It was probably the most comprehensive discussion of Royal Shell’s operations in Nigeria in recent years. On Wednesday Dutch parliamentarians questioned oil giant Shell about the environmental impact of its activities. For a Nigerian perspective on the event, Radio Netherlands Worldwide’s Africa Desk invited two young Nigerians to attend and to comment on what they heard.
Sitting in the packed, silent public tribune Akinyinka Akinyoade, a researcher at the Africa Studies Centre in Leiden, heard Shell officials fend off repeated criticism about the company’s failure to clean up leaked oil and lack of transparency.
Akinyoade seemed almost surprised to see Shell come out to defend their record of providing public infrastructure like electricity, roads, schools and hospitals in Nigeria.
More positive spin
“We’ve always been hearing of Shell in negative news. Now the Shell officials have the opportunity to give their side of the story”, he says. “Shell's attitude has been that it does not need to advertise its good works. Yet, the way other stakeholders magnify out of proportion any negative aspect of Shell's operations, stays more in public eye." Akinyoade feels that the oil company should improve its public relations strategy and inform the public about what it does in Nigeria.
The hearing, however, did not change Akinyoade’s or fellow Nigerian Charles Nweke’s perception of the environmental degradation in the Niger Delta region where Shell extracts oil.
Objective
Nweke, a blogger in the Netherlands, grew up in that oil rich region. He was impressed with the questioning by Dutch members of parliament which he qualified as objective. A recurring query by lawmakers was whether the Dutch government should put more pressure on Shell to improve its environmental record there.
“I’m really amazed. This is a step in the right direction, but a bit late, 50 years down the line. If this kind of pressure we heard had been put on Shell before, maybe we wouldn’t be sitting here hearing about oil spills and the loss of livelihoods of people in the delta would not have taken place.”
Embarrassed
Another hot topic at the hearing was the level of corruption in Nigeria. Nweke: “It’s very, very embarrassing to me as a Nigerian, but they’re not saying anything new. It’s something we all knew about. It’s something we all wish will end. I’m happy that everybody has come to realise that a lot needs to be done to fight corruption in Nigeria.”
Could the parliament of Nigeria hold a similar hearing, we asked the two Nigerians? Nweke doubts whether there would be sufficient political will to carry it out. Akinyoade thinks it would be possible, if well structured, with a clear agenda. He says it would shed a new light on the public image of Shell in Nigeria.
“Shell has been engaged in positive activities to remedy some of the allegations; and whether it is enough or not is another story but at least it will put a positive spin to their image. Shell must self-reflect by asking why other oil companies in Nigeria are not barraged with negative publicity as Shell has. Shell can do better.”
Arm-twist
Both hope that the Dutch government will put some form of pressure on Shell to clean up the environment in the Delta.
“It’s time to act”, Akinyoade says. “It must not end here. We want to see how the parliamentarians will discuss this further to put Dutch government in a stronger position to persuade, assist, or arm-twist Shell where necessary, so as to improve their operations in Nigeria.”
"We must remember that in Nigeria when people think of Shell, they think of Holland in general."
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Just to add that the ruling party in Nigeria just threw a lavish party to welcome from jail one of their founders who had been jailed for stealing over 100 million naira belonging to the Nigerian Ports Authority. Corruption is everywhere, yes. But Mr Nweke, is this brazen display of solidarity with the corrupt found everywhere also? About three decades ago, my community rejected their king because he was jailed for some misdemeanor. They could not bear to be ruled by a convict. In addition, they banished his children from being kings forever. But that was the Nigeria of those days. I insist that the Dutch Government conduct a survey among those living the horrors of environmental degradation where Shell claims to doing so much CSR. I conclude that Shell (and others) are able to get away with so much evil because Nigerian leadership is corrrupt and anti-people.
"The issue being discussed is oil-spillage in Nigeria and the way forward, and someone at the other raised the issue of corruption which I do not see any link"
Mr Enoch, from your comment, it isobvious your were not at the Public Hearing. And its so disapointing that you do not see any link between corruption and the failure of Nigerian Government to implement existing regulations or enact new laws as it concerns crude oil exploration and cleaning up our polluted enviroment in the Delta Area.
Did you not see how the American Govt prevailed on BP over the recent Oil spills in the gulf of Mexico? Why cant our Govt do the same to Shell and other companies operating in the Region?
Are people of the Niger-Delta less Human than the people living along the Coast of Mexico?
So because there are corruption in other countries we should as well accept it in Nigeria? Cant we be a leading light in fight against corruption for other countries to follow?
Finaly, I challenge you to give examples where our anti-graft Agencies has excelled in the fight against corruption. Why is it that it is only in Nigeria that people known to have looted our common wealth walk free in the streets? What has your anti-graft agencies done about these scandals: SIMENS and HALIBURTON,etc. Dont you know that other countries whose Citizens were involved in the scam have all convicted them?
If you think that your Govt has the Political will to hold this sort of Public Hearing What are they still waiting for after 50yrs?
I like the discussion more especially the corruption issue. My contribution is that corruption isn't an issue that started recently. Corruption is not perculia to Nigeria only, it's everywhere in the world. Why is it that of Nigeria that is making the head-lines? Maybe because our so-called patriots outside Nigeria aren't helping issues. For instance the issue being discussed is oil-spillage in Nigeria and the way forward, and someone at the other raised the issue of corruption which I do not see any link. Atimes it's safer to face issues being discussed squarely without any deviation. We have better institutions fighting the problem and they are getting results. And who says the Nigerian parliament can't hold such hearing?
"The issue being discussed is oil-spillage in Nigeria and the way forward, and someone at the other raised the issue of corruption which I do not see any link"
Mr Enoch, from your comment, it isobvious your were not at the Public Hearing. And its so disapointing that you do not see any link between corruption and the failure of Nigerian Government to implement existing regulations or enact new laws as it concerns crude oil exploration and cleaning up our polluted enviroment in the Delta Area.
Did you not see how the American Govt prevailed on BP over the recent Oil spills in the gulf of Mexico? Why cant our Govt do the same to Shell and other companies operating in the Region?
Are people of the Niger-Delta less Human than the people living along the Coast of Mexico?
So because there are corruption in other countries we should as well accept it in Nigeria? Cant we be a leading light in fight against corruption for other countries to follow?
Finaly, I challenge you to give examples where our anti-graft Agencies has excelled in the fight against corruption. Why is it that it is only in Nigeria that people known to have looted our common wealth walk free in the streets? What has your anti-graft agencies done about these scandals: SIMENS and HALIBURTON,etc. Dont you know that other countries whose Citizens were involved in the scam have all convicted them?
If you think that your Govt has the Political will to hold this sort of Public Hearing What are they still waiting for after 50yrs?
Helene, this is a beautiful story. Thanks to Akinyinka--with whom I spent time in Leiden--and Nweke. Thanks to the Dutch Parliament. I think, however, that the Dutch government needs to commission a small-scale independent survey in the Shell operations area of the Niger Delta. Let us hear from the people who live in the degraded environment where Shell claims to have done so much good job. The findings of such survey will corroborate or refute what Shell claims to do--all the claims of social responsiblity. It seems Mr Akinyinka and Nweke already believe Shell. Well, let the people be heard first. Then we can move on from there.
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