Access Africa for Rights and Development Initiative

With United Nations Development Programme - UNDP – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

On Thursday August 6, 2026 Access Africa converge all stakeholders- Community Vanguard for Anti-pollution (COVAP), Community members of Aleto, Akpajo and Ogale, the Ministries of Environment, Health and Agriculture, the Civil Society, Media and the National Coordinator of Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Small Grant Programme (SGP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the Skyloft Hotel and Resort, Aleto Eleme, Rivers State for its Lesson Learned Workshop and Sustainable Project Presentation. The event marked the close of a one-year project cycle focused on constructive interventions to mitigate the negative impact of Indorama Chemicals in Aleto, Akpajo, and Ogale communities.

Dr. David Vareba, the Executive Director of Access Africa at the workshop, mentioned that the aim of the event was to draw lessons learned, evaluate the results that emanated from the project activities, bring project teams and stakeholders and beneficiary communities together to systematically evaluate the project, identify what went well and what failed, and convert those collective insights into actionable knowledge to improve future performance. He added that the event will document team insights and real-world experiences vis-à-vis the project implementation, in order to formulated practical, forward-looking steps and standards that will enhance community growth and continuous improvement.

In solidarity/ goodwill messages, the representatives of the Ministries that served on the project as Project Management Committee- the Ministries of Environment, Agriculture and Health testified that the project was meticulously implemented to achieve its goal. They collectively thank the National Coordinator of GEF SGP UNDP, who was present for approving the project for implementation. They also applauded Access Africa for the outstanding outcomes the project recorded in the communities.

In his presentation, the Monitoring and Evaluation consultant Mr. Kingsley Ozegbe outlined the project activities and their outcomes. He noted that it is outstanding that the community farmers can now use pH scale to measure soil pH in their farms and then use natural lime to get the pH level to the pH state that enhances growth of variety of local crops. He also noted that the communities’ perspective is now shifted from violent struggle and demands to a civil approach. He explained that the communities are now aware that their soil, air, water and plants are contaminated. They are also aware of the health impact of chemical pollution from the results published in the baseline study. The communities have however resolved to toe the path of constructive dialogue with the polluters, rather than using force or embarking on violence.

Project success stories were told. It was one of the high points of the event. The community members emotionally told their stories of the positive impact of the project from Aleto to Akpajo and to Ogale. The community leaders, men, women and youths are happy and are pleading with GEF SGP UNDP to fund Access Africa to further replicate similar projects around Eleme communities, strengthen COVAP the more, empower farmers through training and innovation on crop production, embarking on phytoremediation and forming of cooperative and social enterprise that will advance the means of livelihood of farmers, especially women.

High point of the event was the launching of the 463 pager of the book “Baseline Study On The Environmental And Health Impacts Of Urea Production in Eleme Communities, Rivers State, Nigeria”. The primary objective of the study was to assess the extent of environmental contamination and human exposure to hazardous substances in the Aleto, Akpajo and Ogale and to establish a reliable baseline for future monitoring, advocacy, and remediation efforts. To achieve this, the study evaluated surface water, soil, sediment, ambient air, noise level, and locally consumed food crops, particularly cassava. In addition, human biomonitoring was conducted through blood sample analysis and review of health records in the three communities to determine whether environmental contamination is translating into direct human exposure and health risks.

A cross-study sectional study design was adopted, with samples from multiple locations across the three communities. Laboratory analyses were carried out in line with International recognized standards, including those of World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Environment Protection Agency (USEPA), Nigeria’s Ministry of Environment (FMEnv) and the National Environment Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA). Ethical safeguards, informed consent and community engagement were integral to the study process.

In her response, the National Coordinator of GEF SGP UNDP, Dr. Ibironke Olubamise thanked Access Africa for their resilience, meticulous project implementation and collaboration with strategic government Rivers State Ministries and the community to realize the impactful results. She said that the testimonies and the baseline report speak for themselves. She promises to be in touch with Access Africa and possibly provide more support in the future.










GEF Small Grants Programme
United Nations Development Programme - UNDP
UNDP in Nigeria
Ronke Olubamise

On May 21, 2026, Access Africa and COVAP carried out a final environmental review to track Indorama Eleme Chemical and Fertilizer Company’s response to findings from the Baseline Survey.

The exercise was led by an independent environmentalist. Soil, plant, surface water, underground water, sediment and blood samples were collected for laboratory analysis to assess current environmental conditions.

This review is part of our commitment to transparency, community health, and holding stakeholders accountable for sustainable practices.


UNDP in Nigeria
GEF Small Grants Programme
United Nations Development Programme - UNDP
Ronke Olubamise

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen environmental awareness and community participation, Access Africa featured in another interactive radio session on Super 93.3 FM on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The discussion focused on the topic: “Community Monitoring: How Residents of Host Communities Can Track Air, Water and Soil Quality.”

The session was facilitated by Comrade Uche Uche and Mr. Josiah, who enlightened listeners on practical ways communities can monitor environmental pollution and document evidence without waiting solely on governments or companies.

During the engagement, the speakers emphasized that communities are often the first to experience the effects of environmental pollution and therefore play a critical role in monitoring air, water, and soil quality. They explained how low-cost monitoring tools, citizen science approaches, and simple observation methods can help communities generate reliable environmental data.

The discussion highlighted practical monitoring methods such as the use of portable air quality sensors, water testing strips, soil testing kits, community health logs, and environmental observation records. Listeners were encouraged to document incidents such as soot deposits, strange odors, water discoloration, crop failures, fish deaths, and unusual health symptoms within their communities.

The speakers also stressed the importance of forming community monitoring teams, maintaining community logbooks, using WhatsApp groups for evidence gathering, and partnering with civil society organizations and environmental agencies to strengthen advocacy and accountability.

A major highlight of the session was the emphasis that effective environmental monitoring does not always require expensive laboratories. Consistent documentation, community participation, and credible evidence gathering can significantly support engagement with regulatory agencies and companies.

The interactive session created an important platform for public education and encouraged residents to become active participants in environmental governance and protection within their communities.

This engagement forms part of the project “Mitigating Negative Impact of Indorama Chemicals on Aleto, Eleme, Rivers State,” implemented by Access Africa and funded by the GEF Small Grants Programme, United Nations Development Programme - UNDP










UNDP in Nigeria
Ronke Olubamise

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen environmental awareness and community participation, Access Africa featured in an interactive radio session on Super FM 93.3 FM on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. The discussion focused on the theme: “Roles of Communities in Environmental Governance.”

The session was anchored by Comrade Uche Uche and Mr. Nmesoma Michael Okeke, who highlighted the critical role communities play in protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development.

During the interactive engagement, the speakers emphasized that environmental governance is not limited to governments and corporations alone, but also depends heavily on active community participation. They explained that communities are often the first to detect environmental changes such as pollution, water contamination, deforestation, and biodiversity loss because they interact with their environment daily.

The discussion further explored how local knowledge and traditional ecological understanding can help shape effective environmental policies and prevent harmful practices. The speakers stressed the importance of community participation in decision-making processes, environmental monitoring, advocacy, and accountability.

Listeners were also enlightened on how communities can support compliance and enforcement by reporting environmental violations, documenting evidence, and promoting responsible environmental practices through local structures and community-based initiatives.

A key highlight of the session was the emphasis on recognizing communities not merely as stakeholders, but as rights-holders, data producers, and co-managers in environmental governance. The speakers noted that effective environmental governance depends on access to information, legal recognition, and safe spaces for community participation without fear of retaliation.

The radio talk created an important platform for public engagement, awareness creation, and dialogue on the need for collective action in addressing environmental challenges affecting communities.

This engagement forms part of the project “Mitigating Negative Impact of Indorama Chemicals on Aleto, Eleme, Rivers State,” implemented by Access Africa and funded by the GEF Small Grants Programme, United Nations Development Programme - UNDP.







UNDP in Nigeria
Ronke Olubamise