A coalition of civil society organizations, community leaders, and activists has called on President Bola Tinubu to uphold the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s (NUPRC) decision rejecting Shell’s request to sell its remaining shares in Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to the Renaissance Consortium.
The group argued that approving the sale, along with similar divestment requests by TotalEnergies and other international oil companies (IOCs), would weaken regulatory oversight, disregard Niger Delta communities’ interests, and exacerbate the region’s environmental and social crises.
Environmental and Social Concerns
The coalition cited decades of environmental degradation and health hazards caused by oil operations in the Niger Delta, including findings from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission (BSOEC). Reports highlighted:
- Severe Pollution: Drinking water, soil, and air contaminated with hydrocarbons and heavy metals.
- Health Crises: Increased cases of respiratory diseases, cancers, and skin conditions.
- Economic Impact: Destruction of livelihoods due to infertile soil, degraded ecosystems, and loss of biodiversity.
UNEP estimates the cost of remediating Ogoniland alone at over $1 billion in the first five years, while broader cleanups across the Niger Delta could exceed $100 billion. The coalition warned that allowing Shell and others to divest without addressing these liabilities would transfer the cleanup burden to the Nigerian government and citizens.
Lessons from Past Divestments
The group highlighted failures in previous asset sales, where new operators inherited environmental damage but lacked the capacity to address it, worsening pollution and community unrest.
Demands to President Tinubu
The coalition outlined specific actions for the president to ensure accountability and protect national interests:
- Halt All Divestments: Suspend all IOC asset sales until environmental and social liabilities are addressed.
- Comprehensive Cleanup: Mandate Shell, TotalEnergies, and other IOCs to fund full remediation programs.
- Regulatory Independence: Uphold NUPRC’s authority and resist political interference.
- Community Inclusion: Ensure transparent consultations with host communities.
- Profit-Sharing: Create mechanisms for communities to benefit from oil revenues.
- Environmental Restoration Fund: Establish a fund for long-term damage repair, contributed to by IOCs.
- Climate Accountability: Include gas flaring cessation and carbon mitigation in divestment agreements.
Call for Leadership
The coalition warned that approving Shell’s divestment would undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty and risk unrest in the Niger Delta. They urged President Tinubu to prioritize environmental justice, community welfare, and sustainable development over corporate interests, sending a clear message of accountability to multinational corporations.
“This is a defining moment for Nigeria,” the group stated. “President Tinubu must stand with the Niger Delta people, protect regulatory independence, and ensure a just and prosperous future for all Nigerians.”
