Amnesty Report: Shell Knew Niger Delta Risks, Faces $10.9bn Decommission Bill
Amnesty International’s report 'Nigeria: Lifting the Lid' says internal Shell documents show the company knew of ageing infrastructure, leaking pipelines and inadequate leak detection while continuing to operate in the Niger Delta. The documents, dating from 2008 to 2014 and released after UK legal proceedings, reveal that Shell allowed illegal pipeline taps to remain to avoid downtime, exempted its Nigerian subsidiary from certain global safety standards, and identified a maintenance backlog affecting over 1,600 pipeline clamps, many of unknown location. The report also notes the Nembe Creek Trunk Line, replaced in 2010, was not properly decommissioned, leaving about 80 km of stagnant crude that has leaked six times since 2010. Amnesty estimates a potential $10.9 billion decommissioning bill for Shell's former Niger Delta operations and argues the firm prioritised profit over people's rights. Shell rejected the characterisation, saying it remains committed to honesty and that the report ignores the challenging operating environment at the time. The findings matter because they affect environmental health, livelihoods of Delta communities, and could shape future liabilities and investment decisions in Nigeria's oil sector. With NEITI reviewing $6.03 billion of oil-block divestments and Shell reporting 20 operational spills over 100 kg in 2024, stakeholders should watch how liability questions evolve and what accountability measures emerge for affected communities.