Nearly ten years after the UN called for a major clean-up of areas of the Niger Delta polluted by the oil giant Shell and other oil companies, decontamination work has begun on only 11% of planned sites while vast areas remain heavily contaminated, according to a new investigation by four NGOs published today.

Main findings

Amongst other things, the four NGO's 30-page report, 'No Clean-Up, No Justice', finds that:

*There are still communities in Ogoniland without access to clean water supplies;

*Health and environmental monitoring has not been carried out;

*There has been no public accounting for how $31m funding provided since 2018 has been spent;

*Eleven of 16 companies contracted for the clean-up are reported to have no registered expertise in oil pollution remediation or related areas;

*Highlights that "emergency measures" proposed by UNEP have not been properly implemented and that the billion-dollar clean-up project launched by the Nigerian government in 2016 has been ineffective.

Recommendations to Shell

Amnesty and the other NGOs are demanding a rapid clean-up, and in particular that Shell:

*Provides proper compensation to all communities affected by failed or delayed clean-ups of oil spills;

*Decommissions all aging and damaged pipelines commits to funding the clean-up of Ogoniland and the rest of the Niger Delta until completed.

*Ensure that Ogoni people can access their basic rights, including the right to safe drinking water;

*Develop and implements a strategy to address the root causes of oil pollution, while fully involving local communities;

*Strengthen HYPREP and ensures it is an independent, transparent agency without the involvement of Shell in oversight and management structures;

*And publish all information on the clean-up project and its progress.

Recommendations to European governments

And finally, the NGOs are also calling on European governments which are home to oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to:

*Make a fundamental shift to prioritise the clean-up of Ogoniland and the rest of the Niger Delta over the interests of companies;

*Increase engagement with and support for the Nigerian government to ensure effective implementation of the UN's recommendations, independent oversight of the oil industry and effective remedy for affected communities;

*And to establish strong international regulations for corporate liability abroad - such as an EU law for mandatory Human Rights due diligence and a binding UN Treaty on Business and Human Rights.

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