Amnesty International Nigeria has reaffirmed that Shell remains responsible for decades of oil pollution in the Niger Delta, despite its recent divestment from Nigeria.
The organisation’s Nigeria Director, Isa Sanusi, made the statement in response to a letter issued by seven United Nations Special Rapporteurs to Shell, Eni, other oil companies, and the governments of their home countries, as well as Nigeria. The letter highlighted the devastating human rights impact of repeated oil spills in the region.
“Amnesty International has researched and campaigned on the issue of oil pollution in Nigeria since the 1990s. The UN Special Rapporteurs have concurred with our finding that the repeated oil spills in the Niger Delta amount to violations of human rights,” Sanusi said.
“For every rights violation, there must be a remedy. Shell and other companies responsible must clean up affected areas and compensate local communities for the decades of harm caused.”
Sanusi further urged oil companies to conduct divestment responsibly, stressing that Shell’s sale of its Nigerian subsidiary does not absolve it of accountability for past environmental and human rights violations.
In their letter, the UN Special Rapporteurs noted that oil spills in the Niger Delta have severely undermined the rights to life, health, safe water, food, housing, cultural rights, and access to remedy. They also warned that Nigeria risks becoming a “testing ground” for divestment without adequate clean-up or compensation.
