Women in Bayelsa State have kicked against the plans by Shell to sell its Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), and all onshore assets to investors without consulting communities who have suffered years of environment degradation over their activities.
The women, who signed a protest document to the National Assembly at Biseni community in Yenagoa local government area of Bayelsa State on Saturday, described the move by oil majors to divest their assets in Niger Delta without proper clean up of damaged environment as unhealthy, unethical and irresponsible.
Speaking during the protest organised by Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre, the President and Secretary of Biseni Women, Mrs Juliana Miriam Abusi and Mrs Safah Ego respectively, stated that communities in the Niger Delta have been at the receiving end of the environmental devastation caused by the oil companies.
They urged the federal government not to approve Shell’s planned sale of oil assets in Nigeria until all polluted farmlands in the Niger Delta have been cleaned and restored by the companies.
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“Shell PLC plans to sell SPDC shares to Renaissance Africa Energy, a consortium of investors, without regard for its legacy of environmental damage and the need for appropriate consultation with all stakeholders, remedies, and social and legal license to exit,” they said.
The women however called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that there is no divestment without ecosystem restoration.
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