Shell‘s Ongoing Obligation for Niger Delta Pollution Highlighted by UN Report
Following a recent communication from seven UN Special Rapporteurs on Human Rights regarding decades of environmental damage in Nigeria‘s Niger delta,Amnesty International Nigeria is reiterating calls for Shell and other oil companies to address teh lasting impacts of oil spills and ensure responsible divestment.
Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, stated the organization has documented the issue of oil pollution in the region as the 1990s, and the UN’s findings align with their research demonstrating that repeated spills constitute violations of fundamental human rights.These rights, as outlined in the UN Special Rapporteurs’ letter, include the rights to life, a healthy habitat, health, safe water, an adequate standard of living, food, housing, cultural preservation, access to data, and access to remedy.
The UN report specifically condemns the practice of companies divesting from the Niger Delta without first addressing the environmental and human rights consequences of their operations. It warns that Nigeria is being used as a testing ground for this approach, and that any divestment must be conducted in a manner that respects both human rights and the environment.
amnesty International emphasizes that Shell’s recent sale of its Nigerian subsidiary does not negate its responsibility for past pollution and its obligation to remediate affected areas and compensate impacted communities for decades of harm. The organization urges Shell and other companies to prioritize cleanup efforts and provide full reparations to those affected by oil spills.
Shell’s response to the UN Special rapporteurs’ communication is publicly available here.
