LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Residents of Ogoniland are raising fresh public health alarms, warning that fish and periwinkles harvested from local rivers still smell of crude oil and may pose long-term cancer risks, even as official clean-up efforts continue in the oil-polluted region of Rivers State.
The concerns were voiced by fisherfolk from Gbee, K-Dere and Nweemuu communities during a multi-stakeholder dialogue in Kpor, Gokana Local Government Area, where affected residents, researchers and regulators reviewed the health implications of ongoing environmental remediation. Many locals said contaminated water bodies remain central to their daily survival, forcing families to consume seafood they fear is unsafe.
“Our fish and periwinkles still have the smell of crude oil when we catch and cook them for consumption,” said community representatives including Chief Nadabel John, Chief Emmanuel Pii and Madam Grace Namon, who also reported continued damage to farmlands and vegetation.
The dialogue, convened by Pulitzer Centre for Crisis Reporting fellow Anuoluwapo Adelakun, followed investigative findings that suggest a troubling gap between official clean-up reports and lived realities in Ogoni communities. Adelakun explained that research conducted with the University of Port Harcourt found dangerous levels of heavy metals, including nickel, in water sediments and commonly eaten fish species.
“We took samples because we discovered that people are still engaging with the water and the fish. They are still eating the fish despite the poison, and what we discovered when we took samples of the water and the periwinkles is that there are still extremely high levels of heavy metals [and] petroleum hydrocarbons,” she said.
According to Adelakun, the study indicates that prolonged consumption of contaminated seafood could trigger serious illnesses over time, particularly among children.
“Independent research… reveals that children eating fish in many parts of Ogoni face a high cancer risk, among other things,” she added.
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These findings contrast with progress reports from the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, which says it has achieved about 70 percent mangrove restoration and roughly 20 percent shoreline clean-up across Ogoniland. However, Adelakun noted that “families still eat contaminated seafood daily,” raising urgent questions about food safety during remediation.
Responding to the claims, HYPREP’s Technical Assistant on Shoreline Clean-up, Peter Lenu, disputed the assertion that periwinkles can survive in heavily oil-polluted environments.
“Scientifically, you can’t find periwinkles in fresh hydrocarbon still alive,” he said, arguing that some community reports may require clarification.
Lenu stressed that Ogoniland’s clean-up is a long-term process expected to last 25 to 30 years, in line with United Nations Environment Programme recommendations. He also cited laboratory data showing significant reductions in pollution levels at some sites.
“From baseline values averaged over 20,000 milligrams per kilogram to about 277.5 milligrams per kilogram, that’s about 98 percent success,” he said, while acknowledging that remediation remains ongoing.
He further explained that HYPREP is using an Enhanced Natural Attenuation approach and has awarded second-phase clean-up contracts in several affected communities, with work scheduled to begin before the end of the first quarter of 2026. Lenu added that a joint health study with the World Health Organisation is underway to assess the long-term health impact of oil pollution on Ogoni residents.
While officials point to measurable progress, community voices and independent research continue to highlight unresolved health risks tied to contaminated water and seafood. The dialogue closed with renewed calls for transparent communication, sustained monitoring and stronger protection of food sources, as Ogoniland’s recovery remains deeply intertwined with the health of its people.
