Calls to Halt Shell's Nigeria Oil Sale Over Pollution Fears

The proposed sale of Shell's onshore oil business in the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria to Renaissance Africa Energy raises serious concerns about worsening human rights abuses and environmental damage, according to a coalition of 40 civil society organizations, including Amnesty International.

The groups have called on the Nigerian government to block the sale unless several safeguards are implemented. These include fully assessing the environmental pollution caused by Shell's operations, ensuring funds are available for clean-up costs, and consulting with local communities.

Critics argue that Shell's longstanding operations in the region have led to frequent oil leaks, contamination of water sources, and harm to local residents' health and livelihoods. There is a risk that Shell could profit from the sale without addressing its responsibility for cleaning up pollution and remedying past damage, while the purchasing consortium may lack the resources to manage the infrastructure effectively.