.
Speaking at the dialogue, HYPREP highlighted critical gains. According to representatives, shoreline remediation works are now over 70 % complete, while Phase 1 of the mangrove restoration programme has been fully delivered. Phase 2 contracts have been awarded for five affected communities, with implementation slated to begin before the end of the first quarter of 2026.
Ecological indicators are encouraging as periwinkles and other aquatic species are returning to Bomu creeks in noticeable numbers, signalling early signs of habitat recovery.
Yet amid the optimism, HYPREP issued a stark warning, stating that without urgent, coordinated action to curb illegal oil activities, including artisanal refining and pipeline sabotage, the gains could be undone.
“Repollution is real,” warned Peter Lenu, Technical Assistant on Shoreline. “We call on all stakeholders to act together to stop it.”
Independent scientific data presented during the dialogue reinforced this urgency. While Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH) levels at one heavily contaminated site had plummeted from over 20,000 mg/kg to just 277.5 mg/kg representing a 98 % reduction and residual heavy metals such as nickel remain elevated in sediments. Fish samples, including tilapia, continue to show concerning contaminant loads, indicating that full ecological restoration remains a work in progress.
HYPREP’s participation was not merely informational, it was strategic. The project used the platform to rally stakeholders around a shared responsibility: regulators must enforce existing laws; communities must report violations; civil society must monitor outcomes; and former artisanal refiners must transition to alternative livelihoods supported by HYPREP’s economic diversification programmes.
Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey reiterated his longstanding position.
“Remediation without prevention is temporary. Renewing life means stopping pollution before it starts.”
Looking ahead, HYPREP is calling for stronger enforcement mechanisms, community-led monitoring systems, and the formal integration of repollution prevention into Nigeria’s national environmental policy framework, all aimed at securing lasting ecological and socio-economic recovery for Ogoniland.
BACKGROUND
Anuoluwapo Adelakun’s documentary “A Poisoned Legacy” (2023) exposed the human and environmental toll of oil pollution in Ogoniland, documenting contaminated water sources, elevated cancer rates, and the failure of early cleanup attempts. Her work has amplified global awareness of Nigeria’s environmental crisis and positioned Ogoniland as a critical test case for justice and remediation.
The Pulitzer Centre for Crisis Reporting, through its investigative journalism and storytelling grants, has partnered with local journalists like Adelakun to ensure Ogoniland’s story reaches international audiences, pushing for accountability, transparency and sustainable solutions.
HYPREP, established under Nigeria’s Environmental Remediation Programme, remains the flagship initiative tasked with restoring Ogoniland’s ecosystems and livelihoods after decades of oil-related devastation.
