From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) Africa Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL), Stakeholder Democracy Network, Civil Rights Council (CRC), Praxis Academy, Transparency International Nigeria, Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and Policy Alert, have protested against Shell divestment without a clean up of the Niger Delta.
CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, at a press briefing in Abuja, insisted on immediate halt to Shell’s divestment plans until a transparent, inclusive, and review process is undertaken.
Rafsanjani said there should be a thorough review that addresses the environmental and social legacies of Shell’s operations in the Niger Delta.
He said a petition had been sent to President Bola Tinubu to enforce robust regulatory measures to protect the rights and interests of the Niger Delta communities during and after the divestment process.
He said: “We are here to address a matter of profound urgency and significance—the proposed divestment of Shell from the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) in the Niger Delta.
“This divestment, which involves the transfer of Shell’s stakes to the Renaissance consortium, presents us with a critical moment that could shape the future of the Niger Delta and its people for generations to come.
“The Niger Delta, as many of you are aware, has borne the brunt of environmental degradation and social injustices for decades, a direct consequence of the oil exploration and production activities in the region.
“The planned divestment by Shell, without a comprehensive resolution of these long-standing issues, poses an unacceptable risk to the region’s ecological integrity and the well-being of its communities.
“In response to this critical situation, our coalition, representing a broad spectrum of civil society organizations and community leaders, has submitted a joint petition to President Bola Tinubu.
“This petition, endorsed by over a thousand signatories, calls for an immediate halt to Shell’s divestment plans until a transparent, inclusive, and just review process is undertaken.”
He added: “Our demands are clear and grounded in the principles of justice, sustainability, and community welfare:
Immediate Suspension of the Divestment Process: We insist on pausing Shell’s divestment until there is a thorough review that addresses the environmental and social legacies of Shell’s operations in the Niger Delta.
“Shell must be held accountable for its historical environmental and social impacts in the region.
“We demand a clear and transparent process that ensures accountability and remediation before any transfer of ownership.
“We call upon the Nigerian government to enforce robust regulatory measures to protect the rights and interests of the Niger Delta communities during and after this divestment process.
“The voices and concerns of the impacted communities must be at the forefront of the divestment process. We advocate for fair compensation, meaningful engagement, and concrete commitments to remediation.
“We propose the establishment of a fund, contributed to by Shell, dedicated to the environmental restoration and sustainable development of the Niger Delta, managed transparently and with active community involvement.
“We urge the adoption of comprehensive principles to guide the divestment process, ensuring it adheres to the highest standards of transparency, inclusivity, and accountability.”