Oil spills happen for many reasons, mostly due to faulty machinery or infrastructure, however the damage can be minimized by carrying out cleanup operations to remove the spilled oil. Unfortunately, oil companies do not always conduct these operations honestly.
Shell has gained quite the reputation for avoiding due cleanup projects and, instead, setting oil spill sites on fire, according to Alagoa Morris, Project Head of Niger Delta Resource Centre at Friends of the Earth Nigeria.
“Instead of cleaning up, they set the environment ablaze. We have documented evidence […] They fry and roast sites that are being impacted by their crude oil spills,” Mr. Morris testifies.
Morris believes that justice will be served once the “restoration of the environment” has been compensated.
"I believe plaintiffs would have justice not only for compensation but for the restoration of the environment that had been damaged. That is more important to us in the environmental rights action. We are more interested in the sustainability of the environment," Mr. Morris says.
To hear what else the activist had to say, check out the entire episode of the AfroVerdict podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.
► You can also listen to our podcast on Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Podcast Addict and Afripods.
► Check out all the episodes of AfroVerdict.