𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹'𝘀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝗶𝘁 𝗔𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗶𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀

𝗕𝘆 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮, 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮.

Environmental activists and civil society groups have called on the Nigerian government to suspend the planned sale of onshore assets belonging to in the Niger Delta, citing unresolved environmental pollution and fears of abandoned liabilities in affected communities.

The protests follow Shell’s proposed $2.4 billion divestment of its subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), to Renaissance Africa Energy Company, a consortium of indigenous firms. According to Shell, the move forms part of a broader restructuring of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

However, advocacy groups argue that the oil giant should not be allowed to exit the region without first addressing decades of environmental degradation linked to its operations.

A report released by the Dutch non-profit Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO) accused Shell of attempting to evade responsibility for what it described as a “toxic legacy of pollution” across the Niger Delta. The organization insisted that proper cleanup and safe decommissioning of abandoned oil infrastructure must precede any transfer of assets.

Community members from oil-producing areas have also joined the growing opposition. Residents of Korokoro Tai in Ogoniland, Rivers State, said recurring oil spills have severely damaged their farmlands and contaminated local water sources.

“We demand that Shell restore our land and clean our water before any divestment,” said Lezina Mgbar, a healthcare worker and farmer who participated in demonstrations in Port Harcourt.

Several scientific studies have previously documented dangerous levels of crude oil-related chemicals and heavy metals in parts of the Niger Delta, where oil exploration has remained central to Nigeria’s economy for decades.

Activists also referenced the 2021 Santa Barbara River wellhead blowout involving facilities formerly linked to Shell and later acquired by Aiteo Eastern E & P. The incident reportedly lasted 38 days, releasing crude oil and gas into the environment, destroying aquatic life and affecting riverside communities.

Environmental consultant Richard Steiner warned that transferring oil assets to local operators without resolving existing environmental concerns could worsen the crisis, arguing that some acquiring firms may lack the financial and technical capacity to manage such operations safely.

In response, Shell maintained that companies purchasing its assets undergo assessments covering financial strength, operational culture, and environmental performance. The company added that Nigeria’s regulatory authorities are empowered to scrutinize the transaction before approval.

President , who also serves as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources, is expected to make the final decision on the transaction.

Meanwhile, advocacy groups including Stakeholder Democracy Network have petitioned the federal government to adopt stricter rules guiding oil industry divestments. They say stronger regulations would ensure transparency, proper community consultation, and environmental accountability during asset transfers.

Shell and other multinational oil companies operating in Nigeria have frequently blamed oil spills on sabotage, pipeline vandalism, and crude oil theft. Nonetheless, Nigerian law requires operators to clean up polluted sites regardless of the cause of spills.

The proposed Renaissance deal represents Shell’s latest effort to reduce its onshore footprint in Nigeria while concentrating more heavily on offshore and deepwater operations. Other international oil companies, including , and , have also moved to scale back onshore investments in recent years.