CSOs, Community, Concerned Citizens, Demand Halt To Shell, Other’s Sale Of SPDC Shares
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Representatives of the Nigerian Civil Society Organizations, Community Groups, and Concerned Citizens in the Niger Delta, have demanded an immediate halt to all divestment processes by Shell and TotalEnergies Petroleum Companies until a transparent, comprehensive, and inclusive review is undertaken that addresses their historical environmental and social liabilities.
The coalition made up of Reverend Nnimmo Bassey – Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Isa Sanusi – Amnesty International-Nigeria, Dr. Isaac ‘Asume’ Osuoka – Social Action Nigeria, Olanrewaju Suraju – HEDA Resource Centre and Emem Okon – Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre at a press conference at the House of Representatives, also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure an inclusive and transparent consultation with state governments and the people of the sites of oil and gas extraction in the Niger Delta before any further divestment of IOC assets.
The organisations equally tasked the Federal Government to hold Shell, TotalEnergies, and all other IOCs accountable for their past and ongoing environmental damage, and ensure they fund a full cleanup and remediation program across the Niger Delta.
They particularly asked President Tinubu to uphold the regulatory independence of NUPRC and allow it to fulfill its statutory duties without political interference as well as respect the resolution of the National Assembly, which called for a halt to all divestments by international oil companies in Nigeria.
The organisations further said that the government should ensure that new operators are properly vetted and committed to responsible environmental management and community welfare.
Their other demands included; “Create an Environmental Restoration Fund that is sufficiently funded to meet the full and complete costs of environmental cleanup and reparations based on credible estimates of independent international experts and contributed to by Shell, TotalEnergies, and other international oil companies and future operators to address the long-term damage caused by their operations.
“Provide community profit-sharing opportunities for host communities as part of any divestment agreement, ensuring that the local people benefit from the oil resources they have hosted for decades.
“Mandate full disclosure of all environmental liabilities before divestment, requiring Shell, TotalEnergies, and any future operators to publicly declare and address all damages.
“Include gas flaring cessation and decommissioning plans in any divestment agreement, with clear timelines for ending harmful practices.
“Account for carbon emissions related to the divested assets and propose mitigation plans that align with Nigeria’s climate commitments,” the organisations demanded.
Speaking at the press conference, Reverend Nnimmo Bassey of HOMEF, said that this was a critical moment for Nigeria, stressing that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not sacrifice Nigerians’ on the altar of meeting budget revenue targets, adding that pollution does not know and understand political boundaries.
Bassey therefore called on the National Assembly to continue its advocacy for the people of the Niger Delta as well as ensure that the country’s national interest is not undermined by the financial interests of multinational corporations.
He said that by halting Shell’s, TotalEnergies’, and any other IOC divestments and demanding accountability, the government will send a powerful message that Nigeria’s sovereignty and the welfare of its citizens are paramount, stressing that the time to act is now.
Bassey further said; “We are alarmed to learn that President Bola Tinubu, under pressure from Shell and their home government, has ordered the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to approve Shell’s sale of its remaining shares in SPDC to the Renaissance consortium.
“Despite the NUPRC’s initial rejection of this sale based on legitimate concerns, the President appears to be moving swiftly toward approving these divestments, bypassing what we consider as the valid and urgent concerns raised by the National Assembly and the Nigerian people.
“That is why we are calling on the National Assembly to prevail on President Tinubu to respect the voice of the people and halt all further IOC divestment requests until significant matters of national concern are addressed,” he said.
Speaking in turn, Mallam Isa Sanusi, Country Director of Amnesty International, said that they remain committed to continuing their advocacy and look forward to the leadership of the National Assembly in ensuring a just, sustainable, and prosperous future for all Nigerians.
Sanusi noted that the experiences from past asset sales by Shell, ENI/AGIP, ExxonMobil, and other IOCs have demonstrated a disturbing trend of companies walking away from their environmental responsibilities. In particular:
Also speaking, Hauwa Mustapha of Tubali Women Initiative, said that the environmental consequences of decades of oil exploration in the Niger Delta are undeniable and devastating, stressing that Shell and other IOCs have left behind a legacy of pollution, oil spills, gas flaring, and environmental degradation that has poisoned the land, air, and water across the region.
She noted that the companies have caused widespread destruction, including; Water contamination that poisoned rivers, streams, and groundwater with dangerous levels of hydrocarbons, thereby making drinking water sources unsafe for human consumption.
Other destruction, she noted included; “Soil degradation: Continuous oil spills have rendered vast expanses of farmland infertile, exacerbating food insecurity and livelihood destruction for local farming communities.
“Loss of biodiversity: Oil spills have killed marine life and destroyed entire ecosystems, resulting in the loss of biodiversity that is essential for the economic and cultural survival of the Niger Delta communities”.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has provided alarming figures on the extent of the contamination in the Niger Delta. In Ogoniland, UNEP showed that benzene levels in drinking water were found to be 900 times higher than the safe limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The report also stated that the toxic substance is known to cause cancer and other serious health issues, adding that in Bayelsa, chromium levels in the environment are over 1,000 times the WHO limits, leading to severe pollution of water sources and a public health crisis.
The organisations said that these findings underscore the urgent need for a thorough cleanup and remediation before any further divestments are allowed.
