Niger Delta — A new report on how the operations of an oil producing company is affecting the human rights and living conditions in the Niger Delta has been published by a church-based investor and membership organizations.

The report, titled: Shell in the Niger Delta: a Framework for Change was published on February 16 by the church-based investor coalition and membership organization, the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR).

Based on case studies researched and written by five civil society organizations working in the Niger Delta, the report raises concerns about Shell's Nigerian subsidiary, the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) operations in relation to international social and environmental standards, pollution levels, the health and livelihoods of communities.

A report notes a catalogue of effects including: environmental insecurity; "all too frequent" oil spills with poorly executed clean-ups and unfair compensation, a devaluation of community opinion and culture, unequal and unjust revenue allocation, a series of unsuccessful community development initiatives and militarization.

The new report follows an Amnesty International report last year which also said that the company was responsible for bringing impoverishment, conflict, human rights abuses and despair to the majority of the people in the oil-producing areas of the Niger Delta.

ECCR acknowledges that many of the problems in the Niger Delta are also the responsibility of the Nigerian government.

Among the report's most urgent recommendations are an end to gas flaring, provision of sustainable drinking water for communities, action to replace ageing pipelines and commencement of a major environmental audit and rehabilitation programme.

The report also calls for continuous human rights training for Shell's Nigerian staff, greater respect for principles of open dialogue and community consent, independent monitoring and effective grievance mechanisms.

Citing the increasingly recognised corporate duty to respect human rights by 'doing no harm', the report argues that Shell has both responsibility and opportunity to improve its operational practices in Nigeria.