Niger Delta Women Protest Shell’s On-Shore Asset Sale, Demand Environmental Cleanup
Women from the Niger Delta region staged a peaceful protest against Shell’s unilateral decision to sell its onshore assets, neglecting the communities that have borne the brunt of decades of environmental degradation due to their operations.
Organized by the Kebetkache Women Development & Resource Centre and other community organizations, the protestors voiced concerns regarding the lack of transparency and potential disregard for environmental responsibilities in the divestment process.
Key grievances raised by the women include:
- Lack of Consultation: The women expressed dismay at being sidelined in the decision-making process and demanded meaningful consultations before any asset sales proceed.
- Unresolved Environmental Issues: There are apprehensions that Shell and other companies, such as NAOC, Exxon Mobil, and Total, aim to evade accountability for existing environmental harm, including pollution and gas flaring, before exiting the region.
- Impact on Livelihoods: The protestors highlighted their vulnerable status as primary providers for their families and underscored how environmental degradation adversely affects their agricultural activities, resulting in food insecurity and poverty.
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The demonstrators put forward a clear demand:
“No Divestment Without Ecosystem Restoration”: They implore the government not to sanction asset sales until companies undertake the cleanup of polluted sites and restore lost livelihood opportunities in affected communities.
Additionally, the women requested:
Court Order to Halt Sale: They call upon the Rivers State Governor to secure a court injunction to halt the asset sale until their demands for environmental restoration and community empowerment are addressed.
