President Bola Tinubu has been urged to immediately halt all divestment processes until a transparent, comprehensive, and inclusive review is undertaken that addresses Shell’s and TotalEnergies’ historical environmental and social liabilities.
The call was made by a team pf civil society organisations, community groups, and concerned citizens headed by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), in a statement made available to EnviroNews on Monday, December 16, 2024.
While calling on Mr. President to ensure inclusive and transparent consultation with state governments and the people of the sites of oil and gas extraction in the Niger Delta before any further divestment of IOC assets, the activists want Shell, TotalEnergies, and all other IOCs to be held accountable for their past and ongoing environmental damage, and ensure they fund a full cleanup and remediation programme across the Niger Delta.
They called for the creation of an Environmental Restoration Fund that is sufficiently funded to meet the full and complete costs of environmental cleanup and reparations based on credible estimates of independent international experts and contributed to by Shell, TotalEnergies, and other international oil companies and future operators to address the long-term damage caused by their operations.
While mandating full disclosure of all environmental liabilities before divestment, requiring Shell, TotalEnergies, and any future operators to publicly declare and address all damages, the campaigners want Tinubu to provide community profit-sharing opportunities for host communities as part of any divestment agreement, ensuring that the local people benefit from the oil resources they have hosted for decades.
They likewise want gas flaring cessation and decommissioning plans included in any divestment agreement, with clear timelines for ending harmful practices, even as carbon emissions related to the divested assets and proposed mitigation plans that align with Nigeria’s climate commitments should be accounted for.
The group stated: “This is a defining moment in Nigeria. We urge President Tinubu to stand with the people of the Niger Delta and uphold the values of justice, fairness, and environmental protection. By halting Shell’s, TotalEnergies’ and any other IOC divestment and demanding accountability, President Tinubu will send a powerful message that Nigeria’s sovereignty and the welfare of its citizens are paramount.
“We ask President Tinubu not to undermine Nigeria’s national interest and the oversight of democratic institutions. We stand ready to continue our advocacy but need President Tinubu to show leadership to ensure a just, sustainable, and prosperous future for all Nigerians.”
