Shell ‘remains responsible’ for oil spills, environmental degradation in Nigeria despite divestment −Group

*Amnesty International insists despite Shell Company’s recent sale of its Nigerian subsidiary, the move ‘does not absolve the company of responsibility for its past actions’ in the Niger Delta region, urging the IOC and other oil companies to responsibly divest themselves of assets and operations, to respect human rights and the environment

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Despite the International Oil Company’s (IOC) divestment of its Nigerian subsidiary, Amnesty International (AI) has said Shell Petroleum still bears the responsibility for cleaning up and remedying historic oil pollution in the Niger Delta region.

The rights organisation’s statement Thursday, September 4, 2025, was sequel to a letter sent two months ago by seven UN Rapporteurs on Human Rights to Shell and other oil companies, as well as the governments of the companies’ home countries.

ConsumerConnect reports the UN Rapporteurs on Human Rights’ letter emphasised the oil businesses’ human rights obligations towards populations’ suffering from environmental pollution caused by their activities in their homelands.

Such oil spills, over several decades of oil exploration and production activities, had devastated the health, livelihoods, and environment of local communities in the region, according to reports.

Shell responsible for past actions as ‘biggest polluter’ in Nigeria −AI

Isa Sanusi, Nigeria’s Director at Amnesty International, was quoted to have said: “We call on Shell and other oil companies to responsibly divest themselves of assets and operations in a way that respects human rights and the environment.

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“Just because Shell recently sold its Nigerian subsidiary, it does not absolve the company of responsibility for its past actions.”

Sanusi averred that the oil spills in Nigeria’s South-South region amounted to a violation of human rights, and such required Shell and other companies to clean up affected areas and compensate local communities for environmental harm inflicted on them.

Restating the fact that the IOC is liable for oil spills despite its divestment, Amnesty International’s findings on Shell’s activity in Nigeria echoed those of the Rapporteurs, who as well uncovered said that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Shell’s former subsidiary, was the “biggest polluter” ever in the Niger Delta region of the country.

A report by another civil society also revealed that over 17.5 million liters of oil leaked from SPDC pipelines in the West African country.

These spills devastated the health, livelihoods, and environment of local communities in the region.

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They equally stressed that companies should not use divestment to avoid responsibility for pollution caused by their activities under any guise.

The civil society further criticised the SPDC divestment process for lacking transparency, which risks perpetuating human rights abuses while hindering efforts at remedying the situation in the region.

UN’s 2022 General Assembly resolution

It should be noted that the United Nations (UN) 2022 General Assembly resolution particularly recognised Nigerian consumers’ right to a healthy, clean, and sustainable environment.

This right includes substantive elements, such as the right to clean air, safe water, healthy food, and non-toxic environments to live and work in.

The UN resolution further includes procedural rights, including the right to participate in decision-making, access to justice and effective remedies, and access to information.

Shell explains divestment operation process

Reacting to the civil society’s report on the company’s alleged atrocities in the Niger Delta, Shell later published a letter explaining that following the divestment of SPDC, which was contested by Nigerian and international non-governmental organisations.

The IOC said its Nigerian subsidiary still retains the same responsibilities and remains accountable for commitments related to operations, including clean up and remediation in case of spills in the Niger Delta region.

It further highlighted that the divestment operation was conducted via a rigorous process, and obtained the approval of the Nigerian Government.

Oil spills may constitute ‘trespass’, rules UK High Court

Amnesty International’s latest statement is associated with a lawsuit the Niger Delta communities brought against Shell and its former subsidiary SPDC February 2025.

In June, the UK High Court issued a preliminary judgment, ruling that Shell and its Nigerian subsidiary could be held legally accountable for historic oil spills that have devastated Nigerian communities for decades.

The court also found that oil spills may constitute trespass and a failure to clean up could represent an ongoing breach of Shell’s legal obligations, potentially enabling new legal claims for every day the pollution persists.

The UK High Court has scheduled a full trial for 2027.

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