Shell Pays $10m for Ogoni Clean-Up And Stops Pollution At 15 Oil Production Sites

Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), the Nigerian arm of international oil company, Shell, over the weekend revealed that it had paid the sum of $10 million to the Nigerian government to support the cleanup of Ogoniland in the Niger-Delta.

Recall, President Muhammadu Buhari had in 2015 approved the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoniland and set up a working committee to that effect.

In June 2016, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo flagged off the cleanup exercise but not much has been done ever since amidst complaints of paucity of funds.

The cleanup of the Ogoni communities in Rivers State and other parts of the Niger-Delta is being implemented by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Agency (HYPREP) under the supervision of the federal ministry of environment.

Now, while speaking in Port-Harcourt at an interactive session on the Ogoniland cleanup, Shell’s General Manager, External Relations, Mr Igo Weli, said the UNEP report had recommended multi-stakeholder efforts driven by the federal government for the cleanup exercise and Shell was ready to play its role alongside other stakeholders under a transparent governance framework.

Weli also revealed that 15 SPDC Joint Venture oil production sites, specifically mentioned in the UNEP report that needed attention, had been remediated in the communities and certified by government, adding that the firm had also raised its standard on remediation approaches in line with industry best practices.

“SPDC JV remains fully committed to supporting and contributing its share within the appropriate framework and governance structures. 

“We encourage all relevant stakeholders to also remain committed to contributing their share,” he said.