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Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of CISLAC, Leads Urgent Advocacy Effort
In a concerted effort led by prominent civil society leaders, a coalition of organizations has come together to address the proposed divestment of Shell from the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) in the Niger Delta. Led by Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the coalition represents a broad spectrum of civil society organizations and community leaders, including Social Action Nigeria, AFRICMIL, Stakeholder Democracy Network, and Transparency International Nigeria, among others.
The Niger Delta, long plagued by environmental degradation and social injustices resulting from oil exploration and production activities, faces a pivotal moment with Shell’s proposed divestment. The coalition asserts that without a comprehensive resolution of these longstanding issues, the divestment poses an unacceptable risk to the region’s ecological integrity and the well-being of its communities.
In response, the coalition has submitted a joint petition to President Bola Tinubu, endorsed by over a thousand signatories, calling for an immediate halt to Shell’s divestment plans. The petition demands a transparent, inclusive, and just review process, grounded in principles of justice, sustainability, and community welfare.
Key demands outlined by the coalition include the immediate suspension of the divestment process until a thorough review addresses Shell’s historical environmental and social impacts in the Niger Delta. Additionally, the coalition calls for accountability and transparency measures, strengthened regulatory frameworks, a community-centric approach with fair compensation and meaningful engagement, establishment of an Environmental Restoration Fund, and adoption of national principles for responsible divestment.
The coalition emphasizes that their gathering is not merely symbolic but a resolute call to action, highlighting the high stakes and far-reaching implications of Shell’s divestment. Their goal is to secure a sustainable, just, and equitable future for the Niger Delta, where environmental restoration occurs, communities are compensated, and social injustices are addressed.
In conclusion, the coalition expresses gratitude for support in their critical endeavor and reaffirms their commitment to advocacy until their demands are met and the Niger Delta sees the dawn of a new era of environmental restoration and social justice.
