Nigeria: communities sue Shell because of pollution from oil pipeline

Communities in Nigeria’s Niger Delta are pursuing legal action against Shell over extensive environmental damage linked to repeated oil spills from the Nembe Creek Trunk Line pipeline. Internal company documents disclosed during court proceedings suggest that as early as 2008 there was disagreement between senior executives over the risks of continuing operations, and there were repeated breaches of the company’s own technical standards. Residents of affected communities say decades of pollution have devastated fishing grounds, damaged livelihoods and raised concerns about long-term health impacts. Shell maintains that much of the pollution resulted from large-scale oil theft, sabotage and illegal refining activities, arguing that it invested heavily in spill prevention and clean-up efforts. The case centres on more than a hundred leaks between 2011 and 2013, with communities seeking compensation and environmental restoration. The dispute highlights the lasting consequences of pollution in one of the world’s most important oil-producing regions.

Pray: that justice will be done. Pray for restoration and healing to come to affected communities. (Isaiah 58:12)
More: www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdrp8v7407ro