An investigation by the BBC has revealed that Shell, a major energy company, has been accused of ignoring warnings about problems and corruption in a clean-up operation in southern Nigeria. Despite claims from Shell and the Nigerian government that the clean-up is going well, evidence has emerged that the project, funded by multiple oil firms, has faced numerous issues. Critics have described the project as a “con” and a “scam” that has failed to address the devastating impact of oil pollution on the people of Ogoniland.
Shell has denied any wrongdoing, attributing spills in the region to sabotage, theft, and illegal activities. However, communities in Ogoniland are demanding accountability for oil pollution that has left them without clean water and unable to farm or fish. A civil trial is set to begin in London, where residents will argue that Shell is responsible for pollution dating back to 1989.
The UN has reported millions of barrels of oil spilled in the Niger Delta region since the 1950s, leading to health concerns and economic hardships for families. Residents like Paulina Agbekpekpe and Grace Audi have shared their struggles with contaminated water sources and the devastating impact of oil spills on their livelihoods. Despite promises of a clean-up, internal documents suggest that the project has been plagued by fraudulent practices.
The situation in Ogoniland highlights the ongoing challenges faced by communities affected by oil pollution, with many still waiting for justice and meaningful action to address the environmental and health impacts of decades of contamination. “The majority of it is designed to deceive the Ogoni people,” the informant stated. “It’s a scam meant to funnel more money into the pot and ultimately into the pockets of politicians and other influential individuals.”
The allegations against Hyprep include:
– Contracts being awarded to companies without relevant experience
– Falsification of laboratory results, sometimes labelling contaminated soil and water as clean
– Inflating project costs
– Preventing external auditors from properly checking the clean-up on sites
During a meeting in 2023, attended by representatives from Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary, the UNEP, and Hyprep, it was noted that “incompetent” contractors were being engaged again and should not be allowed to further harm the environment.
In a leaked report from the same year, it was highlighted that laboratory results were consistently reported with deviations.
In 2022, the UN warned the Nigerian environment ministry that if changes were not made, the poor standards of the clean-up would persist.
The BBC reached out to Hyprep and the Nigerian government for comment on the allegations but did not receive a response.
However, our investigation uncovered evidence that Shell was aware of the issues. During a meeting with the British high commissioner to Nigeria, Shell representatives acknowledged the “institutional challenges” of the clean-up agency and the risk of future funding being denied.
Shell stated, “Hyprep is an agency established and overseen by the federal government of Nigeria, with its governing council largely composed of senior ministers and government officials, along with five community and NGO representatives and a single Shell representative.”
The UN cautioned in 2011 that it could take up to 30 years to clean up the oil pollution in Ogoniland.
This is not the only remediation project in Ogoniland that has been accused of failing. In 2015, Shell settled for a clean-up after two disastrous spills in 2008 in the Bodo area.
The Bodo Mediation Initiative (BMI), tasked with mediating between oil companies and the Bodo community and partly funded by Shell, claimed the clean-up was 98% complete. However, the BBC found crude oil still seeping from the soil and floating on waters in the area.
Shell and the BMI attributed any oil spills to theft, known as “oil bunkering,” in the industry. The BMI director, Boniface Dumpe, stated plans to recall contractors to clean the areas to specification.
Shell asserted that it takes measures to prevent oil spills caused by oil bunkering, including aerial surveillance and removing illegal connections on pipelines.
As Shell prepares to sell its Nigerian subsidiary, the SPDC, to Renaissance Africa, some Ogoniland locals accuse the oil giant of evading proper clean-up and fear it may still profit from the region in the future.
They worry about the impact of future oil operators on their livelihoods and express concerns about the lack of transparency in these deals.
Mineral products, particularly petroleum oil and gas, make up 90% of Nigeria’s exports, most of which originate from the Niger Delta region.
Locals, who traditionally relied on agriculture and fishing, lament the exploitation of their land for profit by major oil companies, oil thieves, and corrupt politicians without seeing any benefits, only suffering. “Es realmente malo,” el BBC de 42 años.
Mapa: Nigeria
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