Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — In a move to tackle the long-term health impacts of oil pollution in Ogoniland, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, has announced a three-year human health monitoring study in partnership with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC.
The study, which begins in July, will focus on investigating cancer-related health risks among Ogoni communities exposed to carcinogenic hydrocarbons, in line with key recommendations from the 2011 United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, report on Ogoniland.
Speaking at the first quarter regulators and asset owners meeting in Port Harcourt, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, described the initiative as a milestone in health-focused environmental remediation.
Zabbey noted that the study will be independent and involve collaboration with local universities and health institutions in Rivers State.
“We have just signed a contract with the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization to spend three years in Ogoni to conduct a human monitoring study.
“Recall that UNEP recommended that the environmental study be followed by a health study. Our people have been exposed to carcinogenic hydrocarbons like benzene, and ethyl benzene through their drinking water. We don’t want to assume outcomes, but we must begin to investigate now.”
According to him, early detection of cancer is critical, and the study will provide data to inform long-term health policy and infrastructure in Ogoniland.
To support the health component of the remediation programme, Zabbey also revealed that HYPREP is building the Ogoni Specialist Hospital, which will be equipped with advanced diagnostic tools, including the latest MRI technology.
“We just returned from Germany after a factory acceptance test for the equipment. I’m happy to announce that we will install the most advanced MRI system in the region at Ogoni Hospital. The hospital will house all the key units of a tertiary health facility, including gynecology and infectious diseases units, to serve the specific needs of this population.”
He emphasized that HYPREP’s broader mission goes beyond cleaning the environment, describing the project as a model for sustainable development and research-led restoration.
“What we’re doing in Ogoni is about developing a template that can be replicated across the Niger Delta. It’s not just remediation; we are also generating knowledge that will transform the socio-economic landscape,” Zabbey stated.
The HYPREP Coordinator underscored the importance of inclusive partnerships, aligning the effort with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 17 which is partnerships for the goals.
“Even if we have the in-house capacity to drive the project, we must partner with asset owners, regulators, civil society, and state governments. That’s why meetings like this are vital, they help us provide updates, get feedback, and ensure every decision we make is sustainable,” he said.
He confirmed that WHO officials will arrive in Nigeria by mid-July to finalize logistics and begin stakeholder engagements, including meetings with the Rivers State Ministry of Environment and local institutions like the University of Port Harcourt and Rivers State University.
“Local researchers are critical. They understand the terrain and the people. WHO won’t conduct this study in isolation, they’ll collaborate with our universities and hospitals to ensure data integrity and relevance,” Zabbey said.
He concluded by assuring stakeholders of transparency and independence in the study’s execution. “We’re providing the enabling environment, then stepping back to allow the experts to carry out their work. Their findings will guide long-term healthcare interventions for the people of Ogoni.”
