Page 74 - Vol 33 Issue 34 2021

Shell’s Niger Delta Cleanup - Ogoniland’s Uncertain Future
oil Justice

Shell’s

Niger Delta Cleanup -

Ogoniland’s Uncertain

Future

By Mimi Mefo Takambou

Dutch court in January ruled that Shell had polluted the Niger Delta and ordered the energy giant to pay
A compensation. But many are now questioning whether it is enough to put right the misery suffered by the people.

The conflict between the indigenous people of that could prevent future damage on the Oruma transnational corporations involved in injustice
Ogoni in Nigeria’s Niger Delta is a perennial one. pipeline, the site of a significant number of the worldwide. Victims of environmental pollution,
This year’s court ruling by an appeals court in spills. land grabbing or exploitation now have a better
the Netherlands -- in favour of Milieudefensie/ “After years of litigation there is finally justice chance to win a legal battle against the companies
Friends of the Earth Netherlands and four for many of my clients,” said Channa Samkalden, involved.”
Nigerian farmers -- was heralded by some of the lawyer for Milieudefensie and the Nigerian The question that remains unanswered,
them as justice. farmers. however, is whether implementation of the
The court delivered its judgment at the end of a This is a sentiment also shared by Eric Dooh, court’s ruling will be carried out to the satisfaction
long-running civil case. The farmers were seeking one of the farmers. of the afflicted population.
financial compensation and a cleanup by Shell for “Finally, there is some justice for the Nigerian
pollution caused by pipelines leaking oil into the people suffering the consequences of Shell’s oil,” Discontent over
Niger Delta. Dooh told DW.
For Donald Pols, Milieudefensie director, it implementation
Justice served was “fantastic news for the affected farmers. It is Since a United Nations 2011 recommendation
enormous that Shell has to compensate for the
“Shell Nigeria is sentenced to compensate damage.” that operations be put in place to clean up the oil
farmers for damages,” the court said. The bench It may well be that justice has indeed been spills, the feeling among the Ogoni indigenes is
added that parent company Royal Dutch Shell served, based on the argument by Mr Pols, that little has been done.
was also liable to install detection equipment who said: “this is also a warning for all Dutch A popular sentiment remains that the Dutch

74 | AFRICAN POWER Mining & Oil Review Vol33 Issue 34 2021