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Amnesty International Urges Incoming Tinubu Government To Ensure Sale Of Shell’s Niger Delta Oil Business Doesn’t Worsen Human Rights Abuses

Amnesty
May 26, 2023

It stressed that the proposed sale would deny people access to adequate remedies and expose many more to future abuses.

Amnesty International (AI) has urged the incoming administration in Nigeria to ensure that Shell’s planned divestment of its operations in the Niger Delta, does not worsen human rights violations in the region.

 

The global advocacy organisation said the government should monitor and require Shell to provide a full assessment report of existing pollution in the area, ensure the company has provided satisfactory remediation for any damage, and that concerns by residents are fully appraised and addressed, as a condition for sale.

 

It stressed that the proposed sale would deny people access to adequate remedies and expose many more to future abuses.

 

The organisation made this known in a statement issued on Thursday but embargoed till Friday. It called on the incoming President, Bola Tinubu, who is scheduled to be sworn in on May 29, 2023, to ensure Shell’s sale does not end or limit the company’s liabilities.

 

It added that it had documented evidence of grievous and enduring human rights abuses resulting from oil contamination in the area, where Shell has operated since the 1950s.

 

In the statement, Amnesty International recommended safeguards and actions to protect the rights of the people that will be affected by Shell’s planned disposal of its onshore oil interests in the Niger Delta, reportedly for about $3 billion.

 

AI urged the government to 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.

 

The statement reads, "Nigeria’s new government, which will be sworn in on 29 May, must ensure that Shell’s planned sale of its operations in the Niger Delta, does not lead to a further deterioration in human rights in a region blighted by decades of oil pollution.

 

"Amnesty International has documented grievous and enduring human rights abuses resulting from oil contamination in the area, where Shell has operated since the 1950s. Amnesty International is concerned that the proposed sale will deny people already harmed access to adequate remedy, and potentially expose many more to future abuses.

 

"A new report issued today, Tainted Sale? recommends a series of safeguards and actions to help protect the rights of people potentially affected by Shell’s planned disposal of its onshore oil interests in the Niger Delta, reportedly for about US$3 billion.

 

"Mark Dummett, Amnesty International’s Head of Business and Human Rights, 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.

 

“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.”