Civil society organizations, community leaders, and concerned citizens have called on President Bola Tinubu to stop all ongoing oil asset divestments in the Niger Delta.
The coalition opposes Shell’s attempt to sell its shares in Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to the Renaissance consortium, a move previously rejected by the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
They argue that allowing Shell, TotalEnergies, and other oil companies to divest their onshore assets without addressing significant environmental and social liabilities could jeopardize the region’s well-being and undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
The NUPRC initially rejected Shell’s divestment proposal due to environmental damages, unaddressed social liabilities, and the buyer’s inability to demonstrate technical or financial capacity to manage the assets.
The Niger Delta has suffered decades of severe pollution, with reports by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission (BSOEC) detailing ecological devastation, health crises, and economic ruin in the region. Key findings highlight contaminated water sources and infertile soil in Ogoniland, with cleanup costs exceeding $1 billion over five years. In Bayelsa State, severe pollution requires over $12 billion for remediation, while the broader Niger Delta faces escalating health issues, including respiratory diseases and cancers caused by oil-related toxins.
The coalition cited past divestments, such as Shell’s sale in Nembe, which left communities with unresolved pollution and worsening environmental degradation. Similar patterns were observed in cases involving ExxonMobil and ENI/AGIP, where new operators failed to address longstanding environmental and social challenges, deepening community unrest. They warn that this pattern of irresponsible divestment must not be repeated.
The groups are urging President Tinubu to halt all divestments until environmental and social liabilities are comprehensively addressed.
They demand accountability from Shell, TotalEnergies, and other multinational oil corporations for decades of environmental damage, while emphasizing the need for regulatory independence for the NUPRC.
They also call for the establishment of a funded Environmental Restoration Program to clean up the Niger Delta, alongside inclusive consultations with affected communities to ensure their welfare and input in future divestment processes.
The coalition argues that approving Shell’s divestment without addressing these concerns would undermine Nigeria’s laws, signal impunity for multinational corporations, and risk significant unrest in the Niger Delta.
They have called on President Tinubu to demonstrate decisive leadership in protecting the environment, safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty, and securing the livelihoods of Niger Delta communities.
This statement was signed by prominent civil society leaders, including Nnimmo Bassey of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and Dr. Isaac Osuoka of Social Action Nigeria.
LV