Events

Following a request from the Government of Nigeria, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), conducted an independent study to determine the environmental and public health impacts of oil contamination in Ogoniland.  Covering around 1,000 km2 in Rivers State, southern Nigeria, Ogoniland has been the site of oil industry operations since the late 1950s.  Prior to UNEP’s assessment, no systematic scientific information had been available about the extent of oil impacts.

This presentation covers the background and context to UNEP’s involvement in Ogoniland.  It provides a summary of UNEP’s findings and recommendations to deal with the environmental challenges facing the Ogoni people.

The history of oil exploration and production in Ogoniland is a long, complex and often painful one that has become seemingly intractable in terms of its resolution.  UNEP faced unique challenges: lack of trust between many of the stakeholders; political tensions between communities, regional and national government; gaining access to sites; security considerations and technical and logistics difficulties.  Despite these imperfect conditions, UNEP were able to conduct an independent environmental assessment.

Following its initial investigations, UNEP identified 69 sites for more detailed assessment. In addition, samples of community drinking water, groundwater, surface water, sediment, fish and air were collected throughout Ogoniland and in several neighbouring areas.  Altogether more than 4,000 samples were analysed.  The UNEP project team also examined more than 5,000 medical records and staged 264 formal community meetings, attended by 23,000 people.  Reviews of legislation, institutions, oil industry practices and available remediation technologies were also undertaken by international experts.