Problems
The pollution of Nigeria’s sacred Osun River
The sacred Osun River in Nigeria is named after the river goddess of fertility. It flows through the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The river is revered for its cultural and religious significance among the Yoruba-speaking people of southwestern Nigeria. The Osun was once clean, with clear water and a rich underwater world. Today, however, it has turned brown with mud. The Osun River is under constant threat of pollution from waste dumping and other human activities-especially from dozens of illegal gold miners in Osun State, whose runoff is flooding the sacred river with toxic metals. Osun State is home to Nigeria's largest gold deposits, and prospectors seeking gold and other minerals, many of them working illegally, are scattered across the swampy terrain in remote villages with little law enforcement. Although community leaders in Osogbo have managed to keep the prospectors out of the immediate area, they can work upstream and north with impunity. Pollution of the Osun by lead, mercury, and other heavy metals is toxic to the river ecosystem. 1. The environmental effects of lead are well-documented. Secondary poisoning has also been documented, especially for predators eating contaminated animals. Lead has been found to adversely affect various organs and organ systems, including the circulatory system, central nervous system, kidneys, and reproductive and immune systems in all species of experimental animals studied. 2. Mercury in any of its states has cumulative properties. It accumulates in fish and animals and has several adverse effects on internal organs and reproductive functions throughout life. Importantly, mercury is not eliminated over time. In addition to failing to comply with environmental laws in the region, some use the river as a dumping ground, further exacerbating its pollution. The river is also an important "pilgrimage site" for the Yoruba people of Nigeria. People pollute the river during the Osun Osogbo Festival, a colorful annual festival that attracts thousands of worshippers and tourists to "celebrate the essence of the Yoruba race. Miners take water from the river for exploration and exploitation, and effluent flows back into the river and other waterways, polluting drinking water sources for thousands of people. "It's about 50 percent of the water bodies in Osun State, so the major water bodies here are polluted," said Anthony Adejuwon, chairman of Urban Alert, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the protection of the Osun River. He and other conservationists are urging that the resulting hotspot on the Osun River in Nigeria not be ignored.
Gallery
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Timelines
2022
September 02
The Nigerian state and federal governments have announced an investigation to determine the cause of the pollution of the Osun River. Tests of water samples showed levels of arsenic and mercury - priority chemical contaminants according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) - exceeded permissible levels by 850 percent and more than 2,000 percent, respectively. "Farmers use the water to grow vegetables, corn, etc.," said Anthony Adeyuwon, chairman of the NGO Urban Alert in Osun, Osogbo, the state capital. "Just look into the future, can you imagine the amount of cyanide, lead, and mercury everyone will have in their bodies?" Nkem Torimiro, a senior lecturer in microbiology at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said people living along the Osun River and their unborn children are at risk for neurological disorders.
2021
December 30
The Osun River has been heavily polluted with mercury, lead, cyanide, and other harmful elements that are poisonous to human health, a report by a non-profit organization for Osun and Oyo states has said. The analysis of geographical information and laboratory studies established the cause of the pollution of the Osun River and confirmed the presence of heavy elements in the water, said the public initiative Urban Alert. Urban Alert has blamed the harmful pollution of the Osun River on gold mining, which it says has endangered the lives of over 2 million residents of Osun State. “Our scientific research has shown that the activities of gold prospectors in some parts of Osun State are polluting Osun River Further physical, chemical, and microbiological studies showed that the Osun River was heavily polluted with mercury, lead, cyanide, and other harmful elements. The group called on the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Osun State Government, civil society organizations, and the international community to intervene.
2016
July 11
Scientists conducted a multifaceted rapid assessment to assess the state of Osun Grove's biodiversity conservation eleven years after it was designated as a World Heritage Site. Researchers recorded a rich diversity consisting of 2 rock types, 3 minerals, 88 plant species, 108 insect families, and 4 mammal species. Their research also documented up to 40 cultural artifacts. However, the plants, small mammals, and insects collected as indicator taxa indicate a decline in biodiversity as they spread from the main grove area to the buffer and outer zones. In addition, the detection of heterotrophic bacteria and fungi in microbiological analysis in water samples from the Osun River flowing through the grove raised concerns. The findings lead scientists to recommend increased efforts to prevent the encroachment of buffer and outer zones into the main grove area. In addition, there is a need for regular and thorough repair of deteriorated cultural artifacts and appropriate monitoring of visitor activities to prevent biodiversity depletion and pollution.
2014
May 29
One of the negative impacts of development in Osun State has been the pollution of the Osun River due to the city's drainage violations. However, the situation has improved thanks to an annual cleanup by the National Environmental Standards Agency. In the 2010-2014 Conservation Management Plan, the National Commission on Museums and Monuments recognized the many factors affecting the site (the Osun River). A plan was developed to address possible threats.