By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Timothy Obiezu
Published on 2024-01-17 20:27:53
Amnesty International and other advocacy groups have expressed concerns over British oil giant Shell’s sale of its onshore businesses in Nigeria. The sale, which was announced to be for $2.4 billion, has raised questions about the company’s responsibility for decades’ worth of oil spills in the region.
Amnesty International took to social media to voice their concerns, stating that Shell should not be allowed to simply “wash its hands of the problems and leave.” The international rights group called on Nigerian authorities to request a full assessment of the existing pollution and the state of Shell’s infrastructure before allowing the transfer of ownership to proceed.
Shell, which has operated in Nigeria for nearly a century, plans to sell its assets to a consortium of mainly local companies, pending approval from Nigerian authorities. Aminu Hayatu, a conflict researcher at Amnesty International, expressed concerns about the environmental degradation in the Niger Delta area and emphasized the need for the new company to be closely monitored.
The company plans to continue operating less-challenging offshore businesses while the new owner, Renaissance, will take over the onshore assets. Shell has faced numerous challenges in the Niger Delta region, including oil spills, vandalism, theft, and sabotage, leading to lawsuits against the company.
Faith Nwadishi, founder of the Center for Transparency Advocacy, raised concerns about the liabilities and responsibilities that Shell is leaving behind for the new owner to address. She also questioned whether the negotiations took into consideration the cleanup and damages to the community.
Shell’s exit from onshore business in Nigeria follows a trend of other Western energy companies seeking more profitable operations. The company stated that its staff would be retained by the new leadership, but concerns about the liabilities and responsibilities of the onshore assets remain.
It is uncertain how Nigerian authorities will respond to these concerns. The calls for transparency in the negotiations and the accountability for the environmental impact of Shell’s operations continue as the transfer of ownership moves forward.
Read the original article on VOA
