Nigeria’s lucrative oil industry is dominated by Shell, which, in conjunction with the government, controls most of the country’s oil wells. It is also in part responsible for the thousands of spills - many enormous - that have occurred in Nigeria since the 1970s.
Sued by some of the people whose lives have been destroyed by the pollution, Shell is still arguing about just how much oil pollution it is liable for, claiming sabotage is behind most.
Arguably, the corporations in charge of an industry are responsible for everything that happens in that industry, regardless of the specifics of each individual case.
Shell, of course, is not going to have any of that. However, since the corporation has raked in vast profits at the expense of Nigeria’s people and environment, it should, at the very least, stop spinning and provide compensation to the victims.
Tell Shell to accept responsibility for what it has done.
We the undersigned ask that you accept moral responsibility, if not legal liability, for the immense damage Shell’s activities have wrought in Nigeria and provide compensation to those worst and most directly affected by the damage.
Rather than a constant stream of denials, hedging and quibbling, it would behove Shell to provide compensation to the people whose lives and livelihoods have been destroyed by the corporation’s interests in Nigeria. As things stand, Shell does not appear to be taking any corporate responsibility in this regard whatsoever.
Please take immediate, concrete steps to take responsibility for your corporation’s actions, including the provision of financial compensation to the victims.
Thank you for your attention.
