By Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin
Civil society organisations mostly operating from the Niger Delta region have called on the Federal Government to urgently produce a framework and guide on how oil companies disengage from areas where they have operated.
The CSOs recommended that such guides should be developed by a multi stakeholder group including
communities and civil society organizations.
They further recommended that guidelines for any divestment (or sale) framework should include: “A scientifically developed post hydrocarbon impact assessment report that establishes the exact ecological and livelihoods impacts of oil extraction.
“A health audit of people located near extraction sites, and others
exposed to oil contamination and gas flaring. This audit will aim at
unravelling the negative health impacts of exposure to hydrocarbons.
READ ALSO: Shell Agrees To Sell Nigerian Onshore Subsidiary, SPDC For $2.4bn
“A detailed plan and costing for remediating the ecological,
livelihood and health impacts of extraction.
“The establishment of independent frameworks for remediating all
identified impacts and compensation to the impacted individuals and communities.
“Posting of funds in a designated account commensurate for the cleanup of impacted ecosystems and restoration of livelihoods.”
Their call and recommendations followed a recent announcement by Shell on its website and social media handles that it had reached an agreement to sell its Nigerian onshore subsidiary, SPDC, to a consortium of domestic and international oil companies for a total net fee of $2.8 billion.
READ ALSO: Hold Shell Accountable For Environmental Crimes Before Divesting, Era Urges FG
The finalisation of the transaction is, however, dependent on the approval of the Federal Government.
The civil society organisations, in a statement signed by Nnimmo Bassey, Health of Mother Earth Foundation; Ken Henshaw, We The People; Tijah Bolton-Akpan, Policy Alert; Stephen Oduware, Niger Delta Alternatives Convergence, and two other CSOs, argued that Shell cannot just sell off their assets and walk away without addressing the “many cases and concerns about the ecological, health, economic, and social consequences of its operations in the Niger Delta.”
The statement made available to INFO DAILY by Kome Odhomor
Media/Communication Lead, Health of Mother Earth Foundation, reads in parts: “It is pertinent that Shell owns up to its responsibility for the ecocidal damage of territories they have exploited.
“This means full payment for the remediation and restoration of the polluted areas as well as reparations to the host communities. They cannot walk away from the grave and irreparable harm they have caused,” the CSOs said.
The civil society organisations, while condemning strongly the attempt by Shell to sell off onshore oil assets, further urged the Federal Government to “immediately place a moratorium on all oil company divestment (or sale of assets) in the Niger Delta, pending the ascertaining of issues of community concern.”
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