Residents of Ejalawa Community in Oken-Ogosu, Egbalor Ebubu/Eleme in Rivers State are challenging the planned divestment of Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited’s onshore assets. They insist that a court order mandating the payment of damages for farmland destruction be fulfilled before any onshore property transactions take place.
The community is also urging the federal government to ensure that Shell settles its adjudged debt for farmland degradation before proceeding with its onshore business wind-up in Nigeria.
Erastus Olungwe, the Chairman of the Community, released a statement in Abuja, highlighting that the Federal High Court in Owerri, Imo State, under Justice T.G Ringim, had directed Shell and two others to pay N800 billion to the community for damages caused by oil spillage in 2019.
Olungwe emphasized, “The court also ordered multinationals to promptly and expeditiously remediate Ejalawa land to International Agricultural Soil (IAS). We want to draw attention to the federal government concerning environmental pollution.”
He expressed concern over the detrimental effects of oil firm-induced environmental pollution on communities, posing risks to health, natural resources, and overall well-being. Despite the court order, Shell has publicly announced its intention to sell its shares without compensating Ejalawa community or cleaning the affected area.
Olungwe noted, “The oil firm has made a public notice of her intention to sell her entire shareholding without first complying with the Order of Court. That is the Order mandating Shell to compensate Ejalawa community with the sum of N800 billion as well as clean the community.”
He further emphasized that the proposed sale jeopardizes the community’s rightful compensation and prolongs the hardships they have endured. Olungwe urged the federal government to prevent Shell from selling or disposing of any property until the court’s order is fulfilled.
