CAMPAIGN TO STOP A US$4 BILLION PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION AT BONNY (NIGERIA) OF A PLANT TO CONVERT NATURAL GAS INTO LIQUID FORM (LNG) FOR SHIPMENT TO WESTERN COUNTRIES.
According to SHELL: ³ Current gas reserves exceed 3,400 billion cubic metres, placing Nigeria among the global top ten in natural gas reserves. A huge investment lies behind the proposed construction at Bonny of a plant to convert natural gas into liquid form (LNG), for shipment abroad. It is scheduled to come on stream in 1995.....Initial capacity will be four million tonnes per year, with Bonny gas set to capture a large part of the Western Europe LNG market well into the 21st century....²
KEN SARO WIWA
SHELL
AND THE OGONI PEOPLES
THE NIGER DELTA
The Niger Delta is in Southern Nigeria with over 20 river systems. About
6 million people depend on the Niger Delta fertile fishing and
agricultural land. As only 30% of the land is unaffected by heaving
flooding, the remaining land has to support a concentrated population.
There is heavy competition for land on the Niger Delta between oil
corporations. (Unfortunately) for the local community, this land is rich
in oil. Oil exploration has resulted in drastic weather changes so severe
for the Niger Delta that UNEP began, in 1993, a research into the impacts
of climate change on the Delta. The land is geologically sensitive; oil
corporations are still advancing the total sinking of the land.
NIGERIA IS COMMITTED TO A FIVE YEAR PLAN THAT CALLS FOR INCREASING OIL PRODUCTION CAPACITY TO 2.5 MILLION BARRELS PER DAY AND BOOSTING PROVEN RESERVES TO OVER 20 BILLION BARRELS IN 1993/94. THIS WILL ONLY HAVE THE EFFECTS OF FURTHER EXPLOITATION BY OIL MULTINATIONALS.
THE OGONI
There are approximately 250 ethnic cultures in the Federal Republic of
Nigeria. The Ogoni is one of them. Their (Ogoni) territory forms the
eastern most extension of the mainland fringe bordering the eastern Niger
Delta, covering approximately 404 square miles with a population of over
500,000.
The Ogonis have a long history of preserving their surrounding environment. Rivers and streams are regarded as not only providing water for life: drinking, fishing, household; but also sacred and intricately bound with the life of the community.
The heavy competition for land between the Ogoni and the oil companies has resulted in the local communities being forced out of their environment, killed in peaceful demonstrations, and individual members closely monitored.
The land in question has been poisoned from oil extraction and the malpractice that accompany it. The air contains PAHs (with severe carcinogenic qualities).
With these exploitation and oppression, Ogoni is become increasingly defenseless. People can no longer live off the land, which has been made unsuitable for farming. The fishing industry can no longer provide a future of employment. Younger OGONIs are moving away to seek employment in cities.
All these are as a result of the environment and political impact of Shell ¹s (and other foreign oil corporations) oil activities.
According to Ken SARO WIWA, the Ogoni may be extinct within 20-25 years should this exploitation be allowed to continue. Ken clearly referred to Shell oil activities and resultant devastation as genocide.
KEN SARO WIWA
A poet, writer, playwright, human rights activist and environmentalist,
KEN SARO WIWA was an outspoken and direct key player in the fight of the
Niger Delta against the devastation and exploitation of oil corporations
and sell-out by the Nigerian government. KEN was, before his murder, the
president of Association of Nigeria Authors and a spokesman for MOSOP, a
movement for the liberation of the Ogoni.
Back in 1992, KEN SARO WIWA was arrested on June 22nd at gunpoint and
subsequently charged on July 13th on six counts including sedition and
unlawful assembly (of a group of people). He was to remain in prison till
September 20 of same before any bail could be granted. The arrest and
charges of KEN SARO WIWA was as a result of the meeting held by MOSOP
about the exploitation of SHELL.
At the time of this arrest in 1992, KEN SARO WIWA had already had two
minor heart attacks. At this point Amnesty International proclaimed him a
prisoner of conscience and even mentioned SHELL in their emergency appeal.
KEN was released same year.
However, KEN was arrested again in 1994 as his political activities was as strong as ever. This time he was framed with the murder of his friends and colleagues from the Ogoni. He was secretly trialed and in 1995, hanged to death with 8 other rights activists and environmentalists.
IV
SHELL, oil exploration and continued genocide
In Nigeria, SHELL is the largest oil and natural gas exploration,
accounting for over 50% of the nation¹s crude oil output with
headquarters in Lagos, and operating divisions in the western and eastern
parts of Nigeria.
Over 14% of SHELL¹s global oil production comes from Nigeria alone.
Acknowledging that Nigeria has ³...large reserves of oil and gas, but in small scattered accumulations found mainly in the Niger Delta...;² SHELL ravages the swampland and riverine terrain by producing fields linked through several thousand kilometres stretch of pipelines, unscrupulous spillage, and gas flaring. Since 1958 the Ogoni have been attempting to confront the oil companies (ELF, AGIP) -SHELL in particular- over their irresponsible activities (environmental destruction, political oppression through the help of the Nigerian government and police, forced evacuation of surrounding villages, double standards -in comparison to SHELL¹s activities in industrialized countries) and compensation. It is estimated that Ogoni Land has contributed an estimated US$30 billion in oil revenues. However facilities for the local community are virtually non-existent contrary to SHELL propaganda.
Two decades earlier agriculture and fishing was the backbone of the Ogoni income. No royalties have been received to date for the lease of their land for oil exploration. Under the Nigerian Law, regional landowners are entitled to royalties for minerals extracted from their land as well as mining rents. NOTHING HAS BEEN PAID. According to SHELL: ³Recently, the Federal Government responded to community concerns by doubling the statutory revenue allocated to oil-producing areas to three per cent (3%)...²
SHELL has, on numerous occasions and in its publications, claimed that a royalty of 3% has been set aside for the Ogoni people.
This figure was originally 1.5% and was only increased to 3% after mounting criticism over the Umuechem massacre (80 locals killed in Shell protest, October 1990)
Shell originally used this example (of the doubling from 1.5% to 3% royalties after the massacre) as an indication of their community assistance!
Now their line is, on growing evidence of Ogoni poverty and the disappearances and murders of Ogoni spokespersons, that if no money is reaching the community and it is being brutalized by violence, it is nothing to do with them but a matter for the government.
Most of us who followed the news would remember that the Nigerian man who, just before KEN SARO WIWA was murdered, confessed to having been paid in the set-up of the murder of KEN SARO WIWA and 8 other activists, through being made to provide false witness, was never heard of; nor did major North American media carry the news.
V
SHELL and the MURDER OF KEN SARO WIWA and 8 OTHER HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS
and ENVIRONMENTALISTS (and the Ogoni people killed in the set-up to killed
KEN SARO WIWA and his 8 colleagues)
SHELL has been quite happy to continue negotiations with the current illegal regime over oil production figures. They are still not prepared to ensure that compensation is paid to the relevant communities. In Nigeria, without shame, SHELL barely cleans up their act since they can conveniently blame the Nigerian government for any of their atrocities and illegal activities)
AN INTERNAL DOCUMENT FROM SHELL WAS PASSED TO INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN 1993 AND REVEALS SHELL¹S CULPABILITY. THESE MINUTES REVEAL THAT SHELL ARE MORE THAN AWARE OF THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THEM, MOUNTED BY (now murdered) KEN SARO WIWA, AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM FROM NGOs
One statement needs no explanation: ³SPDC (Shell Petroleum Development Corporation) and SIPC PA (Shell International Petroleum Corporation Public Affairs) departments to keep eachother more closely informed to ensure that movements of key players, what they say, and to whom, is more effectively monitored to avoid unpleasant surprises and adversely affect reputation of the Group as a whole.²
KEN SARO WIWA¹s name is mentioned in this document. What is frightening to know is that SHELL¹s concern is not about its genocide, camouflaged brutality and bloodshed, or the devastating impact its activities are having on the Ogoni and other people in the Niger Delta, but how any criticism might affect their reputation as an international group.
KEN SARO WIWA AND 8 OTHER ACTIVISTS HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT AND SHELL CONVENIENTLY HIDES UNDER ITS AGENT OF OPPRESSION WHILE CLAIMING TO BE INNOCENT. MEANWHILE SHELL CONTINUES TO RAPE NIGERIA , POLLUTED HER LAND AND WATERS, AND MAINTAIN ITS NETWORK OF CONTROL AND MONITORING OF ACTIVISTS AND ³KEY PLAYERS²
What is still happening in Niger Delta?:
1. SHELL is still flaring gas at low levels, despite Nigerian Law forbidding oil companies not to -it is obviously cheaper for SHELL to ignore the law and pay fines (especially as Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) imposed by the World Bank on developing countries has drastically devalued the Nigerian currency against the US$). Nigeria loses approximately $540 million a year in revenue through gas flaring.
2. Gas flaring at these levels exposes the local community to impacts of everyday fuel combustion i.e. PAHs which are carcinogenic. No health impact studies have ever been conducted.
3. High pressure pipelines are running directly through villages.
4. Mangrove swamps have been destroyed or are dying as a result of oil exploration -and oil waste entering the river system.
5. No piped clean water.
6. Noise pollution as a result of flares located next to villages.
7. Use of outdate equipments, leading to increased spillage, blowouts, etc.
Last year 1995, General Sanni Abacha abrogated laws protecting local
Nigerian businesses from complete ownership by foreign investors. Under
Abacha¹s regime, foreign individual or corporate investors can completely
own businesses or contracts in Nigeria and also repatriate 100% returns on
investments.
This means that local industries and small businesses in Nigeria will
continue to suffer in an economically austere environment clogged with
foreign corporate dinosaurs. And since these foreign corp/enterprises are
100% foreign owned, employment for Nigerians will be crushed/remain at
clerkship with Nigerian people having no control over their lives.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
(any/everyone can help in the struggle against corporate oppression)
Write to the Nigerian government through:
EMBASSY OF NIGERIA
2201 M. STREET NW
WASHINGTON D.C. 20037
(TEL): (212) 822.1500
Ask the Nigerian Military government -in the name of hundreds murdered and missing, of Dele Giwa, Ken SARO WIWA, JUSTICE and DEMOCRACY- to release all prisoners of conscience and hand over power to civilian rule.
Write to Shell International through:
Shell Canada
Public Affairs Unit
P O Box 100
Station M
Calgary
T2P 2H5
Phone: (403) 691-3198
Fax: (403) 269-8031
Ask Shell International to pay the Ogoni and All peoples of the Niger Delta all outstanding royalties and compensation for bloodshed, murders, political, social, and environmental devastation and genocide. Ask them to clean up the toxins, spillage, and waste lying in the Delta. demand they leave Nigeria
WRITE TO YOUR GOVERNMENT
Written 7:42 AM May 11, 1997 by baba@igc.org in africa.nigeria
From: Babatunde Harrison