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Shell’s Environmental Armageddon In Nigeria

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more “WTF,” SOMO drops the bombshell that Shell plans to stick around like a bad smell, financially entangled with the new owners.

Posted by John Donovan: 4 March 2024

In the latest episode of “How to Escape Your Mess Like a Pro,” Shell has decided it’s time to pull the ultimate Houdini act in Nigeria. You won’t believe this, folks, but Shell is trying to vanish from Nigeria faster than you can say “environmental catastrophe,” leaving behind nothing but a cloud of smoke, polluted lands, and bewildered faces. The Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) isn’t amused and insists that Shell shouldn’t be allowed to pull off this disappearing act until they’ve cleaned up the monumental mess they’ve made. read more

Shell’s ‘Nigerian Goodbye’: A Legacy of Spills, Lawsuits, and a $2.4 Billion ‘See Ya!’

Posted by John Donovan 16 Jan 24

In a move that’s less ‘farewell’ and more ‘good riddance’, Shell is kissing goodbye to its Nigerian onshore oil and gas operations. After almost a century, Shell is packing up its toys – a sprawling network of wells, pipelines, and the occasional oil spill – and handing them over to a consortium for a cool $2.4 billion. Because when you’ve pioneered an industry with a track record of spills and lawsuits, why not cash in one last time? read more

Shell’s Nigerian Legal Hoopla: Supreme Court Says ‘Yes’ to Pollution Appeal

Shell is still juggling legal hot potatoes both in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. In one corner, about 1,200 plaintiffs in Akure are crying foul over a 2011 oil spill. In the other corner, a UK court is letting a group of Nigerian fishermen cast their legal nets against Shell in yet another lengthy legal saga.

Posted by John Donovan: 8 Jan 24

In a plot twist worthy of a courtroom drama, Shell plc’s Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Co. (SPDC), has scored what can only be described as a legal slam dunk. Nigeria’s Supreme Court, in a move that surely had Shell’s execs high-fiving, upheld its appeal in a pollution case. This 2022 decision is a big deal, potentially unlocking the gates for Shell to sell off its multi-billion-dollar assets in Nigeria.

Let’s set the legal scene: SPDC, clutching a 30% stake in a Nigerian joint venture, found itself in a pickle when a court order put a big red stop sign on divesting assets until the pollution case was wrapped up. This not only put a wrench in Shell’s plans to offload its onshore oil operations but also highlighted the tangled web of legal challenges in the region. read more

Shell Scores a Courtroom Encore in Nigeria After Alleged Environmental Ode to the Niger Delta

Posted by John Donovan: 5 Jan 24

In a twist befitting a legal drama, Nigeria’s Supreme Court, with all the suspense of a season finale cliffhanger, ruled that Shell – the oil giant with a knack for environmental escapades – should get another day in court over an alleged oil spill in the Niger Delta. This decision came hot on the heels of the Court of Appeal putting a pin in Shell’s asset sale party and insisting on a judgment claim payout before listening to Shell’s sob story. read more

Shell’s $6 Billion ‘Investment’ in Nigeria: Because What’s a Little More Oil Among Friends?

Posted by John Donovan: 9 Dec 2023

In a recent spectacle of financial bravado, Shell, the oil giant that never met a fossil fuel it didn’t like, has unveiled its grand plan to pour a cool $6 billion into Nigeria’s oil and gas fields. Because, you know, nothing says commitment to the environment like doubling down on drilling.

Shell’s director of gas and upstream operations, Zoe Yujnovich, gushed about an “imminent $5 billion investment opportunity” in Nigeria’s offshore Bonga North oil project. She’s “really keen” to make this investment “as soon as possible.” It’s like hearing someone excitedly planning a party at a house that’s already on fire. read more

Shell’s ‘Not Our Mess’ Defense Faces Nigerian Justice Showdown”

Posted by John Donovan: 9 Dec 2023

In a courtroom drama that could rival any blockbuster movie, nearly 14,000 Nigerians from farming and fishing communities are squaring off against Shell, the oil titan with a talent for turning profits and, apparently, water sources into toxic sludge. These communities from the Niger Delta, where Shell has been cozying up for over 80 years, have had enough of their water being treated like an oil canvas.

Shell, in a move that might make Scrooge McDuck blush, announced record-breaking profits of over $32 billion for the first three quarters of 2022. Meanwhile, the people of Ogale and Bille are wondering why their water looks more like an oil painting than something you’d actually want to drink or fish in. read more

Shell in Hot Water: UK High Court Greenlights Nigerian Fishermen’s Rights Case

The judge even called the pollution in the Niger Delta “catastrophically environmentally damaging”.

Posted By John Donovan: 23 November 2023

In a twist that’s sure to have Shell squirming, the UK High Court just ruled that Nigerian fishermen can indeed bring their human rights claims against Shell PLC to court. They’re accusing Shell of violating their right to a clean environment under Nigerian constitutional law. Yep, it’s getting real.

13,000 Fishermen Casting Their Net for Justice

The court’s decision means 13,000 fishermen from the Ogale and Bille communities in the Niger Delta are gearing up to sue. Leigh Day, their legal squad, is all set to go to bat for them. read more

Shell’s ‘Innocent’ Victory: Lawsuits Magically Disappear in Nigerian Oil Field Saga

And just in case anyone named in this saga of righteousness finds any factual inaccuracies, they’re warmly invited to point them out for correction. Because, after all, we wouldn’t want to tarnish the impeccable reputation of these paragons of corporate integrity, would we?

Posted by John Donovan: 17 November 2023

In a stunning twist of fate that’s sure to leave environmentalists and anti-corruption advocates reeling, Nigeria has decided to just give up on its pesky lawsuits against the ever-so-virtuous Shell Plc over some trivial corruption allegations in a decade-old oil field deal. It’s like watching a thrilling courtroom drama, but the good guys (obviously Shell and friends) win in the end without breaking a sweat.

The Nigerian Ministry of Justice, in a move that’s totally not suspicious at all, has gracefully bowed out of civil proceedings related to an oil block, OPL 245, before Italy’s highest court. A Shell spokesperson, probably struggling to contain their glee, confirmed this delightful turn of events. Shell’s partner, Eni SpA, also chimed in, confirming they received a letter from the government stating the claims would be withdrawn “unconditionally” by Friday. “We are pleased that this claim has been withdrawn,” said the Shell spokesperson, in what must be the understatement of the century. read more

Nigeria: New government must ensure Shell’s sale of its Niger Delta oil business does not worsen human rights abuses

By Amnesty International: 26 May 2023

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. read more

OIL MAFIA SAGA: HOLLAND AND UNCLE SAM SHOULD KICKSTART THE “WHODUNNIT” DRAMA ON ENI AND SHELL’S OPL245 GAME IN NIGERIA

Posted by John Donovan: 22 May 2023

OIL MAFIA SAGA: HOLLAND AND UNCLE SAM SHOULD KICKSTART THE “WHODUNNIT” DRAMA ON ENI AND SHELL’S OPL245 GAME IN NIGERIA

Transparency International and its chapters in the Netherlands and the US are pleading with authorities in the two countries to revive the great soap opera involving Eni and Shell, the alleged Godfathers of bribery in Nigeria.

Our darling oil titans are accused of generously gifting over a cool US$1 billion in bribes to the chums of then-president Goodluck Jonathan. All for a trivial piece of paper – rights to the OPL245 offshore oilfield. This is recognized as an absolute party for the people of Nigeria. Because, of course, nothing says prosperity like environmental devastation and corruption. Obviously, the US and the Netherlands launched investigations but had to slam the brakes due to some Italian courtroom drama. read more

Shell and Other Oil Giants Urged to Pay $12 Billion to Clean Up Nigeria Mess

Posted by John Donovan: 17 May 2023

So, let’s all give a standing ovation to Shell and the other oil giants for their tireless efforts to turn Nigeria into an environmental wasteland. Their commitment to profit above all else is truly awe-inspiring. Long live their reign of devastation and indifference!’

Shell and Other Oil Giants Urged to Pay Measly $12 Billion to Clean Up Nigeria Mess

Oh, how generous of Shell and its fellow oil companies! They have been so kind as to consider paying a measly $12 billion to address the insignificant environmental devastation they have caused in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. What saints! read more

Shell’s Shameful Victory: UK Supreme Court Fails Nigerian Communities in Oil Spill Case

Shell’s Shameful Victory: UK Supreme Court Fails Nigerian Communities in Oil Spill Case

Posted by John Donovan:

LONDON, 10 May 2023

The UK Supreme Court has dealt a devastating blow to Nigerian claimants seeking justice against two Shell subsidiaries for a catastrophic offshore oil spill in 2011. The ruling, announced today, marks another shameful chapter in Shell’s ongoing legal battles against the long-suffering residents of Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta—a region plagued by pollution, conflict, and corruption directly linked to the oil and gas industry. read more

Nigerians accuse Shell of delay in oil spill London lawsuits

REUTERS

Nigerians accuse Shell of delay in oil spill London lawsuits

By 

LONDON, April 4 (Reuters) – Shell Plc (SHEL.L) is attempting to shield itself from scrutiny over pollution in Nigeria’s oil-producing Niger Delta, lawyers representing more than 13,000 Nigerians argued at London’s High Court on Tuesday, allegations which the company strongly denies.

Thousands of members of the Bille and Ogale communities are suing Shell and its Nigerian subsidiary SPDC over oil spills.

Shell strongly denies any liability and argues that parts of the cases were brought too late. read more

Shell’s divestments in Nigeria

The Washington Post

Big Oil is selling off its polluting assets — with unintended consequences

Shell’s divestments in Nigeria help the company meet its green goals. But villagers and watchdogs say conditions have worsened after the sales.

By  March 27, 2023 at 2:00 a.m. EDT

NEMBE, Nigeria — When Lambert Ogbari learned that the oil giant Shell was selling its local operations to a Nigerian firm, he said he felt hopeful his living conditions would finally improve. But he quickly noticed that maintenance on the oil wells surrounding his village had declined.

Then, one night, Ogbari woke up to a loud bang, followed by the smell of gas. Crude oil was shooting out of a well near his home with such force that people hundreds of yards away could hear the roar.

As the world wrestles with climate change, major oil companies are selling off polluting assets around the globe. Shell, which announced in 2021 that it is looking to exit Nigeria’s onshore market completely, has repeatedly said in annual reports over the past eight years that divestments in Nigeria and elsewhere have played an important role in decreasing the company’s greenhouse gas emissions. Shell’s withdrawal is part of an exodus by some of the world’s top energy companies from the Niger Delta, which had long made Nigeria the largest oil producer in Africa. read more

Nigeria: Shell must clean up devastating oil spills in the Niger Delta

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

Nigeria: Shell must clean up devastating oil spills in the Niger Delta

Reacting to the news that two Nigerian communities, which have been devastated by oil spills, have filed claims against Shell at the High Court in London, Amnesty International’s Head of Business and Human Rights Mark Dummett, said:

“More than 13,500 residents from the Ogale and Bille communities in the Niger Delta have now filed claims against Shell asking that the company clean up oil spills which they say have wrecked their livelihoods, poisoned their wells, and polluted their land and water, which means they can no longer farm or fish.”

“Amnesty stands by these two communities in the Niger Delta, which have been engaged in litigation against Shell for seven years, asking that the company clean up the damage caused and compensate them for their lost livelihoods.

“Shell announced in 2021 that it plans to sell its onshore oilfields and assets in the Niger Delta after 60 years of highly profitable operations in the area. It is concerning that Shell has not explained how it plans to address the widespread and systemic pollution of Nigerian communities linked to its operations over many years before it sells up and leaves. read more

Shell to pay $16m to Nigerian farmers over oil damage

BBC News

Shell to pay $16m to Nigerian farmers over oil damage

23 Dec 2022

Shell has agreed to pay $16m (£13m) to four Nigerian farmers and their communities to compensate for damage allegedly caused by pollution coming from leaks in its oil pipelines.

The sum was agreed in negotiations between the oil company and campaign group Friends of the Earth.

But it is being given on the basis of “no admission of liability”, a joint statement says.

Nigeria’s oil industry has been a major source of environmental damage. read more

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