press release
friends of the earth international
august 31, 2004 london (uk) / lagos
(nigeria)
anger as shell rejects nigerian
compensation order for 1.5 billion usd
The oil giant Shell is challenging the
authority of the Nigerian Senate by rejecting
an order to pay compensation of $1.5 billion
to communities in the Niger Delta affected by
oil pollution.
Shell claims the Nigerian Government has
failed to follow “due process”. In
an advertisement published in Nigerian
newspapers yesterday and today [1], the Shell
Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria
(SPDC) claims the Senate failed to follow due
process in imposing the fine, announced last
week.
Friends of the Earth Nigeria reacted angrily
to the advertisement, saying it showed that
the oil giant was yet again trying to avoid
facing up to its responsibilities to the
local communities.
The petition for compensation was brought to
the Nigerian House of Representatives by the
Ijaw Aborigines of Bayelsa State who say
that
repeated oil spills by Shell have lead to
widespread disease in their
communities.
The House adopted a resolution in May 2003
which stated that Shell was liable to pay
compensation to the Ijaw Aborigines and that
more research should be done to determine
whether oil pollution is linked to terminal
illnesses such as cancer. The Nigerian
Senate ruled on Tuesday 24th August that
Shell must pay $1.5 billion compensation to
the community.
Shell claims in the advertisement that the
spills were a result of sabotage.
Friends of the Earth Nigeria Director Nnimmo
Bassey said: “Yet again Shell is refusing to
take responsibility for the damage it
inflicts on the people of the Niger
Delta. Shell's operations have caused
pollution on a terrible scale. The
people have lost their farmland, water
sources have been contaminated – and human
health has suffered as a result. Shell
maintains it is a good corporate citizen, but
the evidence tells a very different
story.”
Friends of the Earth International Vice
Chair Tony Juniper added: “Shell's behaviour
in Nigeria is disgraceful. This vast
company claims to be a leader in corporate
responsibility but its legacy in Nigeria will
scar the country for decades to come.
The British Government must act to force this
company to meet its legal obligations
overseas – and act to prevent any other
British company behaving in such a way
abroad.”
For more information
contact:
In Nigeria: Nnimmo Bassey, director Of
ERA/Friends of the Earth Nigeria
+234-80-23176577- email:
In London: Friends of the Earth Press
office
+ 44-20-75661649 – email:
notes
[1] Copies of the advertisement, which
appeared in yesterday's "The Punch" are
available from the press office at Friends of
the Earth in London and in Nigeria .
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