Following news that Nigeria’s oil industry regulator is prepared to provide an expedited sale approval process to oil companies wishing to sell their operations in the country, Amnesty International Nigeria Director Isa Sanusi said: stated.
“Shell is currently seeking regulatory approval for the sale of its operations in the Niger Delta, but it is still facing serious human rights concerns related to decades of oil spills that polluted the environment, contaminated drinking water, and caused poisoning. It is imperative that we fully hold accountable for violations of agricultural land, fisheries, and people.
“A proposal by Nigeria’s industry regulator to fast-track marketing approval for an oil company that has admitted responsibility for environmental pollution is an easy option that would allow Shell to escape the suffering associated with its operations in the Niger Delta. Do not expose local communities to further human rights violations.
We must not allow the sale of Shell to worsen the fossil fuel industry’s long and disastrous record of environmental pollution and leave further damage.
Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria
“We believe that the proposed fast-track option could give big oil companies an advantage in negotiations over marketing approvals, rather than excluding affected communities from the decision-making process. We are also concerned that any approval will ensure that the buyer has the business expertise and financial stability to manage the acquired business safely and effectively so that the community is not exposed to lasting harm. It is also important that there be a condition.
“Amnesty International believes that the sales approval process relating to Shell’s operations in Nigeria is complete and thorough, including an environmental survey to assess cleanup requirements, an inventory of the physical assets to be sold, and assessment to ensure that sufficient funding is available for possible decommissioning.
“The sale of Shell further worsens the fossil fuel industry’s long and disastrous record of pollution, and we must not allow further damage to remain.” We are campaigning for a just energy transition.”
background
In January, Shell announced the sale of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Nigeria to the Renaissance consortium, made up of four Nigeria-based exploration and production companies and international energy groups, in a deal worth up to US$2.4 billion. announced that they had agreed. , part of the financing was provided by a loan to the buyer from Shell. The chairman of Nigeria’s Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission outlined the fast-track approval option at a meeting in Abuja last week with representatives of major oil companies such as Shell and ExxonMobil.
