Shell’s exit from Niger Delta mustn’t trigger more harm, Amnesty tells Tinubu

Amnesty International has urged the President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that Shell’s planned sale of its operations in the Niger Delta does not lead to a further deterioration in human rights in the region.

In a statement on Thursday, Amnesty said it had documented grievous human rights abuses resulting from oil contamination in the area, where Shell had operated since the 1950s.

The organization expressed concerns that the proposed sale would deny people already harmed access to adequate remedy, and potentially expose many more to future abuses.

Amnesty International’s Head of Business and Human Rights, Mark Dummett, said: “For decades spills have damaged the health and livelihoods of many of the Niger Delta’s inhabitants. Shell should not be allowed to wash its hands of the problems and leave. 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.

Some of Buhari’s staff switching allegiance to Tinubu — Garba Shehu

Senior lawyers write Buhari over multi-billion naira cargo tracking contract

“By exercising appropriate oversight of Shell’s sale, Nigeria’s incoming administration has a unique opportunity to demonstrate its determination to uphold and protect the human rights of its citizens, including their rights to an adequate standard of living, clean water, and health. We are also calling for effective remedy for people whose rights have long been abused.

“We urge the new government, under President Bola Tinubu, to ensure Shell’s sale does not end or limit the company’s liabilities. As a condition of sale, it should require Shell to provide a full assessment of all existing pollution in the delta, ensure it has provided satisfactory remediation for any damage, and that local inhabitants’ concerns about the sale process are fully appraised and addressed.

“The government should consider requiring Shell to act as a guarantor to ensure any purchaser is capable of making good and remediating damage caused by any future spills and that any buyer is committed to transparency, environmental compliance, consultations with communities, and limiting greenhouse gas emissions.”