By Theophilus Chibuzo Oliver
A group of protesters gathered in London to demand that Shell take responsibility for the environmental damage caused by oil spills in Nigeria. Demonstrators called on the multinational energy giant to rectify the destruction caused by its operations in the Niger Delta.
Godwin Bebe Okpabi, a community leader from Ogale in the Niger Delta, urged Shell to take responsibility for the damage, which he said had destroyed our way of life. Speaking to Reuters, he appealed to the company’s conscience, demanding action to address the environmental devastation.
Thousands of residents from Ogale and Bille are suing Shell and its Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), over oil spills that have polluted the Niger Delta—a region long plagued by environmental degradation, conflict, and corruption linked to the oil and gas industry.
Decades of oil spills have led to severe environmental and economic consequences, destroying the livelihoods of many local residents and leaving communities in crisis.
However, Shell has argued that the majority of spills are caused by illegal third-party interference, including pipeline sabotage and oil theft, which are widespread in the Niger Delta.
In response to Shell’s claims, Okpabi accused the company of prioritising profit over human lives. Shell has made billions of dollars in Nigeria—blood money—but has a moral responsibility to prevent and remediate oil spills, he stated.
Okpabi made his remarks outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, ahead of a four-week hearing that will examine key issues under Nigerian law, including whether SPDC can be held liable for oil spills caused by third-party interference. A further trial on the matter is scheduled for 2026.