In a dramatic turn of events, a leaked United Nations report has brought to light damning details about widespread corruption and mismanagement in Nigeria’s $1 billion Ogoni cleanup project. Despite the huge financial commitment from the Nigerian government, facilitated by oil giants like Shell, the initiative intended to restore the devastated Ogoniland has been riddled with failures, according to explosive findings in the confidential UN documents obtained by the Associated Press (AP).
The Ogoni cleanup project was launched in response to the longstanding environmental damage caused by oil spills in the Niger Delta. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) had identified Ogoniland as one of the most polluted regions in the world, with the goal of revitalizing it for agriculture and habitation. However, the UN’s report reveals a shocking lack of progress and accountability, leaving the land in a dire state.
A Failed Mandate
Despite the allocation of $1 billion to the Hydrocarbons Pollution and Remediation Project (HYPREP), the government agency tasked with the cleanup, the report indicates that little to no work has been done to reverse the environmental degradation. Instead of reclaiming the soil and transforming the area into usable farmland, the region remains a barren “moonscape,” according to UN documents. Soil tests from multiple laboratories revealed that the land still contains petroleum levels far above acceptable health standards.
“Instead of cleaning the land, the agencies and contractors hired for the task have done nothing but squander the funds,” said an unnamed UN official, expressing frustration over HYPREP’s inability to carry out its mandate. “The situation in Ogoniland is not only disastrous but also emblematic of the failure of Nigeria’s government to take environmental responsibilities seriously.”
Unqualified Contractors and Lack of Oversight
Further compounding the scandal, the report indicates that the cleanup contractors employed by HYPREP lacked the necessary experience or resources to handle such a complex task. Of the 41 contractors engaged, a staggering 21 were deemed incompetent for the job by UN experts. These companies, which included Nigerian construction firms with no history in pollution cleanup, were awarded contracts for some of the most challenging sites.
One of the most shocking revelations involves soil samples being sent to laboratories that lacked the equipment necessary to carry out proper testing. “The labs that were supposed to be checking the contamination levels didn’t even have the right tools for the job,” a source close to the investigation said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
The UK-based laboratory frequently used by HYPREP even admitted in a letter to clients that its tests were “flawed and unreliable” for much of 2022. The UK’s laboratory accreditation service confirmed that the lab’s certification had been suspended twice during that period.
Despite these revelations, HYPREP has denied any wrongdoing. Nenibarini Zabbey, the current Director of HYPREP, defended the agency’s actions, claiming that they have improved their monitoring of contractors and that audits are now conducted regularly. “We have taken corrective measures to ensure that future contractors meet international standards,” Zabbey said in a statement. “The UN could have assisted in training local laboratories, but they chose not to.”
Political Connections and Allegations of Malpractice
The involvement of politicians in the cleanup project has also raised serious concerns. According to former Nigerian Environment Minister Sharon Ikeazor, many of the companies involved in the cleanup were owned by influential political figures. “The majority of the cleanup companies were owned by politicians,” Ikeazor said. “The few competent companies didn’t get the big contracts because of political interference.”
In an email to the Associated Press, Philip Shekwolo, the former head of HYPREP who was removed from his position in 2022, vehemently denied these allegations. “The claims against me are baseless,” Shekwolo insisted. “I have extensive experience in oil spill remediation and can assure you that the cleanup was successful.”
However, internal documents from the UN point to Shekwolo’s close ties to Nigeria’s political elite, and his alleged role in awarding contracts to less qualified companies. Ikeazor, who was appointed environment minister in 2019, was forced to remove Shekwolo after receiving a warning from the UN about significant risks of corruption within the contracting process.
“The system was rigged to benefit a few powerful people,” Ikeazor said. “The political class controlled the contracts, and the cleanup companies were just a front for them to make money.”
Despite the political battles and allegations of corruption, Shekwolo was reinstated shortly after Ikeazor’s removal as environment minister. “It was a short battle,” Ikeazor reflected. “I lost, and that was the end of it.”
A Global Warning
The United Nations has been vocal about its growing concerns regarding Nigeria’s handling of the Ogoni cleanup project. According to a report from 2021, the UN warned Nigerian officials that the spending at HYPREP was not being tracked properly, and that internal auditors were being marginalized. The UN’s concerns escalated in early 2022, when it became clear that the cleanup efforts were not only failing but also providing an opportunity for malpractice.
“The whole process is being sabotaged at the highest levels,” said Iyenemi Kakulu, a Senior Project Advisor at UNEP. “Contractors were allowed to assess their own progress, handing themselves a blank check. This created an environment ripe for fraud.”
In response to these findings, the UN ended its five-year consultancy with HYPREP in 2023. Ikeazor, who had pushed for more transparency and oversight, believes the UN’s withdrawal was a direct consequence of their frustrations with the corruption they encountered.
“They gave up on Nigeria’s commitment to the cleanup because they saw it was all a farce,” Ikeazor said. “We lost a golden opportunity to restore Ogoniland.”
A Continuing Crisis
The damage caused by decades of oil spills in the Niger Delta remains one of the most pressing environmental issues in Nigeria. While the government continues to claim that the Ogoni cleanup project is progressing, the leaked UN documents paint a very different picture, one of failed promises, mismanagement, and political interference.
As the cleanup funds continue to be misused, and the oil companies responsible for the devastation evade meaningful accountability, the people of Ogoniland are left to bear the brunt of an environmental disaster that shows no sign of abating.
“The people of Ogoniland have been waiting for justice for decades,” said a local activist who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals. “The government and the oil companies have failed them. Now, it seems even the international community is giving up.”
The question remains: when will the people of Ogoniland see the restoration they were promised, or will the billions of dollars earmarked for their recovery continue to vanish into the pockets of those in power?
While the police have assured the public of their commitment to justice, many residents remain skeptical. They are watching closely to see if the promises of action will translate into meaningful outcomes.
