By Hauwa Ali
Prominent civil society organizations in Nigeria have expressed strong reservations about Shell’s planned sale of its Nigerian onshore subsidiary, SPDC, to a consortium of domestic and international oil companies for $2.8 billion.
In a media statement released on Tuesday, the groups are demanding that Shell addresses ecological, health, economic, and social impacts in the Niger Delta before finalizing the transaction, currently pending Nigerian Federal Government approval.
Key concerns raised by the organizations include the lack of consultation with impacted communities, the history of irresponsible hydrocarbon extraction practices by Shell causing severe ecological and health consequences, and the absence of government guidelines for oil company divestments.
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The statement cites damning assessments by reputable organizations, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), revealing severe environmental pollution, health risks, and loss of livelihoods attributed to Shell’s operations. The groups argue that the proposed asset sale is an attempt by Shell to evade accountability for the extensive damages caused by oil extraction in the Niger Delta.
Notable environmental and social activists, including Nnimmo Bassey and Ken Henshaw, have endorsed the statement. The organizations collectively demand a moratorium on all oil company divestments in the Niger Delta, urging the federal government to establish a comprehensive framework for disengagement. This proposed framework includes scientifically developed impact assessments, health audits, detailed remediation plans, and the establishment of independent frameworks for compensation.
The call to action emphasizes the need for Shell to take responsibility for the ecological damage caused by its operations, advocating for full payment for remediation and reparations to host communities. The civil society groups assert that Shell cannot walk away from the irreversible harm it has inflicted on the region over the past six decades.
As the debate intensifies, it remains to be seen how Shell and the Nigerian government will respond to these demands, as the fate of the onshore oil assets hangs in the balance.
