The Lekeh Development Foundation has called on farmers in Ogoni land, Rivers State, to adopt bioremediation as a locally-driven method to restore polluted and degraded soil.
This appeal was made by the Executive Director of the Foundation, Friday Nbani, during an agroecology training session for 20 farmers held at Nortem community in Khana Local Government Area.
According to Nbani, the training was organized to educate rural farmers on how to achieve healthy soil and mitigate the devastating impact of oil spills, climate change, and environmental degradation on agriculture in Ogoni.
“As an environmental organization, we engaged with farmers across Ogoni and discovered that many of their crops are no longer yielding due to pollution. This led us to introduce agroecology training to support the revival of their livelihoods,” he said.
He emphasized that the initiative aims to promote agroecology knowledge for climate justice and sustainable farming practices.
“A healthy soil sustains life. When we consume polluted food, we indirectly harm ourselves, that’s why we introduced bioremediation—treating the soil using natural methods to bring it back to life.”
Nbani added that the foundation plans to establish an Ogoni Farmers Network, connecting local farmers with their counterparts across other states and countries.
“This training marks the beginning of a long-term project. We are also seeking partnerships and collaborations to scale up the initiative,” he stated.
Also Read: Ogale Youth President Demands SPDC Shutdown, Replacement of Damaged Pipelines After Fresh Oil Spill
Dr. Chika Nwankwo, a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt’s Department of Microbiology Technology, in her paper presentation titled: “A Practical Application, How to Remediate Polluted Soil in Ogoni Oil Polluted Environment”, recommended biostimulation—using organic waste such as peels, poultry dung, and cow dung to enhance microbial activity in contaminated soils.
“When oil spills occur, farmers can scoop out the surface oil and mix the soil with organic materials. This process encourages microorganisms to break down the pollutants. However, professional soil testing is still necessary.
Also Read: Rivers CSOs, NOSDRA Strengthen Partnership, Express Worries Over N’Delta Environmental Issues
“What we are trying to advocate, is for farmers not abandoning there farmlands when ever a spill occurs. They should till the soil get waste, fertilizers put into the farm, it will help the microorganisms to degrade.”
Nicholas Johnson, a US-based environmentalist and Executive Director of Culturally Rooted Reformations, advocated for the use of indigenous techniques over chemical or genetically modified solutions.
“Restoring soil with locally available organic materials like sawdust and animal dung is a more sustainable approach. It empowers communities to reclaim their food systems using what they already have.
“Using techniques already indigenous to the communities is a reclamation sort of project, it can be adopted widely. People gathering together learning more about it and figuring out how they can put it into practice with the materials they already have.”
Several farmers expressed appreciation for the training, describing it as timely and impactful.
“I have learned how to restore my farmland using kitchen waste, chicken droppings, and cow dung. This training has taught me how to manage my farm before waiting for government intervention,” said Sunday Tiras, one of the participants.
Another participant shared, “I grow chili pepper, bell pepper, and watermelon. The training helped me understand how to test my soil and apply the right nutrients to improve yield. It’s a major breakthrough.”
The training marks a significant step in community-led efforts to combat the environmental and agricultural challenges plaguing Ogoni land.
