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Highlights of UNEP Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland

By newswatchngr.com 06/09/2011 23:41:00

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The study concludes that the environmental restoration of Ogoniland is possible but may take 25 to 30 years

The report contains numerous recommendations that, once implemented, will have an immediate and positive impact on Ogoniland.

Emergency Measures:

* Ensure that all drinking water wells where hydrocarbons were detected are marked and that people are informed of the danger.

* Provide adequate sources of drinking water to those households whose drinking water supply is impacted.

* People in Nsisioken Ogale who have been consuming water with benzene over 900 times the WHO, guideline are recorded on a medical registry and their health status assessed and followed up.

* Initiate a survey of all drinking water wells around those wells where hydrocarbons were observed and arrange measures as appropriate based on the results.

*. Post signs around all the sites identified as having contamination exceeding intervention values warning the community not to walk through or engage in any other activities at these sites.

* Post signs in areas where hydrocarbons were observed on surface water warning people not to fish, swim or bathe in these areas.

* Inform all families whose rainwater samples tested positive for hydrocarbons and advise them not to consume the water.

* Mount a public awareness campaign to warn the individuals who are undertaking artisanal refining that such activities are damaging their health.

Operational Recommendations

· Immediate steps must be taken to prevent exiting contaminated sites from being secondary sources of ongoing contamination while further risk assessment and investigations are undertaken for detailed planning of the clean-up of Ogoniland during a recommended transition phase.

· All sources of ongoing contamination, including the artisanal refining which is currectly ongoing in the creeks, must be brought to a swift end before the clean-up of the creeks, sediments and mangroves can begin.

Recommendations for Public Health

· Everyone who has consumed water from contaminated sources should be requested to undertake a comprehensive medical examination by physicians knowledgeable about the possible adverse health effects of the hydrocarbons detected.

Recommendations for Government

· The report recommends that the government of Nigeria establishes an Ogoniland Environmental Restoration Authority to oversee implementation of this study’s recommendations.

Recommendations for Oil Industry Operators

· SPDC procedures for oil spill clean-up and remediation need to be fully reviewed and overhauled so as to achieve the desired level of environmental restoration. In addition to procedures and clean-up methods, contracting and supervision also need to be improved.

The Way Forward

Restoring the livelihoods and well being of future Ogoni generation is within reach but timing is crucial. Given the dynamic nature of oil pollution and the extent of contamination revealed in UNEP’s study, failure to begin addressing urgent public health concerns and commencing a clean-up will only exacerbate and unnecessary prolong the Ogoni people’s suffering.