Factsheet The UNEP pollution research project in Ogoniland and its political importance

This factsheet by Friends of the Earth International describes the 2010 UNEP pollution research project in Ogoniland, Nigeria. It details the region's history of oil pollution, the political tensions between the Ogoni people, the Nigerian government, and Shell, and the objectives of the UNEP study to map polluted sites for future clean-up.

• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) initiated a study in 2010 to map all polluted sites in Ogoniland to facilitate the creation of a clean-up plan. The project involved foreign experts, local sample-takers, and analysis in foreign laboratories, with funding provided by Shell.
• Oil production in Ogoniland has been suspended for over 18 years after the Ogoni people forced Shell to leave the region following protests over pollution and lack of social development. Despite this, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) announced plans in early 2011 to restart production on behalf of the Shell joint venture, though the Ogoni have rejected this.
• Local residents express skepticism regarding the necessity of research and the willingness of oil companies and governments to fund clean-up efforts, citing a history of unfulfilled promises, corruption, and a lack of independent institutions.
• Controversy surrounded the UNEP project when project manager Mike Cowing made statements in 2010 criticizing Shell's clean-up standards in Goi and claiming 90% of spills in Ogoniland were caused by illegal bunkering. The UNEP officially renounced these statements on 23 August 2010, and Cowing was replaced as project manager.
• The document asserts that oil companies are responsible for clean-up under Nigerian law regardless of the spill's cause. It argues that clean-up and development are essential to prevent further pollution, as current economic hardships lead to continued bunkering and attacks on oil installations.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (2011). Factsheet The UNEP pollution research project in Ogoniland and its political importance. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Factsheet-UNEP-research-project-in-Ogoniland.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. Factsheet The UNEP pollution research project in Ogoniland and its political importance. 2011. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Factsheet-UNEP-research-project-in-Ogoniland.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=Factsheet The UNEP pollution research project in Ogoniland and its political importance |date=4 August 2011 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Factsheet-UNEP-research-project-in-Ogoniland.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternational2011factsheet, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{Factsheet The UNEP pollution research project in Ogoniland and its political importance}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2011}, month = aug, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Factsheet-UNEP-research-project-in-Ogoniland.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }