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In the latest fight for justice, more than 11,000 Nigerians from the oil-producing Niger Delta have filed a compensation claim against Shell at the London High Court. It has been alleged that the oil spills from Shell’s operations through its Nigeria subsidiary SPDC, have ruined farming, contaminated drinking water, and harmed aquatic life.
In the latest fight for justice, more than 11,000 Nigerians from the oil-producing Niger Delta have filed a compensation claim against Shell at the London High Court. It has been alleged that the oil spills from Shell’s operations through its Nigeria subsidiary SPDC, have ruined farming, contaminated drinking water, and damaged aquatic life. Experts are of the view that the UK trial may be a milestone with far-reaching ramifications for the parent company for the actions of overseas subsidiaries.
The UK law firm Leigh Day announced last week that it had filed claims on behalf of 11,317 people and 17 institutions from the Niger Delta for compensation for loss of livelihoods and damage against Shell. According to a statement from the British Law firm, a case management hearing is likely to happen in Spring 2023, followed by a full trial in the following year.
Niger Delta consists of a vast maze of creeks and mangrove swamps crisscrossed by pipelines and afflicted by poverty, pollution, oil-fuelled corruption and violence. A Shell spokesperson said that litigation will not solve the real problem in the Niger Delta. He said that crude oil theft, illegal refining and sabotage were the causes of oil spills leading to environmental damage. He added that SPDC has been undertaking cleaning work in the affected areas. In December 2022, the company agreed to pay compensation of Shell U.S.$16 million to four Nigerian farmers and their communities for damage allegedly caused by pollution caused by leaks in its oil pipelines.
Also Read;
https://trendsnafrica.com/shell-to-pay-15-million-euros-to-nigerian-farmers-for-causing-oil-spill-2/
https://trendsnafrica.com/shell-plc-suspends-its-plan-to-sell-on-shore-assets-in-nigeria/
In 2021, Shell stated that it plans to abandon the Niger Delta and sell its onshore oilfields and assets . Shell has been operating in the Niger Delta for almost 80 years.
