UNEP Report: Federal Government Should Lead the Way – Sunmonu

Fri, Apr 19, 2013
By publisher
3 MIN READ

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MUTIU Sunmonu, country chair, Shell Petroleum and Development Company, SPDC, in an answer to a questionnaire sent to him, absolved Shell of any wrong doing in Ogoniland. Sunmonu also spoke on the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme, UNEP, report which indicted Shell of environmental degradation in Ogoniland, allegations that Shell was bribing government officials and security agents to do its bidding on Shell’s plan to decommission its asset in Ogoniland. Excerpts:

Realnews: Can you react to the allegation that Shell has been getting off lightly in all the human rights abuse and environmental degradation cases instituted against the company in courts. Some of the cases are Wiwa Vs Shell 2009 where Shell was asked to pay $15.5 million, the January 30 ruling between Shell and Ogoni farmers in the Hague, the Netherlands and the recent UNEP report which indicted Shell.
Sunmonu: It is not true that we ‘get off lightly’ in court cases. If you cross check, you will remember that Shell agreed to pay the $15.5m in settlement of the 2009 Wiwa vs Shell suit and has since paid the sum. In the January 30 ruling, the Dutch court dismissed four of the five suits but found SPDC liable for breach of duty of cure in protecting the well head in Ikot Ada. Compensation, if any to be paid will be the subject of another proceeding. The UNEP report highlighted significant environmental impacts from oil pollution in parts of Ogoniland and called on government, industry and communities to take action to put an end to all forms of oil contamination (including crude oil theft and illegal refining) and begin a comprehensive clean up. SPDC has welcomed the report and is advocating more concerted efforts by all stakeholders in the hopes that the report will drive real change in Ogoniland and the wider Niger Delta.

Mutiu SunmonuRealnews: Why is Shell picking the aspects of the UNEP report it wants to implement?
Sunmonu: Many of the most important UNEP recommendations – such as the creation of an Ogoniland Environmental Restoration Authority and an Environmental Restoration Fund for Ogoniland – are directed at the government and require the government to take the lead to co-ordinate the activities of the many stakeholders involved. However, SPDC is going ahead to implement aspects of the report relating to its business including, review of our Remediation Management System (RMS), retraining of remediation contractors and an inventory of our assets in Ogoniland preparatory to developing a decommissioning plan.

Realnews: SPDC said it wants to go back to Ogoni when the issues Ogoni people have against Shell has not been resolved?
Sunmonu: We suspended operations in Ogoniland since 1993 and have no plans to return there to produce oil and gas. However, as part of the recommendations of the UNEP report, we are currently confirming our physical assets in the area preparatory to decommissioning them.

Realnews: There is the allegation that Shell is conniving with the Nigerian government to kill the UNEP report. Why?
Sunmonu: This is not true. How can we kill a report whose recommendations we are already implementing?

Realnews: Is Shell returning to Ogoniland?
Sunmonu: If you mean to produce oil, the answer is no. However, as part of the recommendations of the UNEP report, we are currently confirming our physical assets in the area preparatory to decommissioning them.

Realnews: Could you comment on the allegation that Shell bribes government officials and security officials to do its bidding in the Niger Delta?
Sunmonu: This is baseless and entirely false. We operate according to the Shell general business principles which forbid payment or receiving of bribes.

— Apr. 29, 2013 @ 01:00 GMT

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