A coalition of civil society organizations and youth groups in Ogoniland has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and the Federal Ministry of Environment to address concerns over the ongoing Ogoni clean-up, threatening a three-day protest at the National Assembly if no action is taken.
The coalition, speaking during a protest in Abuja on Wednesday, said the action was a “warning protest” tagged _ProveTheCleanup – ReleaseTheData_.
“If nothing is done in 14 days, we will consider a 3-day protest at the National Assembly Secretariat seeking a Legislative Audit on HYPREP and the Ministry of Environment,” said Muekara Monday, Executive Director of Greenshield Foundation for Ecosystem Restoration and Wildlife Conservation.
The group said it had met with HYPREP on three occasions, written three letters to the agency without receiving a response, and written to the Minister of Environment, who acknowledged receipt with tracking ID 43942 but never replied.
Muekara Monday, the Executive Director of Greenshield Foundation for Ecosystem Restoration and wildlife Conservation said the coalition’s concerns followed field visits to remediation sites in Ogoniland.
“We saw what made us believe that some aspects of the remediation carried out by the Ministry of Environment through HYPREP has fallen below the recommendations of UNEP and below international best standards,” Ramunde said.
He said the coalition raised 11 questions in its correspondences, including demands for the publication of the names of 39 sites HYPREP claims have been remediated.
“Can you publish these sites? Let the people verify independently to see that these sites have already been remediated. But you will not find anywhere in any public space,” she said.
Muekara also alleged that ecological tests on some remediated sites had not been released, and that introduced organisms were dying. She said residents were being asked to return to sites where parameters were still unsafe, leading to sickness.
The coalition accused HYPREP’s Director of Technical Services, Professor Damien, of threatening legal action during a meeting on 25 January 2026 instead of addressing the questions.
He threatened to sue us, and that the money we were supposed to use for the independent investigation on the remediation lots will be spent on legal fees,” he said.
Responding to the protest, the Director of Human Resources at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Alexander Emmanuel, apologized for the lack of response and took responsibility for the lapse.
“It is not normal. We are civil servants, we are professionals and I’m sure there must be lapses somewhere that has made us not respond to you very well. We are sorry about that and we take responsibility for that,” Emmanuel said.
He promised to locate the letter and follow up with the minister, adding that citizens had a right to responses under the Freedom of Information Act.
“Pressure groups will always keep governments on their toes. So do the right thing. We are going to take it up and we are going to get back to you,” he said.
The coalition said it would proceed with the planned protest if no satisfactory response was received within the 14-day window.
