Beyond Rhetoric: The media and the Nigerian government’s professed commitment to the clean-up of Ogoniland

Following widespread public outrage over the deadly impacts of severe pollution of Ogoniland emanating from decades of oil mining by Shell, the Nigerian government commissioned the UNEP in 2006 to undertake an independent environmental assessment of Ogoniland. The UNEP report indicted Shell for violation of established industry standards, pointing out that it could take up to 30 years to clean up oil spills that have destroyed the environment and the people’s livelihood. Thereafter, the government pledged to undertake a holistic clean-up of Ogoniland. The study evaluates the status of the ongoing clean-up, and seeks to recommend the role the Nigerian media can play in the project actualisation. This qualitative research adopts mixed methods comprising documentary research and personal observation. Results indicate a significant stakeholder dissatisfaction with the pace and quality of the remediation of Ogoniland, and a general lack of public confidence in HYPREP to actualise the clean-up. It also demonstrates, in specific terms, how advocacy journalism, environmental surveillance and agenda-setting can be applied to pressure the government to make good its professed commitment to the clean-up. It is recommended that HYPREP partner with the media to drive stakeholder engagement for a successful execution of the clean-up project.