LEAKED MEMO: NIGERIA'S OGONI CLEAN-UP AGENCY SEEKS TO RAISE COST OF 96%-COMPLETED PROJECT FROM N41.47BILLION TO N84.13BILLION

Official documents obtained by our newsroom have raised questions over proposed contract variations totaling more than ₦62.55 billion for two major projects under the Ogoni Cleanup Programme.

A HYPREP Weekly Report covering the week ending 22 June 2026 indicates that the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) had reached an overall completion level of 96.64 percent.

According to the report, construction works stood at 96.78 percent, electrical installations at 96.46 percent, fittings and installations at 96.66 percent, landscaping and tree planting at 98.76 percent, and finishing works at 96.58 percent.

The report also lists only a few outstanding activities, including the installation of lightning protection and earthing systems, perimeter CCTV works, external landscaping, concrete pavement, solar street lights, painting of the main auditorium, and tiling of the main entrance wall. It further notes delayed payment of fluctuation costs as one of the project's challenges.

However, another document obtained by our newsroom—a memorandum reportedly submitted to the Ministerial Tenders Board—seeks anticipatory approval for substantial contract variations on both the CEER project and the 100-Bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital.

According to the memorandum:

• A contract variation of ₦42,657,567,989.63 is proposed for the CEER project, increasing the contract sum from ₦41,472,263,848.06 to ₦84,129,831,837.69, along with a 24-month extension.
• A second variation of ₦19,897,282,286.43 is proposed for the 100-Bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital, increasing the contract value from ₦18,308,463,255.04 to ₦38,205,745,541.47, also with a 24-month extension.

The memorandum reportedly attributes the proposed increases to exchange-rate fluctuations and additional requirements said to be necessary to meet international standards.

The apparent difference between the reported level of project completion and the proposed contract increases has prompted calls for clarification.

Among the questions being raised are:

• How can a project officially reported as 96.64 percent completed require an additional ₦42.66 billion and another 24 months to complete?
• What additional works justify almost doubling the contract value at this stage of execution?
• Why were these alleged additional requirements not included in the original contract approved by the Federal Executive Council?
• Are there independent technical assessments, bills of quantities, engineering evaluations, and procurement documents supporting the proposed variations?

Many stakeholders believe these questions deserve clear and transparent answers, given the significance of the funds involved.

Observers also note that ₦62.55 billion could finance critical development projects across Ogoniland, including the rehabilitation of schools, improvement of healthcare facilities, provision of potable water, youth empowerment programmes, rural infrastructure, and environmental restoration.

There have been growing calls for transparency in the management of the Ogoni Cleanup Fund, with many emphasizing that the resources were established to address decades of environmental degradation and should be managed responsibly.

Stakeholders are urging the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), the HYPREP Board of Trustees of the Ogoni Trust Fund Incorporated, the HYPREP Governing Council, the Federal Ministry of Environment, and other relevant oversight agencies to suspend consideration of the proposed contract variations until an independent technical, financial, and procurement review is completed.

There are also calls on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant oversight bodies to examine the proposed variations, determine whether due process has been followed, and establish whether the requested increases are justified.

In addition, stakeholders are calling on the Federal Ministry of Environment and HYPREP to provide a comprehensive public explanation regarding the proposed variations and the apparent disparity between the reported level of project completion and the requested increases.

The Ogoni Cleanup Programme was established to restore communities affected by decades of environmental pollution. Many residents say the programme must continue to be implemented with transparency, accountability, and prudent management of public resources to ensure that every kobo of the Ogoni Cleanup Fund serves its intended purpose.