Overview

• The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (Hyprep), tasked with cleaning up oil spills in Nigeria's Niger Delta, has been labeled a failure by United Nations officials due to corruption and mismanagement.
• Reports show that many contractors hired by Hyprep lacked relevant experience, with some linked to politicians, leading to ineffective cleanups and ongoing environmental damage.
• A UN investigation found that lab tests used to certify cleanup efforts were often unreliable, with some labs lacking the equipment to perform required analyses.
• Internal audits were obstructed, and financial oversight was minimal, raising concerns about the misuse of funds allocated for remediation work.
• Despite promises of reform, the UN ended its consultancy with Hyprep in 2023, citing frustration over corruption and lack of progress in addressing pollution in affected communities.