4 August 2011: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has released the findings of its 14-month environmental assessment of Ogoniland, Nigeria. The assessment found serious threats to human health due to soil and groundwater contamination by oil, and it issued recommendations for restoring the environment.

According to the report, in at least 10 Ogoni communities, drinking water is contaminated with high concentrations of hydrocarbons, posing a serious threat to human health. A groundwater contamination investigation at 69 sites found that a 8cm layer of refined oil was floating on the groundwater, which communities use for drinking water.

The report estimates that countering and cleaning up the pollution and catalyzing a sustainable recovery of Ogoniland could take 25-30 years. According to the report, sources of ongoing contamination must be addressed prior to the clean-up of the creeks, sediments and mangroves. The report recommends establishing three new institutions in Nigeria to support the environmental restoration exercise, including: an Ogoniland Environmental Restoration Authority, to implement the study’s recommendations; an Integrated Contaminated Soil Management Centre, to treat contaminated soil; and a Centre of Excellence in Environmental Restoration, to promote learning and offer benefits to other communities impacted by oil contamination. [UNEP Press Release] [Publication: Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland]