Nearly 10 years after a clean-up was urged for areas polluted by Shell and other oil companies in the Niger Delta, work has begun on only 11 per cent of planned sites while vast areas remain heavily contaminated, according to a new investigation by four NGOs.

The continued and systematic failure of oil companies and government to clean up have left hundreds of thousands of Ogoni people facing serious health risks, struggling to access safe drinking water, and unable to earn a living.

Key findings of the report include:

Work has begun on only 11% of polluted sites identified by UNEP, with only a further 5% included in current clean-up efforts, and no site has been entirely cleaned up;

Actions classified by UNEP as "emergency measures" - immediate action on drinking water and health protection - have not been implemented properly; there are still communities without access to clean water supplies;

Health and environmental monitoring has not been carried out;

There has not been any public accounting for how the 31 million USD funding provided since 2018 has been spent;

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

HYPREP has numerous conflicts of interest as Shell continues to be involved in the governing boards for the clean-up and even places its own staff in HYPREP.

The organisations demand rapid clean-up and in particular that the Nigerian government:

makes sure that Ogoni people can access their basic rights including the right to safe drinking water

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

strengthens HYPREP and ensures it is an independent, transparent agency without involvement of Shell in oversight and management structures

publishes all information on the clean-up project and its progress

that Shell:

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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

that European governments home to oil companies operating in the Niger Delta:

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 UNEP's recommendations, independent oversight of the oil industry and effective remedy for affected communities

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.

Wakanda News Details

Harriette Cole

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