The concerns were raised by fisherfolk from Gbee, K-Dere and Nweemuu communities during a multi-stakeholders dialogue held in Kpor, headquarters of the Gokana Local Government Area on Wednesday.
Residents of several fishing communities in Ogoniland, Rivers State, have raised concerns that oil pollution continues to affect their waterways and seafood despite the ongoing clean-up by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP).
The concerns were raised by fisherfolk from Gbee, K-Dere and Nweemuu communities during a multi-stakeholders dialogue held in Kpor, headquarters of the Gokana Local Government Area on Wednesday.
The forum was themed “Restoring Rivers, reviving livelihoods, renewing lives.”
According to PUNCH, the event drew participants from various Ogoni fishing communities, alongside representatives of HYPREP, the University of Port Harcourt, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, civil society organisations, women groups and youths.
Speaking during the dialogue, community leaders Chief Nadabel John, Chief Emmanuel Pii and Madam Grace Namon said their livelihoods remain under threat as oil pollution persists in their environment.
“Our farmlands, rivers and vegetation are still polluted,” one of the speakers said.
“When we catch fish or pick periwinkles and cook them, there is still a strong smell of crude oil. This is what our families eat every day.”
The Convener of the dialogue and investigative journalist with the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting, Anuoluwapo Adelakun, said the meeting was organised to address gaps between official clean-up reports and the experiences of local residents.
She explained that an independent investigation conducted in partnership with the University of Port Harcourt revealed that water sediments in some Ogoni communities still contain dangerous levels of heavy metals, including nickel, which is linked to cancer.
“The research showed that contamination is still present in the water, sediments and aquatic life,” Adelakun said.
“Fish species such as tilapia were found to have high concentrations of heavy metals, which pose serious health risks.”
According to her, samples were taken from communities including Bodo, K-Dere, Gbee and Mogho because residents continue to depend on fishing and daily interaction with the rivers.
“People are still eating fish and periwinkles from these waters,” she said. “Over time, exposure to these toxins could cause severe illnesses, especially among children.”
Adelakun noted that although HYPREP has reported progress in mangrove restoration and shoreline remediation, many households still rely on contaminated seafood for survival.
“Independent academic research shows that children who consume fish from some parts of Ogoni are at a high risk of cancer and other long-term health conditions,” she added.
Responding to the claims, the Technical Assistant to the HYPREP Project Coordinator on Shoreline Clean-up, Peter Lenu, questioned assertions that periwinkles are being harvested alive from heavily polluted areas.
“From a scientific perspective, periwinkles cannot survive in areas that are saturated with fresh crude oil,” Lenu said. “That is one area where we need to clarify the facts.”
He stressed that the Ogoni clean-up is a long-term intervention expected to last between 25 and 30 years, in line with recommendations from the United Nations Environment Programme.
Addressing findings presented at the dialogue showing Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon levels of about 277.5milligrams per kilogram in one location, Lenu said the figure indicates significant remediation progress.
“When you compare that result to baseline contamination levels of over 20,000 milligrams per kilogram, it shows that about 98 per cent clean-up has been achieved in that area,” he said.
“That demonstrates that substantial work has been done, even though the process is ongoing.”
Lenu explained that HYPREP is using an Enhanced Natural Attenuation approach, which allows the environment to gradually recover over time.
He also disclosed that second-phase shoreline clean-up contracts have been awarded in five communities where concerns were raised and are expected to commence before the end of the first quarter of 2026.
According to him, Nweemuu is primarily a farming community, and some of the contamination detected there could be linked to runoff from fertilisers and pesticides entering rivers during rainfall.
The HYPREP official further revealed that a comprehensive health impact study is currently being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organisation to assess the long-term effects of oil pollution on the Ogoni people.
He added that shoreline remediation is being carried out in phases, noting that while parts of Bodo were addressed under earlier interventions, additional areas would be covered by HYPREP in subsequent phases.
“For the first phase of mangrove restoration in Bomu, about 560 hectares have been covered, with over 1.5 million seedlings planted,” Lenu said. “Once other areas are certified clean by regulators, mangrove planting will continue.”