President Tinubu Quick Sale of Shell, CSOs Fault Plans
Stella Peters
A group of Civil Society Organizations, community leaders, environmental actors, and concerned citizens from across Nigeria have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to maintain the Nigeria 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 as a matter of urgent national importance.
The group also wants the President to endorse the rejection of the sale of other international oil corporations, such as TotalEnergies, which is also attempting to sell its stakes in SPDC and other Nigerian onshore oil assets.
In a signed statement by concerned Nigerian Civil Society Organizations, Community Groups, and Concerned Citizens led by Dr. Nnimmo Bassey of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Dr. Isaac ‘Asume’ Osuoka – Social Action Nigeria, Olanrewaju Suraju – HEDA Resource Centre, Emem Okon – Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, Akinbode Oluwafemi – Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) Tijah Bolton-Akpan – Policy Alert, Ken Henshaw – We the People, Rita Uwaka – Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, David Ugolor – Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Mfon Utin – Auwal Musa Rafsanjani – Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Martha Agbani – Lokiaka Community Development Centre, Akpobari Celestine – People’s Advancement Centre, Dr. Chido Onumah- Africa Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), and nine others said have asked for a halt to all divestment requests from oil corporations in the Niger Delta, including Shell, Total, and other IOCs until the critical environmental and health issues are addressed.
The group specifically noted that approval of the sale of Shell’s and Total’s Assets would be a declaration of unrest with the Niger Delta, noting that approving Shell’s or TotalEnergies’ divestment without addressing the profound environmental and social costs would be an injustice to the people of the Niger Delta and could lead to significant unrest in the region.
The group of CSOS noted that it would be a slight to the generations of Niger Deltans who have fought and died for their homes, livelihoods, and the environment. The group further stated that any approval of Shell’s and Total’s requests would weaken regulatory independence, ignoring the interests of the Niger Delta communities, and jeopardizing the environmental and social well-being of the region for generations to come, adding that it would also undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty.
They noted the importance of Regulatory Independence, stating its critical importance. They emphasized that the Nigerian Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the NUPRC’s responsibility to uphold this law were clearly outlined when Shell’s divestment request was initially rejected.
It further said; “NUPRC’s refusal was based on legitimate concerns, including Shell’s failure to adequately address the significant environmental and social liabilities associated with its operations in the Niger Delta, as was independently assessed and recommended by international assessors
contracted by the country.
“Among the reasons for rejecting the sale, NUPRC cited the inability of the Renaissance consortium, a shady company with links to past Shell executives and Nigerian political actors, to demonstrate its financial and technical capacities to manage the assets and the pressing need for proper environmental remediation.
“NUPRC’s rejection was in line with the responsibilities outlined under Nigerian law and global best practices for corporate accountability. It is a decision rooted in national interest — protecting the health, safety, and environment of the Niger Delta communities. Any attempt to approve Shell’s sale despite these valid concerns would risk undermining regulatory independence and signaling that Nigerian law can be bypassed to serve the interests of multinational corporations,” it stressed.
Commenting on the Legacy of Pollution and Health Crisis, the group said that the environmental and health crises caused by Shell and other oil corporations operating in the Niger Delta are well documented, adding that the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) report on Ogoniland noted an ecological disaster of immense proportions.
The group further said that the UNEP’s findings revealed that drinking water sources were contaminated with dangerous levels of hydrocarbons, making them unsafe for human consumption. The group also noted that Oil spills have destroyed entire ecosystems, killing marine life and damaging the biodiversity that is crucial for the livelihood of local communities. The group added that the soil in Ogoniland has been contaminated with toxic substances, rendering it infertile and unsuitable for farming, thus exacerbating food insecurity in the region.
It said that the UNEP’s assessment concluded that the cost of remediating the “environmental catastrophe” in Ogoniland alone would exceed $1 billion over the initial five years, with the cleanup expected to last more than 30 years.
The statement further stated, “Yet, these costs are still insufficient to cover the broader environmental impacts of oil extraction across the Niger Delta, where similar damages exist.
“The Bayelsa State Oil and Environment Commission’s (BSOEC) report provides a detailed analysis of the severe pollution caused by Shell’s and other multinational companies’ operations, including health impacts on local populations.
“According to the BSOEC, High levels of toxins from oil pollution, such as total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and heavy metals (HMs), have infiltrated the air, water, and soil across the region, contributing to a public health emergency.
“Communities are suffering from respiratory issues, skin diseases, and cancers linked to oil pollution, and these problems are worsening by the year. The economic cost of these health impacts and the degradation of natural resources is incalculable, leaving most people in poverty and unable to sustain themselves through traditional means like farming and fishing.
“The BSOEC report also estimates that the cost of remediating the damage in Bayelsa State alone would exceed $12 billion over 12 years. Based on the UNEP and BSOEC reports, it would take about $100 billion to address the environmental damage in the entire Niger Delta comprehensively.
“Following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the United States, BP, the company responsible, paid over $60 billion to address the impacts of one oil spill incident alone. The environmental damage of the Niger Delta is much worse and has spanned decades. Therefore, to allow Shell, TotalEnergies, or any other company to walk away from their responsibilities would mean transferring these liabilities to the Nigerian state, the Niger Delta states, and the Nigerian people.
“This is an unjust and unsustainable burden that would further exacerbate the challenges faced by communities already suffering from pollution and environmental neglect,” it said.
Taking a critical look at what it considered ‘Dangerous Lessons from Past Asset Sales,’ the Coalition noted that the experiences from past asset sales by Shell, ENI/AGIP, and ExxonMobil offered grave lessons, stressing that in the case of Shell’s divestment in Nembe to Aiteo, for instance, the local communities were left with unresolved pollution and no proper remedy for the environmental damage caused by decades of oil extraction.
It further said, “Environmental destruction has worsened in the area. Similarly, when ExxonMobil divested some of its assets, the responsibility for remediation was inadequately transferred to new operators, who were ill-prepared to manage the legacy of contamination.
“In ENI/AGIP’s case, the sale of assets to Oando continued to worsen the situation in the host communities as no comprehensive cleanup efforts were undertaken. These sales not only failed to address the critical environmental liabilities but also deepened the social tensions in the Niger Delta, as new operators took over without addressing the root causes of community unrest or the longstanding health and environmental challenges.
“This pattern of irresponsible divestment must not be repeated, and the Nigerian government is responsible for stopping it. The National Interest and the Urgency for Action
“We ask Mr. President to ensure that the immediate financial interests of a few multinational corporations and local profiteers do not outweigh the health, future, and survival of millions of Nigerians who have suffered for decades. “President Tinubu must safeguard the future of Nigeria, ensuring that all its people, especially those in the Niger Delta, are not sacrificed for the benefit of global capital and a few local profiteers.
“Approving Shell’s SPDC share sale 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 consequence. This is not just a question of corporate accountability; it is about Nigeria’s sovereignty, dignity, and the right of its people to live in a clean and safe environment,” it stressed.
Accordingly, the group demanded that President Tinubu immediately halt all divestment processes until a transparent, comprehensive, and inclusive review addresses Shell’s and TotalEnergies’ historical environmental and social liabilities.
It demanded an inclusive and transparent consultation with state governments and the people of the sites of oil and gas extraction in the Niger Delta before any further divestment of IOC assets.
The group wants the Federal Government to hold Shell, TotalEnergies, and all other IOCs accountable for their past and ongoing environmental damage and ensure they fund a complete cleanup and remediation program across the Niger Delta.
Other demands included; “Uphold the regulatory independence of NUPRC and allow it to fulfill its statutory duties without political interference and respect the resolution of the National Assembly, which has called for a halt to all divestments by international oil companies in Nigeria.
“Ensure new operators are appropriately vetted and committed to responsible environmental management and community welfare. Create an Environmental Restoration Fund that is sufficiently funded to meet the complete costs of environmental cleanup and reparations based on credible estimates of independent international experts and contributed to by Shell, TotalEnergies, and other international oil companies and future operators to address the long-term damage caused by their operations.
“Provide community profit-sharing opportunities for host communities as part of any divestment agreement, ensuring that the local people benefit from the oil resources they have hosted for decades.
“Mandate full disclosure of all environmental liabilities before divestment, requiring Shell, TotalEnergies, and any future operators to declare and address all damages publicly.
“Include gas flaring cessation and decommissioning plans in any divestment agreement, with clear timelines for ending harmful practices. Account for carbon emissions related to the divested assets and propose mitigation plans that align with Nigeria’s climate commitments,” the coalition insisted.
It stressed that this is the defining moment in Nigeria thus, urged President Tinubu to stand with the people of the Niger Delta and uphold the values of justice, fairness, and environmental protection.
It said that by halting Shell’s, TotalEnergies, and any other IOC divestment and demanding accountability, President Tinubu would send a powerful message that Nigeria’s sovereignty and the welfare of its citizens are paramount. The group appealed to President Tinubu not to undermine Nigeria’s national interest and the oversight of democratic institutions, adding that they stand ready to continue their advocacy but need President Tinubu to show leadership to ensure a just, sustainable, and prosperous future for all Nigerians.
