https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240415/amnesty-international-calls-on-nigeria-to-halt-sell-of-shell-assets-until-pollution-is-addressed-1066076710.html
Amnesty International Calls on Nigeria to Halt Sale of Shell Assets Until Pollution is Addressed
Amnesty International Calls on Nigeria to Halt Sale of Shell Assets Until Pollution is Addressed
Sputnik Africa
In January, British oil and gas company Shell, repeatedly criticized by local communities in Nigeria for environmental abuses, announced the sale of its... 15.04.2024, Sputnik Africa
2024-04-15T15:40+0200
2024-04-15T15:40+0200
2024-04-15T16:06+0200
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The proposed sale of Shell's onshore oil business in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria risks exacerbating human rights abuses and should be blocked by the government unless a series of measures are taken to address the pollution caused by the company's operations, human rights group Amnesty International warned.The rights group, along with 40 civil society organizations, said in an open letter to Nigeria's industry regulator that the sale should not go ahead until Shell assesses the pollution, guarantees to cover clean-up costs and consults with local communities.The letter noted that Shell's operations in the Niger Delta over many decades have come at the cost of gross violations of the human rights of the people living there, including frequent oil spills from its infrastructure and inadequate maintenance and cleanup practices that have led to contamination of groundwater and drinking water sources, poisoning of farmland and fisheries, and serious damage to the health and livelihoods of local people.The letter follows Shell's announcement in January that it had agreed to sell its business to the Renaissance consortium in a deal worth up to $2.4 billion.The transaction, as noted in the letter, "appears to fall far short of several regulatory and legal requirements." Shell is being sued by more than 13,000 Nigerians from the communities of Ogale and Bille in the Niger Delta region for pollution.In November 2023, the UK High Court greenlighted Nigerians to sue Shell for the disastrous consequences of oil spills in the region. The plaintiffs are seeking justice, compensation and cleanup from the oil giant company.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20240228/shell-must-address-pollution-before-exiting-niger-delta-think-tank-urges-1065296040.html
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nigeria, west africa, united kingdom (uk), shell, oil, environment, human rights, economy
Amnesty International Calls on Nigeria to Halt Sale of Shell Assets Until Pollution is Addressed
15:40 15.04.2024 (Updated: 16:06 15.04.2024) In January, British oil and gas company Shell, repeatedly criticized by local communities in Nigeria for environmental abuses, announced the sale of its Nigerian onshore subsidiary to Renaissance, a consortium of four local companies and one foreign energy group.
The proposed sale of Shell's onshore oil business in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria risks exacerbating human rights abuses and should be blocked by the government unless a series of measures are taken
to address the pollution caused by the company's operations, human rights group Amnesty International warned.
The rights group, along with 40 civil society organizations, said in an open letter to Nigeria's industry regulator that the sale should not go ahead until Shell assesses the pollution, guarantees to cover clean-up costs and consults with local communities.
"There is now a substantial risk Shell will walk away with billions of dollars from the sale of this business, leaving those already harmed without remedy and facing continued abuse and harms to their health," Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International’s Nigeria Director, said.
The letter noted that Shell's operations in the Niger Delta over many decades have come at the cost of gross violations of the human rights of the people living there, including frequent oil spills from its infrastructure and inadequate maintenance and cleanup practices that have led to contamination of groundwater and drinking water sources, poisoning of farmland and fisheries, and serious damage to the health and livelihoods of local people.
The letter follows Shell's announcement in January that it had agreed
to sell its business to the Renaissance consortium in a deal worth up to $2.4 billion.
The transaction, as noted in the letter, "appears to fall far short of several regulatory and legal requirements."
"These include the apparent lack of an environmental study to assess clean-up requirements, and an evaluation to ensure sufficient funds are set aside for potential decommissioning of oil infrastructure – a sum that is likely to amount to several billions of US dollars. It also notes the lack of an inventory of the physical assets being sold, which is a red flag potentially indicative of the state of disrepair of pipelines and infrastructure from which many leaks have emanated," the Amnesty International said.
Shell is being sued by more than 13,000 Nigerians from the communities of Ogale and Bille in the Niger Delta region for pollution.
In November 2023, the UK High Court
greenlighted Nigerians to sue Shell for the disastrous consequences of oil spills in the region. The plaintiffs are seeking justice, compensation and cleanup from the oil giant company.
