Attempt By Shell To Divest Its Off-shore Assets Unlawful- King Dakolo

The Paramount Ruler of Ekpetiama Kingdom in Bayelsa State, King Bubaraye Dakolo, has declared as unlawful the ongoing attempt by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria to divest from its onshore assets in the Niger Delta.

At a news conference in Abuja, King Dakolo and key civil society organisations condemned the divestment process, accusing Shell of attempting to sell off its assets and exit the region without addressing the massive ecological damage it has caused.

The monarch, who decried the plight of his people in the Ekpetiama Kingdom and other Niger Delta communities, said Shell and other oil companies have operated in the region with blatant disregard for life, law, and legacy.

He described the situation in Bayelsa State as environmental genocide, highlighting decades of oil spills, gas flaring, and exposure to toxic chemicals, which have devastated local livelihoods and ecosystems.

King Dakolo, who noted that the community was pursuing legal recourse, insisted that Shell must not be allowed to walk away from its responsibilities.

He urged the court to declare the divestment unlawful until the company cleans up the polluted sites and compensates the affected communities.

Environmental activist and Executive Director of the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey, described the Niger Delta as a brutalised sacrifice zone for fossil fuel colonialism.

He said this legal action marks a turning point in the fight for environmental justice, stressing that polluters must not be allowed to escape, but must pay up, clean up, and restore the lands and lives they have damaged.

Also speaking, legal practitioner Chuks Uguru explained that Shell’s divestment violates existing laws and undermines the environmental and human rights of the Ekpetiama people.

He called on the Federal Government to uphold justice and prevent further corporate impunity.

On his part, Programme Manager at Social Action Nigeria, Dr. Prince Edegbo, described the Ekpetiama Kingdom’s case as emblematic of a larger regional crisis and a rare opportunity to end systemic corporate impunity.

He urged the judiciary, civil society, and the global community to treat the matter with utmost seriousness, stressing that it is time to put people over profit.

This case is, no doubt, a potential game-changer in ensuring accountability and dignity for oil-producing communities in Nigeria.

Aisha Adesanya, Edited By Grace Namiji