Top Researcher Esther Olonimoyo, Call for Improved Waste Management and Environment Monitoring Amidst Recent Findings

By Tosin Clegg

A newly published environmental study by researchers at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) has revealed disturbing levels of toxic pollution in the environment surrounding the Egbin Thermal Power Station, the largest oil- and gas-fired power plant in Nigeria. This team of expert researchers featured Esther Olonimoyo, Gideon Idowu, and others from FUTA.

The peer-reviewed study, conducted in Ikorodu, Lagos State, paints a troubling picture of environmental decline near the power plant. Researchers found dangerously high concentrations of heavy metals—including lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium—in water, soil, and seafood from the nearby lagoon. The findings indicate that emissions and waste from the power station are severely impacting both ecosystem health and local food safety.

“This research provides concrete evidence of the Egbin Power Station’s environmental footprint,” a spokesperson for the research team stated. “The implications for public health, biodiversity, and regulatory oversight are profound.”

Thermal Stress and Metal Pollution Detected
The study recorded elevated water temperatures in the lagoon close to the plant, a phenomenon known as thermal pollution. Water temperatures ranged from 29.7°C to 30.1°C, well above the natural baseline for local aquatic environments. This warming is believed to be caused by the plant’s discharge of heated wastewater, which researchers say can lower oxygen levels and disrupt aquatic life cycles.

Heavy metals in the water, sediment, and soil were also found to exceed internationally accepted safety thresholds. Researchers noted that concentrations were highest closest to the plant and decreased with distance, pointing to the plant as the pollution source. Chromium contamination was also detected in downwind soil samples, suggesting deposition from air emissions.

Contaminated Seafood Raises Alarm
Perhaps the most worrying discovery was the detection of heavy metals in popular seafood species such as Callinectes amnicola (blue crabs) and Penaeus notalis (shrimp), which are widely consumed in the region. Tissue samples revealed the bioaccumulation of toxic elements, particularly cadmium, mercury, lead, and zinc, in concentrations that pose a threat to human health if consumed regularly.

“Seafood from this lagoon is a daily staple for many communities,” said a local environmental health expert unaffiliated with the study. “This contamination raises urgent questions about food safety and long-term exposure risks.”
Broader Implications for Energy Policy and Environmental Justice

While the Egbin facility is crucial to Nigeria’s energy infrastructure, supplying electricity to millions of people, the study underscores the environmental cost of large-scale fossil fuel energy production. Experts warn that without stronger environmental regulations and enforcement, the long-term health of ecosystems and communities near such plants could be irreparably damaged.

Esther Olonimoyo, an environmental chemistry expert on the research team, is calling for improved waste management, consistent environmental monitoring, and the integration of green technologies into the energy sector. The study also advocates for stronger engagement with affected communities and better enforcement of existing environmental protection laws.

“This is one of the most comprehensive environmental assessments ever conducted around a Nigerian thermal power station, marking a significant step toward greater transparency in the country’s energy-environment nexus” adds Olonimoyo.

Policy and Global Relevance
The study contributes to global discussions on sustainable energy and aligns with multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those related to clean water, good health, affordable energy, and climate action. It also offers a data-driven foundation for future environmental and public health policymaking in Nigeria and across the sub-Saharan region.

Environmentalists and policy analysts hope this landmark research will prompt government agencies and energy producers to reassess how energy production intersects with environmental stewardship and community well-being.
“Egbin is not just a local issue—it’s a national symbol of the urgent need to modernize our approach to energy and environmental justice,” one policy advocate remarked.