Nigeria: Senate Directs Shell to Pay Ijaws $1.5bn Compensation

25 August 2004

Abuja — Senate yesterday unanimously directed Shell Petroleum Development Company Nigeria Limited (SPDC) to commence the payment of the sum of $1.5 billion to the Ijaws Aborigines of Bayelsa State as compensation. The money was for the severe health hazards, economic hardship, injurious affection, avoidable deaths and sundry maladies which the people have suffered as a direct or indirect consequence of multiple spillages occurring in SPDC's facilities across the eight local government areas of the state since the company commenced operations in 1956.

The upper legislative house approved that $1 billion is payable forthwith while the $500 million be paid within five years period in five equal installments of $100 million per annum commencing not later than one year after the payment of the initial $1 billion aforementioned.

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