Shell ignored warnings of corruption in Ogoniland clean-up, says report

The clean-up project in Ogoniland in the Niger Delta region by Shell has been described as a “con” and a “scam” that has wasted money and left the people of the land to continue living with the devastating impact of oil pollution—13 years after a ground-breaking UN report exposed the seriousness of their situation.

The project, which is funded by various oil firms to the tune of $1bn (£805m), kicked off around eight years ago.
However, an investigation by the BBC shows that Shell ignored multiple warnings that the project was beset by problems and corruption.

Also, claims that Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), remediated some areas are false, as those areas remain polluted.

The allegations come as a civil trial is expected to begin on Thursday at the High Court in London, where lawyers representing two Ogoniland communities of around 50,000 inhabitants will argue that Shell must take responsibility for oil pollution that occurred between 1989 and 2020, allegedly from its infrastructure.

A UN report states that at least 13 million barrels—or 1.5 million tonnes—of crude oil have been spilled since 1958 in at least 7,000 incidents in the Niger Delta region.

According to a 50-year-old mother of six, the spillage has destroyed the area that used to brim with all kinds of animals and fish, particularly periwinkle.

“The place was greener, not only with mangroves but all along the shoreline—there were pawpaw trees, palm trees, and more. But during the spills, the destruction polluted everywhere,” she said.

A study conducted by the UN’s Environment Programme (UNEP) showed that members of one community in Ogoniland were drinking water contaminated with a known carcinogen.

However, Shell and a clean-up company, Bodo Mediation Initiative (BMI), insist that any occurrences of oil spills in the region are due to theft—known in the industry as “oil bunkering.”

“There is a plan to call back the contractors to clean those areas to specification, to standard,” Boniface Dumpe, a director at the BMI, told the BBC.

“It is the responsibility of all stakeholders, including Shell, to take care of their facilities and ensure that re-oiling does not come from their infrastructure.

“But for the areas that have been cleaned, I would think that some responsibility also lies with the community to ensure that illegal activities do not cause re-pollution.”