Nigerian Monarch Demands R217 Billion Environmental Cleanup From Shell Before Exit

Yenagoa, Nigeria — A powerful traditional ruler from Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta is demanding R217 billion from Shell for environmental restoration before the UK energy giant completes its exit from the region. The move is part of a legal challenge filed in a federal high court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and supported by a coalition of civil society organisations.

King Bubaraye Dakolo of the Ekpetiama Kingdom argues that Shell’s decades-long presence in the Niger Delta has left behind toxic rivers, degraded farmland, and poisoned air, devastating local fishing and farming livelihoods.

“Shell wants to leave behind a mess that has ruined our rivers, farmlands, and livelihoods,” Dakolo said in a statement.
“We will not accept abandonment.”

The lawsuit is a response to Shell’s planned divestment of R43.5 billion in onshore Nigerian assets, as the company shifts focus to offshore operations.

Legal Action to Block Exit

Filed against Shell, as well as Nigeria’s petroleum and justice ministries and the upstream petroleum regulator, the suit seeks:

• An immediate halt to Shell’s asset transfer.
• A court order mandating Shell to decommission obsolete infrastructure.
• Remediation of environmental damage.
• Community compensation for long-standing harm.

The case was mentioned in court and adjourned to 22 July 2025.

Decades of Damage

Civil society groups backing the lawsuit, including Social Action Nigeria, claim that Shell is attempting to walk away with profits, while leaving behind “toxic air, poisoned water, and broken communities.”

“Shell wants to exit with profit, leaving behind toxic air, poisoned water, and broken communities,” said Isaac Asume Osuoka, director of Social Action Nigeria.

Shell has not publicly responded to the lawsuit but has previously attributed oil spills in the Niger Delta to pipeline vandalism and oil theft, arguing that it complies with international environmental standards.

Growing Pressure Amid Investment Push

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The case underscores growing tensions in Nigeria’s oil-rich southern region, where local communities and leaders are increasingly demanding accountability from multinational oil companies.

Nigeria remains Africa’s largest oil producer, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration has introduced reforms aimed at attracting foreign investment. However, cases like this could complicate efforts, as they expose decades of neglect and environmental injustice.

Background on Shell in Nigeria:

Shell has operated in Nigeria for over 60 years and has faced multiple lawsuits globally related to environmental harm in the Niger Delta. In 2021, a Dutch court ordered Shell’s Nigerian subsidiary to pay compensation to farmers for oil spills that occurred over a decade earlier.