ERA-led coalition warns local investors against inheriting Shell liability

Some civil society organisations in Rivers State led by Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria ERA/FEoN has warned local investors interested in investing in Shell’s liability to be wary of such investments.

The group which also comprises of ‘We the People and People’s Advancement Centre’ gave the warning during a press briefing in Port Harcourt and called on a (SPDC) to remediate oil polluted areas in Ogoniland caused by oil exploration before divesting its onshore assets.

The Executive Director of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, Mr Chima Williams, while speaking at the briefing, disclosed that Shell had launched a major divestment plan of its Nigerian assets in May 2021 through the company’s Chief Executive Officer, (ceo), Ben Van Beurden, saying it was no longer views its activities in the Niger Delta region as core to its ongoing strategy.

Williams, explained that the real reasons behind Shell’s decision to divest are because of the decaying facilities of the company which has led to constant spillages and the realisation that it is no longer business as usual as victims use legal means to fight them.

He urged SPDC to make restitution to their victims before divesting warning that the would-be investors would only inherit assets and liabilities of Shell if the pollution is not cleaned up in Ogoniland.

“We call on would-be investors in the Shell divestment plans to be prepared to tackle first the environmental problems left behind by Shell before beginning any form of operation,” he warned.

Similarly, Mr Celestine AkpoBari, the Executive Director, People’s Advancement Centre said that the resumption of Oil Extraction in Ogoniland by Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) through Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation( NNPC) would be insensitive without the proper clean up and compensation of Ogoni people by Shell.

AkpoBari, called on the Federal Government to fully comply with the recommendations of the UNEP report in Ogoniland as it is about to resume oil extraction to alleviate the suffering of the Ogoni people.

In his speech, the Executive Director of the group, Mr Ken Henshaw said: “We the People, urged the Federal Government to invest in clean energy, protection of the environment, implementation and protection of human rights in the country.”

Henshaw stated that the group faulted the placing of the responsibility for the protection of pipeline and other oil infrastructure on host communities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)

He said that the oil host communities had no arms or facilities to guard the oil pipeline areas, urging government to thoroughly investigate the sabotage before compelling the oil host communities to forfeit their entitlement due to damages caused by oil theft.

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