From Rhoda Godwin, Yenagoa
A coalition of Non Governmental Organisations in Bayelsa state has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to uphold the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s (NUPRC) rejection of Shell’s request to sell its remaining shares in the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to the Renaissance consortium.
The NGO’s state categorically that any approval of Shell’s and Total’s requests would weaken regulatory independence and ignore the interests of the Niger Delta communities. Saying it will jeopardise the environmental and social well-being of the region for generations to come, and undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
Addressing Journalists at the NUPRC office in Yenagoa the state capital during a protest rally, the Resource Justice Manager Social Development Integrated Center-Social Action Dr. Prince Edegbuo said, they want to make it absolutely clear that approving Shell’s or TotalEnergies divestment in its current form without addressing the profound environmental and social costs would be a grave injustice to the people of Niger Delta.
He said the action could lead to significant unrest in the region, adding that it would be an affront to the generations of Niger Deltans who have fought and died for environmental justice, their homes and their livelihoods.
“Approving Shell’s SPDC would send a dangerous message to all Multinational corporations operating in Nigeria that they can extract our resources, leave devastation behind and walk away without consequences. This is not just a question of corporate accountability, it is about Nigeria’s sovereignty, dignity, and the right of it’s people to live in a clean and safe environment”.
“We hereby demand immediate halt of all divestment processes until a transparent, comprehensive and inclusive review is undertaken that addresses Shell’s and TotalEnergies historical environmental and social liabilities. Ensure inclusive and transparent consultation with state government and the people of the sites if oil and gas extraction in the Niger Delta before any further divestment of IOC assets.
“Hold Shell and TotalEnergies and other IOCs accountable for their past and ongoing environmental damage and ensure they fund a full clean up and remediation program across Niger Delta. Uphold the regulatory independence of NUPRC and allow it to fulfill it’s statutory duties without political interference.”.
In his contribution, Comrade Morris Alagoa who represents Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN) said any buyer that is buying should ensure that it’s on black and white that is buying both assets and liabilities. Saying the oil bearing communities have been crying of pending liabilities such as unclean and premeditated sites and pending legal cases as regards compensation.
” We are here to deliver message to government of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not allow Shell and others for now to divest because we have seen what Oando is doing after Agip divested 100 percent to Oando. We have seen four major oil spill in the Ogboinbiri Environment and three of them were due to equipment failures. Old worn-out pipelines. And instead of clean up, Oando has carry-on with the culture of Agip of setting spill sites ablaze”.
While speaking, the state chairman of Bayelsa Non Governmental Organisations Forum (BANGOF) Taritien Boco said, while waiting for the state government to take action on the reports submitted by BSOEC, they have come out to sensitize the public and get a message to the presidency, to NUPRC and the national assembly that the divestment processes should stop immediately.
According to him, they are doing this across the Niger Delta to pass their message to the national assembly and after this they will know the next steps to take.
In his response, the Manager Corporate Services and Administration, Dr. Prince Oshodi said, any grievances the CSO have , they are going to look at it and will address them. Saying they have a protocol to ensure that as Nigerian we maximise the opportunities and benefits of oil and gas industry.
He promised that they will take their complaints to the executive officer in Abuja, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe and they will look into their grievances and we are here to Protect the interests of Nigerians.
