“Nigerian State oil company spends millions to clean up oil spillage

(1 minute read)

·        Nigeria’s state oil company along with its joint venture partners had expended US $360 million on cleaning up the Niger Delta oil heartland in the past two years.

·        Shell accepted the  responsibility of oil slippage in 2015 and paid a settlement of 55 million pounds to villagers

Nigeria’s state oil company along with its joint venture partners had expended US $360 million on cleaning up the Niger Delta oil heartland in the past two years. Being Africa’s biggest crude oil exporter, Nigeria earns 90% if its foreign exchange. The oil spills in the southern Niger Delta region are very common and the locals are up against the irresponsible mining of oil, which led to many health issues.

This had led to UN warning the country of catastrophic pollution in soil and water in Ogoniland in 2011. It said Shell and Nigeria’s government needed to address the problems. It may be recalled that Royal Dutch Shell Plc was forced out of Ogoniland in 1993 by campaigners led by activist Ken Saro-Wiwa. Their allegation was that  the oil company had  given a death knell to their fishing rights since large numbers died  in the oil slick.  Shell accepted the  responsibility of oil slippage in 2015 and paid a settlement of 55 million pounds to villagers. Since then the oil company has been taking  steps to improve the situation in the area, including training youths to start up businesses and funding community patrols to reduce pollution by vandals stealing oil.