Amnesty International has called on President Bola Tibubu to ensure Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, gives details of its existing pollution and current state of its infrastructure before sale of its onshore oil business in Nigeria.
Amnesty International’s Head of Business and Human Rights, Mark Dummett, reacting to Shell’s plan to sale of its onshore oil business in Nigeria for up to $2.4billion, in a statement on Tuesday, said:
“For decades, oil spills have damaged the health and livelihoods of many inhabitants of the Niger Delta.”
“Shell has earned billions of dollars from this business and it must make sure that its withdrawal does not have negative human rights and environmental consequences.
“We are calling for effective remedy for people whose rights have long been abused.
“Shell should not be allowed to wash its hands of the problems and leave, and we urge the Nigerian government to require Shell to provide a full assessment of existing pollution and the current state of its infrastructure.
“This information needs to be shared with affected communities.
“Nigeria’s government must ensure local inhabitants’ concerns about the sale are fully appraised and addressed, and uphold and protect the human rights of its citizens, including their rights to an adequate standard of living, clean water and health.”
