Says Shell should take responsibility for environmental damage and human rights abuses in the Niger Delta
Nollywood actress Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has called on oil industry operator, Shell, to own up, pay up and clean up the Niger Delta.
Omotola, a long-established Amnesty International activist, showed her support for the rights group.
A short video released on Thursday showed the actress standing outside Shell’s headquarters in London and calling upon Peter Voser, Shell’s Chief Executive, to take responsibility for the pollution of the region.
Omotola said: “I am from Ondo State, a region of the Niger Delta. I am devastated to see the impact on my beautiful country and our people from the pollution that Shell has caused.
“People’s lives are literally being ruined by this mess. Fisherman cannot fish. Food cannot be grown or harvested. Water is contaminated and people’s health is at risk. Shell makes billions of dollars in profit yearly and needs to act now to clean up their mess.”
Amnesty International and Nigerian civil society groups are working closely with communities in the Niger Delta to stand up for their rights, since Shell has failed to properly prevent or address oil pollution in the Niger Delta.
The group also called on the government to address the long term systemic problems related to the oil industry.
According to them, the government also bears significant responsibility for the impact of pollution in the Niger Delta because it has failed to enforce existing laws and regulations to prevent pollution and hold the oil industry accountable, fostering a culture of impunity in which oil companies are able to operate without concern for the consequences.
A global week will feature events and demonstrations by Amnesty International activists, Nigerian civil society, and communities in the Niger Delta. It will be held across Europe, Africa, America, and Asia, including outside Shell’s offices and petrol stations all over.
