Some women groups in the Niger-Delta region have called on the federal government to demand that oil companies divesting their oil assets be made to clean-up all polluted sites in the Niger Delta before leaving the country.
This followed the announcement by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), to sell off their on-shore assets to investors.
In a press release, the Executive Director, Gbolekekro Women Empowerment and Development Organization (GWEDO), Comrade Cynthia Ebiere-Bright as well as some women in Gelegele community, strongly opposed what they called irresponsible divestment by oil companies and called on the Federal Government and state governors to obtain a court injunction to halt the sale of any assets related to this matter to ensure restoration of lost livelihood opportunities as well as restoration of the region’s land.
Comrade Ebiere-Bright who is in solidarity with another women’s group Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre making the same demand, urged Shell to clean all devastated and polluted communities caused by their activities before divestment, emphasizing the need for ecosystem restoration before any divestment takes place.
“We say No to the signing of the Divestment Bill. Divestment is a distraction from the real solution to climate change. It’s a deliberate strategy to leave the Niger Delta region in the devastated state they already are”.
Earlier, In a statement, Executive Director, Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre, Dr Emen Okon expressed that the decision by Shell to sell off their on-shore assets without conducting necessary consultations with communities that have endured decades of environmental degradation from their operations was really regrettable.
“It has come to our attention that plans are ongoing by Shell PLC to sell their shares in Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) to a consortium of investors, Renaissance Africa Energy. OML34 had already been divested to ND Western; OML17 and OML29 have been divested without proper guidelines.
Additionally, Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Exxon Mobil Nigeria Limited, and Total Energy Nigeria Limited, are poised to divest all their onshore assets without engaging host communities and rectifying the damages done to the environment and the well-being of peoples.
They are attempting to evade responsibility”
Dr Okon noted that women In the Niger Delta region bear the brunt of oil exploitation, facing deprivations due to environmental degradation as this has forced women to navigate polluted swamps for their economic activities, leading to a decline in crop yields and increased poverty.
“As affected women in the Niger Delta, we are deeply concerned about the swift nature of these divestment plans, as the government has not provided guidelines to ensure the resolution of pollution issues before SPDC, AGIP, and Total Energies depart.
The corporations involved have failed to establish women development funds to support those who have borne the consequences of their oil extraction activities.
We, the women, are in the dark regarding the reputations of the new companies acquiring the assets of Shell, AGIP, and Exxon Mobil.
We implore the government, whom we hold in high esteem, not to approve the divestment plans until polluted farmlands are cleaned up and restored by these companies.”
The NGOs are calling on the relevant oil companies to own up to their responsibilities to their host communities, stressing that divestment was not in the interest of the people of the Niger-Delta region.