After decades of toxic extractive operations in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, Shell Plc announced in January 2024 its plan to sell its onshore subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), to Renaissance Africa Energy Company, a consortium of five buyers.
While local communities would gladly be rid of Shell, given its history of polluting once-green lands and orchestrating violence against environmental human rights defenders, the news of the company’s divestment has caused them grave distress.
This is because Shell is poised to exit the oil industry in the Niger Delta without taking responsibility for the extensive damage its reckless extraction has caused. This includes widespread oil spillages that have rendered farmlands and water bodies in the region unfit for use, disrupted livelihoods, and compromised public health. Communities fear Shell’s departure will leave these issues unaddressed, absolving the company of liabilities and leaving them to deal with the long-term consequences alone.
Moreover, investigations into the backgrounds of the buyers of Shell’s assets reveal not only that four out of the five companies in the consortium are local companies with opaque backgrounds, but also that these companies lack the resources to inherit and address Shell’s extensive liabilities in the Niger Delta.
Reacting to this development, Corporate Accountability & Public Participation Africa, along with the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, environmental activists, and members of oil-host communities, staged a one-day protest at Shell’s Headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria, on May 21, 2024. The protest coincided with Shell’s annual general meeting held the same day in London.
With placards displaying various inscriptions such as “Enough is Enough,” “Clean Up Your Mess,” “Make Big Polluters Pay,” and “Pay Up Now’’ among others, the protesters expressed their displeasure with Shell’s mischievous plan to divest and called for accountability.
As the peaceful protest gained momentum, it drew the attention of Shell employees, who emerged from their offices to observe the demonstration. In response, security barricaded entry into the corporation to keep the demonstrators outside.
Under the heavy sunlight, protesters remained calm, chanting solidarity songs and calling out Shell’s atrocities. As part of their demands, they urged the Nigerian government to halt Shell’s divestment process and called for an independent and comprehensive assessment of the entire Niger Delta’s environment.
Decades of oil spillages and continuous gas flaring by entities such as Shell have transformed the Niger Delta into one of the most polluted places on Earth, with dire consequences for public health. In addition to drinking water and soil for food cultivation being contaminated with oil, air pollution from Shell’s drilling practices has been linked to deformities, cancer and horrible skin issues among residents.
Based on these circumstances and related issues, protesters demanded an in-depth health assessment of all Niger Delta residents, particularly those living near degraded sites. They called on the Nigerian government to compel Shell to decommission many of its dangerous oil wells and infrastructure scattered across the region and to compensate victims of its environmental crimes.
Notable Moments
As the protest reached its climax, the demonstrators marched toward the entrance of Shell’s facility, undeterred by the heavy police presence. Following Shell’s employees’ refusal to receive a copy of their joint statement and demands, they dropped a copy at the entrance.
Media Coverage
Pictures from the Scene
