Amnesty International has asserted that Shell Plc’s decades-long oil spills in the Niger Delta have harmed the health and livelihoods of the region’s inhabitants.
Mark Dummett, Amnesty International’s Head of Business and Human Rights, expressed this concern in response to Shell’s proposed sale of its Nigerian Onshore oil assets to a local consortium for over $1.3 billion, as announced on Tuesday.
Shell disclosed that it intends to sell its Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), to the consortium named Renaissance, comprising ND Western, Aradel Energy, First Exploration & Production (E&P), Waltersmith, and Petrolin. The deal includes an additional payment of up to $1.1 billion for prior receivables at completion.
In response to Shell’s plan to sell its onshore oil assets, Dummett from Amnesty International emphasized that, given Shell’s substantial earnings from the Nigerian oil business, it must ensure its withdrawal doesn’t negatively impact human rights and the environment, particularly in the Niger Delta.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Dummett called for meaningful remedies for those whose rights have been violated, insisting that Shell shouldn’t evade responsibility and exit. He urged the Nigerian government to mandate Shell to conduct a comprehensive assessment of existing pollution and the current state of its infrastructure.
Dummett said, “For decades oil spills have damaged the health and livelihoods of many inhabitants of the Niger Delta.
“Shell has earned billions of dollars from this business and it must make sure that its withdrawal does not have negative human rights and environmental consequences. We are calling for effective remedy for people whose rights have long been abused.
“Shell should not be allowed to wash its hands of the problems and leave, and we urge the Nigerian government to require Shell to provide a full assessment of existing pollution and the current state of its infrastructure. This information needs to be shared with affected communities.
“Nigeria’s government must ensure local inhabitants’ concerns about the sale are fully appraised and addressed, and uphold and protect the human rights of its citizens, including their rights to an adequate standard of living, clean water and health.
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